When Silas Juliar moved to Sarasota in 1924, he was one of the best-connected young men in town. A nephew of Charles Ringling, he got a job at the family bank and built an imposing home just a block or so from where John Ringling’s Cà d’ Zan mansion was under construction.

Over the years, the Juliar home has been owned by a number of prominent Sarasota residents, most notably David Lindsay of Herald-Tribune fame. (During his tenure as owner from the 1980s to 2000 it was, in fact, known as the Lindsay Estate.) Each owner added improvements and updates, and some of the town’s most highly regarded architects, including Frank Folsom Smith and Rick Garfinkel, have contributed their talents. Now, as it comes on the market once again, it shines in an old-fashioned, traditional way, yet one with every possible modern update.

A large home, more than 5,000 square feet, it is set on a lot of almost half an acre.  Though it fronts on Bay Shore Road, its entrance—and address—is on Brywill Circle. The architectural style is a refined mix of Spanish Mediterranean with Italianate overtones. The center portion of the home’s facade is symmetrical, with a wing on each side that carries out the elegant European theme.

The home’s most recent renovation was carried out by architect Greg Hall and builder Pat Ball, whose attention to period detail and fine craftsmanship is legendary among the local design community. Many original details remain, most notably the moldings that add such crisp precision to many of the rooms. Both picture frame moldings on the wall and crown moldings at the ceiling are featured. Floors in most of the rooms are wood, though several, including the kitchen and the master suite, are of Cotto d’Este porcelain tile.

The sparkling modern kitchen is the room that has changed the most from the old days. Today it is pristine white, with a tray ceiling and a tiled backsplash that extends to the ceiling. There’s a Wolf gas range, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and Esmerelda granite counter tops. An informal eating area adjoins the kitchen, in addition to the formal dining room. Most windows feature plantation shutters.

One bedroom—or a possible office—is located on the ground floor. Upstairs—there are two stairways—are four more bedrooms, an office and a loft sitting area. The master bedroom was added during the Lindsay residency, incorporating space over the garage. (An elevator was also added.) The master is the largest room in the house, with a volume ceiling and an elegant marble bath complete with dual sinks, a Jacuzzi tub and a separate shower.

As befits one of the flagship homes of the Ringling Museum area, the landscaping is beautifully manicured, with an expansive lawn and a unique “ramada,” or outdoor living area, adjacent to the pool. Constructed of wood, with a lofty ceiling and both seating and dining areas, it also boasts an outdoor kitchen—and a nearby outdoor shower. The structure is a modern element that blends seamlessly with the home’s old-fashioned charm.—Bob Plunket

Interested? 5021 Brywill Circle | $1,695,000. Contact Christy Travis or Jay Travis, (941) 545-5284, ReMax Alliance.

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This article appears in the December 2014 issue of Sarasota Magazine. Click here to subscribe. >>