An Old Chicago brick drive winds its way through a canopy of mature trees and opens to a fabulous family estate at 191 Beachside Drive.
The custom home designed by Garcia, Brenner & Stromberg and built by Proctor Construction Company and Scales Building Corporation sits on a 1.5-acre lot with 166 feet of pristine ocean frontage.
With 9,000 square feet of air-conditioned living space, the home, located in the exclusive Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club community, has plenty of room for the entire family, with four bedrooms in the main house, a separate cabana guest suite and a carriage house apartment.
The design for the 3-story house was inspired by the architecture of Pebble Beach, according to the homeowner. “We love stone and wood. It’s not your typical Florida house, but it’s still warm and inviting.”
The attention to detail and craftsmanship are evident even before stepping foot through the front door. A red brick staircase adjacent to a wall of exposed brick leads to the second-story entry with a solid, old-world door with Rocky Mountain hardware.
“This is an exceptional home, unlike any other on the island,” says Dale Sorensen Real Estate Broker-Owner Matilde Sorensen. “It was thoughtfully designed with unique architectural elements throughout.”
Stepping into the foyer, guests are greeted by a weeping view of the Atlantic Ocean.
“With the back exterior of the home being curved, you have panoramic ocean views from almost any angle in most of the rooms, completely taking advantage of the oceanfront location,” explains Sorensen.
The master suite encompasses the top floor with his and her bath and library. Enjoy the sunrise over the Atlantic from the bed or sitting on the wraparound porch overlooking the ocean and pool area.
The Jacuzzi tub fronted by a large picture window overlooking the water is the focal point of the spacious bathroom. Marble and diamond glass tiles complement the dark wood vanity; dual water closets and a walk-in rain-head shower finish off the room.
On windswept days, the master of the house can tuck into a good book in the master suite library. Book-lined walls, a brass rail and ladder and ocean-view window seat create a literary haven made cozy by the flicker of a gas fireplace with marble surround.
The second floor is the heart of the house, with the kitchen at its core. Entertaining is a snap in this perfectly-sized, cook’s kitchen.
Granite countertops and custom tiles accent the walnut-topped center island with copper prep sink, custom pot rack and breakfast bar.
The six-burner Wolf gas stove, hammered oversized copper sink, Thermador warming drawer, ovens, double Sub-Zero refrigerators and Bosch dishwashers ensure any gathering can be handled.
The butler’s pantry provides an extra staging area just off the formal dining room. Floor-to-ceiling windows open onto the porch and outside dining area for an unobstructed view of the Atlantic.
Spanish marble and a wormy chestnut grid floor along with a beamed ceiling in the dining room are additional examples of the extensive use of handcrafted millwork in the home.
“The quality of the woodwork and craftsmanship was important to us,” says the owner. “Every room has a different ceiling treatment.”
Even the powder room is resplendent with fine details, with its mahogany console and imported Mexican hand-painted sink.
The formal living room is bookended with view porches. The tongue- and groove-beamed wood ceiling, coral-fronted gas fireplace and custom cabinetry by John LaCorte add just the right amount of warmth and texture to the room.
A few steps from the fireplace, the onyx-topped bar is an inviting spot for family and friends to catch up. The full bar fronts a 1,500-bottle wine cellar with a separate refrigeration unit.
The guest wing lies at the south end of the house with the breakfast nook and a cozy sitting area with a riverstone fireplace and roll-top desk buffering guests from the rest of the house.
“It’s a great family home but also good for a couple that has guests, because there are so many private areas,” explains the owner.
Elegance and a focus on comfort carry over into the guest bedrooms with private porches, extensive crown molding, marble-topped sinks and custom tiles.
One bedroom and bath has cottage style wainscoting and a Jacuzzi claw-foot bathtub that was featured in a Better Homes and Gardens Kitchen and Bath issue.
The party starts on the bottom floor of the house, which includes a game room with a built-in marble topped wet bar and entertainment system. The slate floors and bath leading outside allow for pool and beach traffic.
The covered lanai and summer kitchen overlook the gas-heated pool and hot tub. An exposed brick wall creates contrast, texture and shadow against the built-in gas grill and gas or wood burning fireplace. The refrigerator, icemaker and stainless steel sink located adjacent to the outdoor seating and dining area are perfect for hosting a barbecue on balmy summer nights.
Head down to the beach on the lighted, private dune walkway for a moonlit stroll or toss beach toys into the storage bench seating, and rinse off in the shower before heading back to the house after a day in the sun.
Outbuildings include a cabana guest suite with private entrance, an oversize storage room that can serve as a media or fitness room, a 3-car temperature-controlled garage, and a carriage-house apartment atop a detached 3-car garage.
“When I walk in my house, it feels like home. It feels warm, loving and inviting,” shares the owner. With four grown children and a bevy of grandchildren in and out of the house, it’s important to her that the cozy wood and brick fortress be a sanctuary for her family.
The Orchid Island community features an outstanding West Indies-inspired Beach Club, 18-hole golf course and golf clubhouse, tennis center, fitness center, community pool and dining venues. The exclusive community is located near the Wabasso Causeway a short drive up the coast from all that Vero Beach has to offer in shopping, dining and entertainment.