When a former megayacht builder set out to build 1240 Coconut Drive in Fort Myers, he didn’t hold back. Nestled along the Caloosahatchee, a mile from Edison & Ford Winter Estates, the Stofft Cooney-designed house took four years and more than 180 shipping containers loaded with materials (Italian marble, Mexican shellstone, trees handpicked from the owner’s native Germany) to complete.
The four-bedroom home features Palladian-style architecture with marble columns, hand-painted tile and Venetian plaster, making the property appears like a work of art, says Coldwell Banker Realty agent Lori Fowler, who represents the listing with agent Damon Vetere.
German firms Birgit Schnaase Design and Focus Design teamed up for sleek, internationally inspired interiors. The imported German trees were milled onsite for custom cabinetry and furniture. Embellishments, such as a hibiscus bloom tile on the floor of the saltwater pool, are a nod to the owner’s wife—a lover of plants and flowers who cultivated thousands of orchids on the property. Swarovski crystal chandeliers from Austria, wallpaper from Germany, silk curtains from Switzerland, art from England, a collector’s room for valuables and a 1,100-square-foot fitness center—all add up to a stately abode.
The home is centered around entertaining with ease, with its indoor and outdoor kitchens, a soundproof theater and a wine cellar for up to 2,000 bottles. Throughout, most drawer pulls, knobs and vents are concealed, and iPads control electronics. Everything is hidden and strategically located to lend to the sleek aesthetic, Lori says. In the backyard, there’s seating for more than 40 guests, a 16-person hot tub and a three-bedroom guesthouse.
As a builder of mansions on land and sea, the owner considered the estate’s proximity to the Gulf and added a private dock to connect the best of both worlds. The property was listed at $15.95 million as of December.
