The best from coast to coast (and Hawaii, too), the Top oceanfront homes for sale in the U.S.
From Malibu to Sagaponack, from Palm Beach to Maui, we’ve combed the country’s oceanfront homes for sale in search of the finest homes on the market today. Their style could be Spanish Revival, English Country, or Modern, but each of these beach mansions shares a single characteristic: views of the water that are far beyond spectacular.
Malibu, CA
LA VILLA CONTENTA
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Bedrooms: 13 • Bathrooms: 14 • Price: $54,000,000
One of the world’s great estates, La Villa Contenta is a private sanctuary like no other. Designed on classical European lines, and perched on top of 6.7 bluff-top acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this exquisite residence at 26880 Pacific Coast Highway is a California masterpiece. Approached via a sweeping driveway, the main villa has a double living room and covered loggia looking out to manicured lawns, along with a dining room seating 24 guests, a library and gourmet kitchen. The lower level comprises a billiards room, wine cellar, screening room and gym, while the upper level offers spacious master suites and guestrooms. The grounds are equally striking with an infinity pool and pavilion, tennis court, kitchen garden, green house, a guest suite and staff quarters.
Listed by Chris Cortazzo, Coldwell Banker. ccortazzo@coldwellbanker.com, coldwellbanker.com
Gold Beach, OR
ELK POINT LODGE
Bedrooms: 4 • Bathrooms: 5 • Price: $15,900,000
We went in search of a home with a majestic ocean setting and found it at Elk Point Lodge, perched on a bluff overlooking Gold Beach on Oregon’s beautiful Pacific Coast. A masterpiece of design crafted from Rogue River rock, Douglas Fir, Red Cedar, Acacia and Myrtle wood, this splendid sanctuary is nestled on 28 acres of park-like land with 800 feet of oceanfront and a private helipad for when its owners want to make a quick entry or exit. The log and stone mansion features a massive Great Room with a dramatic floor-to-ceiling river rock fireplace, a gourmet kitchen, spacious master suites, a home theater and a separate caretaker’s house.
Listed by Bruce Lilleston, Cascade Sotheby’s Realty. Bruce_Lilleston@MSN.com, cascadesothebysrealty.com
Laguna Beach, CA
2431 RIVIERA DRIVE
Bedrooms: 6 • Bathrooms: 7 + 2 half • Price: $55,000,000
There’s no shortage of fabulous ocean homes on the market on California’s Pacific Coast, but this one is a standout. One of only five beachfront residences in the exclusive gated community of Irvine Cove – and with more beach frontage than any of the 19 estates in North Laguna – this unrivaled six-bedroom home takes the concept of modern luxury coastal living to a whole new level. The home’s airy open floor plan and high-beam ceilings offer 10,000 square feet of contemporary living, dining and family entertaining space with dazzling sunsets enjoyed from an antique fireplace in the main living room. The home also boasts the only beach cabana in Irvine Cove.
Co-listed by Jeff Hyland, Hilton & Hyland. jeff@jeffhyland.com, www.hiltonhyland.com and Tim Smith, Tim Smith Group. tim@timsmithgroup.com, timsmithgroup.com
Jupiter Island, FL
HOBE SOUND
Bedrooms: 13 • Bathrooms: 14 + 6 half • Price: $62,500,000
Celine Dion’s luxurious Bahamian inspired estate isn’t the most expensive home on the market in Florida – that honor goes to a $99 million mansion in Palm Beach – but we love the look and feel of this resort-style playground nestled oceanfront on exclusive Jupiter Island. This lush five-and-a-half acre retreat, with 415 linear feet of direct beachfront, comprises a magnificent main residence along with five individual pavilions. The grounds feature a tennis house, simulated golf range and tennis court, separate pool house, and a beach house with a massage room. The most striking feature of the property, custom-built in 2010, is a unique water park enjoyed by Dion’s family and friends.
