Arlington Park Awakens

At long last, this east-of-the-Trail neighborhood is rising and shining.

By Robert Plunket

Published in the June 2016 issue of Sarasota Magazine

Read the full article here

Excerpt about Courtyard Modern

“The most interesting of the new homes are being built by a company called Courtyard Modern. Here the idea is modern architecture—geometric shapes and volumes, simple but elegant finishes, white exterior walls. It’s a conscious nod to Sarasota’s architectural heritage and a way to give the homebuyer good-quality modernism without the expense and hassle of hiring an architect and designing from scratch.

Courtyard Modern is the brainchild of Joe Russo, who handles the business side of things, and Cheryl Blankenship, who is the designer. “It started out as a fun project,” Cheryl says. “We didn’t think it would catch on.” But it has. They’ve built and sold more than 10 homes in Arlington Park and are now branching out into other parts of town.

The typical Courtyard Modern home has all the design features that a modern architecture aficionado is looking for. The entire lot is designed and landscaped to fit in with the house itself, with shell, grass, lighting, plants and rocks as part of the look. Inside, ceilings are high and the details are crisp and elegant, with trendy touches like barn doors and polished concrete floors. There is no set model.  Each project is original and the buyers can individualize their new homes with options and upgrades. The homes usually start around $600,000.