Life at the Watersound Camp Creek® Community:
Written by: Laurie Einstein Koszuta
Originally published by Rowland Publishing in Watersound Lifestyle
As soon as they heard about the Watersound Camp Creek community being developed by The St. Joe Company, Meredith and John David Sullivan knew they wanted to live there. John David, a founding partner with Berkshire Hathaway Beach Properties of Florida, had worked with The St. Joe Company for several years and had high hopes for this new project.
Meredith and John David Sullivan were drawn to the allure of an exclusive, gated community with expansive land and custom homes. And so, the Sullivan family enlisted architect Paul Geary to design the family’s contemporary-style estate in Watersound Camp Creek.
“We knew the Watersound Camp Creek community was going to be an exclusive, gated community with estate-size lots and all custom homes,” John David said. “No other development like this existed in the area. What further attracted us was that rentals would be prohibited and connectivity to Watersound Club amenities like pickleball, tennis, swimming, on-site dining and a Tom Fazio-designed golf course would be very convenient.
“Our architect, Paul Geary, had previously designed a house for us on an executive lot in another community, but we ultimately decided against building there. We kept the plans but sold the lot and wondered if we could modify them for a Watersound Camp Creek home. When the lots were finally offered, we showed Paul what was available and bought based on his guidance.”
Although the house’s lot size differed from the original plans, Geary included many of the Sullivans’ desired elements. The result is a 5,700-square-foot, two-story contemporary-style home built by Regal Stephens of Santa Rosa Beach. The Sullivans collaborated with Rosemary Beach-based Tracery Interiors and gave them freedom to create an aesthetic with appealing textures, striking finishes, statement lighting and comfortable furnishings.
“We wanted to create a home with unique details that worked with how we live and entertain,” John David said. “We wanted something that our three kids, who are high school, college, and post-college age, would also like.”
Black steel French doors welcome visitors, opening to a spacious foyer which floods with natural lighting. Anchoring the left side of the open concept is one of the home’s many seating areas. Its cozy furnishings, gas fireplace and wall-mounted television offer a relaxing retreat. The dining area, centered in the expansive living space, features a long marble table with eight luxe fabric chairs for formal or casual gatherings. The nearby gourmet kitchen creates perfect symmetry with its sleek white oak custom cabinetry, display shelving and white Moroccan-tile backsplash. Topped with quartzite marble, the generous center island and the custom vent hood act as focal points.
The Sullivan Family’s home is a sanctuary of aesthetic delights, including John David’s cherished guitar collection nestled behind a concealed door which leads to a room for jam sessions with his band, Cadillac Willy.
The Sullivans frequently host guests, so the plans needed to include separate areas for formal, casual, and outdoor entertaining. They also wanted uninterrupted views of the pool and hot tub from anywhere in the main space through the great room’s expansive windows.
A neutral color palette of blacks, whites, tans and grays add extra warmth to the spaces with white oak ceiling beams and floors.
he ground-floor primary suite, just off the main living area, provides the couple a place for solitude and reflection. “This bedroom is just right for us,” Meredith said. “We didn’t want anything too big but insisted on a vaulted ceiling because we didn’t want any rooms above us.”
The space has a luxurious bathroom with one large closet, a steam shower, dual vanities and a tub.
Stairway access at the front of the house, with strategically placed windows highlighting a modern high-ceiling chandelier, leading to the second floor. The landing opens to a casual seating area and three bedrooms, all with their own en suite bathrooms.
An easy flow between indoor and outdoor spaces was another must for the Sullivans.
“We could do that by having a courtyard that showcased our pool, outdoor seating and summer kitchen,” John David noted.
The outdoor kitchen includes a sizable black soapstone countertop, an EVO flat top grill, a DCS gas grill and an Argentine grill. Counter seating, sofas surrounding a fireplace and a wall-mounted television
create a casual atmosphere. Remote-controlled retractable screening controls sunlight and glare for those sunny Florida days.
The large open courtyard bridges the main house to a self-contained 1,400-square-foot guest house.
“We have a guest house with no bedrooms,” John David chuckled. “We wanted a place where we could have larger gatherings.”
Most notable in the home are features like the whole-room golf simulator, an eye-catching wet bar with a dimmable lighted onyx countertop, and behind a hidden door, John David’s guitar collection. The secret room serves as a jam session space for gigs with his band, Cadillac Willy.
“With four bedrooms and 5 ½ baths, we have a lot of room in this house, but it is all functional and we love it,” John David said.
“It suits the way we want to live.”