In the northern part of the country, friends and family are struggling through one of the harshest winters in history, while we are lucky to live in a land of warmth and sunshine.
People live differently here and their homes reflect that. We spend more time outside, enjoying all that the tropics have to offer. Children invite friends over for play dates in their swimming pools in the deep of winter. Citrus trees grow in people’s backyards, ensuring fresh lemonade year round. Generally, closet space is minimal, because we rarely need winter coats.
This week’s featured house is located in Colonial Terrace, an older, established family neighborhood off of 8th Street, in Vero Beach. Set on more than a half acre of land that is landscaped and meticulously maintained, this home has the feel of a beach house, right in the middle of town. It is a classic split floor plan, with three bedrooms on one side of the house, and a recently added master suite on the other side, affording privacy to all.
Built in 1977, the 4-bedroom, 3-bath, 2,853-square-foot house has been extremely well cared for and updated, so the next owner can walk in and enjoy a great environment with all the modern accoutrements with no added effort.
Storage space is one the most important things that homebuyers look for when purchasing a house, and this one has plenty of it. Everywhere you look, there are places to stash things. There is even a northern coat closet, as listing agent Jonathan Sternberg calls it.
“This is an incredibly well-thought out house,” said Sternberg, a realtor with Norris & Company who is offering the house for $314,900. “The owners did not waste any space. It is very thoughtfully designed.”
Visitors are greeted by a huge driveway landscaped with tropical plants and trees, and enough space for a dozen cars to park. There is also a spacious two-car garage.
Step into the airy family room with vaulted ceilings and high square windows that allow the sun in, but keep the house cool, thanks to the key west shutters. This is the spot for gatherings of family and friends around the wood burning fireplace, with the kitchen conveniently located a few steps away.
One of the upgraded features of this house is the many pocket doors throughout, letting the owners close off wings for even more privacy. The current owners have lived here for more than 20 years and have watched their children grow up here. When the children were small, parents and children all slept in one wing. As the children got older, the parents added the master bedroom wing on the other side of the house, complete with a luxurious modern bathroom.
The addition includes an impressive kitchen, complete with granite counters and stainless steel appliances, including a Kitchen-Aid refrigerator, a microwave, and two ovens, one of which is a Bosch. The floors are a pale terra cotta ceramic tile, as they are throughout most of the house. The centerpiece of the bright, sunny kitchen is the granite island. The light wood kitchen cabinets all have convenient pull-out shelves. A huge pantry and large broom closet complete the storage in the kitchen.
The master bedroom suite is just off the kitchen, with a hallway leading to a laundry room with an updated front loading washer/dryer and hanging rack. Wood floors give the room a warm, comfortable feeling, and French doors lead outside to the screened-in pool and almost 800 square feet of covered lanai.
“Up north, people have finished basements,” said Sternberg. “Down here, everyone has lanais.”
No respectable master bedroom would be complete without a walk-in closet and this one is no exception. This closet is big enough to be an extra room or small office.
The master bathroom is large and light, with a ceiling fan and windows that look out to the pool area, and smaller, higher windows above the bed, for privacy.
The master bathroom has the requisite double sink vanity, with more gorgeous granite counter tops and loads of cabinet space. The walk-in marble shower has a double headed rain shower for a luxurious spa experience.
On the other side of the house, there are three bedrooms, one of which is being used as a gentleman’s retreat (read “man cave”).
The fenced yard is huge and is just the spot for active children and dogs to run off surplus energy. A lemon tree stands in the corner of the lot, waiting for someone to pick the bountiful fruit. An outdoor shower helps to keep the dirt outside the house. There is even a doggie door for the family pets.
The location cannot be beat for convenience, since 8th Street is a major artery to Indian River Boulevard and 58th Avenue. Shopping and restaurants are nearby, and Colonial Terrace is zoned for Glendale Elementary, almost right across the street. The beach is less than six miles away.