When River Club residents Bob and Reita Byrket decided it was time to downsize from their spacious 3 bedroom-plus den, 5.5-bath home, they looked all along the barrier island to see where they might want to spend the next chapter of their life.
But their search took them right back to where they started.
The Byrkets put their handsome imperial-style house at 1108 Baywood Drive on the market and are so enamored with River Club where they’ve lived for the past six years, they decided to buy a condominium just a hop, skip and jump away.
“We like it so well, we’re staying in the community,” said Mr. Byrket. “This is where we want to be.”
On the market is their stunning light-filled 3,873-square feet home on Baywood Drive in River Club – listed with Norris and Company Real Estate for $1,050,000.
Nicely situated on a corner lot, the handsome concrete block house with impact windows and doors, is one of the newer homes for sale on the island, says broker/associate Debbie Bell, the listing agent.
The house, built in 2007, is a key reason why the Byrkets have enjoyed their time in River Club. The serenity of its location is provided by the quiet corner they are on, which enables a great deal of privacy. Plus there is a sizable and lush fenced-in yard that extends out from the patio and pool area.
“A lot of new houses don’t have the green space that this house offers, which is what makes this one so special,” said Bell. “The newer houses tend to be on top of each other.”
The openness of the floor plan and the abundant light that shines in through the windows, transoms and glass front doors, is highly appealing. “You don’t even have to turn lights on during the day which gives the house a happy feeling,” Bell added.
Approaching the home walking on blue, pink and gray pavers, a welcoming feeling sweeps over a visitor – elegant royal palms, desert cassia with yellow blooms and a lush green lawn offer a beautiful introduction to the property. Passing the attached 2-car garage to the left, and a large pink hibiscus to the right, you arrive at the front doors.
Walking into the house into the front hallway, you are immediately struck by the openness and spaciousness of the floor plan. To the right are double doors that lead into a 14-foot by 11-foot library or den that can double as a bedroom for overflow guests. The ceiling decor is striking with six block recesses with grass cloth and recessed lighting.
Straight ahead from the hallway is the 20-foot by 17-foot grandiose living room with tray ceiling, crown molding, custom shelves with bead board, gas fireplace and French doors that lead to the patio and pool deck. Sitting in this room, you can look out at the western sky through the front doors and transoms, and the eastern sky through the French doors.
“When sunlight goes in through the front glass doors, it creates a lot of prisms,” observed Mrs. Byrket, who enjoys the aesthetics of the house’s interplay with nature. She painted the living room a soft green color in order to “bring the outside in.” Indeed, looking out the French doors at the patio and green space, a visitor sitting in the living room feels a closer connection to the outdoors.
The master suite on the south side encompasses the entire width of the home. The 19-foot by 16-foot bedroom is striking with its bowed window and transoms. It has plantation shutters and a French door that leads to the patio.
Three custom closets provide ample room for wardrobes, and a large bathroom features a seamless shower, his and her vanities and Jacuzzi tub. Custom plantation shutters over large windows match the bathroom cabinets and provide ample privacy.
On the opposite side of the house is a formal dining area which is 15 feet by 12 feet and framed by impressive columns. There is easy access to the kitchen through a door from the dining room. Or else, continuing down the hall, passing a charming breakfast nook that overlooks the pool and patio, you will arrive at the 15-foot by 13-foot kitchen, which features travertine tile, granite counters, recessed lighting under the wood cabinets, gas stove, two sinks and a Sub-Zero refrigerator. There is a water filtration system in the kitchen.
The kitchen opens out to the 19-foot by 17-foot family room with built-in custom-cabinetry that goes nicely with the kitchen cabinets so as to provide a nice aesthetic flow from one room to the other. This room has French doors with transoms and phantom screens. A cabana bath is located just off the family room.
Outside is a covered lanai with outside lighting and hookups for a summer kitchen on the patio. Standing on the sprawling deck that features a pool and Jacuzzi, looking out at green space, oak trees and black olive tree, Mrs. Byrket observed, “As soon as you step out on the patio you can feel a breeze and hear the wind chimes.”
Large guest suites are situated privately down a hallway beyond an attractive powder room with wainscoting and granite sink, large laundry room with granite counters, a sink and custom cabinets, and a large utility closet.
The 14-foot by 11-foot private guest suite has French doors and a bathroom with granite sink and seamless glass shower. Across the hall from it is another guest suite which is 16 feet by 11 feet and has a walk-in closet, French doors and bathroom with granite sink and seamless shower.
At the end of the hallway is a door leading to the covered breezeway that extends to the 2-car garage.
“This house is easy living,” said Mrs. Byrket.
The Byrkets spent over 20 years in a larger barrier island community, and while they have wonderful memories of that time, a smaller community suits them well at this point. They emphasized how wonderful it is to live in River Club.
“We don’t have the traffic or large amount of people,” Mr. Byrket said. “It’s very quiet and peaceful here. There are a couple of lakes, and the club extends to the river.”
Mrs. Byrket added, “Everyone is very friendly – they wave as you go by. It makes you think you are in a small town.”
Bell noted that as a newer community, River Club is experiencing increased sales activity. “New luxury homes are being built on the available home sites and the community has so much to offer,” she said.
And there’s plenty to do at River Club. There are two clubhouses with full kitchens and two pools, a fitness center and tennis courts. One clubhouse is located on the river, and there are suites that members can reserve for a fee for guests. Residents can reserve the clubhouse space for entertaining and meetings.
There is a 24-hour guard at the front gate, well lit and newly paved streets and the homeowner’s fee includes lawn mowing and edging.
The location is ideal, especially for those who are active. The River Club front gate is located on A1A across from a public beach access; and on the west side, there is gate access to the historic Jungle Trail. The access puts you directly onto the south side of the dirt trail which stretches for miles up to Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.