Seaview -
Freeport's Luxurious Mediterranean Escape
Even at
first glance, it is obvious that Seaview Estate is no ordinary
home.
A sweeping
statement
that
defines the best of tropical living, the home is in a class
of its own.
As one looks into how such a stunning home came to be,
it
soon
becomes equally obvious that its
creators,
Thomas
Ireland
and
Mel Harris,
are
no ordinary developers.
Ireland
and Harris, both Florida born and bred, consider Seaview to be
one of the
culminating
projects
of a lifetime
of development superlatives. They have been fast
friends for over thirty years, and oft-time business associates
on various large development projects.
Affable Thomas Ireland recounts a start as
a mortgage broker for a large national bank, then a move to a
career as
a major real estate developer with more than 100 commercial development
projects covering 5 million square feet valued at over $2 Billion.
Seaview partner and financier Mel Harris has
an equally impressive curriculum vitae. Harris, now affiliated
with American International Group, one
of the largest financial companies in the world specializing in
insurance banking, got his early start in Grand Bahama working
with the Grand Bahama Development Corporation.
Ireland credits their savviness in understanding
Grand Bahama and an innate knowledge of lifestyle design
as the best resources during the formative design process
for Seaview.
After an intensive study of existing home offers
in the Freeport and Miami markets, the partners soon hit on a
unique combination of site placement, finishes, building orientation
and design that would establish Seaview as one-of-a-kind in
luxurious yet totally comfortable living.
 Starting with a plan of how
the home should flow, the rest of the design seemed to evolve
from the features of the waterside
site, tempered with
years
of
experience building and critical observation.
While working
with Architect Donald Dean and interior designer Jeff Howard,
the team stayed creative,
flexible and ready to react to new ideas and directions. Entering Seaview, the landscaping supports
the journey to the front entrance without overwhelming or distracting.
One senses an inexplicable draw to the water, all
lines terminating in the glorious
shades of
blue that offset the stunning home.
 As
the front door opens, your eyes immediately go right through
the foyer and magnificent staircase, past the main living area,
stopping only when you take in the most breathtaking view of
tropical
waters
imaginable.
The
front
door
to Seaview is not simply an entrance to a spectacular
home. It is a portal to
an almost overwhelming combination of turquoise oceanscape and
sky that dominates the entire space, a living mural of thousands
of
shades
of blue.
In pleasing contrast to other designs that
draw sharp delineation between water front space and the outdoor
living
areas immediately
surrounding
the home, the beach at Seaview was brought right up to surround
the pool. This creates an immediacy to the ocean as an integral
part of Seaview, a strong statement of how much influence
the amazing Bahamas waters have in its design.
Ireland says that his favorite feature
is the kitchen and breakfast room, and how they work together.
Here
the design really sparkles. The preparation
and cooking areas flow effortlessly into entertainment and relaxing
spaces. Between
the rich
finishes and the amazing efficiency of the layout, this area is
one of the crowning achievements of Seaview.
 If there is one word that could be used to
describe Seaview, that word would be "balanced". The
symmetry of the home, centered dramatically on the site with two
opposing borders of natural green, the evenness of the two wings,
the roof
line
that sweeps
down in two directions, all is meant to create a comfortable and
even feeling.
Features
that must be checked out when visiting the home:
- Plenty of windows bathe the interior in
light and views, uniquely constructed to follow the flow of
the lines of the home.
- Full wiring for the ultimate in home recreation
and entertainment, Seaview is definitely high-tech.
- Bedroom suites designed in large
footprint scale, allowing for very comfortable extended stay
visits.
When asked who the ideal owner of Seaview would
be, Ireland says that Seaview is designed for the
semi-retired
or business couple who love to entertain, and whose lives and
loves are interwoven with golf and boating.
One thing is for certain... whoever the lucky
owner of Seaview. Their new home will amply
reflect the passion
for
comfort
and
the successful pursuit
of elegance, both so well attained by Thomas Ireland
and Mel Harris, Seaview's creators.
 Additional Features of Note:
Some amenities stand out in the
other features too numerous to list. They include:
- Custom interior
living space
- Outdoor features: covered patios,
porches, balconies
- Living room with fireplace
and 22
ft. ceilings
- Two spacious master bedrooms
with walk in closets and enormous bathrooms, three additional
bedrooms
each with full baths, breakfast room
- Large family room
with wet bar
- Custom cherry wood kitchen with subZero
freezer and
refrigerator
- Maid's quarters with full bath
- Three-car
garage
- Swimming pool with full bathroom
- Marble
flooring
throughout
- Located on a 1.1 acre lot with 150
feet of ocean frontage
- Private white sand beach
- Located within the
ultra-private 60-acre Princess Isle gated enclave
- 10 minutes from an
international Airport
- Community boasts a 200-ft. wide
canal, which
can accommodate yachts.
Seaview Estate lends
itself to further development and is ideal for a private club
facility, exclusive resort or secluded private estate.
For further information on Seaview
Estate, HGChristie
Listing GB1184, please
contact Lanelle
Phillips-Cole in the Freeport offices
of HGChristie (242) 351-8501.
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