A Real Southern Coastal Dream House

Southern Living Dream House

At Home In Florida

When it comes to Idea Houses, we've given you lots of inspiration for ways to live over the years, from suburban fixer-uppers to mountain farmhouses. For 2019, we went big on a fantasy: a home built from the ground up on a slice of the Florida coast with a rich history, sweeping oak trees, and breathtaking water views. Crane Island, Florida, is a new development that prides itself as much on vernacular building as it does on preserving its wetlands. Named for the bevy of cranes that flock here, it sits 4 miles from the center of Fernandina Beach, a small town with big claims to fame. It was settled in 1562, and the flags of eight countries have waved over it—the most of any city in the U.S. At the turn of the 20th century, the area's boatbuilders showed off their booming industry (and carpentry skills) through their own finely detailed Victorian homes around downtown.