Listed by Cristina Condon, Sotheby’s International Realty Palm Beach. cristina.condon@sothebyshomes.com, sothebyshomes.com
Kiawah Island, SC
85 BLUE HERON POND ROAD
Bedrooms: 7 • Bathrooms: 9 + 3 half • Price: $18,000,000
This ravishing private estate, set on almost 12 acres of land facing the Atlantic Ocean, is the essence of Carolina Lowcountry charm. Designed by the respected architectural firm Shope Reno Wharton, of Norwalk, Conn., the 15,000 square foot main home has an additional 5,000 square feet of outdoor living space comprising decks, pavilions, porches, balconies and an infinity pool. The interiors are finished to exacting standards featuring a cutting-edge media wall, butler’s pantry, gourmet kitchen, stocking room, wine cellar and a mahogany paneled study. The property also boasts a separate guesthouse, and a private boat dock extends across sun-dappled marsh grasses to the Stono Inlet and Kiawah River. This is South Carolina living at its best.
Listed by Cynthia Noble, Kiawah Island Real Estate. cnoble@kiawah.com, kiawahisland.com
Southampton, NY
WOOLDON MANOR
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Bedrooms: 10 • Bathrooms: 12 + 3 half • Price: $98,000,000
Got a lazy $100 million? You’re in luck. Wooldon Manor, one of the most iconic oceanfront homes in the Hamptons, sold late last year but is back on the market after its new owner purchased another home. Located on coveted Gin Lane, with almost 500 feet of direct beach frontage and jaw-dropping views of the Atlantic Ocean, this classic English Tudor style manor house is set on more than five acres and is offered with another four additional buildable lots for almost 15 acres in total. The manor combines gracious interiors with modern amenities, including outdoor terraces, formal gardens, a pool and pool house, tennis court and green house.
Listed by Harald Grant, Sotheby’s International Realty. harald.grant@sothebyshomes.com, sothebyshomes.com and Tim Davis, The Corcoran Group. tgdavis@corcoran.com, corcoran.com
Newport, R.I.
SEAFAIR
Bedrooms: 8 • Bathrooms: 11 + 3 half • Price: $19,000,000
There are much grander mansions and estates on the market in Newport – notably the historic Fairholme on Ruggles Avenue – but we immediately fell head over heels in love with this romantic residence set on its own private gated peninsula on exclusive Ocean Avenue. Built in 1936 and resembling an elegant French chateau, the crescent- shaped Seafair was designed to complement the curve of the coastline and delivers dramatic ocean views from every living space. This nine-acre estate features the main house, beautifully landscaped grounds, an ocean-facing pool, carriage house, expansive terraces, a walled garden, tennis court, six-car garage, and a beach that’s perfect for swimming or kayaking during warmer months.
Listed by Melanie Delman, Lila Delman Real Estate. melanie.delman@liladelman.com, liladelman.com
Nantucket, MA
SQUAM ROAD
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Bedrooms: 8 • Bathrooms: 8 + 2 half • Price: $21,999,000
It may not be the largest residence on New England’s iconic island of Nantucket but it certainly qualifies as one of the most beautiful. Perched on coveted Squam Road, this impressive oceanfront compound enjoys panoramic water views from almost every vantage point. The spacious estate includes a main house set on three levels that masterfully wraps around outdoor living spaces featuring a pool and cabana, sun-drenched decks, a fire pit, an expansive lawn and landscaped gardens. A private boardwalk, elevated over native foliage, leads to the exclusive Squam Beach. The main home’s pièce de résistance is the first floor great room and its expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean. Check out our insider spots on Nantucket.
