Set along the turquoise waters of the Gulf in Marathon, Florida, the Gulf Front Estate, a 23,000-square-foot, two-acre waterfront retreat, reimagines residential outdoor living as a fully immersive resort experience. Designed and built by D’Asign Source, the property blends architecture, landscape design, and technology into a seamless coastal environment where luxury and nature exist in harmony.
The estate includes a sophisticated main residence, charming guest cottages, and expansive outdoor environments that unfold across the waterfront site. Throughout the landscape, integrated lighting and audio systems from Coastal Source bring the estate to life, creating a seamless outdoor experience that transitions effortlessly from daytime relaxation to vibrant evening entertaining. In total, the project features 381 Coastal Source lighting fixtures, 36 outdoor speakers, and a fleet of Coastal Source CRS amplifiers powering the immersive experience across the property.
Outside, the Gulf Front Estate features a winding lazy river, multiple pools, spa areas, and cascading waterfalls. A swim-up bar offers a social hub for gatherings, while surrounding terraces and seating areas provide places to unwind while enjoying panoramic Gulf views. Inside the main residence, the estate continues the theme of relaxed luxury. The home features a master suite, open-concept kitchen and living areas, a wine room, a large game room with a custom bar, and a private home theater, all spaces designed to support both intimate gatherings and larger celebrations.
“Designing this estate meant creating outdoor spaces that feel both purposeful and immersive,” says Nick D’Ascanio, project executive and landscape architect at D’Asign Source. “Every recreation and entertainment area was carefully integrated into the landscape, from the putting green and sandy beach for games, to the firepit surrounded by Coastal Source Line Source speakers, so that each zone serves as its own destination for dining, socializing, or relaxing.”
As the sun sets over the Gulf, the estate transforms through a layered lighting and audio design that enhances the property without disrupting the natural beauty of the setting. The extensive Coastal Source lighting system includes 27 MR11 Bullet Lights, 81 MR16 Bullet Lights, 48 Niche Bullet Lights, nine Wash Lights, 34 Double Tier Hat Path Lights, and 25 Tiki Torches, all finished in vintage brass to complement the tropical coastal environment. Additionally, 157 Coastal Source Niche Marker Lights are integrated into the driveway, retaining walls, and pool deck planters, while 16 MR16 Bullet Lights are mounted throughout tiki huts and the gazebo to create warm, inviting gathering spaces after dark.
Carefully layered throughout the property, the energy-efficient, low-voltage lighting system highlights pathways, architectural details, water features, limestone walkways, and specimen tropical plantings while creating depth and visual drama across the landscape. The result is an environment that transitions effortlessly from tranquil daytime retreat to vibrant nighttime destination.
Integrated outdoor audio extends the sensory experience across the grounds. The estate features 24 three-way bollard loudspeakers strategically positioned around the pool deck, putting green, marina, docks, and guest houses to create a consistent entertainment atmosphere throughout the property. Four Line Source array loudspeakers positioned near the fire pit deliver a concert-like performance that makes music feel as though it is being played live directly in front of guests, while eight mini bollard speakers placed around the driveway provide a welcoming arrival experience and unify the property sonically from entrance to waterfront. Several additional Coastal Source subwoofers and CRS amplifiers reinforce the system, delivering powerful, high-quality sound while remaining discreetly concealed within the landscape.
Outdoor Week: Designing for Life – Transforming Outdoor Living
The property’s design also addresses the realities of coastal living. Elevated hardscape construction protects key areas from storm surge and flooding, while native and salt-tolerant plantings reduce irrigation demands and help the landscape thrive in the challenging coastal climate.
“Coastal Source products provide the high-performance, durable technology we rely on to bring our landscapes to life,” says Andrew Walker, director of technology at D’Asign Source. “In the Gulf Front Estate, their lighting and audio systems integrate seamlessly with our design, showing how modern technology can enhance luxury living while remaining sustainable and resilient in a coastal environment.”
A project of this scale required detailed coordination across architecture, engineering, and landscape construction. Custom stonework and mosaic installations appear throughout the property, particularly within the pools and outdoor kitchen. These elements introduce color and character while being engineered to withstand intense sun exposure and the corrosive effects of sea air. The installation of the lighting and audio systems also required meticulous planning. Fixtures and speakers were carefully positioned and concealed within the landscape to ensure that the technology enhances the experience without drawing attention to itself.
“From the outset, the project was guided by a philosophy of integration — ensuring the architecture and landscape felt like a unified environment rather than separate elements,” notes D’Ascanio. “Every decision, from the placement of structures to the selection of materials, was made to ensure the estate feels both expansive and cohesive. This property is a striking example of how thoughtful design, expert craftsmanship, and integrated technology can transform a residential property into a fully realized outdoor destination.”
Through the seamless incorporation of lighting and audio solutions from Coastal Source, the estate becomes more than a collection of spaces, it becomes an evolving experience. By day, it offers a tranquil tropical retreat; by night, it transforms into a vibrant setting for entertaining under the stars.
This project represents the pinnacle of modern coastal living: a place where architecture, landscape, and technology come together to create a luxurious environment that feels both timeless and deeply connected to its surroundings.
For more information, visit coastalsource.com.
