I feel refreshed and enlivened–some due to my vacation last week but mostly because of the beautifully designed places that I visited. While in Santa Rosa Beach, I spent some time in my favorite beach towns: Rosemary Beach, Watercolor, Seaside, Watersound and Alys Beach. My favorite on this particular trip is Aly Beach, and here’s why:
Alys Beach is a place where design actually fosters a more meaningful life. The welcome center at Aly Beach shares the design intent of the community.
It is one of America’s most environmental communities. Everything from the exterior building material to the layout of buildings that works with wind patterns and creates breezeways is well thought out and planned.
Fresh air is automatically circulated in Alys Beach homes. Floor finishes are water based, and most homes are finished with veneer plaster instead of paint. So there are no harmful fumes. Clean and healthful air is not an afterthought at Alys Beach–it’s built in.
The walls at Alys Beach are not your typical studs and sheetrock, but rather an incredibly durable and energy-efficient structure. The walls are made of a reinforced steel and concrete structure with a spray foam fill (which has tested to save consumers 30-50% a year in heating/cooling).
The beautiful white exteriors of Alys Beach homes are water, wind and termite resistant. The roofs are made of white concrete tiles, reducing erosion, replacement and heat absorption typical of tradition roof systems.
The architecture, interiors and landscape of Alys Beach are impeccably designed. 
Bermuda influences much of the architecture of Alys Beach. There are also strong Moroccan ties as well.
In my next post, I will share the beauty of the interior and exterior architecture and design with you. Stay tuned!