Listed by Chris Kling, J Pepper Frazier Co. ckling@jpfco.com, jpfco.com
Penobscot Bay, ME
THE GRACE ESTATE
Bedrooms: 8 • Bathrooms: 8 • Price: $9,500,000
Maine’s wild and rugged Atlantic Coast is home to some extraordinary private residences but few boast the heritage and natural grandeur of the historic Grace Estate, occupying the end of a peninsula on Islesboro overlooking Penobscot Bay and the Camden Hills. Dating back to 1918, and fully renovated in the 1980s and 1990s, this Renaissance Revival stucco mansion offers expansive living spaces and eight gracious bedrooms with original architectural features combined with contemporary amenities. The grand estate comprises 8.8 acres of landscaped grounds, natural Maine woods, and 3,570 feet of waterfront, as well as a stone guesthouse, a separate boathouse, saltwater swimming pool, a putting green and a deepwater dock for languid summer days.
Listed by Terry Sortwell, Landvest. tsortwell@landvest.com, landvest.com
Newport, R.I.
FAIRHOLME
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Bedrooms: 15 Bathrooms: 12 + 2 half Price: $21,000,000
This majestic oceanfront estate is one of the jewels of Newport’s Gilded Age mansions. Perched on 4.3 acres of landscaped gardens, with 425 feet of ocean frontage, this historic Tudor revival masterpiece was built in 1875 and bears all the hallmarks of a bygone age of luxury and refinement. With its coveted location at 237 Ruggles Avenue, the grand manor house is the centerpiece of an impressive estate that also features a pretty carriage house, working greenhouses and a private tiled outdoor swimming pool and cabana pavilion overlooking the Atlantic. The generous living spaces are classically detailed and include a showstopper ballroom designed by Horace Trumbauer, one of the era’s most prominent architects. The home has been meticulously maintained and fully updated with modern amenities and also comes with ample staff quarters.
Listed by Melanie Delman, Lila Delman Real Estate, melanie.delman@liladelman.com, liladelman.com
Old Saybrook, CT
THE KATHERINE HEPBURN ESTATE
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Bedrooms: 6 Bathrooms: 7 + 1 half Price: $14,800,000
Hollywood history abounds at this exquisite waterfront property overlooking Long Island Sound, a private sanctuary which was built by the legendary actress in 1939 as her dream home and became her most prized and cherished possession for the next 65 years. The unique home is on the market again after a stunning renovation by New York builder Frank Sciame, a project that included raising the structure five feet to protect it from the Sound. The residence offers more than 8,000 square feet of light-filled living space on three floors featuring six bedrooms with en suite baths and seven fireplaces. The house is nestled on 1.47 acres of land with more than 680 feet of water frontage overlooking a pond and private dock for boating to the Hamptons less than hour away.
Listed by Colette Harron, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, charron@wpsir.com, williampitt.com
Islamorada, FL
PALM HARBOR
Bedrooms: 6 Bathrooms: 7 Price: $16,000,000
If you’ve ever dreamed of living in your own tropical island paradise, Palm Harbor is for you. An exquisite private residence, located in Islamorada in the beautiful Florida Keys, the oceanfront property is nestled in its own yacht basin with a stunning white sand beach. Perched on 6.4 acres of land with 1,800 feet of tranquil water frontage, this unique ocean home is architect designed and a study in craftsmanship. Interior features include red oak hardwood flooring, raised ceilings with exposed beams, a light and airy open floor plan, spacious living, dining and entertaining spaces, and gourmet chef’s kitchen overlooking the ocean. Outdoor living amenities include a swimming pool, spa and summer kitchen, four separate custom ‘chickee’ huts, a private peninsula, and a fully equipped yacht basin with 500 feet of dockage.
Listed by Nicholas Malinosky, The Corcoran Group, nmalinosky@corcoran.com, randyandnick.com
Water Mill, NY
VILLA MARIA
Bedrooms: 11 Bathrooms: 12 + 4 half Price: $69,000,000
Exuding all the grace and elegance of “The Great Gatsby” era, Villa Maria is a magnificent waterfront estate set in expansive landscape gardens. Perched on 11 acres, with 950 feet of water frontage offering panoramic views of Mecox Bay, this breathtaking residence was purchased in 2005 by world-renowned designers who embarked on a major six-year renovation project to restore the home to its original 1920s glory and grandeur whilst adding all the modern facilities of a contemporary home. Offering 22,000 square feet of unrivaled living space, the home features 11 bedrooms – including a six-room master suite – a 60-foot living room with original frescos, and a state-of-the-art kitchen. Languid days can be enjoyed on the large stone terrace overlooking the lawn and bay, playing tennis, or relaxing at the waterside pool and cabana.
