550 CIRCLE DR, Defuniak Springs, FL 32433 - For Sale

Our home is the premier Victorian Mansion of North Florida. The Queen Anne style home was built by Wallace Bruce former U. S. Consul and founder of the Florida Chautauqua, for his son Kenneth. The house was built in 1904 by master builders of hand selected materials and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The house was designed to entertain and host dignitaries while providing an appropriate location to display Wallace Bruce's collection of medieval armor. William Jennings Bryan read poetry and discussed topics of interest in the living room. Prior to 1914 the west porch was enclosed with a leaded glass diamond pattern. The restoration was started with our purchase in 1994 by restoration craftsmen over a period of two years. All interior walls and ceilings were removed to allow replacement of wiring and plumbing. All window trim, baseboards, crown molding and wood trim was removed and refinished. Tray ceilings were installed in the entry, living room, music room, dining room and all bath rooms. All floors and fireplace mantels (nine) were refinished. All original brass wall gas sconces (converted to electric) door and brass window hardware was removed, refurbished and reinstalled. Hanging light fixtures were replaced with upgraded antiques. Custom made wooden blinds were installed on all existing windows. The second restoration/addition was completed over eighteen months in 2005 consisting of a modern kitchen, breakfast room, wet bar, China pantry, second floor sun room, six hundred square feet addition including a walk-in pantry, laundry room, utility room, home office, a fourth bathroom with Jacuzzi plus a covered and open deck. The floored attic is presently being finished to allow easy conversion to a theater, gym, additional guest room, or grand children's area. The house is one of a kind, attracting tourists or photographers on a daily basis. We are blessed to be on one of two naturally round spring-fed lakes in the world.