Designing for Family: A $13.3M Custom Home in Alys Beach Built for Gathering

Some homes are designed to impress. The best ones are designed to be lived in- fully, generously, by everyone you love.

Sea Garden, a custom residence with a Gulf view in Alys Beach, Florida, was designed with exactly that intention.

A Home Sized for Real Life

The clients came to Douglas Bock Architects with a clear vision: a home big enough for the whole family- including four grown children- with room to spread out, gather, and truly settle in. To make it happen, they purchased two adjacent lots in a prime location directly across from the Gulf Green, Alys Beach's primary beach access point.

The result is a residence that doesn't just accommodate a large family- it was purpose-built for one.

Designed for Entertaining at Every Scale

At the heart of the home is a kitchen built for serious gatherings: two islands, abundant natural light, and a built-in window seat. It flows directly into the dining room, which opens through large accordion-folding doors onto a full second-floor outdoor living area- complete with an outdoor kitchen, dining space, fireplace, and lounge areas overlooking the Gulf.

Indoors and outdoors blur effortlessly, which is exactly the point.

Light, Layers, and Private Retreats

Two interior courtyards bring natural light deep into the home- one anchored by a pool, the other by a wood-burning fireplace. Multiple balconies, a small zen garden, and a tower housing a home office and viewing balcony give each family member their own corner of the property to claim.

Above the three-car garage, a private two-bedroom apartment offers guests a self-contained retreat with added privacy- a thoughtful touch that makes the home work for extended family visits without anyone feeling crowded.

Suites Worthy of the Setting

The primary suite features vaulted ceilings, a sitting area, and a private balcony with Gulf views. The primary bath includes an arched shower and a custom quatrefoil window set high for privacy- a detail that's both functional and quietly beautiful. Every guest bedroom is generously sized with an en-suite bath, because in a home built for family, no one should feel like an afterthought.

The Result

Sea Garden sold in 2021 for $13,300,000- a reflection of what's possible when architecture starts with the client's life rather than a style trend.

Interior design by Longfield Fitzgerald. Built by Alys Beach Construction. Landscape by Horton Landworks.

Douglas Bock Architects is a Gulf Coast architecture firm specializing in classical and historically informed residential design. View our portfolio.