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Want Idyll-by-the-Sea stocked with grocery items so that you don't have to shop the moment you arrive?

Seaside's own Modica Market offers a great grocery stocking service. Just fill out and submit the online shopping list in advance of your arrival. When you arrive, you will find Idyll-by-the-Sea stocked with the items you have selected!

When we designed and planned this house, details played a big role. We wanted to make this vacation house as comfortable and as complete as we could. So, we started an on-going process of refining the design to make this house a wonderful retreat. We hope it is this attention to detail that has inspired guests to write comments in our guest book like:

• Thank you for making this home so comfortable-we do not want to leave!
• It's like drowning in a sea of bliss.
• This is the most beautiful, unique, well-appointed and fun house we have ever stayed in.

Wonderfully! Each bedroom and private bath features a fluffy featherbed, two down and two foam pillows, a down comforter, a luggage rack, a television, a telephone clock/radio, a ceiling fan/ light, a hair dryer, two soft white terry robes, piles of thick white towels, and special tropical soaps and other potions.

Included with your stay in Idyll-by-the-Sea is use of the Seaside Swim & Tennis Club.

Or visit the Seaside Repertory Theatre for theatre events in Seaside.

The great room has a 31" TV and DVD/VCR, the master bedroom has a 27" TV, the first bedroom has a 13" TV, and the second bedroom has a 13" TV + DVD/VCR. There is a Harmon-Karden stereo system with CD changer and integral, built-in speakers. We've stocked the house with all sorts of board games, puzzles, and a selection of videotapes and CDs. There is a gorgeous antique pine table that has been custom painted to be a backgammon table, with real shells and starfish for playing pieces. There is a selection of beach novels, magazines, and books. Take a relaxing soak in one of the two Jacuzzi tubs. Stroll through town, admire the architecture, and discover the charming nooks that abound in Seaside. Enjoy a meal at some of our fabulous restaurants or go shopping in the charming shops in town. Walk to Modica Market, select the ingredients for a fabulous meal, or bring home something already prepared from their tremendous selection of ready ready-to-eat goodies. Play golf at one of the beautiful nearby courses. Hike a trail in one of the state parks. Ride your bike or rollerblade down the broad, new trails that stretch along 30-A. Book a charter boat and go fishing for the special catch that Destin is famous for. Take a walk on the incredible sugar white sand beach besides the gorgeous clear water. Read that book you've been dying to get into in the sun on the porch in one of the very comfortable wicker chaise longues. Take a nap in the shade in the hammock. Sit on the porch and watch the pelican's dive for supper and the dolphins play close to shore -- we regularly get to watch them right from the house! Sit and watch the waves roll in from the comfort of the porch. Welcome the day with a glorious sunrise. Celebrate the evening with the most spectacular sunsets over the gulf, without ever leaving the house. Revel in the clear, sparkling stars and moonlight on the water. Or rejuvenate by doing nothing at all.

Like a gourmet or not at all! (There are oodles of fabulous restaurants around and even chefs that can come in and cook for you -- we have details of all that below!) But if you like to cook in, you are in luck, too! For starters, we keep culinary herb beds, full of fresh herbs with which to season your treats. Although the selection changes, right now, you'll find:

• Pineapple Mint
• Cilantro
• African Blue Basil
• Bay
• Spearmint
• Lemongrass
• Italian Basil
• Rosemary
• Peppermint
• Parsley
• Sage
• Thyme
• Aloe
• Oregano
• Dill
• Marjoram
• Garlic chives
• Regular chives

The kitchen is furnished as completely as we can keep it (we live and cook here a portion of the year, too). There is a Sub-Zero refrigerator/freezer with icemaker, a separate ice machine, a microwave, a convection Thermador oven/range, a stainless dishwasher, and a wonderfully large deep sink with a garbage disposal. The countertops in the kitchen are natural cherry with a Delft tile backsplash. The wet bar sits in an adjacent antique cypress cabinet. There is a large 1930's stand mixer, a hand mixer, can opener, crock pot, a Krups coffee maker, a Krups coffee grinder, iced tea maker, fondue pot, a large Dualit toaster, and a blender. The cutting knives are Twinstar by Henkel and the cookware is white enamel by Chantal. There is a full complement of Pyrex, bakeware, gadgets, tools, crab mallets, grilling tools -- even escargot dishes if you are so motivated! The dishes are hand painted blue and white shell dishes; the flatware matches with pearlized blue and white handles. The glassware is hand blown clear and cobalt Mexican -- substantial and comfortable in the hand and pretty to look at! There is even a glass cake dome -- a kitchen necessity in our family! There are several different sets of place mats and napkins and napkin rings to vary the look. And because you are on vacation, almost everything can go in the dishwasher!

