La Mer Villa sits oceanfront on Sapodilla Bay, in the protected enclave of Chalk Sound. Three levels, 14,000 square feet, and an architectural staircase at the heart of the house.

At the heart of La Mer Villa, the great room runs across the second floor. Glass on both sides frames Sapodilla Bay on one side and Chalk Sound on the other. Inside, a wrap-around sofa and a teak root coffee table anchor the room, with the open kitchen sitting quietly behind.

The kitchen is built for serious cooking, with Wolf ovens, Monogram wine cellars, and Subzero refrigerators. The glassware is always ready.

Just beyond the glass, the terrace begins. Here, a shaded lounge waits for the afternoon, an outdoor dining table for supper, and sun loungers stretch out across the deck. Sapodilla Bay glistens just below.

The two masters take the east end of the same floor. One looks over Sapodilla Bay, while the other faces Chalk Sound National Park. Both have king beds, en-suite bathrooms, and floor-to-ceiling glass that disappears into the terrace.

Above is the mezzanine, a quieter retreat. A pool table, a card table, a reading nook, and the games no one has time for at home.

Below sit the seven guest bedrooms. Five of these offer ocean views, while bedrooms 8 and 9 face the garden. A conference room adjoins those two for the rare working morning. At the centre, an 82-inch home theatre with surround sound waits for the evening.

Throughout La Mer Villa, accessibility is built in. A ramp at the entrance, an elevator inside. The house works for everyone.