Nicholas and Joan Hurd stumbled across The Moorings nearly 20 years ago and knew immediately they had found paradise and a place where could both enjoy golf and sailing, two of their main interests.
“Joan is an accomplished golfer. She was down [in Vero] playing in a golf tournament. We never looked anywhere outside the Moorings,” recalls Hurd. The couple first purchased a villa in Porpoise Bay and after seven years decided they needed a bigger house … for their dog.
The house at 1895 Cutlass Cove Drive turned out to be the perfect match, according to Hurd. His wife Joan had been eyeing Cutlass Cove Drive for a while. When the opportunity to purchase a home on the highly sought-after street arose, he surprised her by buying the house.
“The lots are good size on this little cul-de-sac. It’s a very popular street,” says Judy Hargarten, listing Realtor with The Moorings Realty Sales Co. “This is the closest residential street to the club.”
“There are times when I’ll go the better part of the week without getting into the car,” adds Hurd. “We just ride our bikes or walk to the club.”
The house was dated and had suffered damage in the 2004 hurricanes, recalls Hurd. After extensive renovations, the open interior plan now reflects the original, traditional design with the addition of clean lines and extensive millwork. “It was dark, and there were arches throughout the house. It took nearly 18 months, but we brought it back.”
A 40-foot hallway runs the width of the residence, setting the tone for the entire house. The homeowners wanted modern spatial clarity within the traditional home, and the hallway creates a cozy space while linking multiple rooms, making it both functional and stylish.
At the midpoint of the house, a column-enhanced archway bisects the floor plan, giving way to unobstructed views straight through to the water, connecting the interior with the exterior and blurring the boundaries.
The family room is at the center of the house with custom built-in shelves to display the couple’s extensive collection of artwork. Hurd designed a panel to cover the television so as not to detract from the art.
The family room opens into a sunroom with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pool and river, making the most of the southern exposure. A coffered ceiling and recessed lighting add a touch of understated elegance to the room without detracting from the expansive view.
On the east side of the house, the formal dining room with tray ceiling opens to the completely renovated kitchen with new appliances, cabinets and granite countertops. A wet bar with pass-through delineates the breakfast nook and the sunroom for ease of entertainment and a small screened porch provides for optimal outdoor living.
Through the kitchen, the hall leads to a den with buttonwood paneling and a wood-burning, brick fireplace, the perfect hideaway to curl up and read a book by the fire on a chilly day while enjoying the private river view.
A large laundry room, outdoor bathroom, powder room, two-car garage, air-conditioned workshop and bedroom with en-suite bath complete this wing of the house, allowing guests an additional level of privacy.
Each of the bathrooms has a distinctly different countertop. “We had a lot of fun with the granite countertops in the bathrooms. One bathroom has a large pebble design, and another has what they call rainforest-brown, honed granite,” shares Hurd of the uniquely patterned surfaces.
The master suite, and a third bedroom and bathroom are located on the western side of the house providing privacy for the family. The spacious master bath – with sage-colored, granite countertops to complement the handmade Seneca tiles – has double sinks, a water closet, large linen closet, soaking tub and a huge walk-in shower. Natural light glimmers through the glass-block wall, brightening the room.
The master suite boasts his and her dressing rooms and a hidden closet. To finish the space a bow window embrasure with French doors opens onto the back patio, offering a spectacular water view.
The outdoor living area, including the dock, deck, pool and seawall, has been given a facelift as well. The 40-foot-long dock and lift are large enough to hold a 55-foot boat, according to Hurd who loves to sail and enjoyed having his boat moored right outside his back door.
The back porch offers an unobstructed view of the cove and a riverside pool with a trickling fountain.
“We don’t need this much space, so we’re moving into something smaller, but we’re not leaving The Moorings,” says Joan Hurd. “I will miss this view though. I love coming in and looking at that river.”
Hurd adds, “We love Vero. We both love the arts, and the museum and theatre here are fantastic. Why would we leave? And the club has such an interesting mix of people, and now it’s become an even greater mix demographically in terms of age.”
The Moorings Property Owners Association offers private beach access and patrolled security. The area was designed as a boating community and offers more deep-water anchorage and river access than any other community on the island.
The Moorings Yacht & Country Club provides access to Pete Dye’s signature course, Jim Fazio’s Hawk’s Nest championship course on the mainland, tennis and croquet courts, a state-of-the-art fitness center with pool and spa, a yacht club, as well as fine and casual dining.
The Moorings is a short drive to Vero’s Ocean Drive for shopping and dining or to the Riverside Theatre and the Vero Beach Museum of Art for cultural outings. For families with children, Saint Edward’s School conveniently abuts the community.
Vital Statistics
Address: 1895 Cutlass Cove Dr.
Neighborhood: The Moorings
Year built: 1985
Lot Size: 129’x192’
Home size: 3,983 sq. ft.
Construction: Concrete block and stucco
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3 full baths and 3 half-baths
Additional features: Security patrolled community, waterfront lot, circle drive, fireplace, wet bar, storm shutters, heated pool, dock with lift, seawall, granted beach and waterway access.
Listing agency: The Moorings Realty Sales Co.: 772-231-5131
Listing price: $2,300,000
