Longboat Key Garden Club Home Tour: Gerich Home

The north end home will be on display for the annual home tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 3.

  • By Katie Johns
  • | 8:40 a.m. February 21, 2018
  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
  • Share

Every year, the Longboat Key Garden Club searches the island for the most elegant, unusual and comfy homes for the annual Home Tour.

This year is no exception.

With fives homes on the roster, the tour highlights a variety of designs. From an original Whitney Beach cottage to a newly built Country Club Shores home, this year’s tour is showing off all the different lifestyles Longboat Key has to offer.

 

Gerich Home

Once inside the home of Lila and Tony Gerich, one thing is clear: the exterior and interior match.

On purpose, the interior of the home at 7074 Longboat Drive E. is all white to show off Lila Gerich’s artwork.

“[We] tried to make the house a piece of art,” she said.

From white walls to clear and white railings, the home’s color comes from Lila Gerich’s artwork. The first floor living room is accented with shades of pink and gray. A large vertical abstract blue painting is the only color added to the second-floor living room. Off this living room is a kitchen with its only spot of color coming from a blue orchid plant.

The master bedroom is also all white except for a pink orchid.

On the third floor, two more rooms offer sleeping spots for guests. One room, though, is reserved for special visitors. The Gerichs’ grandsons have claimed one as “the boys’ room.”

A marble staircase, white, curves up the length of the house. A special feature includes the railing poles that light up at night.



 

The Gerich home is filled with a lot of white, which is something Lila Gerich planned as an artist. She said she tried to make the home a work of art.
The Gerich home is filled with a lot of white, which is something Lila Gerich planned as an artist. She said she tried to make the home a work of art.
Lila Gerich’s artwork provides color to the living room.
Lila Gerich’s artwork provides color to the living room.
A guest room on the first floor features a bed with special lighting on the bottom.
A guest room on the first floor features a bed with special lighting on the bottom.
The guest room offers views of Sarasota Bay.
The guest room offers views of Sarasota Bay.
On the second floor, an all-white living room is accented with a blue abstract painting by Lila Gerich.
On the second floor, an all-white living room is accented with a blue abstract painting by Lila Gerich.
The all-white kitchen is located on the second floor.
The all-white kitchen is located on the second floor.
Lila Gerich is in the midst of painting this sailboat while overlooking her home view of Jewfish Key.
Lila Gerich is in the midst of painting this sailboat while overlooking her home view of Jewfish Key.
The master bedroom is situated off of the kitchen with views of Sarasota Bay and Jewfish Key.
The master bedroom is situated off of the kitchen with views of Sarasota Bay and Jewfish Key.
His and her sinks, a large bathtub and walk-in shower make up the master bathroom.
His and her sinks, a large bathtub and walk-in shower make up the master bathroom.
A kitchen table, situated off the kitchen and living room, overlooks Sarasota Bay onto Jewfish Key.
A kitchen table, situated off the kitchen and living room, overlooks Sarasota Bay onto Jewfish Key.
A staircase, with a light-up railing, leads to the third floor.
A staircase, with a light-up railing, leads to the third floor.
Tony and Lila Gerich’s grandsons have claimed this guestroom as theirs. Lila Gerich calls it “the boys room.”
Tony and Lila Gerich’s grandsons have claimed this guestroom as theirs. Lila Gerich calls it “the boys room.”
An outside patio features seating, grill and drink cart.
An outside patio features seating, grill and drink cart.
An outside patio features seating, grill and drink cart.
An outside patio features seating, grill and drink cart.
Another guest room with blue accents is situated on the third floor with a patio.
Another guest room with blue accents is situated on the third floor with a patio.
A circular driveway offers plenty of parking for visitors in the Village home.
A circular driveway offers plenty of parking for visitors in the Village home.

 

Latest News

Longboat Key Police Deputy Chief Frank Rubino (left) accepts a framed display of medals, patches and pins that demonstrate his 45-year career in law enforcement.
  • December 13, 2025
Longboat deputy chief with 45 years of experience to retire
The building at the corner of N. Boulevard of the Presidents and Madison Drive may be the location of a revived Shore Restaurant on St. Armands Circle.
  • December 12, 2025
Shore Restaurant could return to St. Armands
Part of the renovation of Fruitville Library is a new History Center, replacing a building in Osprey a document calls "aging and inadequate to house the county's collections of historic artifacts.''
  • December 12, 2025
Fruitville Library renovations begin with Dec. 18 closure
Former Sarasota City Attorney Robert Fournier has drafted an updated noise ordinance for the city, which was approved by the City Commission on first reading.
  • December 11, 2025
City asks: How much noise is too much?

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content