Three things: Personal best

Writing a column like this requires constant perusal of the local real estate listings, which can be fun if a little labor intensive. People often ask me what houses are my favorites: Which ones would I like to own? Which have grabbed my imagination in that peculiar, emotional way that only the most unique homes can do? So as 2015 draws to a close, let’s take a look at my personal favorites currently on the market…

Fantasy Island

At first glance, this home on Siesta Key could be mistaken for another overscaled McMansion from the boom period. But wander around awhile, and the magic takes over. Never have I seen a house in Sarasota where the outdoor living area works so well. The irregularly shaped pool suggests something from a villa in the north of Italy, with all sorts of balconies and terraces overlooking the waterfall, the perfect landscaping and the Gulf beyond. The home itself is an operatic fantasy of dramatic spaces, and there’s even a tiny private beach.

4011 Shell Road is priced at $7.99 million. For more information, call Joel Schemmel, of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, at 587-4894.

Art and Life

This is without a doubt the most historically important home in Sarasota, built — or rather, renovated — by Chick Austin back in 1946. He was the first director of the Ringling Museum and a key figure in American art. Everybody from Bette Davis to Prince Rainier dropped by to visit (the Prince was his way to California to woo a certain movie star), and they were royally entertained in the 40-foot-long ballroom and its adjoining Chippendale-style porch. The current owner has added landscaping both classical and whimsical, plus a three-story treehouse. It’s an artful, elegant piece of history.

227 Delmar Ave. is priced at $869,000. For more information, call Dyrk Dahl, of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, at 320-7373.

Retro Heaven

I liked this house so much I bought it. It’s a duplex near Southgate that is quintessential Sarasota circa 1960. I kept all the features everybody told me to get rid of, like the pink bathrooms and the flagstone walls in the living rooms. I’m glad I did. Now, it radiates a kind of bright and sunny nostalgia that’s impossible to find these days. I lived there for several years but lately have rented it out to a fascinating cross section of Sarasota life — everybody from cops to fashion models. Time for a new owner, but I’m sure going to miss it.

2125/2127 Roselawn St. is priced at $219,000. For more information, call Judy Nimz, of Michael Saunders & Co., at 374-0196.