Listed by John McHugh and Harald Grant, Sotheby’s International Realty, John.Mchugh@sothebyshomes.com, Harald.Grant@sothebyshomes.com, sothebyshomes.com
Del Mar, CA
2936 OCEAN FRONT
Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 6 + 1 half Price: $39,500,000
Available for the first time in more than 30 years, this stunning oceanfront estate is located beside the powder-soft sand of Del Mar Beach, widely considered one of the most beautiful swimming beaches in America. Offering 8,000 square feet of spacious living areas, the residence features five bedrooms, six and a half baths, two gourmet kitchens, a large media room, separate guest quarters, and a four-car garage. The private gated driveway is accessible only by the owners and their guests – with room for another 20 vehicles – making the home perfect for entertaining on a grand scale. The sun-drenched outdoor living spaces include a fully equipped chef’s kitchen, a pool, Jacuzzi and oversize terrace directly on the beach, while the soft sand and warm currents make for ideal swimming for family and guests.
Listed by Eric Iantorno, Sotheby’s International Realty, eric@ericiantorno.com
Palm Beach, FL
1744 S OCEAN BLVD
Bedrooms: 7 Bathrooms: 14 Price: $99,000,000
Located on the second highest point of Palm Beach, this palatial private residence enjoys the best of both worlds – breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean from one sun-drenched aspect and direct access to Florida’s beautiful Intracoastal Waterway from the other. Set on 1.86 acres of land and offering 23,512 square feet of refined luxury, the mansion is a masterpiece of architecture and interior design that sets new benchmarks in Palm Beach living. Featuring seven bedrooms, nine baths and five half baths, this custom estate has been designed and finished to the highest levels. Its extensive list of highlights includes a 200-foot dock extending into the Intracoastal Waterway, a tennis court, glass tiled pool, a commercial-grade pizza kitchen, and direct access to the beach. This is oceanfront luxury living at its absolute best.
Listed by Paulette Koch and Dana Koch, The Corcoran Group, Paulette.koch@corcoran.com, dana.koch@corcoran.com, cororan.com
Shelter Island, NY
9 & 15 LITTLE RAM ISLAND DRIVE
Bedrooms: 10 Bathrooms: 9 + 3 half Price: $28,500,000
Built in 2007 to exacting specifications, this ravishing waterfront home is designed both for entertaining on a grand scale and relaxing in private, intimate and peaceful surroundings. Nestled on 7.5 acres of land with panoramic views of Coecles Harbor, the home’s Shingle-style architecture and landscaped gardens take their cues from the island’s history and elegant country estates in Europe. With more than 23,000 square feet of living space, the residence features 10 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, a gracious living room with dual stone hearths, a formal dining room, chef’s kitchen, and a library. A lower level offers a gym, sauna, eat-in wine cellar, a nightclub with surround sound and 3-car garage. Relax outdoors in a heated waterfront pool, spa with deck, tennis, squash court and lawns cascading to a beach and 100-foot dock.
