Outdoor Elegance

The heart of this magnificent, 12,143-square-foot, spec-built turnkey home at Stone Creek Ranch is a spacious central courtyard that serves as an enchanting open-air extension of the $11.8 million residence's living space and transforms this rambling estate into a personal resort. With its distinctive focal-point fountain, sculpted pool, pavilion and spa, numerous loggias, walkways and terraces, this interior courtyard provides the ideal outdoor complement to the home's luxurious living space.

"Without a doubt, the design theme for this home was intended to be more grandiose and impressive than that of a conventional courtyard configuration," says Randy Stofft, architect of The Mediterra. "We really wanted to push the limits and make this project a real tropical paradise."

"This is not your typical courtyard plan," agrees builder Steve Charlse, who took advantage of the substantially sized site by encouraging Stofft to design the sprawling, eight-bedroom, Mediterranean-inspired residence to "spread out over the lot."

The home is one of the four estate-size residences built to introduce Stone Creek Ranch.

The Mediterra features a U-shaped footprint in which the living space surrounds the inner courtyard on three sides. The approach to the home begins with a two-level colonnade and bridge, which connects the main residence to a detached, two-story exercise pavilion with a separate guesthouse on the upper level.

Progressing through the courtyard leads to the formal entry, highlighted by a circular foyer. The Mediterra features a number of distinct living spaces that begin at one end of the home and transition smoothly from one space to the next, says Stofft. These include a separate master wing, formal and informal areas, and guest suites on two levels. Stofft says he stair-stepped the rear footprint to lengthen views of the water from all the key living areas.

Custom ceilings are featured throughout the home. Even the hallways were not overlooked; the gallery has a groin-vaulted ceiling that marks the transition from the formal to informal spaces.

The Mediterra also has an elevated billiards room with a custom-built mahogany wet bar, a two-tiered home theater and a recreation room in the upper-level secondary bedroom wing.

"Our real focus for this home was on quality," Charlse says. "No expense was spared on any element because we consider this home to be a showcase."

The Mediterra was completed in January 2003.

Style of Home | Mediterranean courtyard
Location | Delray Beach, Fla.
Total Square Footage | 12,143
Sale Price | $11.8 million
Builder | Charlse+Watt Estate Homes, Boca Raton, Fla.
Architect | Randall E. Stofft Architects, Delray Beach
Interior Designer | The Decorators Unlimited, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Spec-built luxury residence

Major Products Used Appliances: Gaggeneau (espresso maker/steamer), Dacor (warming drawers, electric oven), Viking (gas range), Sub-Zero (refrigerator), Miele (dishwashers) | Countertops: granite | Cabinetry: Plato Woodwork | Plumbing Fixtures: Toto | Home Controls & Automation: Lutron (lighting system), Media Systems (sound system) | HVAC: Trane | Roof: Artezano | Wine Cellar: Wine Cellar Innovations | Windows/French Doors: Eagle