Pair this exceptional location with one of the exceptional Marco Island home designs from Gulfstream Homes, and you have the perfect setting for anyone looking for a peaceful life.

The Windward offers a unique blend of coastal and contemporary styles and plenty of luxurious amenities, making it an excellent choice for families and retirees.

There are at least five reasons why Windward is an ideal Marco Island home design.

1. Over 3,000 Square Feet of Living Area

You never have to worry about feeling cramped with this spacious, open-concept home that boasts over 3,000 sq. ft. of living area for you to take advantage of, including:

● Spacious master suite

● Two guest suites

● Study

● Great room

● Upstairs gathering room

● Covered lanai

The possibilities are endless as to what you can do with so much space. Whether you love to entertain and want a decked-out game room or you want to create the ultimate craft room, Windward has plenty of space to meet your needs.

2. Enjoy Coastal Living Lounging on the Lanai

The 238 sq. ft. covered lanai is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the tropical weather or entertain guests. It’s just as good a setting for an outdoor bar as it is an herb garden. This is part of what makes Windward great for all lifestyles.

3. Large Two-Car Garage

Keep your cars protected from the elements or create the ultimate man cave in the spacious two-car garage. With 604 sq. ft. of space to take advantage of, there’s plenty of room for bikes, cars, scooters, dune buggies, paddle boards, pickle ball equipment, and any other outdoor gear your family uses.

4. Designed with Energy Efficiency in Mind

All of our Marco Island home designs, including Windward, are designed with green building techniques and energy efficiency in mind.

In our efforts to help minimize your energy bills and your carbon footprint, Windward comes with high-quality insulation, a high-efficiency HVAC system, airtight sealed ductwork, a programmable thermostat, and an energy-efficient water heater.

5. Customizable to Meet Your Needs

Whether you want to create a spa-like bathroom in the master suite or the luxurious, high-tech kitchen of your dreams, at Gulfstream Homes, we will ensure Windward exceeds your expectations.

With a range of flexible options, you can truly make this home design your own, ensuring it is the perfect fit for your lifestyle and budget. From flooring materials to countertops, cabinetry, and bathroom fixtures, there are many ways to personalize this home design.

Explore Marco Island Home Designs

At Gulfstream Homes, we are proud to offer six unique home designs specifically made for Marco Island. If you’re ready to explore custom home options in this tropical paradise, contact us today to learn more.

The post 5 Reasons Why “The Windward” Is the Ideal Marco Island Home first appeared on Gulfstream Homes.

1. Davinci’s

The first restaurant on our list is Davinci’s, which is a stunning Italian style restaurant that is the perfect location for a special celebration or just a nice evening out. Founded by the Carvelli family, it has a charming ambiance that will remind you of a beautiful trip to Italy without having to worry about the travel time.

Every person that steps foot into the restaurant will feel like family and enjoy a great selection of signature dishes that stem from northern, central, and southern Italian cuisine. They also offer an incredible selection of wines, which makes it a great choice for stopping in with loved ones.

Their menu includes an array of delicious Italian dishes including:

• Campagnola and Prosciutto pizzas
• Spaghetti Con Polpette
• Pollo Romano
• Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina
• Ravioli Di Formaggio

2. Marco Prime Steaks and Seafood

Marco Prime Steaks and Seafood is a great place to enjoy a delicious meal in the heart of Marco Island. Their modern atmosphere has a unique taste on a classic steakhouse with hints of French, Italian, and Asian cuisines.

Not only do they serve incredible steaks, but they also have an excellent selection of seafood along with hand-crafted cocktails and an abundant wine selection. Their steaks are American Black Angus Hi Choice & Prime Steaks which feature Australian Wagyu Beef to provide the best flavor possible. When it comes to their seafood they have fish that is received daily in the restaurant from around the world and prepared by highly skilled chefs.

3. Doreen’s Cup of Joe

For a more relaxed atmosphere, but still some of the best food in Marco Island, you should plan to make a stop at Doreen’s Cup of Joe. They are only open for breakfast and lunch, but boast a menu that is sure to make your stomach happy!

They are proud to offer local and specially sourced ingredients including cage free brown eggs, sausage patties from a local country store in Tallahassee, milk products from a farm in Myakka City, and premium coffee from a local roaster.

Their menu includes items such as omelets, skillets, breakfast sandwiches, waffles, french toast, and homemade donut holes for breakfast as well as sandwiches, salads, and burgers for lunch.

4. The Oyster Society

Named as a must-stop when in Marco Island, you must try The Oyster Society. Owned by the same family as Davinci’s, this restaurant is known to have some of the best seafood around. The restaurant is located in one of the best locations in Marco Island and within walking distance to some of the top resorts.

Their menu includes almost any type of seafood you could want including oysters, sea scallops, shrimp, salmon, sushi, sea bass, and lobster along with an incredible drink and dessert menu. It is worth your time to stop in!