Listed by Beate Moore, Sotheby’s International Realty, Beate.moore@sothebyshomes.com, sothebyshomes.com/hamptons
Kapalua, Maui
9 KAPALUA PLACE
Suites: 4 Bathrooms: 5 + 1 half Price: $26,000,000
A vacation retreat to several A-List celebrities, and the most valuable beachfront estate listed for sale in Maui, this is a Hawaiian paradise like no other. One of only four oceanfront estates in a privately gated community on Oneloa Bay, this beautiful home offers 7,475 square feet of living space with four suites, five and half baths, an office and a soundproof theater. The residence is adjacent to the almost finished and five-star Montage Kapalua Bay and The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua and is an easy walk to “America’s Best Beach” as chosen by “Conde Nast Traveler” via rare private access directly to the sand from the home’s backyard. The interiors are by world-renowned designer Mary Philpotts, with floor to ceiling mahogany doors gracing private lanais and a sun-splashed infinity pool overlooking the ocean.
Listed by Damien Zanolini, Coldwell Banker, Damien@SellMaui.com, SellMaui.com
Bainbridge Island, WA
SEABOLD
Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 4 + 1 half Price: $9,800,000
Just 35 minutes by ferry from downtown Seattle and one of the crown jewels of the Puget Sound, Bainbridge Island was named the second best place to live in America by “CNN Money Magazine” and is home to breathtaking waterfront retreats. Seabold is one of those homes, nestled on 13 acres with stunning views of Olympic Mountain and the tranquil waters of Puget Sound. Designed by acclaimed architect Miller Hull, the home offers 10,500 square feet of contemporary living spaces where no expense has been spared. Featuring four spacious bedrooms, including a unique outdoor hot tub suspended in a forest off the master suite, eight baths, an art studio, and a 4,000-bottle wine cellar, this eye-catching residence has a western exposure capturing all the colors of the Sound’s magnificent sunsets.
Listed by Vesna Somers, Windermere Real Estate, vesna@windermere.com, bainbridge-island.windermere.com
Montecito, CA
550 FREEHAVEN DRIVE
Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 5 + 1 half Price: $17,750,000
Life is indeed serene at Villa di Serenita, an exquisite coastal estate that blends authentic Italian spirit with California’s breezy ocean lifestyle. Nestled on more than 21 ridge-top acres, and set in landscaped gardens with views to the Pacific Ocean, this enchanting home is a private retreat par excellence. Built in 2007 by renowned architect Michael de Rose, the primary residence features four bedrooms and four and a half baths, while a separate pool house offers another living space with one guest bedroom and two baths. Italian marble, American timber and Santa Barbara stone create dramatic architectural elements while the home’s landscaped gardens, stone terraces, and romantic vignettes are complemented by a pool and managed 2,000-tree Hass Avocado orchard. Wine connoisseurs will also appreciate the 800-bottle temperature and humidity controlled wine cellar.
Listed by Riskin Associates, associates@riskinproperties.com, riskinproperties.com
NANTUCKET, MA
Photo courtesy of Christie’s International Real Estate
The emphasis is on privacy at Swain’s Neck, a custom-built home on a 75-acre peninsula on Nantucket Island. Its only access is via a wooden bridge, and a gatehouse controls security. It may be the most coveted property on the island, with no neighbors, water views on three sides, and rolling lawns that tumble down to Polpis Harbor. It offers two paddocks for the equestrian enthusiast, a two-bedroom cottage, a private office/studio, a boathouse, and a barn. Each of the main house’s five bedrooms looks out to the harbor, and two moorings allow easy access for fishing or sailing. $47,500,000, Christie’s International Real Estate, 508-228-2266, christiesrealestate.com
PALM BEACH, Florida
Photo courtesy of Cocoran Group Real Estate
If Jay Gatsby were to clone his West Egg palace for a second home in Palm Beach, this might be the result. It’s a French-inspired waterfront masterpiece, completed in 2011 and located along Billionaire’s Row, minutes from shopping Mecca Worth Avenue. It’s set back on two and a half acres, with an automotive entry through decorative iron gates, past sculptured gardens and fountains that lead to a motor court. Inside are 20,000 square feet of living space, with an additional 7,000 square feet in loggias, garage, and guest house space. It offers nine bedrooms, 17 baths, and five garage bays, plus deeded water access. $74,000,000, Corcoran Group Real Estate, 561-296-8720, corcoran.com
