Even though it is only moments away from the beaches, shops and restaurants of Vero’s charming oceanside village, the historic Old Riomar neighborhood, with its winding, sandy lanes and oak canopies, is a journey back in time, to the town’s earliest days.
Turning off Ocean Drive onto Sandfly Lane, one soon comes upon a magnificent oak, said to be 300 years old, a giant among the many oaks which give the neighborhood its unique character. It is by this venerable tree that many local couples have their wedding pictures taken. Here, too, along these shady lanes, a visitor who takes a moment to pause and listen in silence is rewarded by the sounds of the ocean.
The beautiful, rambling “cottage” at 961 Sandfly Lane was built in 1950, a quintessential “Old Florida” home that sits comfortably on a large lot, nestled beneath gnarled oaks, welcoming visitors with the irresistible appeal of an earlier era. (Happily, the namesake sandflies are long gone! But the quiet elegance and charm remain.)
A grand front porch (7’-by-24’) and covered entry porch highlight the front facade. Within the leafy embrace of the oaks, the lawn and the house itself shimmer in the dappled sunlight.
From its original cottage size and design, the home’s first major addition was an expansive master wing by its second owner; the rest of the extensive renovation was by its current owners, John and Jane Johnson, who moved to the home on Sandfly Lane in 1987 with their children, Jennifer and Scott.
A testament to the quality of the original construction, as well as the renovations that followed, Jane says, “This house has gone through so many hurricanes, and hasn’t lost a shingle.”
John Johnson was a renovation professional in the Boston area; with his expertise and her flare for design, the Johnsons’ extensive, respectful and gentle renovations have preserved the architectural features the original builder designed for the Florida climate and lifestyle, while accommodating the demands of an active, modern family.
With their young children and the home’s history and character in mind, the couple made careful plans. “I’d go through magazines, see something I liked and say to John, ‘I want this,’” Jane says with a smile.
Inside, the warm patina of the original oak and heart-of-pine hardwood floors has been lovingly restored, as have the sturdy, unusual slider windows. With the keen color sense of an artist, Jane Johnson has deftly offset the white ceilings and woodwork with a palette of soft, subtle blues and delicate creams, showcasing each room to its best advantage, while maintaining a pleasant flow throughout the home. From dawn to dusk, the interior is bathed in enchanting ambient light flowing in through the trees, transforming from the clear, pale hues of morning to the soft gold of afternoon.
The heart of the home is a large, central living room (15-by-25) featuring a lofty, 12-foot ceiling and sporting the original plaster walls. The centerpiece here is the home’s original fireplace, a striking white Federal Revival-style piece, with a white surround, and a unique “backdrop” that extends from mantle to ceiling. With a broad bank of Plantation-shuttered windows on its north and south sides, this pleasantly lighted space invites relaxation and amiable conversation.
The lovely, formal dining room features pale yellow walls, white woodwork, triple crown molding, gorgeous coffered ceiling, graceful chandelier, golden hardwood floor and a bank of windows looking south upon the broad front lawn. Behind sheer lace panels on the east wall, French doors lead to the grand front porch.
The spacious kitchen, in the center of the home, was originally no more than a galley, all it needed to be in the mid-20th century. Back then, Jane explains, virtually all the neighborhood residents were members of the Riomar Country Club. The club served meals and, when its dinner bell rang, the residents gathered there to dine and share their day’s activities, rendering an elaborate home kitchen superfluous. Now the fully equipped kitchen at 961 Sandfly Lane offers a granite-topped center island with sink, and storage galore, plus an array of appliances, including a handsome French door fridge with freezer. A kitchen window above the main sink looks out onto a long back porch.
Off the kitchen, a half bath/powder room has a retro flair, its chair rail and white bead board topped with colorful vintage wallpaper. Here, too, is a large laundry room, and convenient mud/sand room in proximity to the back entry door.
Adjacent to the kitchen, an area that originally served as the maid’s quarters has been transformed into a spacious family room and dining area with large corner window looking onto the back yard and pool deck.
West off the foyer is a guest suite, set apart from the bedroom wing on the east side, and triple insulated for comfort and quiet. This cozy hideaway is an ideal spot in which to leave the day’s stress behind and snuggle into bed with a cup of tea and a good book.
On the east side, up three steps and along a hallway, are housed a pair of guest suites and the spacious master suite. This area, says Jane, had been carpeted, and, when the Johnsons pulled back the aging covering, they were delighted to discover a beautiful heart-of-pine floor. The additional elevation of the bedroom wing allows a very deep “crawl space” beneath, facilitating any necessary maintenance and repair work. Here, too, is a drop-down to the attic.
The master suite boasts a 23-by-15 bedroom, private porch and door to the back yard, and spacious walk-in/walk-through closet accessing the large master bathroom. (All four of the home’s full bathrooms are equipped with showers only, although a tub could be installed in the master bath, Jane notes.)
One of the most desirable features of this wonderful home is the enormous, fenced back yard and pool area. Here, the Johnsons’ children spent much of their growing-up years, playing with neighborhood pals, and climbing about in a tree house that once occupied an accommodating oak in the corner of the lot – and could again. The beautiful setting is, of course, perfect for entertaining and, says Jane, has easily accommodated close to 200 guests.
Here, too, moms and kids of St. Edward’s Lower School would gather to make vine baskets for school events. St. Ed’s, very similar to the school the Johnsons’ children attended in Massachusetts, was within easy walking distance, and was one of the main reasons they decided to purchase the home. The school has since relocated south on A1A.
A very special aspect of the backyard is the Turtle Run. Jane explains. Over the years, turtles, injured or lost, have found their way into the yard. When they are ready to venture back out into the turtle world, says Jane, they are gently placed just beyond the back fence, onto a grassy “run” which leads back to The Wild.
As much as the Johnsons have loved their home and cherish the memories of raising their family in this magical neighborhood, with Jennifer and Scott now grown and gone, the time has come to start a new chapter, Jane says.
“Now it’s time for another family with children, or grandchildren . . . this house was designed for family.”
Old Riomar is literally only walking distance from Vero’s beachside village, and minutes away via foot, bike or car from the City Marina and Riverside Park, home to Riverside Theatre (Equity), the renowned Vero Museum of Art, jogging trail, boat launch, picnic pavilions, tennis and racquetball courts. Numerous art shows, boat shows and other outdoor community events take place in the park year-round. There is a 5-acre off-lease dog park nearby.