“When we walked into the house and saw the view of the lake, that was it for me,” says Lynne Griffin, a former TV producer and radio sales executive who with her husband, Henry Griffin, owns the charming home at 120 Loblolly Reach in The Shores. “I knew that was the house for us.”
The view is indeed exceptional, looking over a green lawn at a serpentine expanse of sparkling water overhung by lush trees. There is a glimpse of a picturesque arched bridge and wildlife ranging from herons and egrets to playful otters.
There is a peaceful, almost fairytale quality to the vista, and the house is designed to take full advantage of the ambiance, with an expansive patio, manicured lawn and lots of open-air amenities.
“The Griffin’s home offers great outdoor lakefront living area with a summer kitchen, pool and spa,” says Jane Schwiering, co-owner of Norris & Company, who listed the 4-bedroom, 5-bath house for $1,100,000. “Buyers are seeking outdoor living space more and more, and this home has it! It’s perfect for relaxing and entertaining.”
Though the Griffins loved the house as they found it four years, when they purchased it as a weekend getaway from their busy Miami lifestyle, they wasted no time in making it still nicer. They redecorated the home’s spacious interior, redid the pool, put in a grille and installed a festive striped retractable awning over part of the patio.
Other improvements ranged from the practical to the whimsical. Practical included new pavers and new hurricane-resistant windows and doors throughout the 3,690-square-foot house; whimsical included an air-conditioned dog house for their Great Dane, along with a fenced dog run on the west side of the home.
Located on a peaceful cul-de-sac, the house presents an elegant front to arriving visitors, with a semicircular pavered driveway, exquisite landscaping and a series of Palladian windows and arched doors.
Stepping into the traditional foyer, one is immediately struck by the view of the lake behind the home that captivated Lynne Griffin on her first visit. The view is seen through a several sets of wide gliding doors that make up the back wall of the living room. There is a fireplace on the left side of the living room; on the right, it merges with the dining room.
The home’s most valuable architectural feature is its soaring vaulted ceilings that make the living room grand and that open up and lift all the other rooms in the house.
The flowing, split floor plan is another of the home’s virtues. Most public rooms are to the right of the living room, while three of four bedrooms, including the owner’s suite are to the left.
Beyond the dining room, is the kitchen with lovely cream-colored bead board cabinets, a huge center island and a large breakfast area; the family room, which opens onto the patio; the fourth bedroom, which is set up as an office; and the entrance to the two-car garage.
To the left upon entering are hallways leading to two well-appointed guest or children’s rooms and the master suite with characteristic vaulted ceiling, two walk-in closets and wonderful lake views. The master bath includes a deep soaking tub set in a garden window embrasure that looks out at a protective wall festooned with orchids.
The house is located in one of the island’s most desirable communities.
“The Shores is a beautiful gated enclave just north of John’s Island and is noted for its majestic live oaks and pavered streets,” says Schwiering. “It’s really quite special because of the trees, a beautiful backdrop for its fine custom homes. You really need to see it to appreciate how lush it is.”
“You are half a mile from the bay in one direction, half a mile from the ocean in the other,” says Lynne Griffin.
The Griffin’s daughter was 12 when they bought the home and Lynne says she often brought a friend when they came for three-day weekends.
“The girls loved it here,” Lynne says. “They swam in the pool and went bicycling and kayaking and to the beach.”
Now, however, the Griffin’s daughter is 16 years old and doesn’t want to leave her friends and social activities in Miami on weekends, which is why the couple is selling the house they love.
“I had planned to retire here, but my daughter’s needs come first,” Lynne says.
The Griffins live on South Miami Avenue near where the new billion-dollar Bickle Center is going in and she says the traffic and congestion leave something to be desired compared to Vero.
She is making the best of the situation by remodeling the Miami residence to include features of the Shores home.
“I am moving our Vero house here!” Lynne says.
They family will maintain a Vero connection even after the Shores home is sold. “We have enjoyed it here so much we are keeping our Quail Valley membership and will visit when we have time.”
