8 | Michael Saunders & Company
he Florida of 1976 was a different
place. Certainly, the beauty of
the turquoise waters and sugar
white sand has remained, as has
the casual lifestyle for which the
state is revered. But, the aesthetics
of this part of the world—the way
people live their lives, and the
environments in which they live—
have changed quite dramatically.
SaundersBEST | FEATURE
TOP:
Waterfront living at it's finest
on Casey Key, property
featured on page 23.
RIGHT:
The breathtaking resort-style
estate featured on our cover,
details on page 12.
T
When real estate broker Michael Saunders sold
her first home on the shores of Sarasota's Gulf
Coast, homes of the day were relatively humble
dwellings, content to exist outside the realm
of lavishness. Living spaces were smaller, with
walls installed to separate rooms according
to function. Ceilings were low, conversation
areas were weather-worn back porches, and
the kitchen existed as a utilitarian workspace,
intended to serve the basic function of food
preparation. There is nothing wrong with these
homes—the ones that remain are charming
reminders of how earlier Floridians lived their
lives, in intimate environments that took
full advantage of the natural splendor that
surrounded them.