MALIBU, CA
Photo by Berlyn Photography
This Frank Gehry-designed home occupies 1.5 acres of land on Broad Beach in Malibu, with 160 feet of beachfront. Commissioned in the mid-1980s by the late CEO Burton Borman—a noted supporter of architecture and the arts—it was completed in 1990 for the enjoyment of friends and family. It offers 11,000 square feet of space, with six bedrooms, eight full baths, and two half baths. It offers ocean and mountain views, a full-sized, lighted tennis court, a lap pool, and an outdoor entertaining area with a spa, fireplace, and separate kitchen. $57,500,000, Pritchett-Rapf Realtors, 310-456-6771, pritchett-rapf.com
KIAWAH ISLAND, SC
Photo courtesy of Kiawah Island Real Estate
When Dennison Royal began developing the Ocean Palms section of Kiawah, he looked up two architects. For inspiration, he turned to Addison Mizner’s work in South Florida. For design, he enlisted Christopher Rose, an award-winning Charleston, SC, architect. On lot nine of Ocean Palms Court, Rose channeled Mizner’s Mediterranean style to design a five-bedroom, five-bath home for a site that’s 1.8 acres, including 125 feet of beachfront. Its exterior is layered with three coats of stucco, and its roof is clad in S-shaped clay tiles. Inside are a ground-floor gourmet kitchen and guest suite; the master suite sits atop it all, on the third floor. $12,225,000, Kiawah Island Real Estate, 888-559-9024, kiawahisland.com/real-estate
GOLD BEACH, OR
Photo by Outlaw Photography
This home, perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, offers two beach coves. Several structures are located on the 34-acre site, including a 9,159-square-foot post-and-beam main house with four bedrooms, four full baths, three half baths, a theater, office, gourmet kitchen, and living area with 30-foot ceilings. Also featured: a two-story fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows. On site is a self-contained, 1,460-square-foot log cabin for guests, with one bedroom, one and a half baths, a full kitchen, a living area with a fireplace, and a two-car garage. It’s all located within a gated community, with a pond and orchard on the property. $12,500,000, Remax Equity Group, 503-670-3000, equitygroup.com
CHATHAM, MA
Photo courtesy of Christie’s International Real Estate
Ninety miles southeast of Boston, this 10,974-square-foot home overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, Nantucket Sound, and the Monomoy Islands. It’s set back in a circular drive that foreshadows other circular elements on site. A wraparound stairway is central to the home, and a foyer leads to a great room, chef’s kitchen, dining room, and living room. Two bedrooms are on the lower level, as well as an 11-seat cinema and wine cave. On the second floor are three more bedrooms—each with a bath—and an office. At the center of the drive is a circular carriage house, containing the sixth bedroom. $25,000,000, Christies International Real Estate, 508-945-1186, christiesrealestate.com
GREENWICH, CT
This home is a record-breaker, with an asking price of $190 million. It’s called Copper Beech Farm and has earned the rarified distinction of the most expensive home for sale in the United States. Located on a 50.6-acre estate on Long Island Sound, it offers a mile of water frontage, including two islands. The manse was built in 1896, and the Lauder Greenway family, co-founders of U.S. Steel with Andrew Carnegie, moved into it in 1904. It features 12 bedrooms, nine baths, 10 fireplaces, an elevator, and a paneled center hall with a staircase rising three stories. $190,000,000, David Ogilvy & Associates, 203-869-9866, davidogilvy.com
MERCER ISLAND, WA
Photo courtesy of Coldwell Banker
Located on the northwest end of Mercer Island on Lake Washington, between Seattle and Bellevue, this 14,000-square-foot home lies on a lot that’s not quite an acre. Behind it sits another lot—about the same size, undeveloped, and available. This home offers a large yacht moorage that, with a few modifications, could accommodate a 100-foot-long boat. Built in 2007, the home offers eight bedrooms, nine baths, and four fireplaces. A gourmet kitchen features coexisting chef stations and two large center islands. Included are 120 feet of wade-in waterfront, and a fusion of the indoor/outdoor experience with NanaWalls and a broad array of windows. $16,750,000, Coldwell Banker Bain, 425-450-5206, wendylister.cbbain.com/wendylister
