The charming Old Riomar “cottage” at 946 Seagrape Lane epitomizes a leisurely topical lifestyle, with an open floor-plan, expanses of glass that allow light to pour in, and superbly landscaped grounds in a private setting only a few steps from the beach.
The 3-bedroom, 3-bath home has 3,141 square feet of air-conditioned living space, with another 900 square feet under roof. It has great curb appeal with a front courtyard enclosed by a vine-grown masonry wall and an awesome oak tree that looks like something out of the movie “Swiss Family Robinson.” The semi-circular front drive and side drive leading to the attached two-car garage are neatly manicured pea gravel – very Old Riomar.
“It is a beautifully-maintained, updated home with a separate guest house by a tropical pool that is move-in ready,” says Premier Estate Properties broker associate Kay Brown, who has the house listed for $1,250,000.
There is an expansive screened front porch that’s the perfect place to enjoy the quiet beauty of the walled front garden. Entry to the traditional foyer is via a dark-wood door with sidelights. To the right of the foyer is a huge 22-foot by 27-foot great room with French doors in the back that open into the kitchen. To the left of the foyer is the large formal living room with vaulted ceiling, built-ins and gas fireplace.
At the back of the living room are a doorway that leads to the kitchen and an archway that opens to the lanai – which is one of the home’s most outstanding features. More than 30 feet long and completely enclosed by a series of sliding glass doors, it truly brings the outside in, blending the domestic and natural worlds.
The lanai overlooks a patio fringed with palms that surrounds a sparkling lap pool. At one end of the pool is the 20-foot by 21-foot guest cabana with bedroom and full bath.
A meandering path with stepping stones leads around the side of the house from the pool patio to the front garden, winding through the lush landscaping.
Back inside, the well-equipped U-shaped kitchen is open to the lanai, with a long seating counter separating the two rooms. The way the kitchen is set up, anyone cooking, doing dishes or putting away groceries can see the entire lanai and patio area, perfect for a hostess entertaining guests while preparing drinks or a meal, and ideal for a cook with kids. Children playing on the lanai or swimming in the pool can easily be supervised from the convenient counter area.
The two bedrooms in the main house are in the east wing, accessible from the family room. The spacious master bedroom, with a tray ceiling, overlooks the pool patio and includes a bath with double vanities, a separate tub and shower and private water closet. There is also a deep walk-in closet with built-in bureaus and shelves.
The front bedroom, made to order for children or guests, has lots of built-in shelves and cupboards along with a built-in desk and its own full bathroom.
Old Riomar is the original neighborhood on Vero’s barrier island, dating back to the 1920s. It was first known as the Cleveland Colony because most of the early residents, who built homes here before there was a bridge to the island, were from that Midwestern city where icy winds blow off of Lake Erie in winter and the snow piles high.
According to Brown’s office, the subdivision still “captures the ambiance of a bygone era with canopies of live oak trees shading quaint, shell-stone lanes,” and notes that “this prestigious neighborhood is home to the Riomar Country Club,” which was founded by those early Ohio residents and is a highly-regarded private golf club today.
The home at 946 Seagrape is adjacent to multimillion-dollar oceanfront estates and only a block away from South Beach Park, a well-developed and maintained oceanfront green space with restrooms, picnic areas, showers and one of the most popular stretches of sand in Vero.
It is a three- or four-minute drive or short walk away from the heart of the island’s shopping and dining district along Cardinal Drive and Ocean Drive, where there also are two luxury hotels with restaurants and spas and a famous historical resort.
South Beach restaurants – including several fine-dining options, some with live entertainment, and a classic beachside pizza place – are even closer, a five-minute walk away along palm-shaded streets.
The 17th street bridge, which provides access to mainland shopping along Miracle Mile and U.S. 1, is only half a mile away.