J.A. Long Brings Reputation for Original Design, Personal Service to Eagle Landing

By R.P. Whittington

J.A. Long Inc., a family-owned and operated custom-home builder that has been responsible for creating some of the most unique homes in the Jacksonville area over the last 35 years, has brought its reputation for original, quality architectural design to Eagle Landing at Oakleaf Plantation.

The Key Largo design, which serves as J.A. Long's model home at Eagle Landing, offers about 5,100 square feet of living space and a 661-square-foot three-car garage (a standard in most of the Long homes), along with 445-square-foot porches and options for lake-side cabana extensions.

"The Key Largo is one of our most popular designs," said J.A. Long Chief Operating Officer Randy Long. "The front has been simplified with clear large panes of glass, flat columns, and smoother surfaces for a more relaxed Caribbean style. We can also add functional storm and shade tilt, Bahamian-style shutters to several of the fixed glass front areas to enhance a Caribbean or Jamaican feel, which was our original design intent."

The Key Largo is among many custom homes J.A. Long is building at Eagle Landing, a 1,320-acre golf course community being developed by East West Partners, Inc. in northwest Clay County. The firm is building homes on about 30 lots, with prices ranging from $425,000 TO $1,237,000.

J.A. Long Founder and CEO, John Long, says the Key Largo design evolved from a popular model home the firm built in Eagle Harbor.

"We designed an exterior to square up the garage side of the house to make garage side entry doors accessible on 100-foot home sites," John said.

Great house, 21-foot ceilings welcome visitors as they enter the home, with window elements broken up by sharply contrasting colors, offering a view over the distance of the main gathering room on the far end of the first floor located behind an open kitchen. Large windows display the natural pines, ponds and other elements of the outside environment.

The windows of the model face out onto the rear porches, cabana area (complete with fire pit) to a lakeside area with the Eagle Landing Golf Course beyond.

"With this design, the homeowner can really relax and get away from it all," John said. "You have the options of stocking the cabana with your favorite beverages and, with the griller and a free-standing bar and bar sink, it’s a great place to relax on your own or entertain friends."

The lot size for the Key Largo also allows space for a swimming pool, which can be nestled into the bay of the rear house angle, next to the cabana.

Inside, a very open three-sided kitchen displays maple cabinets with old-world glazing, black painted accents and posts, black galaxy granite tops, special Kitchen-Aide Architect series appliances, gas cook top, oven, microwave, and a tall door dishwasher. A butler's pantry, with a Kitchen-Aide wine cellar and granite tops, serves the dining room just around the corner.

On the bottom floor, the master bathroom allures visitors with its cool colors of light greens and golds, small columns and separating arches into a sitting area, and a small storage bookcase. It also features a centered drop-in tub, and matte nickel plumbing fixtures that are mounted in natural slate and balance nicely with the natural tones of slate floors and walls. A clear glass shower, with his and her showers, allows views of a large TV stand and built-in display.

"On the model home we used a bowed glass block window because of the two-story adjacent house, rather than an optional sliding glass door exit, which leads out of the shower to an exterior shower garden with a wall shower, rock garden, and landscaped garden," John said.

Throughout the house, glass tile features accent spaces in several niches. Porcelain flooring mimics Travertine without the soft finish and maintenance problems. Visitors also note the study-paneled wainscoting and ceiling panels where darker stain tones are used for a more masculine decorating scheme.

The home features a floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall bookcase, along with a storage unit – all accessible with sliding oak library ladder. A built-in closet also makes the room useable as a nursery or temporary bedroom, and the master bedroom can be accessed through a walk-through closet. This creates a very flexible space, also offering double doors to the family gathering room, so it can be used for sleeping, a pool table, a study, or an additional TV room just off the kitchen. With its connection to another bedroom and bath, it can easily be used as a self-contained, mini-apartment by guests.

Wrought iron and oak railings guide visitors around the open balconies of the second floor, where walkways overlook the downstairs and connect to the large game room with dry wine bar. A double-entry full bathroom is available for guests, and an adjoining bedroom, which overlooks the front entry walk of the home, can easily be used for either sleeping or converted to a play loft for the kids. Around the corner is an upstairs theater/playroom, and from there a short entry bridge leads to another bedroom/bath suite.

"Basically, the upstairs area has three multiuse or flexible space rooms with a cubby playroom built over the foyer, a large game room with dry wine bar and a finished bonus room or theater located over a portion of the three-car garage," John said. "It is highly functional, and the spaces can be adapted for a variety of uses based on a family size and what the owner wants."

Along with Eagle Landing, J.A. Long’s custom homes can be seen at some of the most exclusive residential developments in the First Coast – including Orange Park Country Club, Pace Island, Magnolia Point Golf and Country Club, Eagle Harbor, World Golf Village, Fleming Island Plantation, and throughout Orange Park area.

J.A. Long continues to enjoy an excellent reputation thanks to the early work of John Long, known for working on projects from the original design stage through on-site supervision, and a similar work ethic adopted by his son, Randy, who joined the family business as chief operating officer years ago. It’s still very much a family business – John’s wife, Linda, serves as office manager, and their youngest son, Ryan, works in the design area.

The firm is also known for its personal touch in working with buyers and owners.

"We really focus on delivering a quality product, whether we are working from one of our own original designs or we’re modifying existing designs brought to us by the homeowner," said Randy Long. "We’re proud of the reputation we have established for our personal approach with customers and the high standards we have set for our work."

For more information about J.A. Long, Inc., contact John or Randy Long at 904-264-3073, info@jalong.com, or visit the company website at www.jalong.com.