The kitchen is the heart of every home; and when builder Joe Foglia and architect Hal Lambert teamed up to create a renewed vision for the riverfront property at 665 Lake Drive in Riomar Bay II, the kitchen set the tone for the entire house.
“Hal Lambert did a great job capitalizing on the view with the intent of the design. Clearly, the kitchen is the signature piece,” says Foglia. “When you walk inside, once you get your attention focused away from the river it’s the kitchen area that draws everyone.”
The project was a major renovation with structural changes, a significant addition and updated design. The challenge for Lambert was to create a plan that would upgrade the house without changing its character.
“We wanted to keep the front the same and at the same time expand the living space while taking advantage of the site and the river view from the back,” recalls Lambert “We were adding to the footprint of the house and needed to make it all blend.”
In a nod to the British West Indies-style architecture, Lambert eliminated the modern butt-glass glazing across the back of the house and replaced it with 10-foot, Windoor, impact sliding-glass doors giving access to the patio while creating an unobstructed view of the Intracoastal Waterway.
“We were trying to get as much glass as we could facing the water,” explains Foglia.
The formal living room gives way to breathtaking views of the Intracoastal Waterway through stunning floor-to-ceiling windows. The circular room with double tray ceilings hints at the understated elegance that echoes throughout the house.
Extensive millwork and special details including automatic sunshades, limestone flooring and integrated, slotted HVAC built into the moldings add the finishing touches.
A den, pool bath and the master suite are located in the northern portion of the house, creating a private domain for the homeowners. The spacious master suite enjoys views of the river while his and her cedar-lined walk-in closets, a jetted tub, walk-in rain shower, dual sinks and a water closet finish the space.
The gourmet kitchen is one of the most substantial and elaborate kitchens in the county, according to Foglia. The functional masterpiece by Kitchens By Design of Vero Beach takes advantage of the views in the open-space floorplan. More than just a kitchen, the area provides space for eating and a family room with a fireplace before spilling out into the outdoor living space.
Three islands form a buffer and create a natural flow for those coming and going. Design and functionality were key factors, according to designer Rick Montgomery. “It was a fun kitchen to do. We had to get the function down and make sure it was aesthetically pleasing at the same time.”
Along with top-of-the-line appliances and granite countertops, unique features include walnut drawers, automatic trash cans, flat-screen TVs, Fisher Paykel drawer dishwashers, a griddle, pot filler, galley sinks with offset drains, integrated cutting boards and popup electric in the counter.
Just off the kitchen a Subzero wine cooler, powder room, laundry area and formal dining room are easily accessible for entertaining. Guests and overnight visitors are housed in this wing, affording plenty of privacy for everyone. This design feature creates the illusion of living in a smaller home with this area tucked away for generational gatherings during the holidays.
Two spacious bedrooms with en suite baths and pool access are located on the main floor. Two additional bedrooms and a shared sitting room can be reached via the stair tower which links both sections of the home to the three-car garage.
Taking advantage of the beautiful view along the river, the loggia adds outdoor living and dining space. The infinity-edge, salt-system pool is a striking feature surrounded by French-pattern, tumbled-ivory travertine. Fire bowls with water features add a dramatic touch to the already stunning view.
The outdoor eating and gathering space includes a gas fireplace, outdoor bathroom and summer kitchen designed to be wholly self-sufficient, so there’s really no need to run back inside. Teak cabinets house a Bosch dishwasher, galley sink, ice maker and refrigerator drawers. A 2,000-gallon propane tank provides fuel for the pool, both fireplaces, the range, grill and whole house generator.
The house includes a Control4 Home Automation system. Foglia says, “It’s state of the art. Everything can be done on the pad: the A/C, sound system, media, lighting, security and pool functions. It basically controls the whole house.”
The pie-shaped lot widens at the rear of the property. Paired with lush vegetation, the fenced backyard provides a level of privacy for outdoor activities where the lawn meets the river along the cap rock seawall. The mangroves tie the shoreline together, and the rocks create a small estuary.
“This is inarguably the most distinctive riverfront estate in Vero Beach with 8,000 square-feet of the finest finishes and craftsmanship found along the East Coast of Florida,” says Kimberly Thorpe, co-broker/owner of Treasure Coast Sotheby’s.
“Like a unique gem, this Riomar Riverfront Estate is perfection personified,” adds Michael Thorpe, Sotheby’s other co-broker/owner. “Sumptuously renewed, the home offers a unique blend of multigenerational privacy and dramatic, entertaining spaces. From the breathtaking ‘triple island epicurean kitchen’ to the oversized covered loggia.”
The house offers a haven for a wide demographic. Its thoughtful design can just as easily accommodate a family with young children and teens or a retired couple with grandchildren visiting from afar. This “renewed” home is the perfect solution for someone wanting a new home without the hassle of building their own.
Riomar Bay II is a gated, riverfront community ideally located between the bridges with easy access to beachside and mainland locations. It’s just a short walk, bike or golf cart ride to Quail Valley River Club, Riomar Country Club, Riomar Beach access, the City Marina, Riverside Park, Riverside Theatre, Vero Beach Museum of Art, Vero Beach Dog Park and shopping and dining on Ocean Drive.
Vital Statistics
- Address: 665 Lake Drive
- Neighborhood: Riomar Bay II
- Year built: 2001
- Lot Size: 225’X130’
- Home size: 8,300 square feet
- Construction: Concrete block
- Bedrooms: 5
- Bathrooms: 6 full baths, 2 half-baths
- Additional features: Gated guarded community, Control4 smart home system, automatic sunshades, impact glass, security system, central vacuum, two gas fireplaces, spa bath, generator, gourmet kitchen, wet bar, wine cooler, summer kitchen, salt-system pool, , 3-car garage, equipment storage, outdoor shower, fish-cutting station, dock and boat lift with Intracoastal access.
- Listing agency: Treasure Coast Sotheby’s International Realty
- Listing agents: Michael and Kimberly Thorpe, 772-532-5233
- Listing price: $5,900,000
