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Imagine a spacious screened-in porch, the warm glow of evening lights, the gentle whirring of a fan intermingling with a breeze from the bay where the sun sets on the calm waters in a stunning array of hot pinks and oranges. Sumptuous savory aromas waft from the hot grill and your favorite song plays over the speaker system. Your loved ones chatter and laugh, filling you with a sense of comfort and joy as you savor this utterly perfect moment in time.
This vignette and similar scenarios have filled the beautiful “Our Southern Charm” cottage time and time again as its gracious owners have opened the doors to share the idyllic vacation home with guests seeking a luxurious, one-of-a-kind beach experience. And with its premier 30A location, luxury amenities, top-notch service and tons of nearby dining and entertainment options, you’ll want to return to this dream spot again and again!
Nestled within Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida, this bayfront cottage is located in the private boutique community of “Fairmont Heritage Place — Inspiration.” The four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom home sleeps up to 10 guests, and the sprawling 2,200-square-foot space boasts gorgeous newly renovated interiors. The kitchen alone is a prime example of the high-quality standards the cottage hosts want their guests to enjoy: The luxury chef’s kitchen is complete with beautiful stainless steel Viking appliances; Williams-Sonoma utensils, dishes, and pots and pans; Henckels knives set; upgraded luxury espresso machine, blender, toaster, and panini press; and Keurig coffee machine alongside assorted coffees and teas. The crisp white backdrop — awash in natural light by day and gorgeous light fixtures by night — serves as a refreshing base for the subtly nautical color palette throughout the home.
The kitchen flows into an open dining area, a space that exudes a beachy elegance. The adjacent living room features austere navy and pops of gold and burnt yellow for a sophisticated look. Plus, the space offers a Sonos speaker system, 65-inch smart TV, Apple TV, Xbox One, and a fireplace to cozy up to on cool evenings. French doors open onto the spacious screened-in porch where guests can enjoy stunning views of the Choctawhatchee Bay. And what’s more: There is also a screened-in porch with a daybed swing on the second floor. Also upstairs, two king-sized bedrooms boast en-suite spa baths; while a kid-friendly bedroom features three twin bunks and one double bunk. The fourth bedroom is tailor-made for movie night with a convertible queen-sized bed, Sonos speakers, 75-inch smart TV and Apple TV.
“I love the media room, which includes state-of-the-art technology for TV and gaming, yet the setting is so livable!” says Alexa McGraw, who co-owns Our Southern Charm with Paula Hinegardner. “Sit around the table and play board games, or use the sofa bed as a pull out for additional guest accommodations.”
Paula adds, “I love how the bright orange upholstered Pottery Barn chairs add a bright pop of color to this room.”
If staying in for gaming or movie night isn’t your thing, hop in the cottage’s 6-passenger golf cart and head out to enjoy the seemingly endless amenities outside the home. The golf cart comes equipped with access to the private beach parking. Simply pull up, and the gates will open! The neighborhood Inspiration Club offers its members all of their luxury amenities, which include a heated pool and hot tub with cushioned loungers, mango-infused cooling towels and pool toys; fitness facility; on-site spa services; an al fresco kitchen; outdoor ping-pong table; and indoor entertainment lounge with billiards table, honor bar, coffee, snacks, big-screen TV, games, movies and books. To make your vacation even more special, the neighborhood hosts social mixers like a guest happy hour on Tuesdays and an ice-cream social on Sundays. The breathtaking property also boasts beautiful expanses of Florida’s natural beauty with bikes and kayaks for guests to explore, as well as a private dock and a fishing pier.
If you are looking for a more cosmopolitan experience, the onsite owner services team at Fairmont Heritage Place will act as your personal concierge, streamlining and customizing your experience of Northwest Florida. Whether it’s booking a reservation at Emeril Lagasse’s new Coastal Italian eatery, securing tickets to a local festival or concert, registering the kiddos in one of Sandestin’s “Kidz Camps” or even bringing you a lounge chair, poolside lunch or a tour of the property, the concierge team’s service is second to none. SB TIP: They even offer pre-stay grocery delivery for when you’re arriving late or you simply want to catch that sunset view from the back porch as soon as you arrive.
Venture out of the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort by catching the neighborhood’s free tram service to the beach or Baytowne Wharf, a pedestrian-only village of charming boutiques, art galleries, and award-winning dining. Or experience a world-class event or one of many cultural entertainment options at Grand Boulevard. And all of this is nestled into a gorgeous landscape with four nearby state parks, a state forest, 15 rare coastal dune lakes and all manner of activities, from coldwater excursions, paddle-board tours and surfing lessons to airboat adventures, sunset kayaking and hiking trails that meander through coastal scrub, wet prairie, swamplands and longleaf pine flatwoods — and, of course, the star of the show: The Gulf of Mexico, where sugar-white sand meets the turquoise surf of the Emerald Coast.
After a long day of nature explorations, shopping, dining, swimming and playing, you’ll be eager to return to the comfort and elegance of Our Southern Charm beach cottage, which, as Paula says, “You will never want to leave as Our Southern Charm simply feels like home!”
To learn more about Our Southern Charm cottage and to book your stay, visit oursoutherncharmbeachrental.com.
This article is sponsored by Our Southern Charm. All photography by Jay Winter of Home Pix Media.