Best Restaurants in Marco Island

No matter what kind of food you are looking for, Marco Island has incredible restaurants that are worth stopping into! Be sure to let us know if you enjoy any of the restaurants mentioned above.

Gulfstream Homes is ready to help you build a home on Marco Island! Call (239) 254-1664 or visit www.gulfstreamhomes.com to get started.

The post The Local’s Guide to Marco Island Restaurants first appeared on Gulfstream Homes.

Building a Home on Marco Island: The Benefits

Marco Island is a popular destination, and homes are being snapped up quickly by eager buyers, which may cause you to want to build your own home. This is advantageous, especially since you’re able to design it to meet your exact specifications, down to every last detail; something that you won’t be able to do if you buy an existing home. Other benefits associated with building a new home include:

• Less maintenance
• The latest building materials
• Increased energy efficiency
• Location of your choice

When you choose to build a new home, you’re essentially starting from a blank slate, allowing you to create the home you’ve always wanted on the Island.

Building a Home on Marco Island: The Limitations

Typically, this option costs more money and takes a lot more time than simply moving into an existing structure. It will also take more effort and result in many more decisions made by you when it comes to overall design, features, layout, style and so forth. For many homeowners, these aren’t really limitations, as they’re able to get the house they’ve always wanted.

Buying a Home on Marco Island: The Benefits

Many Marco Island residents like the idea of a move-in ready space. In addition to being able to get settled right away, buying a home is typically less costly. There’s always the potential for renovations in the future, but you don’t necessarily have to tackle those right away. It takes less time and money than building a home from the ground up, which is a big selling factor for many island residents.

Buying a Home on Marco Island: The Limitations

The biggest limitation right now is inventory. You may not be able to find the home you really want, due to low inventory in this extremely popular destination. On a positive note, builders are working around the clock to add more homes to Marco’s inventory, so residents can find the space that works for their needs. One of the other main limitations is having to compromise on some of the features, as it’s almost virtually impossible to find a home that’s exactly how you envisioned it. You may also need to renovate it to meet new building standards, especially if it is an older home.

The Takeaway

Whether you want to work with a reputable builder to build your home from the ground up, or you’d rather move into an existing home, the choice is yours to make. Marco Island is continuing to top the charts as one of the best places to live in Florida. When it comes to your Marco Island home, you’ll be in the midst of all of the island charm, whether you choose to build or buy a home.

Gulfstream Homes is excited to help you build a home on Marco Island! Call (239) 254-1664 or visit www.gulfstreamhomes.com to get started.

Contact Us

The post Should You Build or Buy a Home on Marco Island? first appeared on Gulfstream Homes.

Adapting to give potential home buyers the most personalized home shopping and design experience possible, Gulfstream Homes recently updated its model home hours, requiring interested parties to make an appointment, instead of just stopping by the home. Since opening its model home just last year, the response that the Gulfstream team has received has been significant, with a record number of home contracts on the Island for the company. Due to the home builder’s undeniable presence in the area and growing popularity with full and part-time residents alike, the team has had to make some much-needed adjustments in order to accommodate the growing needs of area buyers.

Since 1998, Gulfstream Homes (www.gulfstreamhomes.com) has been a staple in the Southwest Florida building industry, utilizing state-of-the-art building techniques, the latest in building innovation and superior client service, which make up the core of their mission. Not only is Gulfstream Homes well-versed in designing homes to appeal to the Marco Island buyer, the team is also very involved in the local community through sponsorships and events.

Michael Peel, Co-Founder of Gulfstream Homes, speaks about adapting to meet this new unprecedented demand.

“Since opening our model home, we have been impressed by the response from the local area. However, we don’t want to lose sight of what makes us different from the rest, and that’s how we work to deliver the best possible experience in the industry to each and every home buyer, making their experience truly unique. We’re looking forward to what the future holds for our team on the Island, and we hope to be able to help even more clients build their ideal homes in paradise,” he says.

To make an appointment to visit Gulfstream Homes’ model home on Marco Island, please call (239) 259-8070.

About Gulfstream Homes

Since 1998, Gulfstream Homes has been utilizing top level technology, project management tools, design and innovation to create the very best homes in Southwest Florida. With attention to detail and long-term partnerships with the construction industry’s best providers, Gulfstream Homes ensures exceptional and timely workmanship. From On Your Lot building to remodels, Gulfstream Homes is a top choice for building and design in Southwest Florida.

For more information about Gulfstream Homes, please call (239) 259-8070, email info@arcs-gh.com or visit www.gulfstreamhomes.com.

The post Gulfstream Homes Updates Marco Island Model Home Hours Due to Unprecedented Demand first appeared on Gulfstream Homes.

Catch the Sunrise

Start your day with a sunrise and some dolphin-spotting at Caxambas Pass Park, a beautiful spot to take in the natural landscape around you. A four-acre park, Caxambas Pass includes a marina, concessions and more, and acts as a launching point to the famous Ten Thousand Islands, where you can take advantage of incredible views of the water and mangroves, plus local wildlife and not to mention, pure serenity. After this moment of tranquility, you may have worked up an appetite, and you’re in luck. Marco Island is home to some of the best breakfast spots in the area, including Doreen’s Cup of Joe, Red Rooster, Nene’s Kitchen and more.

