Rafael Zenke

THE STECKER ESTATE | Jungle Prada, St. Petersburg Steeped in 1920s grandeur, this 1924 Beaux-Arts masterpiece sits on a high Jungle Prada bluff near coastal shores & shopping. Spanning 3,502 sq ft of living space (4,917 total built under roof), the historic property represents a rare collaboration between certified architect Roy W. Cross & designer Frank S. Cross, trained by legendary Gilded Age maestro Frank E. Edbrooke. Crafted of historic structural red clay tile under a Venezuelan barrel roof, heirloom glass casts a soft glow over original espresso-finished white oak floors. The arrival sequence features a formal Porte-Cochère leading to a grand Reception Hall with a dramatic wrought iron balustrade. The expansive Grand Drawing Room boasts an artisanal fireplace, majestic crown molding, and 2 Juliet balconies with custom copper screens that capture coastal breezes. Guests flow seamlessly into the separate 12-seat Dining Hall. Behind thick, beveled glass doors sits the intimate Music Chamber, a versatile space optimized for entertaining or a main-floor guest retreat. The main level also hosts a breathtaking Glass Conservatory featuring an extraordinary 1924 Trencadís mosaic floor, a light-filled breakfast salon, and an epicurean kitchen equipped with a premium Wolf stove, Sub-Zero refrigeration, and center island. Upstairs, the palatial Estate Suite features a private, sun-kissed Promenade terrace. Two additional elegant guest chambers showcase ingenious 1920s storage systems and share a hallway bath with a historic soaking tub. Across the walled courtyard stands a detached Carriage House hosting a 3-car garage (including a climate-controlled gym/studio space), estate laundry, a cabana half-bath, and a private upper 300 SF guest suite featuring a clawfoot tub. The rare platted 0.62AC double corner lot showcases a saltwater pool/spa, expansive gardens boasting Empire Zoysia turf, 2 fireplaces, and a custom tree fort built by a Frank Lloyd Wright apprentice.