The bright yellow, British West Indies home at 2214 Falls Circle in The Falls at Grand Harbor puts a smile on your face before you step across the threshold. Carved rafter tails and a tower foyer hint at the island-style oasis within.
Jim and Betty McShane came to Vero Beach in 2004. The couple was looking ahead to their retirement and wanted to take Vero for a test drive before committing to a location. They had lived and worked overseas for many years and discovered our little seaside village while Jim was working at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral.
The McShanes purchased a condominium for brief visits at first before discovering The Falls one rainy day quite by accident. “Betty used to love to go out for open houses,” recalls Jim McShane.
Having forgotten to write down the address of an open house they wanted to check out, the McShanes stopped at the first house they came to that was for sale when they drove into the The Falls neighborhood and liked what they saw. It wasn’t until later they learned they had stopped at the wrong house.
“We fell in love with the place right away,” says McShane. “It flows. From the front door all the way to the back. It’s a nice, even flow. It’s not broken up at all. That gives it more spaciousness. You have an airy feeling.”
Once inside, the high ceilings and clean lines are the perfect canvas for the seafoam-green and ocean-blue accents throughout the house. The foyer opens into the elegant, formal living area at the center of the home.
The central living area flows out onto the veranda, where brick pavers and lush tropical landscaping create a private, poolside oasis. Water trickling into the gas-heated pool adds to the already serene setting.
“I love to sit out here and drink my coffee in the morning or read a book in the afternoon,” shares McShane. “And I can’t tell you how many times we’ve looked forward to hopping into the spa after playing tennis.”
The home’s gracious floor plan offers spacious rooms, adds Diane De Francisci, Alex MacWilliam, Inc. realtor, who is offering the property for $588,500. “This stunning home will exceed all expectations. It has been beautifully updated in the fresh contemporary style today’s buyers expect.”
To the left, a hallway leads to a pair of en suite guest rooms, away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the house. Guests can come and go without disturbing their hosts.
Directly off the front entry is a laundry room and access to the two-car garage. From there, you pass through the formal dining room and into the kitchen, which was updated two years ago. The clean lines are subtly elegant, and the space doesn’t compete with the family room.
White Corian countertops contrast nicely with the stainless-steel appliances. Rounded windows and arches soften the lines, giving the space a contemporary feel. Guests can chat from the bar top, cozy breakfast nook, or lounge in the family room in front of the electric fireplace as the host and hostess refresh drinks.
The generous master suite fills the rear of the house. With views overlooking the pool and lake along with a sumptuous bathroom, there’s little motivation to venture outside this private sanctuary. The master bath includes dual sinks, a built-in vanity, garden tub, water closet and walk-in shower.
The lakeside lots in The Falls enjoy substantial backyards. Each evening, the couple sit in a pair of Adirondack chairs in the shade enjoying a glass of wine and views of the lake and island reserve maintained by the Audubon Society.
“There’s also good space between the houses, so you’re not on top of each other,” notes McShane, pointing to the positioning of the homes on the lots for optimal privacy.
One of the best features of living in The Falls are the people, says McShane, noting monthly potlucks at the community pool and FFF (Fun, Friends and Frivolity) nights with their tennis group. “We’ve had as many as 70 people over and there was plenty of room for everyone. Outside, inside, with the doors open, everybody was comfortable.”
“Grand Harbor is a great place. It’s very friendly, inclusive and very generous.” adds De Francisci.
Vero has so much to offer off campus as well, points out McShane. “It’s not just seasonal. There’s something going on all year round. You just have to take the time to get out and look. Grand Harbor has plenty to offer but I tell people to get off campus, there’s a big world out there in Vero and it’s an enjoyable world. Theater, culture, museums. It’s all here for you.”
The Falls are but one of Grand Harbor’s neighborhoods within the 900-acre, guard-gated enclave. Amenities include a grand clubhouse, two championship golf courses, tennis, a marina, bocce as well as dining. A trip over the river leads to the members-only barrier island beach club. Membership options are available, including golf, tennis or social. Within the community, slips at the sheltered harbor and marina are available for lease through Suntex and provide easy access to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean via Fort Pierce and Sebastian inlets.
Vital Statistics
- Address: 2214 Falls Circle
- Neighborhood: The Falls at Grand Harbor
- Year built: 2006
- Architecture: British West Indies
- Construction: Concrete block with stucco
- Lot size: 160 feet x 92 feet
- Home size: 2,610 square feet
- Bedrooms: 3
- Bathrooms: 3
- Pool: Gas heated with swim out bench and spa
- View: Lake and island
- Additional features: Split plan; crown molding; electric fireplace; pantry; Corian countertops; breakfast nook; garden tub; built-in vanity; water closet; laundry room; impact-resistant windows; covered lanai and two-car garage
- Listing agency: Alex MacWilliam, Inc.
- Listing agent: by Diane De Francisci, 772-538-1614
- Listing price: $588,500
