Just across the 17th Street Bridge, heading east toward A1A, is an inconspicuous little road, W. Camino del Rio, which winds through one of the most desired locations on the barrier island, a hidden enclave shaded by ancient oaks, and exuding Old Florida charm. Here, on a lovely large corner lot at 1506, sits an extraordinary piece of new construction from developer/designer/builder/owner Frank Cook Jr., who has poured immense artistry, creativity and high-tech savvy into every aspect of this one-of-a-kind spec home, inside and out.
While this 4,189-square-foot, 4-bedroom, 4-bath beauty eschews the typical Florida tropical style, it is undeniably compelling, with Coastal Craftsman architecture, imparting a Connecticut-like ambiance, casual, yet certainly elegant. It is a remarkably handsome home in its every aspect.
What really makes the house stand out, says Cook, is “not just what you see, but what’s behind the walls,” for this is a “smart” house, with cutting-edge, 21st-century residential technology throughout, light years beyond the traditional, speakers-in-every-room systems of yore.
Energy efficiency is the name of the game here, starting with the spray foam insulation, not only in the attic, but “extending to all porches and the garage as well.” Cook says the home is also pre-wired for solar: if the homeowners want solar, they need only contact a provider. If solar is not desired, nothing will need to be removed. Cook’s company, Prosperity Homes and Properties, LLC, was sold on solar power when research showed that use of solar could cut power costs by 60 to 70 percent, a huge plus, especially in Vero Beach, where summer residential electric bills can hit $1,000-$1,200 a month.
Virtually all the lighting throughout the house is LED, including pendants and recessed fixtures, another huge cost savings, as LED lights can last 50 times longer than incandescent and, Cook adds, they also provide pleasant, soft white light. Additionally, Cook added, there are dimmers for all the lights and – a classy detail – the switch plates are screwless.
The A/C system has two zones, Zone 1 includes the kitchen, dining, great room and laundry room; Zone 2 encompasses the bedrooms. A damper system in Zone 2 allows each room to have its own thermostat for maximum comfort as well as energy efficiency.
Elevating the house from merely Smart to absolutely Genius is the digital “eye,” which provides a whole new level of inside comfort, through user interaction logs that provide a searchable history of setting changes and configurable staging options. In other words, once programmed, the house “reads” the family’s normal comings and goings and preferred temperature settings, and uses that data to make automatic adjustments.
This highest-of-high-tech features is the house’s “motherboard,” the wall-mounted Control 4 home automation platform, from which virtually every aspect of the home can be controlled. Located in the great room, this unit resembles an iPad. From here, the homeowner can control: the speaker system (Cook has it programmed to Pandora); lights/dimmers; individual room temperatures; pool fountain and security system. Cook explained there is a camera at the front door that automatically snaps a picture when the doorbell rings, so the homeowner can see, on the screen, who is there.
A homeowner’s smartphone can be integrated with the Control 4 system to access or control features from anywhere in the world.
Through the louvered, mahogany front door, one enters the foyer and the main corridor, the designer’s signature feature: a grand, 55-foot-long hallway leading from the living spaces on one side to the bedroom wing on the other. Nine beautiful pendants extend from the white, V-vaulted ceiling, illuminating this breathtaking stretch.
The home is not only extremely smart, it is also extremely beautiful.
It’s color scheme features serene combinations of gray and white, with the palest of dove gray walls and gray-washed cabinetry, white Shaker-style wainscoting, doors, beams, columns, and wood inset cabinets, window casements, crown molding, columns and intricate pediments, all offset by richly-stained cypress, poplar and cedar, each area with its own unique architectural features.
The custom-crafted wood closet shelving feels much more like a design element than mere utilitarian racks and rods. Cook insisted they be stained to match the wood floors, causing him, he admits with a grin, to be labeled a “pain in the butt” on more than one occasion.
From the main corridor, the living room extends to the rear window wall, with double glass doors accessing the pool deck and the boundary landscaping that creates a pleasant privacy buffer.
The dining room is another example of creative custom woodwork, with Shaker-style wainscoting, columns, and stepped ceiling, from which a striking 18-light chandelier extends.
The kitchen is bound to become a favorite family gathering place, as well as an efficient and organized Mission Control for big parties. Every chef’s dream, it boasts all commercial-grade, Energy Star-rated stainless steel Jenn Air appliances, including touch-screen controlled, 48-inch double gas range with six burners and griddle cook top and LCD touchscreen; double blower hood; and 42-inch French door refrigerator with dramatic built-in, multi-point LED interior theater lighting.
The huge kitchen island (5’ 2” X 10’ 4”), with custom-built, 3-inch-thick walnut butcher block countertop, features breakfast bar seating along one side, with plentiful, well-organized storage and an under-counter, drawer-design microwave oven on the other side. A sleek, under-counter beverage center accommodates meats, cheese, sodas and has a 14-bottle beechwood wine rack with LED lights.
LED lights in the upper and lower kitchen cabinets are controlled with separate dimmers to set the mood for entertaining or provide more illumination for prep work. The custom slide-out spice rack is only one of the kitchen storage features certain to delight the family foodies, and the family decorator will love the 60-inch-tall kitchen cabinets, topped with 18-inch LED-lighted upper cubby cabinets for showcasing art pieces and tchotchkes.
Countertops throughout are of creamy natural stone, and the extra-high, custom wood beaded cabinetry is a special-mixed washed gray stain, as is the tongue-in-groove kitchen ceiling. A wealth of double windows, transoms and high ceilings enhance the natural light. Flooring throughout is marble or maple.
The massive great room features a magnificent coffered ceiling with recessed lighting and a window wall with access to the side porch.
Just off the great room, past a pantry storage closet, is the laundry room and mudroom. Here, too is the pool bath, with access to the patio/pool deck. The pantry area also leads down two Travertine marble steps into the 3-bay garage, with carriage house custom garage doors, built to the highest (Miami-Dade) wind resistance standards. The floor, Cook points out, is protected with industrial-strength Epoxy. “You can run a forklift over this,” he says.
All the windows are impact-resistant, as are the French doors and the mahogany front door. With this level of protection, storm shutters are not required.
The master bedroom features a handsome cypress stained, nickel joint, tongue-in-groove vaulted ceiling with recessed lighting. As in most of the home, the master bedroom is well-illuminated with ambient light, though transom windows, a triple window facing the pool patio and a double glass door to the pool area. The lady of the house will fall in love with the huge, wood-shelved walk-in closet. The master bedroom ceiling design is repeated in the den.
Another showstopper is the all-marble master bath. Star of this indulgent space is the huge Victoria and Albert Englishcast volcanic limestone double-ended soaking tub with brushed-nickel faucet and grey marble backsplash. (Think candles, wine and a romantic evening, or a long, luxurious soak with a favorite book.)
The large walk-in shower is gray marble, with marble rock floor, marble rock ceiling details, and built-in marble niches. Four ceiling-mounted rain heads, a rainforest showerhead and shower wand will enhance the luxurious experience. His-and-hers sinks include plenty of cabinet space above and below the countertop.
The striking, rectangular, gas-heated saltwater pool and spa features a bubbler, spa jets and waterfall sun shelf. The pool deck and porch floors are constructed of French pattern Travertine stone, and, with colored LED pool lights, create a dramatic centerpiece for evening entertaining.
Although this lovely, friendly neighborhood feels wonderfully secluded, it is literally minutes away from the restaurants and shops of the island’s downtown; the beautiful Atlantic with its sandy beaches; and the two pillars of the city’s cultural scene – Riverside Theatre and the Museum of Art, in Riverside Park.