Mar-Key Islamorada
Mar-Key Islamorada is not a standard vacation rental. It is a private oceanside estate in the Florida Keys, with multiple residences, resort-level amenities and a very specific sense of privacy. The site needed to feel rare from the first screen.
The Brief
The client needed a website that could present the estate as exclusive without making it feel cold or overdesigned. There was a lot to explain: weekly rentals, three residences, private beach access, pool, hot tub, pickleball, add-ons, concierge-style services and the larger “behind the gates” experience. My job was to make all of that feel clear, calm and premium, without turning the site into a long rental listing.
My Approach
I leaned into the photography and kept the design spacious. The estate already has the visual strength, so I did not want the layout fighting it. I built the page flow around how someone would evaluate a property like this: first the atmosphere, then the estate, then the residences, then the amenities, then the reservation path. The harder part was restraint. Luxury sites can get noisy fast. I kept the structure simple, the copy areas focused and the calls to action visible without making the site feel pushy.
Key Features
Private Estate Positioning — The site presents Mar-Key as a full private estate, not just another vacation rental with a nice view.
Image-Led Homepage — Large photography carries the mood, showing the grounds, residences, pool, private beach and Florida Keys setting.
Residence Overview — Tarpon Lodge & Wing, Coral Cottage and Turtle Nest are organized clearly so visitors understand how the estate works for groups.
Amenities & Add-Ons Structure — Private beach, pickleball, pool, hot tub, kayaks, chef options, boats and concierge services are grouped cleanly instead of becoming a cluttered checklist.
Reservation CTAs — Reserve and contact paths are placed throughout the site, but kept subtle enough to match the tone of the brand.
Story-Driven Sections — Estate details and “Behind the Gates” content help build the feeling of privacy and exclusivity beyond the basic features.
Responsive Experience — The mobile layout keeps the same polished feeling, with the imagery and calls to action adjusted for smaller screens.
The Result
The finished site gives Mar-Key Islamorada a digital presence that feels much closer to the property itself. Calm. Private. High-end. Easy to understand.
Visitors can now see what makes the estate different without having to dig through a generic rental layout. The site sells the experience more than the square footage, which was the right move here. Privacy, setting, comfort and the feeling of having the whole place to yourself are now much clearer.