There are many adjectives someone can use to describe Florida, some kinder than others, but I’m sure the last one to come to mind about this divisive state is quiet. Sure, the bright lights of Miami are dazzling, but between the flashy cars, glistening skyscrapers, finance bros and cryptocrats, where do you go when you just need some peace in the Sunshine State?
Well, believe it or not, the answer is found within the state’s border – and it's only about a 90-minute drive from Palm Beach. The oceanfront community of Windsor sits on 425 acres of verdant land in Florida's Vero Beach, sheltered and secluded on the barrier island along the Atlantic coast.
The exact phrasing may not have existed in common vernacular back when the village was founded in 1989 by Canadian businessman W Galen Weston and his philanthropist wife, Hilary Weston, but little would they know that Windsor would become the very definition of quiet luxury.
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With an aim to build a Caribbean-style resort State-side, Windsor is an idyllic oasis kept safe from Florida’s usual vices; where golf carts drive residents through palm tree-lined streets on their way to the Beach Club, the Robert Trent Jones designed golf course or the world-class polo field – where King Charles is said to have played.
Windsor comprises 350 palatial homes, each perfectly manicured and pristine and seamlessly striking that fine balance between casual and elegance. Built in that so-called ‘Anglo-Carribean’ style; picture Bermuda shutters, gabled roofs, and wrap-around front porches.
The decision between all the properties in Windsor is difficult, but the recently listed 3335 Abercrombie Way should make it slightly easier – if you have $11.5m spare. The 19,000 sq-ft estate is one of the last homes designed by famed modernist architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen. Having catered to illustrious clients like Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Meryl Streep, it’s no surprise that we’ve been charmed by this extraordinary residence.
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Jacobsen Architecture has masterfully integrated contemporary sophistication with Windsor's distinctive style. The estate spans the entire west side of the Village block, with entries on Abercrombie Way and Holt Lane, making it a secluded yet central piece of architectural history.
Built in 2013 and spread across three expansive lots, the property comprises a main home, a summer house, and two guest cottages, all arranged around lush central gardens and a private 40-ft swimming pool. The property’s seven bedrooms offer remarkable privacy and breathtaking views of the lake and Equestrian Center, ensuring an effortless indoor-outdoor living experience.
With three bedrooms in the main home and two separate guest cottages, this compound comfortably accommodates larger households and overnight guests. The primary suite, located in a private wing of the first floor of the main home features a floor-to-ceiling glass wall overlooking the central courtyard, an en-suite bathroom and multiple custom closets, including a large walk-in closet. Two additional bedrooms in the main home each have an en-suite bath and a large private balcony.
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The two guest cottages are separated from the main house by the central courtyard. Each is designed with living space and private outdoor space on the first floor and two bedrooms with accompanying en-suite bathrooms on the second floor.
$11.5m, windsorflorida.com
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