Florida home design fits right in to historic neighborhood.
Situated on a lush corner lot and nestled among cozy Colonial Revivals, Craftsman bungalows and Mediterranean villas, resides a modern masterpiece that fits right into its historic surroundings. The Historic Old Northeast was the first established neighborhood in St. Petersburg. The community came to fruition in the 1920s and its tree-lined streets have been home to an eclectic mix of residential architecture for nearly a century. Its close proximity to downtown has made Old Northeast one of St. Petersburg’s most desirable neighborhoods. “St. Petersburg is evolving into a very up and coming community in the Tampa Bay area,” says Richard McGinniss, owner of Modern Tampa Bay Homes. “People are attracted to the vitality of the downtown area, but they don’t want to live in a condominium. This neighborhood makes it possible to have a single family home within walking distance of downtown, something that is unheard of in most urban communities.”
A few years ago McGinniss, who spent the majority of his career overseeing large commercial development projects, decided to follow his true calling—home building. He started Modern Tampa Bay Homes nearly three years ago in an effort to build custom, authentic modern homes at a variety of price points. “My passion is to build great contemporary homes that are attainable,” he says. “
He felt that Old Northeast was a perfect fit for his vision. “The neighborhood showcases such architectural variety. There’s nothing indigenous to St. Petersburg, every design is imported,” McGinniss says. “I felt that modern architecture is an authentic element that will complement, not compete with, the surrounding homes.”
The front façade of the 2,500-square-foot home along 18th Avenue NE establishes the modern aesthetic. The flat roof and clean horizontal and vertical lines are complemented by sleek windows and lush green vegetation. “We didn’t want to tower over our neighbors, so we tried to match the elevation lines of the house with the adjacent homes,” says McGinniss.
It is also what you don’t see that makes this house fit for modern times. In addition to the latest materials and amenities, the home offers a whole house automation system that allows owners to operate everything from the air conditioning to the lighting directly from their iPhone or smart phone. McGinniss also teamed up with Home Resource, a contemporary furniture store in Sarasota, to furnish the home with classic pieces to complement the architecture.
McGinniss points to the bold and daring features this home design offers. “I want to create homes that are interesting and challenging,” he says. “I’m inspired by great architecture and I want to build homes that people will cherish for years to come.”