Life’s a beach! At the 3,632-square-foot, four-bedroom, three-bath home at 875 Reef Road in Floralton Beach, at least.
This Florida bungalow-style home has much to offer, according to Erika Ross, Realtor, The Moorings Realty Sales Co. “It’s just steps from the beach. In addition to that, Saint Edward’s School and The Moorings Club are just a golf cart drive away.”
The home was designed with hints of the major principles of the bungalow architectural style: simplicity and harmony with nature. The effect is further enhanced with numerous outdoor spaces, which begin with the railed front porch.
A proponent of this architectural style in the early 1900s, Gustav Stickley, a furniture maker, publisher and entrepreneur, stated the bungalow is “a house reduced to its simplest form where life can be carried on with the greatest amount of freedom; it never fails to harmonize with its surroundings.”
Those qualities and others have made the style one of the most popular in the American architectural lexicon, whether in vintage or modern guise.
The broad front porch invites visitors to take a seat and relax or head on inside after a delightful day on the beach. Spaces in the elegantly styled home flow effortlessly from one room to the next and the use of differently hued hardwood flooring in each of the rooms engulfs you in warmth.
Beadboard and shiplap add to the beachy, homey atmosphere that pervades, supplementing the casual elegance that produces a wonderfully livable family home. Each space is designed with great attention to detail, with the window seats in nearly every room adding charm while creating a focal point and providing seating with a view to the custom millwork and vaulted ceilings.
The front door at the center of the home opens into a large room that serves as an informal living room and dining area with built-in bookcases and a wood-burning fireplace that crackles with the comfortable cottage feel of the house.
“This house is large enough for a family but not too large for a seasonal resident who can just lock it and leave,” notes Ross.
The southern wing includes the garage, laundry room and a beach room – Florida’s answer to a mudroom – where kids can pop in and drop off sandy bathing suits and wet towels in the laundry room before heading into the kitchen for a snack.
The cook’s kitchen is open and bright. A beautiful, natural stone countertop separates the working area of the kitchen from a cozy breakfast table. The window seat provides a comfy spot for the kids to hang out and read or finish homework while chatting with the cook.
The owners currently use the spacious fourth bedroom suite at the rear of the house as a game room where the family spends quality time together at play. French doors open onto the pool deck, and the en suite bathroom doubles as an easily accessible pool bath.
In the northern wing, the family living quarters are closeted behind pocket doors along a central hallway. Three bedrooms line this side of the house, leaving the rest of the house open for the communal living spaces. Two generous bedrooms with a shared spa-like bath anchor the front portion of the wing, one with French doors leading to a private patio.
A gorgeous master suite retreat is located in the rear and features a private bath, generous seating area, his and her walk-in closets, and access to the screened porch, pool area, and a secret grotto surrounded by ivy-covered walls. It’s the perfect spot for morning yoga and catching an afternoon nap in your favorite hammock.
The homeowners have created a restful oasis within the lush tropical landscape in the fenced backyard. Numerous lovely outdoor spaces make the most of Florida’s great weather with a screened porch, a charming patio and even an in-pool table and seats. Guests can soak in the spa or cool off in the pool while sipping a tropical drink beneath the shade of an umbrella.
Floralton Beach is located on the east side of A1A adjacent to The Moorings community, minutes from Saint Edward’s School, and just a short drive to Riverside Theatre, the Vero Beach Museum of Art and Ocean Drive shopping and dining in Vero’s renowned Village by the Sea.
Vital Statistics
- Address: 875 Reef Road
- Neighborhood: Floralton Beach
- Year built: 1980
- Construction: Frame, with siding
- Lot size: 170 feet by 112 feet
- Home size: 3,632 square feet
- Bedrooms: 4
- Bathrooms: 3 full
- Pool: Freeform pool and spa
- Additional features: Chef’s kitchen; Thermador gas range; garden tub; laundry room; window seats; wood-burning fireplace; custom millwork; vaulted ceiling and skylights; screened porch; metal roof; impact-resistant windows; fenced backyard; fountains; video camera; patrolled security and granted beach access
- Listing agency: The Moorings Realty Sales Co.
- Listing agent: Erika Ross, Realtor, 772-231-5131
- Listing price: $1,325,000
