After being crammed in the cabin of a boat, confined to the deck of an offshore fishing vessel or squatting in a kayak, it’s a great relief to pull any one of these boats up to a dock or boat lift belonging to a grand, spacious home to enjoy sprawling indoor and outdoor spaces. Time to stretch and luxuriate!
The house located at 132 Anchor Drive, on a beautiful deep water canal in The Moorings, is just such a home. Owners Kyle Pacetti and Melanie Gonzalez enjoy the exclusivity of the property as well as the ample time the house affords them on their flats and offshore boats. They also value the home as a place where they can entertain family and friends, and do hobbies that add great pleasure to their lives.
Privacy reigns in the 5,000-square-foot home tucked away on a .53-acre lot in a quiet area in the gated Anchor subdivision. The 4-bedroom house has four full baths and two half-baths. It is being offered for $2,590,000 by the Schlitt-Gonzalez team at Coldwell Banker Paradise.
“It’s a luxurious home but it has a homey feel to it,” Pacetti said, explaining one of the things he most likes about the house. “We’re in the midst of things – on the water. We can get up in the morning, walk out to the dock and go out to the Gulf Stream on the boat to fish, then get back for lunch.”
That convenience and yes, luxury, goes a long way for the avid fisherman and fisherwoman. “We are half-way between the inlet and town,” added Gonzalez. “The trout fishing is great here; we can launch kayaks here, and troll for trout in the flats.”
The upscale yet unstuffy feel of the home located on a canal leading to the Indian River Lagoon was a big draw when the couple bought the home.
Another amenity is a 24-hour guarded gate providing security in this neighborhood on the lagoon side of A1A off of Regatta Drive.
“When we saw this house I thought it would be our ‘Forever Home,'” said Gonzalez. “I immediately saw kids playing…a place with luxury but where there is a lot of family fun.”
A prime family house, indeed, agreed the listing agent, Linda Schlitt-Gonzalez. “It’s a relaxed, family-oriented house,” she said. “It wouldn’t necessarily have to be a family who is here year-round, but would also be suitable for a couple who has family come visit. They can enjoy the separate upstairs and downstairs living areas, and do lots of entertaining, while allowing guests to have their own space.”
While the current owners enjoy the house, Pacetti’s primary hobby requires vast space, one that he’d like to separate from a house he is living in. His woodworking workshop is currently taking up the entire 3-car garage. Meanwhile, a high performance sports car sits in the driveway in the hot Florida sun.
The couple purchased the house in 2011 and completed the remodeling in 2014 to add fine millwork and finishes. It happens that Pacetti’s knack for woodworking is evidenced throughout the home, where there are several exquisite pieces.
For example, the master closet is made of alder wood, a handsome wood with an aroma and look that magically puts you right smack in the beautiful outdoors.
In the 18.5-foot by 16-foot dining room with chair railing, crown molding and wainscoting, there’s a massive dining room table that seats 14-plus, made of nine types of exotic wood, also beautifully designed and built by the owner. Useful and a showpiece in its own rite, it comes with the house.
“It really belongs here,” said Gonzalez, who with Pacetti has hosted many dinner parties and Thanksgiving meals at that table. “If the next owners want it, we’d love for them to have it. It really suits the space.”
In the 17-foot by 14-foot kitchen, there are handmade solid maple cabinets. Sturdy and handsome, these are an impressive part of a kitchen which also includes granite counters and tile, an island made of reclaimed wood and Thermador appliances.
There are many other splendid features throughout the home. The 17-foot by 17-foot family room adjacent to the kitchen has a working fireplace and offers a wonderful view through sliding doors of the pool/spa and travertine deck.
The 22-foot by 17-foot media/ living room features a show-stopper coral fireplace, Douglas fir tongue-and-groove ceiling and plenty of space to set up a home entertainment system and furniture.
At the end of a downstairs hallway is an office and master bedroom. The 16-foot by 21-foot master suite is bright and from the bedroom showcases the beautiful outdoor scenery with Birds of Paradise, palms and other lovely landscape touches. Within footsteps is a travertine patio, partly covered by a pergola and an inviting hammock swinging in the breeze.
The master suite features the handsome alder wood walk-in closet and impressive 15-foot by 21-foot spa-like bathroom consisting of a large shower with double walk-in access, double shower heads with body jets, and hand-held wands. It features a pebble floor with glass mosaic tiles on the walls, two vanities, separate water closet and an inviting claw-foot tub.
A powder room with gorgeous white and creme granite tile floor is off a hallway leading to the dining room.
Upstairs, there are what the owner describes as “miniature master retreats” meaning all three guest rooms have a private bathroom with tub/shower and walk-in closet. Two of them lead to a 64-foot-long balcony on the east side of the house overlooking the pool and canal below.
These bedrooms are within a few steps of an upstairs family room or game room and kitchenette with balcony access. There’s also upstairs laundry.
This 18-foot by 24-foot game room or family room is large enough to accommodate a billiard table, home entertainment system and plenty of furniture. There are handsome wood accents, painted white, on the walls and a vaulted tongue-and-groove ceiling. Walnut floors are featured throughout the house.
“It’s a coastal home that’s livable,” said Gonzalez. “It is comfortable and it is luxury, but not necessarily grandiose,” said Gonzalez. “It’s understated elegance.”
The Anchor at The Moorings is built on a peninsula with deep water canals on each side and the Indian River on the west. The peninsula is shaped like a ship’s anchor, hence the name. The Anchor is popular among boating enthusiasts due to the deep water canals, perfect for large, oceangoing sailboats and yachts.
The canal front has a bulkhead for protection, offering full use of the yard up to the bulkhead. The canals are only a few minutes by water from the Intracoastal Waterway.
“Kyle’s business colleagues get wowed when they come here,” said Gonzalez. “None of them are from coastal areas, so being here is an experience for them – one that is very islandy.”
