For Carrie and Curtis Zimmerman, their four-story Gulf of Mexico beach home in Seaside, Fla., is the antithesis to their frenzied workdays.
Opening the infinity doors and savoring the blue, emerald green and white tapestry of ocean, pool, palms, and powder-soft sand just outside signals a slow-down for the owners of Florida’s largest public relations firm, The Zimmerman Agency, based in Tallahassee.
“It makes me relax, the views are so calming,” says Carrie. “The moment you walk in and see the pool seemingly spilling into the Gulf, it’s hypnotizing. It’s like you’re on a 300-foot luxury private yacht on the ocean.”
The six-bedroom Greek and Mediterranean-inspired home, nestled along scenic highway 30-A, comprises 3,800 square feet of covered balconies spanning the length of each level. All rooms but one enjoy a view, even if it’s just a peek through a shell-accented porthole in a bathroom shower.
As the first home to the east of Seaside’s official boundaries, the Zimmermans’ coastal retreat – aptly named Beach Dreamz – is twice as tall as its neighbor. The breezy rooftop Sky Pergola, inspired by the Greek island of Santorini, seats six in its built-in chaise and sofa.
The roof deck is perfect for sunbathing, sunsets and sweeping views of Seaside, the iconic Florida Panhandle beach town and setting for the movie “The Truman Show.”
“Our children love sleeping on the roof,” says Carrie. “It’s literally the best place in the house to sleep. You hear the seagulls and see the stars and water.”
The landmark property wasn’t even on the market when the Zimmermans got wind of a potential sale in 2010. Carrie cut short a meeting in New York and flew back for a lightning-quick tour of its 5,800 square feet. “I opened the front door, saw the view and didn’t need to see the rest of the house,” she remembers.
The Zimmermans outbid two professional athletes and spent the next six months exacting the interior design and outdoor living elements.
The first U.S. gymnast to score a perfect 10 in the floor routine, and a member of the 1976 Olympic team, Carrie is a stickler for perfection, and she knew white would work best inside as a canvas to the views.
Interior finishes include the kitchen’s rare pewter fossil countertops, Italian stone and white oak flooring, river rock-clad fireplaces, and Douglas fir beamed ceilings.
The home has a dramatic four-story cantilevered elliptical spiral staircase illuminated by a 40-foot hanging wrought-iron light sculpture. “We really made the home our own,” Carrie says. “We wanted to make sure it was perfect.”