1148 LAKE PARKE Drive We had been looking for months for a pool home in NW St. John's County, close to the renowned A-rated schools. We had narrowed down our search to Julington Creek Plantation because, in spite of having the lowest fees among the planned developments in the area, it offered amazing amenities, including a heated lap pool, a family pool with a curly slide, tennis courts, and a great gym. The area seemed to offer so many opportunities for our kids to participate in team sports. We had almost given up on having our own pool because it seemed to mean you pretty much had to give up your back yard, which was important to our 2 rambunctious labs. We walked in the front door and saw the breathtaking view of the screened pool framed by mature trees with a beautiful pond in the background, fell in love! Unlike many of the newer homes in the area, this home actually has enough room between it and the neighboring houses to offer privacy without being hemmed in by a tall privacy fence. The huge (.35 acre) lot with its fully fenced back yard is perfect, especially because the black wrought iron fence contains our dogs without obstructing any of the view. The kitchen, breakfast room, family room, living room and master bedroom all share the same amazing view! I love the size of the dining room which is large enough for our table for 8 that we often fill with friends and family. The kitchen has been remodeled with granite countertops, a tile backsplash, stainless-steel appliances, and crisp white Shaker cabinets reaching to the ceiling with an additional top row of cabinets for extra storage. Our guests can enjoy hors d'euvres at the breakfast bar and visit while I prepare dinner, with one eye on the game on the TV over the wood-burning fireplace in the family room. The gals gather around the table in the breakfast nook or wander out to the screened lanai to soak their feet in the 16.000 gallon salt-water pool which I am told is bigger than your average pool! The formal living room offers a great place to escape from all the hub-bub for those desiring some serious conversation. We added crown moulding and plantation shutters to the formal areas and 5 inch baseboards everywhere except the secondary bedrooms and baths. The Master bedroom suite has another door out to the pool area, a bay window, and a tray ceiling which makes the large room feel even more spacious. I love what the previous owners did with the ensuite master bath updates, and the master closet has plenty of room for both of our clothes, and a window allowing natural light into the room. The split bedroom floor plan provides 2 bedrooms and a bathroom on the opposite side of the house; one became our office and the other one is perfect for our little princess. Our two roudy boys have their own space upstairs over the garage where their antics don't disturb the rest of the family, and they have their own bathroom to themselves. The laundry room and utility sink are perfectly located close to the kitchen and central to the kids' bedrooms. Our hope is that the next owners of this wonderful home are just as happy here as we have been!