Shop ‘Til You Drop

After a hearty breakfast, make your way down the relaxed streets of Marco for some one-of-a-kind retail therapy. From Island Trends, which offers island-inspired women’s and men’s clothing and accessories, to the Blue Mangrove Gallery, which features exquisite artwork, photography, jewelry and more, you’re sure to find it on the Island. And if you’re looking for more specialty shops, be sure to check out the following:

• The Pressed Olive

• Beach Daisy

• La Scarpa Boutique

Whether you’re shopping for trinkets and other fun gifts, clothing or diving gear, Marco Island offers something for everyone.

Relax & Unwind

If relaxation is on your mind, pay a visit to the Spa by JW for the ultimate in pampering. From massages, facials and body treatments to a steam room, therapy bath and soaking pools, Spa by JW creates the ideal ambiance to allow you to treat yourself to the fullest. In the mood for a little beach therapy instead? Head over to Tigertail Beach for the best shelling experience on the Island. Rent a kayak or a paddle board to stay active and take advantage of our Southwest Florida paradise.

Dinner Date

From family options to romantic evenings, Marco Island has everything you need to create an unmatched dinner experience. May we recommend the following:

• Snook Inn

• Ciao Bella Ristorante Italiano

• Ario

• Osteria Capri

Whether you’re in the mood for seafood and other island fare, authentic Italian flavors or something else, you’ll find it on the Island.

Your Day on Marco Island

From fun in the sun to a relaxing spa day, a lunch date with friends or a romantic sunset dinner, Marco Island shows that you really can have it all in paradise. Laid back and relaxed, yet sophisticated and refined, Marco Island appeals to virtually everyone, making it the ideal location to live any time of the year. So, now that you know what a day in the life of a local looks like, what’s on your schedule today?

The Gulfstream Homes team is ready to help you design and build a home on Marco Island! Call (239) 259-8070 or visit www.gulfstreamhomes.com to get started.

Contact Us

The post Experience Marco Island Like a Local first appeared on Gulfstream Homes.

Upon visiting Marco Island, you’ll be able to tell that it’s quite a unique area, and if you aren’t aware, building on the Island poses some unique challenges as well. When it comes to building a home on Marco Island, there are some aspects that you’ll need to consider here more than anywhere else.

Here’s our ultimate guide to home building on Marco Island.

A Strong Foundation

Perhaps nothing is more important than building a home on Marco Island with a solid foundation, which places this tip at the top of our list. You see, Marco Island poses unique challenges with builders, and home foundations here almost always require structural pilings with engineered concrete grade beams. This helps to disperse the weight of the structure evenly on the ground, resulting in a reinforced home, which is especially beneficial when it comes to any inclement weather during the summer months.

Location! Location! Location!

There are really no bad places to build a home on Marco, but what you’ll want to take into consideration is placement of the home on the lot and where this lot is located on the Island. For instance, if you’re a boat enthusiast, you may want to ensure that your home has direct access to the water, which calls for a private dock or boat lift.

You’ll also want to be sure that your outdoor living area (which is usually located at the rear of the home) is situated in a way that you can take advantage of our famous Southwest Florida sunsets each and every evening. After all, there’s nothing better than enjoying some good company out by the pool watching the iridescent colors transform the sky.

Marco Island Inspections

Marco Island has a series of detailed inspections that a home must pass, which may differ from other areas of Florida. All free-standing structures must be permitted accordingly and pass an in-depth inspection. These structures include:

• Detached garages and carports

• Fences

• Flagpoles

• Wood/concrete decking

• Docks and boat lifts

You’ll also want to take your seawall into careful consideration, as there are issues that commonly arise with poorly-constructed seawalls, like:

• Sinkholes

• Slab joint separation

• Waterline failures

• Toe and berm failures

This is why the City of Marco Island creates a series of thorough inspections that all builders must adhere to when building homes on the Island.

Choosing a Marco Island Home Builder

As you can see, Marco Island is a unique and amazing place to live, and having the right builder on your team is imperative to the success of your home building project. That’s why hiring a builder who knows the area well and is experienced with building homes on the Island is strongly recommended.

At Gulfstream Homes, our Marco Island Superintendent, Max Licciardi, has over six years of hands-on experience in field operations for one of Florida’s largest and most trusted structural contractors. Teamed with over 50 years of construction expertise, Gulfstream Homes will deliver the highest quality experience when it comes to your home.

Is Marco Island calling your name? Get in touch with us! Call (239) 259-8070 or visit www.gulfstreamhomes.com to begin your Marco Island home project today!

Get Started

The post Ultimate Guide to Home Building on Marco Island first appeared on Gulfstream Homes.