WATERFRONT LIVING – Up-close with the Dietrichs
BY VAL SCHOGER PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE FENDER
Northwest Florida offers breathtaking landscapes and views of the water. From gulf to bay, and from springs to streams, beauty and tranquility await those who look for it. Just taking in your surroundings can fill your energy levels and soothe the soul.
One of Panama City Beach’s most beautiful neighborhoods, The Preserve, is a place that directs the eyes and senses toward the horizon and makes each start into a new day unforgettable, with views of the most beautiful sunrises over the water. It is what attracted homeowners Dr. David Dietrich, a local orthopedic surgeon, and wife Colleen to the neighborhood in the first place. “Before building our house here, we lived close by. We enjoyed the community of Bay Point but I remember walking to The Preserve at 6 a.m. and seeing the sunrise and hoping we could own a house here someday. We loved the low density in the neighborhood and all the trees,” Colleen remembers.
Colleen convinced her husband to buy a waterfront lot in 2004. It would prove a solid investment. “At first, Dave thought I was crazy.
But just two years after we bought the property, the land prices doubled and we gained instant equity,” Colleen says.
The couple set out to build their dream home shortly thereafter. They loved the classic look of Southern homes and traveled to places such as Savannah and the Outer Banks for inspiration. “We wanted a home that looked like it fit with the area, with a nice wraparound porch. I remember wanting lots of light so we have a great room with 24-foot ceilings that almost makes you feel like you’re living outside,” Colleen says.
Settling on a design from the home collection of Southern Living Magazine, the couple added their own ideas and a local architect helped with the modifications and additions that were specifically designed to fit their property. “We also found inspiration while traveling other areas and the world. Our shower, for example, is styled after the spa at the Ritz Carlton in Beaver Creek, Colorado. I love our stacked stone in the shower. It has five showerheads
and when the kids were little they used to call it the car wash,” Colleen adds with a chuckle.
There are many memorable moments and items that truly make it “their” home. Colleen remarks on the positive experience with all the contractors that helped them design and build their home. A few decisions challenged the contractors but were executed to perfection. “Our kitchen has a large stone hood over the gas range. When it was delivered during construction, our builder, Nathan Graben, thought I had ordered an elephant because it came in such a large crate,” she explains with a smile.
The two-story home boasts five bedrooms and four bathrooms and was completed in 2007. The kids, Teddy and Bonnierose, were 7 and 5 years old at the time and there has rarely been a moment the home has been empty since the family moved in. From sleepovers when the children were younger, to sporting activities and end-of-the-school-year parties, to hosting two foreign exchange students, Gaby from Colombia and Peter from Sweden, throughout the years, every room of the house has seen much use.It is a family tradition and part of the family legacy to host foreign exchange students, Colleen explains. Both she and husband David were exchange students at one time. The Dietrichs believe strongly in the benefits of experiencing other cultures through organizations such as AFS Intercultural Programs, which Colleen participated in when she was a student. “My dad was an exchange student in the 1950s and I spent a year in Colombia in 1985 as an exchange student. In fact, Gaby is my Colombian sister’s daughter, and our Swed- ish exchange student’s father lived in Van Wert, Ohio, with my husband in the 1980s,” Colleen explains.
The house was built with the entire family and guests in mind. There is an upstairs media room and a large fireplace in the spacious library, which, during holidays, is decorated with a second Christmas tree to provide a tranquil retreat from the hustle and bustle in the main living area. Colleen’s much-admired Christmas decorations always offer conversation starters.
With the décor and furniture having recently been updated, we wanted to know which pieces might be Colleen’s favorites. She promptly points at the crisp white and navy blue furniture, noting she loves how it has changed the vibe of the house. But there is one decorative item that stands out, holds the most memories, and is a real head-turner: the large, impressively displayed world map that hangs in the great room and shows all the places the Dietrichs have visited during their travels. It also reminds them that no place is like home. They could not imagine living anywhere else than close to the water in Panama City Beach.
The outdoor area, with its stunning views, consists of a large yard, pool, deck, and fireplace. The deck is one of the favorite spots for the entire family, along with being on the water. “All of us, including Bella, our golden retriever, love paddleboarding. You will find us on the water several times a week in the warm weather,” Colleen adds with the upbeat confidence of a capable watersport enthusiast. Her golden retriever accompanies her on her stand-up paddleboard most of the time. “During the cooler weather in the winter, we gather around the outdoor fireplace and maybe jump into the hot tub. Then, in the summer, it’s the pool in the backyard. We definitely enjoy the outdoors all year,” she remarks, adding that during the COVID-19 pandemic, having access to the water has been a blessing.
While the outdoor area has always brought fun and tranquility to the en- tire family, it was not until recently that it was completed with the features that were on the family’s wish list such as the outdoor fireplace, landscape lighting, and an added balcony. “I believe you have to live in a house for some time before you get a feel for everything you want in it and how it should be decorated,” Colleen says. “The house grew with us and our ideas over the years. The large outdoor deck and an outdoor fireplace, I believe that’s my hus- band’s favorite spot. We like having coffee on the deck in the early mornings and have a moment with God… it sets our day right.” She adds, “And in the evenings, I love looking at the bay, seeing the twinkling lights of the houses on the other side of the bay.” With a long look at the horizon, she concludes, “I believe homes that are shared with family and friends, and shared with love, are the best homes.”