Howard Beach House - On The Beach

ON THE BEACH – Howard Beach House is right on the Northside Beach in Spanish Wells, Bahamas; one of the most beautiful, quiet, serene stretches of shoreline in the world. Howard Beach House is not ‘near the beach’, or ‘within walking distance to the beach’ or even ‘just a stone’s throw from the beach’. Howard Beach House is most definitely ‘on the beach’. The deed to the property reads ‘from the H.W.M.’ (high water mark). The master bedroom is about 60′ (20m) from the beach. The front yard is the beach. There is plenty of privacy but you are close enough to the water to be lulled to sleep by the gentle sound of the waves and then in the morning you only steps away from a morning dip. MAJOR RENOVATION - Howard Beach House went through a major renovation in 2016 to turn it into a luxury 4 bedroom beach house. The solid concrete shell of the house and the roof remained but almost everything else was demolished. New bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry and foyer were built. New electrics, new flooring, new ceilings and new plumbing all were installed. The appliances and the furniture are all new (except for a couple of items). The owner required that the construction be 'done right' with the intention of living in the house permanently at some point in the future so all of the construction and components are of excellent quality (like quartz countertops, Hardie board walls, spanish porcelain tile, sound insulation, solid core doors, Ebel outdoor furniture, Magnussen beds, and so on). An architect was hired to develop the initial designs and an award winning interior designer was brought on to ensure all elements reflect tasteful quality and luxury. There are still some amenities to add (like a canopy over the front patio). There are lots of great places to stay in Spanish Wells but Howard Beach House is one of the most up to date houses in one of the nicest stretches of beach in Spanish Wells today. STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL BEACH – There is an amazing salt water infinity pool just outside the front door (okay, it is not really a pool, it is the ocean but it is truly breathtakingly beautiful). Most of the time, the sky and water provide at least 5 shades of blues that are as beautiful and intoxicating as any painting by Rembrant or Van Gogh. The turquoise water is gentle and perfectly clear with a gorgeous sandy bottom. There is some grass a long way to the right and a very long way (almost a mile) to the left. You can walk about 1/3 of a mile straight out to large sandbar and only get about waist deep (but still great for swimming or kayaking). The beach is a slightly pinkish, pristine, soft sand and is just over 3.5 miles long and great for walking. On a busy day, there might be 15 or 20 people on the entire beach; usually, there is hardly anyone. There is a huge reef about a mile out that keeps out those big waves. It is great for children to play and great for swimming and kayaking too. If you need a break from the sun, there is shade underneath the palm trees…and it is all in the ‘front yard’. There is also an incredibly comfortable hammock that seems to allow you to time travel (what, it's cocktail hour already?). THE HOUSE - Howard Beach House has about 2000 sqft of fully air conditioned indoor living space. There are two beachside bedrooms each with 14' wide glass sliding doors onto the beach, a king size Magnussen bed (with super comfy Simmons pillow top mattresses and box spring) and an ensuite bathroom. The Master ensuite is a bit fancier with access to the beach via an 8' glass sliding door. It features dual vanities, a soaking tub and a 20 sqft rain shower; both with views of the ocean. A 3rd bedroom has a queen sized bed and an ensuite as well. The 4th bedroom is a bit smaller with two twin beds. There are two single air beds (with integral electric pump) that can be setup in the foyer or one of the other bedrooms that are surprisingly comfortable (even for an adult). All of the bedrooms and bathrooms have 9.5' ceilings. The bedrooms access a hallway and large foyer which opens into the 20' high vaulted ceiling, kitchen and living room. The calm Bahama breezes drift through large sliding glass doors at the front and back of the kitchen/living room. For dining, there is a 12' long walnut topped island in the kitchen inside and a large Ebel table (42" X 84"), bench and chairs is outside with seating for 8. In addition to the hammock outside, there are several chaise lounges and a number of Adirondack (Muskoka) chairs to relax in as well.. AMENITIES - There is a two person Kayak, a charcoal grill, lots of snorkeling gear in a variety of sizes plus a couple of floating hammocks. The kitchen is fully stocked with dishes, glasses, cups, pots, pans, microwave, toaster, crock pot, blender, etc. (most of the things you would need to whip up a nice meal). There are a number of games in the closet (Monopoly, Scrabble, Backgammon) and, of course, there is nice reliable wifi. The television is not currently hooked up (but the wifi is unlimited so you can stream and download to your heart's content). CONVENIENT - Howard Beach House is within easy walking distance to just about everything including the best grocery store in all of Eleuthera (<10 minutes), numerous great restaurants, liquor store, bank (with ATM), dive shop and the harbor. If you want a bit more mobility, a golf cart can be rented from numerous spots on the island. Search online for 'Howard Beach House Bahamas' to find the website and more details.