5903 River Forest Cir., Bradenton, FL 34203

The gables and arched portals of a charming facade evoke a Storybook cottage feeling, but this custom-built French Country gem streams luxury, craftsmanship and quality. Rough-hewn plank front door, reclaimed hardwood flooring, rich moldings, leaded glass windows with French doors opening to stunning vistas of a sparkling caged pool and forested back yard. The kitchen is adorned in custom cabinetry, a large quartz island, and an abundance of pull-out cupboards with a breakfast nook, seating up to eight. There’s a cozy feeling in the Keeping Room; a delightful hideaway near the bookcase-framed fireplace, displaying a seven-foot mantel and clerestory windows beaming in afternoon sun. If relaxing on the expansive deck, spa and pool grow tiresome, walk the shell pathway to the forested stream gurgling in the natural Florida forest. Or, launch a kayak from your private beach to explore the Braden River’s many islands. The Master Suite with its own laundry, bookcase-lined study, room-sized closet and giant shower as a peaceful refuge from the rest of the home, whose two large bedrooms and work/play loft upstairs welcome a large family. This unique home is in River Forest, an award-winning neighborhood of just 24 homes, each its own architectural statement, amid thick old-growth forest, home to countless wild critters, from owls to rabbits to the occasional bobcat. For the DIY’er, an air-conditioned workshop in the oversized garage. Outside of a fairytale, it could scarcely be more enchanting.