The house is furnished in comfortable yet beautiful antiques and custom down-filled upholstery pieces. The furnishings were selected to be attractive, restful, and above all, comfortable. The floor is reclaimed heart pine (actually recovered by divers from the bay close by where the logs fell off of barges 100 years ago). The wood floor is meant to be easy to keep clean -- you are on vacation! -- But there are antique worn Oriental rugs thrown about to soften, but easy enough to pick up and shake out, if you want to! The walls are filled with light, refreshing, and soothing antique prints and plates, and there's even old china, a quilt and some antique shutters mounted here and about! Most of the interior is done in painted wood, and the outside is shingled, with an oyster-shell-tabby chimney. The windows, doors, and even screen doors were custom-made for the house out of mahogany. The wooden cutwork you'll see was designed just for this cottage to promote playfulness, provide attractiveness, and has utilitarian functions, too! (For instance, the upstairs porch rail was designed to render the widest view of the sunsets, whilst reclining on a chaise, and the large cut-work in the Great Room helps to disguise the structural steel beam.) Here's a breakdown of the furniture:

Upstairs Porch (facing Gulf) -- All weather wicker furniture with Sunbrella padded cushions including a two-person chaise longue, a single chaise longue, two tall bar stools to look over the porch rail, an old-fashioned two-person glider, a dining table and six arms chairs, and a cocktail table. (Connected to downstairs porch by a spiral staircase)

Downstairs Porch (facing Gulf) -- A teak table and six teak armchairs, two white wooden painted armed rockers, a cocktail table, a great rope hammock, a ceiling fan, a cupboard with beach chairs, and a two-person Jacuzzi tub with curtains (This porch is connected the upstairs porch via a spiral staircase).

Outside -- Outside you'll find several culinary herb beds, beautifully maintained flower beds and planters, a fountain, two chaise loungues, a charcoal grill, a two-car carport, two covered entry porches, and an outside curtained shower with warm refreshing -- cleansing water and direct hidden entry into the house.

Sunrise Porch (facing path) -- This porch has a cupboard with beach toys. Or linger watching the sunrise and quietly watch the world go by.

Master Bedroom/Bath -- The master bedroom houses a handcarved four poster mahogany pineapple queen-sized plantation bed, mahogany nightstand, scattered lamps, a walk-in closet, Victorian bamboo armoire, antique cypress and hand-made tile fireplace, a down-filled lounging chair and ottoman, stacks of antique leather and rattan suitcases, a Victorian bamboo bookcase filled with books, and a 27-inch color stereo cable television with remote control. The master bathroom has a physically challenged-accessible, extra depth Jacuzzi tub/shower with custom handmade tile surround, an oversized vanity with matching handmade sink, toilet, and ample storage. Hidden below in a cupboard is a brass tub tray, so you can read in the tub, and two terry-cloth tub pillows to help you relax even more!

First Bedroom/Bath -- This bedroom contains a double antique walnut four-poster bed and two antique night tables/ chest of drawers, 13-inch color TV, a large closet with shelving, and appropriate vintage lamps. The bathroom has a large-oversized shower, a fanciful MacKenzie-Childs fish sink and tiles, and of course, a toilet.

Second Bedroom/Bath -- The second bedroom features a queen-sized bed with a headboard made from old architectural pieces and parts, 13-inch LCD color TV with DVD/VCR, two Victorian bamboo night tables with reading lamps, and a Victorian bamboo chest of drawers, and a closet with ample shelves. The bathroom is a twin to the one above.

Downstairs Hall/Foyer -- In addition to the spacious stairs to the upstairs, you'll find the laundry room and the coffee nook/ wet bar. The laundry room contains an Asko washer and dryer, a drained drying rack, and a pile of tennis rackets and beach towels for your use. The coffee nook/ wet bar contains a small refrigerator/freezer, toaster, coffee maker and grinder, and wet sink, all set off by a solid wooden counter and custom hand-made tiles.

Great Room/Upstairs -- Upstairs you'll find the Great Room, a light-filled open area with stunning vistas overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. There is a half bath on this level, along with the kitchen, already described under the cooking section above. The dining area features Carol's great-Grandmother's herb drying table (which can seat up to 14), a family pie safe, and custom antique cypress cabinetry. The living area centers on the Delft-tiled fireplace and the Gulf view. There is a huge down-filled chaise longue, a ceiling fan, two down-filled swivel rockers and an ottoman, a leather campaign desk, a sea captain's chest, a small writing chest, two upholstered antique white wicker lounge chairs, a backgammon table and antique wicker chairs, a wonderful down-filled denim sofa, and appropriate side tables and lamps. The 31-inch cable television, VCR, and stereo system are also here.

Well, if you must, we've tried to address that, too. We know how hard it is for us to get away without staying in touch, so we've installed a few extras:

• FAX: In the master bedroom, you'll find a fax machine
• Internet: A cable modem connected to a whole house Ethernet network for fast Internet connectivity
• Services: Seaside also has Seacoast Business Services located in town, just a few minutes walk from the house
• Packages: there is a wonderful MailBoxes, Etc. just up the road a couple of miles from Seaside