As their intention to downsize materializes, Joan Campo-Liga and Tony Liga have put their big Bent Tree Country Club home in Sarasota on the market.
The entrance foyer of the home of Joan Campo-Liga and Tony Liga features a delicate tone-ontone wallpaper which complements the stone floor and the traditional decor. The 4,500-square-foot home in Sarasota's Bent Tree gated community was built in 1986 and renovated in 1999 when Joan and Tony bought it and were married in the garden. The home is on the market for $849,000 through Melba Jimenez of Michael Saunders and Co. (Herald-Tribune staff photo by Nick Adams)
The asking price is $849,000 for this five-bedroom, five-bath, traditionally styled home with high tray ceilings, skylights, wood and tile floors, swimming pool, outdoor entertainment area, and a mature tropical garden that the homeowners say was designed and installed by one of the professionals who worked on laying out Selby Gardens.
But, while they are looking forward to a new chapter in their lives that includes increased travel and visiting their children during the holidays instead of being the hosts (“We’ll bring the wine,” says Joan), these homeowners are not without a bit of lingering sadness at leaving a home in a private park-like setting that has meant so much to their lives as a married couple.
Joan and Tony were wed under a vine-covered arbor in the side garden two months after they bought this house in 1999, and three years after they met on the tennis courts at The Oaks Country Club. She was a widow, he was divorced and they had six children between them, some still living at home. Additionally, Joan’s mother-in-law came from Italy every year and stayed several months in Sarasota with her.
“We were looking for a multi-generational home with lots of bedrooms and bathrooms, big open spaces where we could all gather, but private set-apart areas, too, so we get away from one another when we wanted to,” said Joan. “This house was ideal. It had traditional features I was charmed by, such as high ceilings, French doors, a fireplace and custom plaster crown molding that was designed for this home by previous owners and crafted onsite by a craftsman, who came from California to do the plaster.
Standing under the arbor where they were married in 1999 are Joan Campo-Liga and Tony Liga, owners of a 4,500-square-foot home in Bent Tree Country Club. They needed a five-bedroom home for their blended family, but now that all the children are grown the couple has decided to downsize from a big house to a lock-and-leave villa condominium and the house is on the market for $849,000 through Michael Saunders & Company. (Herald-Tribune staff photo by Nick Adams)
“There were intimate courtyards and a big outdoor space that I knew we could turn into a wonderful lanai to entertain or just relax with the family. Tony appreciated the spacious, wood-paneled home office, and a surprise was that there was an office for me, too.”
The 4,500-square-foot home was built in 1986 by Gary Roberts (Bamboo Homes) and had been so well maintained over the years by previous owners that Joan and Tony had only specific and limited renovations to accomplish before the wedding date.
They removed wall-to-wall carpeting and installed hardwood flooring in maple and hickory, upgraded the kitchen with luxury appliances and granite counters. They added a longer peninsula area to accommodate the big family.
They converted the pool bath into an en-suite bath for the bedroom of Joan’s son. Now, three of the five bathrooms are en-suite, and there is an additional powder room.
They added white plantation shutters throughout to control the abundance of natural light. The guest rooms are in a separate wing and on the other side of the house from the master bedroom.
The formal living room of Joan Campo-Liga and Tony Liga combines traditional decor with Asian accents. (Herald-Tribune staff photo by Nick Adams)
The couple enlarged the master bath and reconfigured the space with the help of Joan’s brother, an architect who came from Colorado to give them advice. He stayed to help design the new pool and lanai areas.
“The master bathroom was papered in a beautiful leaf-patterned wallpaper from Belgium, and I definitely wanted to keep it,” said Joan. “I was able to source more when we did the renovation by contacting the designer Holly Logan, who had helped the previous owners with their decor. She was lovely about getting more for me.”
Outside, the Ligas installed pavers in the driveway. At the back of the house, they added a multifunctional and quite large lanai that has defined areas for grilling, eating, conversation and lounging poolside. This significantly increased the Ligas’ everyday living space and also provides pretty views from inside the house.
The new lanai and pool pavilion were first used during Joan and Tony’s wedding ceremony and reception, which accommodated 95 family and friends.
Since then, the house has always been full of people — children returning from college in the summer, family holiday gatherings, out-of-town guests, dinner parties and birthday celebrations for grandchildren. There are seven of them now. But, as of this year, Joan and Tony are pulling back from their hosting roles.
“We’re looking for a 2,000-square-foot villa condominium,” said Tony, “a comfortable place with lots of club amenities, but a place where we know we can lock the door and feel secure about leaving the place when we travel. No more yard and pool maintenance.
“I’ve enjoyed it and taken pride in how beautiful the place looks, but honestly, we don’t need to be living in a place this big anymore. Our lifestyle is changing. We’ve had many happy times here, but we realize it’s time for another family to enjoy this home.”
Because the house is so large and the homeowners are downsizing significantly, many of the furnishings will be offered for sale on a separate contract, meaning that this home could be nearly turnkey.
