With its winding, oak-dappled lanes and the easy island ambiance of its home designs, The Estuary, a gated community in the heart of Indian River Shores, bespeaks a charming Old Florida lifestyle. A glowing example is the lovely, single-story home at 260 Lakeview Way.
A wide, paver drive leads to the handsome covered entryway, flanked by a pair of trees within recessed alcoves, an unusual and pleasing architectural feature. Through the dramatically dark double doors, one immediately enters the home’s most commanding space – a beautiful central courtyard, around which the rest of the home extends.
The courtyard is structured as a broad walkway, cleanly landscaped on either side with tropical plants and graceful palms. Sufficiently spacious to accommodate tables and chairs, if the owner chose, the space would lend itself nicely to entertaining: a welcoming retreat in which guests gather to enjoy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and conversation.
A columned portico leads into the light-filled living room, opening though French doors to the lanai, pool and spacious backyard. A gorgeous, eye-catching feature, providing a riverine flow from space to space, is the flooring. At first – and even second – glance, you’d likely think it was wood planking, finished in a pale white wash to reveal the characteristics of the grain. It is, in fact, absolutely beautiful wood-like tile.
With generous windows, white flooring, walls, ceilings, cabinetry, crown molding and millwork throughout, the home is always filled with warm, ambient light. When night falls, recessed lighting illuminates without distracting from the stylish 10- and 11-foot ceilings.
In the living room, a gas fireplace and simple, white surround are flanked by display alcoves, their dark wood shelves in clean contrast to the white cabinetry.
The west wing houses the family room, kitchen and laundry. As in the living room, French doors open from the family room to the lanai, and tall windows along the west side provide plenty of light. The popular family room-to-kitchen open plan allows serving and conversation between the two, with lots of space in the family room for seating and a breakfast nook/game table.
The gourmet kitchen is a crisp monochromatic space, with clean lines, plenty of cabinetry and lovely crown molding on the ceiling and the near-ceiling cabinet tops. The counter surfaces are stylish white quartzite with dark gray striations. Also quartzite-topped is the very large island, which provides storage and shelving in contrasting dark wood, includes electrical outlets and also houses the microwave. A pair of simple gold-hued glass pendants illuminates the island surface.
The 5-burner gas cook top and double oven are Jenn-Air, as is the extra-large double-door fridge. The dishwasher is Bosch. A window over the sink offers a pleasant view of the side yard – providing a helpful, visual diversion from boring kitchen chores –and ensures plenty of cheerful natural light.
From the kitchen, a small passageway housing a butler’s pantry leads to the well-lighted formal dining room, with windows to the courtyard on the east, and the landscaped side-yard on the west. White wood chair rail and skirting add an elegant touch here.
A small hallway leads from the dining room to the laundry room, which has not only sink and lots of cabinetry, but also an unexpected and very handy walk-in closet. The 2-bay garage can be accessed from the laundry room and also has an exterior door to the side yard.
The home’s east wing contains the three bedrooms and a versatile office/den/library.
Accessed via a private hallway from the living room, the master suite is large and very private, with the master bedroom receiving natural light from the west and south. There is also private access to the lanai: picture an early morning or midnight swim, morning coffee, afternoon cocktail. The master suite includes two custom walk-in closets, one large, the other – larger.
The all-white master bath features marble floors and a truly masterful, king-sized stand-alone tub; a water closet; plenty of cabinetry; long twin vanities with polished granite tops, huge mirrors, and handsome sunken basins. Across from the tub is a large glass shower with cafe au lait-hued tile, and hand-held and stationary heads. Fixtures are Kohler.
Just off the living room is the powder room/half bath; then on to the flexible office/den/library and the second bedroom, with closet and en suite full bath with shower.
Completing the east wing is a separate guest suite with closet and full bath, with its own private entrance from the covered front portico.
When considering this home’s great entertaining potential, the spacious lanai is key. From end to end, it is sufficiently broad to accommodate seating and dining, and there is a summer kitchen at the west end. The ceiling is a beautiful, knotty cypress and ceiling fans keep it all cool. The pool, a tempting blue rectangle, has a “notch” at the shallow end to accommodate wide stairs.
The best part: with the lanai doors from the living room and family room, and the courtyard doors all open, you’ll have one big entertainment space, flowing from outside to inside to outside, with easy kitchen access and all sorts of places for guests to sit, stand, eat, drink, chat, swim, even dance – whatever your party calls for.
In addition to this must-see home, another Estuary residence, also by builder Joe Simmens, is currently on the market, just next door, also offered by Dale Sorensen Real Estate Inc.
Although residents enjoy a feeling of quiet and privacy in their oak-shaded neighborhood, The Estuary is conveniently located near the shops, beaches and restaurants of Vero’s charming island village, as well as the nationally acclaimed Riverside Theatre (Equity) and the renowned Vero Museum of Art.
Vital Statistics
Address: 260 Lakeview Way, Indian River Shores
Neighborhood: The Estuary
Year built: 2016
Construction: concrete block
Lot size: 76′ X 199′
Home size: 3,200 square feet
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3.5
Additional features:
Central vac; smoke detector; pool; 2-bay attached garage; impact-resistant windows and doors, shuttered windows; 2 central a/c units; crown molding; pantry; irrigation sprinkler;
Listing agency:
Dale Sorensen Real Estate
Listing agent:
Matilde Sorensen, 772-532-0010
Listing price: $1,100,000
