The 4,500-square-foot residence at 123 Springline Drive on The Anchor in The Moorings is a stunning masterpiece of impeccable renovation and spot-on creativity, in a waterfront location that is second to none.
The Moorings is Vero’s premier waterfront community, The Anchor the crème de la crème – a gated subdivision of custom-built luxury homes on an anchor-shaped peninsula fronting deepwater canals along the Indian River Lagoon.
Joe Foglia of Foglia Custom Homes and Page Franzel of Page 2 Design headed the creative team that worked with owners John and Leslie Halsted on what began as “just a few changes” and developed into a “complete re-do.” The house, built in 1980, was taken down to the bare bones and re-created in each and every detail, a truly stunning transformation.
After only one face-to-face meeting, says Leslie Halsted, the couple went back to Ohio and, while they received constant updates, they didn’t return to Florida until the home was complete.
A broad stone paver driveway offers a taste of things to come, the graceful iron gate and entrance pillars leading toward substantial, rich mahogany double doors, through which is revealed one of the freshest, most appealing and cohesive interiors imaginable.
The clean, white woodwork and triple crown molding, the palest of pale walls, offer a perfect canvas for the dominant color – a blue that flows seamlessly throughout the home in varying shades, all colors evocative of sky and sea. Fabrics, textures, objet d’art and sparing but effective use of other colors define individual living spaces. With uncompromising quality, Phillip Warren cabinetry, plantation shutters, coastal décor, 8-foot mahogany doors with Rocky Mountain pewter hardware and gorgeous designer tray ceilings abound in this 4-bedroom, 3 full- and 2 half-bath jewel.
The wide entrance hallway leads directly into the living and dining space, which features a splendid, custom coffer ceiling.
Above the dining table, a chandelier hung with layers of delicate mother-of-pearl shells imparts a golden glow.
One of Leslie Halsted’s favorite features is the flooring, made of thick oak planks, well-oiled and waxed, with a top-of-the-line waterproof layer beneath. “I love them,” she says, “and my husband does, too, because they’re sound-absorbing. There’s no clop!” The wood is framed by limestone tile, smartly designed to define each space without impeding the feeling of flow.
Just off the living room is the expanded kitchen, which is open to a family room overlooking the lagoon. This required the removal of walls and resulted in a spacious, inviting area, with plenty of light from under-cabinet and recessed ceiling lighting. A large central island features four slabs of carefully chosen, perfectly matched marble, which glows in the soft light of the hand-blown Juliska pendants hanging above. From the kitchen, a passage lined with lighted glassware display cabinets, leads via a pocket door into the efficiently designed pantry and laundry beyond.
Leslie Halsted said it had taken Franzel months to locate the dazzling, water-like blue green marble that Halsted envisioned for the countertops. The marble’s hues are picked up in the cozy breakfast area nearby.
Meanwhile, the master sanctuary soothes with its calming, neutral color palette and abundant natural light, enhanced further by custom built-ins, tray ceiling, and an absolutely dreamy walk-in “celebrity” closet. From here, unique, double-shuttered mahogany doors let onto the lanai. A luxurious retreat, the master bath is certain to impress even the most discerning lady, with its large Roman tub, walk-in rain shower, his/hers vanities and plantation shutters.
Just down the hall is a guest suite with French doors that open onto a fragrant herb garden and charming little patio, allowing guests to easily come and go. Here, nestled around a corner, is a designer office nook with desk and storage area – the perfect home workspace.
Off the foyer entrance is a wing with two bedrooms, powder room and full bath, which can be closed off to create a 2-bedroom guest suite with private entrance. Bedrooms are carpeted with wool Berber.
Franzel pointed up toward the crown molding and explained that the home’s air distribution was though linear diffusers concealed horizontally – and invisibly – behind it. A close look revealed the molding was about an inch out from the wall, eliminating the need for unsightly vents. It was Foglia, she said, who came up with the clever idea.
Yet another unique feature – this one original to the house – is a beautiful, temperature-controlled walk-in wine room, entered from the hallway through an arched mahogany door.
To reveal the magnificent river view to the west, the French doors in the main living area were replaced with a glass Nano Door slider wall that retracts completely into pockets, expanding the remarkable living/dining area to encompass a spacious, comfortably furnished patio with a handsome wood-beamed ceiling and recessed lighting. Four ceiling fans, a gas fireplace and remote controlled drop-down screens between stacked limestone columns on the pool side, ensure comfort – cool and breezy or warm and cozy – no matter how capricious the Florida weather becomes.
The pool area has been upgraded to an open, beautifully landscaped oasis, the limestone deck featuring a new heated, four-side Infinity pool, with a blue glass finish that mimics the colors and shadows of the lagoon – the perfect spot from which to watch the dolphins play. A walkway leads around the corner of the house to the built-in BBQ/summer kitchen, a unit of stacked limestone with a chiseled-edge counter top. Across the path is a lovely new orchid cabana, a shaded sanctuary for the avid gardener.
A private T-dock provides space for two boats with lifts, and includes water and power; the deep water canal leads right into the Intracoastal. The entire outside area is lighted.
When the time came for the Big Reveal, Leslie Halsted admitted, “We had confidence (in the design team), but we didn’t know what to expect.” The couple had driven from Ohio, right to their as-yet-unseen new home. When they stepped into the foyer, said Franzel, “At first they didn’t say anything.”
Then, “My husband had tears in his eyes. I felt tears running down my face,” Leslie Halsted remembers. “We were speechless. We couldn’t believe it. All we had to do was unpack, put on our pajamas and go to bed.”’
The home – completely turnkey from the bedding to the dog bowls to the stocked pantry – had met and exceeded their wildest expectations. And it is certain to do the same for any new owner. “Life,” said Leslie Halsted, “is all about the details. And this house is truly all about the details.”
The home is listed for $4,990,000 by brokers Michael Thorpe and Kimberly Hardin Thorpe co-owners Treasure Coast Sotheby’s International Realty.
Leslie Halsted calls The Anchor a very friendly community, with a nicely mixed demographic – families, snowbirds, retirees. The Moorings, a splendid country club and boating community, offers an awesome array of amenities, including a magnificent and challenging Pete Dye golf course within the community; a second championship course at Redstick on the mainland; nine Fast-Dry tennis courts; a state-of-the-art health and fitness center; the Oasis Spa; plenty of places to ride a bike or walk a dog, and more. The 56,000-square-foot clubhouse is a hub of activities for the busy social season, with casual and formal events, multiple dining options and a resort-style swimming pool. Membership is available for a separate fee, subject to approval.
From The Moorings, it’s only a short ride north along A1A to Vero’s Village by the Sea. The city offers a year-round calendar of events, festivals and other activities as well as a lively cultural scene, led by Riverside Theatre for the performing arts, and the Vero Beach Museum of Art, both nationally acclaimed. Very few high rise structures, very little traffic congestion, a nice variety of restaurants and shops and, of course, the sandy beaches of the Atlantic add to the area’s allure. Miami, Palm Beach and Orlando are only few hours’ drive away.