SAGAPONACK, NY
Photo courtesy of Corcoran Group Real Estate
A rambling English Country-style mansion in the Hamptons, this home was designed by architect Shope Reno Wharton Associates. It’s secluded on 33 acres and sited on Sagg Pond with views of the Atlantic Ocean. The 11,700-square-foot home is flanked by 19 additional acres of protected land, so those views aren’t likely to be blocked. It offers eight bedrooms, eight and a half baths, a limestone entry gallery, a mahogany-paneled library, a media room, and six fireplaces. Also included: a screened porch with built-in grill, stone patios, multiple decks, an exercise studio, a tennis court, heated pool, and spa. A widow’s walk affords sweeping views of the sea. Recently reduced to $59,000,000, Corcoran Group Real Estate, 631-537-7773, corcoran.com/hamptons
MAUI, HI
Photo by Long & Associates Architects and Interior Design
Designed by Hawaiian master architect Jeffrey Long and with interiors by Kimberly Howard, both of Long & Associates Architects and Interiors, this home is one of just four snugged into the exclusive gated Kapalua Resort. It’s sited on 28,000 square feet of beachfront land, with 120 feet of beachfront on Oneloa Bay, known for its spectacular shore breaks and views of the coastline and Molokai Island. It features a double-height indoor/outdoor living room with 18-foot corner pocket doors that open to ocean views. Also included: a custom gourmet kitchen, three oceanside suites with private lanais, and six bedrooms and baths. There’s a guest suite with a separate entrance, plus stone walls and double gates for maximum privacy. $20,880,000, Choi International Realty, 808-734-7711, choi-realty.com
Honorable Mentions
To come up with our list of the Top 10 coastal homes for sale in the United States for the August/September issue of Ocean Home, we searched every coastal corner of the country and put our heads together with friends and colleagues in the real estate, architecture, and design industries. The Top 10 homes featured in the print edition impressed us most, but our search turned up a number of oceanfront homes that are spectacular in their own right. Browse those homes—Honorable Mansions, as we like to call them—here. Palm Beach, FL If a single architect’s work epitomizes the look and feel of 1920s Palm Beach and Boca Raton, that would have to be the Spanish Revival and Mediterranean oeuvre of Addison Mizner. This 10-bedroom oceanfront home by the South Florida master has been in the same family since he designed and built it in 1919. It’s a villa with a name all its own—Louwana—and it comes with a swimming pool, tennis courts, and a cabana on 150 feet of private beach, all tucked away on 1.5 acres. The home is said to be exquisitely maintained and in museum-like condition. $22,000,000, Sotheby’s International Realty, 561-301-2211, sothebysrealty.com.
Sagaponack, NY
Charles Gwathmey was a larger-than-life architect and a class act whose work was meticulous and elegantly proportioned all at once. One of the hallmarks of his Modernist designs was a deep understanding of the relationships between geometric forms. But, as this home demonstrates, at the heart of all his work lay a fundamental appreciation for art in architecture. It’s 8,000 square feet dedicated to integrating large works of art—whether paintings or sculptures—into its design. With seven bedrooms and 11.5 baths, it offers a floor-to-ceiling fireplace in a double-height dining room. Also included are a pool, tennis court, and immediate ocean access. $21,000,000, Sotheby’s International Realty
Newport, RI
Inspired by the 1920s New York apartment buildings of Italian-American architect Rosario Candela, Steven Brittan says he designed the 22-story Tower at Carnegie Abbey to last 2,000 years. It’s situated within a 400-acre private sporting club by the same name, one that specializes in golf, tennis, yachting, and equestrian sports. Its penthouse, completed in 2009, offers 1,785 square feet of balconies and roof deck alone. Inside, the remaining 6,735 square feet are home to six bedrooms, two dens, and 5.5 baths. Best of all, it’s the highest point in Newport County, RI. $7,900,000, Carnegie Abbey Private Estates & Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty, 401-848-2500, TheCarnegieAbbeyClub.com.
