When the owners of the Georgian-style home at 137 Island Creek Drive in John’s Island found a beautiful lot nestled along the shore of the John’s Island sound, they knew it was there they wanted to build their dream home. Between the privacy along the river and the proximity to the club, this labor of love would be a place their family could gather for generations to come.
The couple got tired of cold northern winters decades ago, in the 1970s, and searched for a vacation property in the warmer climate of the south. They looked at Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach before discovering and falling in love with Vero Beach.
They were drawn to the small-town feel and the absence of kind of high-rise construction that has overtaken many cities further south. “Vero has grown and developed over the years, but it has only improved. It’s been a wonderful place for our family,” says the owner.
The couple owned several places in John’s Island before purchasing the lot on Island Creek Drive to build their dream home, which was completed in 2000. With 135 feet of bulk-headed river frontage along the sound and unobstructed views of the water, it was the perfect place for Parent & Sons Construction to build the home designed by architect John Brenner.
“This is a fantastic home that was thoughtfully designed by a lovely couple who meticulously maintained the residence,” says Matilde Sorensen, broker-owner, Dale Sorensen Real Estate. “It is perfectly positioned with unspoiled views of the John’s Island Sound.”
The wide-open vistas provided the perfect backdrop for the owner’s children and their families to vacation. With three daughters and seven grandchildren, they needed plenty of space and wanted to be close enough to the heart of the country club so their grandchildren could bike to the beach club and walk to the driving range or golf club.
“The kids could walk by themselves to take tennis lessons. It afforded them a freedom they wouldn’t have had if the house was further from the club. It was really lovely,” recalls the owner.
The one-owner home was custom built with formal areas that embrace its natural environs. The sense of symmetry and proportion are accented by classic decorative elements of Georgian architecture from the fenestration of the windows and doors on the front façade; the hip roof; the fanlight transom windows over the paneled, mahogany front door; the multi-paned sash windows and paired chimneys to the pediment-adorned front entrance with flanking pilasters and decorative quoins at the corners of the building.
A two-car garage on one side of the house and a single-car garage on the other balance the structure. A pergola complements the outbuilding and twin chimneys draw one’s focus to the center of the main house. Inside, architectural detailing abounds throughout the one-width home with transom windows, crown molding, custom millwork, wainscoting and travertine marble.
The foyer opens into the living room at the center of the house. Bay windows soften the formality of the room offering breathtaking views of the river beyond. A double-sided fireplace adds warmth to both the formal living area and dining room and French doors with pocket screen doors open onto the back patio.
The communal living areas are located in the northern wing of the house for optimal family gatherings. The kitchen opens to the family room with a fireplace and inverted hip ceiling. A breakfast nook, wet bar, and laundry room are all conveniently clustered around the gourmet kitchen for easy access.
The bedrooms are located on the opposite side of the house with the master bedroom holding a place of prominence at the rear of the home. The generous master suite features large walk-in closets, his and her baths and a private porch that opens onto the river from a cozy sitting area. Three well-appointed bedrooms with private baths and walk-in closets finish off this section of the house.
A freeform pool and spa beckon from the outside terrace accented by reclaimed Chicago bricks that are also incorporated on the driveway and the fireplace in the family room. The owners spent a great deal of time designing the beautiful overhangs and covered area for entertaining so they could make the most of the western exposure.
“Even on the hottest days, we could sit outside and have dinner at sunset without the sun being directly on us,” recalls the owner.
Off to the side is a two-bedroom guest cottage with a private bathroom and half-bath for the pool. The way the house was designed, the cabana allows privacy for guests. “As the grandchildren got older, they loved having the cabana all to themselves. It really was an incredibly well-designed house for all stages of life, for entertaining and family,” shares the owner.
The river frontage complete with a private dock and lift is a gateway to explore the Intracoastal Waterway and provides a front-row seat for incredible sunsets. “We had many wonderful times there. Fishing off the dock and going to lunch at Capt. Hiram’s or the Yacht Club,” says the owner. “It’s been a wonderful place to entertain, raise a family and have grandchildren.”
John’s Island is a private, member-owned, country club community situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Indian River Lagoon with three miles of private beach access and nine miles of Intracoastal Waterway. Amenities include dining, golf, tennis, squash, croquet, golf and beach clubs.
Vital Statistics
- Address: 137 Island Creek Drive
- Neighborhood: John’s Island
- Year built: 2000
- Lot size: 135 x181 feet
- Home size: 6,242 sq. ft.
- Construction: concrete block with stucco
- Bedrooms: 6
- Bathrooms: 5 full baths and 3 half-baths
- Additional features: Gated and guarded community, ice machine, wet bar, storm shutters, linear slot air conditioning, central vacuum, two fireplaces, gas-heated pool, spa and dock with boat lift.
- Listing agency: Dale Sorensen Real Estate
- Listing agent: Matilde Sorensen, Broker Owner, 772-532-0010
- Listing price: $4,750,000
