Designing a Modern Raised Beach House on Ono Island

A Conceptual Vision for Waterfront Living on the Intracoastal Waterway & Bayou St. John

Guided by the Gulf. Grounded by Integrity — Meredith Folger Amon, Gulf Coast Expert Real Estate Advisor — Guided by the Gulf. Grounded by Integrity.

One of my favorite parts of real estate is helping clients see what is possible before anything has even been built.

Sometimes buyers stand on a vacant lot and only see grass, water, setbacks, or pilings. I love helping them see the future — the arrival experience, the way the sunlight moves across the water, the outdoor living spaces, the porches, the boats passing by, and how a home could truly live on the property.

Recently, I worked with clients searching for a waterfront homesite on the big water of the Intracoastal Waterway and Bayou St. John on Ono Island . They wanted a modern raised beach house that felt clean, timeless, durable, and connected to the water — something elevated on pilings that could capture the views beautifully while blending naturally into the surrounding Ono Island architecture.

Instead of simply discussing ideas abstractly, I brought a conceptual floor plan sketch directly to the property so we could walk the lot together and begin visualizing how the home could actually live on the site.

That moment changed everything.

“Vacant land becomes much more meaningful when buyers can begin imagining how they would actually experience the property every day.”

What My Clients Wanted

My clients were incredibly thoughtful about how they wanted the home to function.

They envisioned:

Approximately 4,000–4,500 square feet
5 bedrooms
5 bathrooms
A three-car garage
An elevator
Elevated construction on pilings or pylons
Expansive water views
Open-concept living
Tall 10-foot ceilings
Large front and rear porches
Generous outdoor living
A clean modern coastal aesthetic

They also wanted the home to be:

Gold Fortified
Storm-conscious
Energy efficient
Practical for waterfront living
Visually appropriate for Ono Island

Most importantly, they wanted a home that felt luxurious but not overly flashy — something modern and elevated that would blend beautifully with surrounding waterfront homes.

Designing Around the Water

One of the most important elements of the design was orientation.

On waterfront property, the views become part of the architecture.

The conceptual plan centered around creating strong visual sightlines straight through the home toward the water. Open living areas, expansive glass, elevated porches, and large gathering spaces were all designed to frame the Intracoastal Waterway and Bayou St. John beyond.

The clients especially loved the idea of:

Walls of glass
Black steel window systems
A large modern entry
Open sightlines from the front door directly to the water

“The best waterfront homes are designed to live with the water, not simply sit beside it.”

Raised Beach House Design

Because the home was designed for Ono Island waterfront living, raised construction became a major part of the vision.

The lower level concept included:

A spacious three-car garage
Storage
Elevator access
Foyer entry
Large covered outdoor living space beneath the elevated structure

I loved the idea of creating a substantial outdoor entertaining area at the ground level with:

Lounge seating
Outdoor dining
A future pool concept
Covered shade
A connection to boating and dock access

The raised structure itself creates a beautiful architectural presence while also supporting:

Flood-conscious construction
Better water views
Breezes
Stronger long-term functionality for waterfront living

Main Living Floor Concept

The main floor was designed around openness and connection.

The kitchen, dining, and family room flow together into a large waterfront porch that extends the living experience outdoors.

Key features included:

Oversized kitchen island
Open-concept layout
Large family room
Waterfront porch
Dedicated dining area
Laundry room on the main floor
Elevator access
Two guest suites with private baths

The clients specifically wanted the kitchen to feel social and connected — a place where people could gather comfortably after boating, entertaining, or enjoying time on the water.

Tall 10-foot ceilings were incorporated throughout the primary living level to help create a lighter, more expansive coastal feeling.

Third Floor Retreat

The upper level was envisioned as a more private retreat with additional guest accommodations and elevated water views.

The layout included:

Three additional bedrooms
Multiple bathrooms
Generous closets
A central tower space with dramatic ceiling height and natural light

One of my favorite design elements was the rooftop-style sun deck connected to the primary waterfront-facing bedroom.

That elevated outdoor experience would create incredible opportunities for:

Morning coffee
Sunset views
Entertaining
Enjoying the natural beauty of Ono Island

Modern Coastal Architecture That Fits Ono Island

One of the things I care deeply about is designing concepts that feel appropriate for the island itself.

Ono Island has evolved beautifully over time. It includes:

Older beach cottages
Traditional coastal homes
Canal-front residences
Newer luxury waterfront properties

The goal was not to create something that felt overly commercial or out of place. Instead, the vision focused on:

Warm modern coastal architecture
Black steel windows and doors
Clean rooflines
Metal roofing
Neutral exterior colors
Layered landscaping
Timeless waterfront design

“Modern coastal design should feel warm, relaxed, durable, and deeply connected to the environment around it.”

Why I Love Helping Clients Visualize Possibility

This experience reminded me why I love working with buyers searching for:

Waterfront homes
Vacant lots
Remodel opportunities
New construction possibilities on Ono Island

Sometimes buyers simply need help visualizing:

How a property could live
Where the views matter most
What could realistically be built
How thoughtful design can completely transform a waterfront homesite

I love collaborating with clients creatively and helping them think through:

Functionality
Design
Boating lifestyle
Long-term value
Construction strategy

Relationships Matter on Ono Island

One of the greatest advantages I can offer buyers and sellers is my network of relationships with highly experienced professionals who understand the complexities of building and remodeling on Ono Island.

That includes builders, contractors, designers, architects, and professionals familiar with:

ACC and POA considerations
Gold Fortified construction
Waterfront permitting
Pilings and elevated construction
Drainage and grading
Docks and boating access
Coastal durability

The Ono Island ACC permit process may involve plans, surveys, approvals, and permitting requirements depending on the project scope and property location.

Having experienced local professionals involved early in the process can create tremendous value and help avoid costly mistakes.

My Perspective

To me, Ono Island is one of the most exciting waterfront communities on the Gulf Coast because there is still so much opportunity for thoughtful design and architectural evolution.

Whether it is: