Tips from a World-Famous SWFL Home

We saw how one Southwest Florida historic home has a ton of lessons that still apply today. And really, the Edison and Ford Winter Estate in Fort Myers is a breathtaking property with so much more to teach us. So we’re taking a look at what this world-famous property, one of the most visited in the United States, can teach us about owning a home in Southwest Florida and beyond.

One of the Original Smart Homes

As you can probably imagine, any home owned by these captains of industry would include some special features. Though it may be well known for us today, this home had an early system throughout the home for talking between rooms! For us, it’s a reminder of how programmable thermostats and other smart features will be standard soon enough.

Keep Your Property Cool

You can probably also imagine that, when you own local real estate, keeping things cool is always on your mind. The Edison and Ford Winter Estate does an excellent job using several techniques to accomplish this. There are 2 worth mentioning here. First, lighter colored paint can be a big help. The other is to utilize any cross breeze in your home as well.

Spend Time on Your Porch

Whether you have a lanai, a wraparound porch, or simply a sitting area by your back door, one fact remains the same. Relaxing in an outdoor area is an age-old pastime that people throughout the world have enjoyed. Take time to create a welcoming area around your home that lets you capture this activity.

Using Small Garden Areas

While we discussed the landscaping in our recent article, I couldn’t help but think of another factor involving the plants on this Southwest Florida property. It’s not just that there are a lot of them (even though there are); it’s also that throughout the property, you’ll find small garden areas, each with its own character. This makes an already large property seem even that much bigger.

There’s Just Something about Vintage Design

Even though the furniture and fixtures obviously wouldn’t have been considered vintage back in Edison’s day, you can’t help but ignore their presence today. Art Nouveau pieces give way to Frank Lloyd Wright feeling aspects in a way that’s truly marvelous. When choosing pieces for your own home, consider how each item calls back to a previous time or has a story to tell.

Terry Records