Although this rental home is located on Siesta Key, it felt like we were staying at a beautiful home in Malibu. I would describe the home as being decorated in the hygge style, with light terra-cotta tiles and linen curtains and bedding in monochrome colors. It was a refreshing change from many homes that we've rented in Sarasota over the years, decorated with wicker furniture and palm trees and other beach kitsch that feel like you're stepping into a 1980's time capsule. The home is located at the end of a dead end street and is closed off with a gate so it feels like your own private retreat. It's located on the canal but what is again unusual is that the property sits on a point so that you have a nice view from the living room straight down the canal, and you're not simply staring at the backyard of the house across from you like you usually are. On the outside, the house is a beautiful Spanish style home which you see more often on St. Armand's Key than you do around Siesta and that just added to the appeal for us. The primary bedroom upstairs has a balcony in the beautiful Spanish style which is screened in so you can leave the glass doors open and enjoy it.
The house was perfectly located within easy walking distance to the shops and restaurants of Siesta Key Village (0.6 miles according to google maps, a nice walk straight down Avenida De Mayo which is a tree-lined residential street with a sidewalk). We elected to eat out or have food delivered for most of our time there but the kitchen was as well stocked as any VRBO property that we've visited and there was a grill on the patio. Whenever we had a question about the property, the owner responded right away and was great to work with to make sure we enjoyed our stay to the max. The neighborhood was very quiet which we appreciated, no duplexes, condos, or rowdy rental units nearby. It was actually quieter than when we've stayed on the north end of Longboat Key which is directly on the flight path to the Sarasota Airport. A walk to the nearest beach access point is only a little farther than walking to the Village (for example, Public Beach Access 5 at 222 Beach Road). If you're walking from the house to the main Siesta beach, the walk is longer but there are several beach access points along the way. We were convinced that we had made the best decision to stay on Siesta, and I'd highly recommend this property to anyone considering a visit to this area.