Newport Beach, CA
Once a resort and now strictly residential, Linda Isle is a community laid out by planners in the shape of a horseshoe, yielding a dock for each lot. The isle is a guard-gated community of just 107 homes. On the prestigious western tip of the island—with 105 feet of water frontage—this home’s point location and private pier will accommodate a yacht up to 85 feet in length. With five bedrooms and eight baths, it features a swimming pool and a bayside patio that lends itself to vistas of sailboat races, morning workouts, and extraordinary sunsets. $11,900,000, Villa Real Estate, 949-717-6000, villarealestate.com/.
Malibu, CA
Carbon Beach is distinctive not just for the rarified nature of its seascape, but for that of its residents, too. It’s known locally as “Billionaire’s Beach” because out of its 62 homes, at least 30 are owned by someone on the Forbes 400—the definitive list of wealth in America. Malibu architect Lester Tobias designed this 10,500-square-foot home on a site with 150 feet of beach frontage. It harkens back to the Shingle style of the Hamptons, but it’s also clad in white Texas limestone, with a slate roof. It features 3,800 square feet of deck, a 25-yard-long lap pool, a grassy side yard, nine bedrooms, and two offices. $37,995,000, William Chadwick, 310-456-3906, redfin.com.
Palm Beach, FL
Not even Addison Mizner’s Mediterranean masterpieces are exempt to threats from the wrecking ball. Thankfully, his 1920 Costa Bella barely escaped that fate because of a Palm Beach couple who bought it in 1999, turned it 90 degrees, and moved it westward to a new site. They restored its coquina-stone-and-pink-stucco walls, its pecky-cypress beams and its carved-stone fireplace mantels. Today, it comprises 12,000 square feet on two levels, with a full basement that could house a gym or a theater. Included are eight bedrooms, a grand ballroom, a massive limestone stair hall, and ocean views. $8,950,000, Sotheby’s International Realty, 561-301-2060, sothebysrealty.com.
Wainscott, NY
Renowned Hamptons builder Jeffrey Collé’s recent build at 18 Main Street in Wainscott is a study in detail, quality, craftsmanship, and design. The 6,800-square-foot Shingle-style mansion has six bedrooms and seven baths with 14-foot ceilings and four fireplaces, plus an abundance of indoor/outdoor space, including a swimming pool, a pool house with a kitchen, and a 2,400-square-foot terrace. In addition to spacious rooms, 18 Main also showcases the high-quality materials and thoughtful details for which Collé is known, such as antique cypress flooring, solid mahogany French doors, and hand-selected Carrara marble. $8,495,000, Corcoran Group Real Estate, corcoran.com. To view available properties by Jeffrey Collé, call 631-324-8500 or visit jeffreycolle.com.**This home recently sold within the last couple of weeks.
Santa Barbara, CA
Sometimes promoted as the America Riviera, Santa Barbara is nestled in between the sharply rising Santa Ynez Mountains immediately to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. To take advantage of both, this 5,000-square-foot home is sited on 11 acres in Montecito. Moreover, it’s set up for equestrian pursuits, with a two-stall barn, tack room, and office. The main house features a master suite and two guest bedrooms; also included is a guest house and in-ground pool. But it’s the vistas—of mountains, valley, and ocean—that set this property apart from all others. $4,995,000, Sotheby’s International Realty, 805-689-5613, sothebysrealty.com. J. Michael Welton writes about architecture, art, and design for national and international publications. He also publishes an online design magazine at architectsandartisans.com.