We are looking for an inn or small hotel in a beautiful spot in Florida. We are totally unfamiliar with Florida but heard that Captiva/Sanabel are lovely spots. I looked at one of the inns on Fodor's chat that had good reviews but it looked more like a resort than an INN.
Any suggestions?

I don't understand your post. From the title, I thought you wanted to be in the lower Keys. But, you mention Captiva/Sanibel on the west coast.

Is an INN your most important consideration?

Two that come to mind -
http://www.elizabethpointelodge.com/
http://www.turtlebeachinn.com/

But, most are very different and very far apart and nowhere near the Keys or Sanibel.

What ARE you looking for - and where?

Now, this inn would be a spectacular choice. It's actually on an island off Georgia but you get the ferry at Amelia Island, FL -

http://www.greyfieldinn.com/

You can look at www.florida-inns.com for ideas. Florida has many beautiful and unique spots, and quite varied!

My husband and I stayed here last year, www.konakairesort.com, it is on Key West. We would highly recommend it, and would go back in a heartbeat.

The most low key in Florida would have to be Islamorada in the Florida Keys. It is like being on a slow drip valium IV.

Check out The Moorings and Casa Morada.

http://www.casamorada.com/

http://www.themooringsvillage.com/

The Kona Kai is in Key Largo.

Sorry about that, you are right Kona Kai is in Key Largo. We stayed at the Paradise Inn, [email protected], in Key West that trip. It was also very nice, but we thought the Kona Kai was really special. A very nice beach and wonderful sunsets. The owners were very helpful with reservations and letting us know about activities in the area. We were able to take a boat trip right from the resort dock into the Everglades National Park.

I'm thinking what the OP wants is a small Inn that is low key and not a big resort. giannetta, if you could give us more detail, like what part of Florida are you interested in? I personally prefer the gulf side of Florida and you will have some good choices along the Panhandle, the Fogotten Coast, all the way down to Clearwater, Indian Shores, St Pete, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples, Sanibel, Marco Island, and then on into the Keys. Do you want oceanfront? Activities?