The two-story, riverfront house at 217 Rudder Road in the Anchor at the Moorings is the perfect family home, according to the owners, who say that when they decided to retire to Florida, the wife looked back at places she’d liked over the years and realized three of them were in Vero Beach.
“I said to my husband, ‘We should look at this town.’”
The only thing holding her back was concern over finding the right school for her daughter – and then she discovered Saint Edward’s. That clinched it for the family and drew them to The Moorings because of its proximity to the school.
The 7-bedroom, 7.5-bath, 7,826-square-foot family home is being offered for $3,795,000 by Premier Estate Properties broker associates Richard Boga and Cindy O’Dare. The house is tucked into a pie-shaped lot with 247 feet of deep-water frontage. If you have a boat moored at the private dock, you can scoot out into Porpoise Bay from the protected location for quick access to The Moorings Yacht & Country Club and the Intracoastal waterway.
Greenery growing along the wall creates a welcoming canvas over the front door. The owners asked architect Matthew Gore to infuse the home with a sense of symmetry and traditional design, which is seen in the arched doorways, ceiling features, wainscoting and accent details.
When the owners purchased the home, they took it down to the studs and completely redid everything to create an updated, inviting home where they could live comfortably with their school-age daughter but still have plenty of private spaces for their older daughters and guests.
The formal foyer centered between galleries leads to private and communal wings on the first floor, showcasing unobstructed river views from every room.
You step down into the formal living room at the center of the home through a trio of arches that complements a row of transomed windows along the rear wall that lets in floods of natural light.
To the right of the living room, steps lead into the library, which is lined with built-in shelves.
Throw open the French doors as you sit alongside the cozy warmth of the gas fireplace.
A wet bar is handily located in the gallery, which begs for personal treasures and artwork to be displayed. Also in this wing are two bedrooms with en suite baths. The rooms are generously sized and work perfectly for families – with parents in one room and the children nearby.
On the opposite side of the house, the formal dining room can host intimate or large gatherings. French doors allow guests to flow out onto the poolside terrace or nip into the kitchen for a chat with the host and hostess. An adjacent powder room allows guests to powder their noses without disrupting private family spaces.
“This is where we live,” shares the owner standing at the center of the kitchen – the hub of activity.
The gourmet kitchen is elegant and practical at the same time, with a built-in desk, island prep sink, wine refrigerator and warming oven ready for family gatherings. A table for casual meals and extended countertops provides transition into the family room.
From here, you can access the pool or head out the side entrance to the guest cabana. With its private porch and entrance, the cabana is perfect for long-term guests, live-in help or as a mother-in-law suite. With a kitchenette, bath and private veranda – with sweeping views of the waterway – your guests may never leave.
Near the front entry, a curved staircase makes a striking architectural statement as it ascends to the second-floor landing where the family’s private living quarters are separated by his and her offices and a central fitness room.
One office and the fitness room share a Jack and Jill bathroom and have closets, making them easy to turn into bedrooms. The second office, which is set up as a study. has built-in bookcases and a cozy gas fireplace.
The owner’s suite is off to the left, with his and her bathrooms connected via a shared shower. Multiple showerheads, a jetted tub, vanity and toilets on each side ensure there’s plenty of space to cohabitate. From the bedroom, intoxicating views can be taken in while inside or outside, sitting on the balcony that runs across the entirety of the second floor. Even the walk-in closets have views of the river and access to the balcony.
The landing between the owner’s suite and the bedroom at the opposite end of the hallway also houses the laundry room and a storage space. The connecting area is lined with bookshelves loaded with family photos so that each time you walk by, you’re taking a trip down memory lane.
The poolside terrace can be reached from any of the rooms on the first level through what seems like a never-ending selection of French doors. With two covered spaces, you can spread out and enjoy morning coffee or popsicles by the pool, dine al fresco or have a glass of wine at sunset.
There’s also plenty of space to sunbathe.
The dock is situated to the right side of the property so as not to detract from the continuous water view as the infinity pool appears to flow into the lagoon.
“This is the most amazing house in the world,” says the owner, who loves being able to have her entire family under one roof without having them underfoot. “There’s room for everybody. Everything has been thought through in terms of each person having their own space. I can transition really easily between formal entertaining and totally casual,” she continues.
As members of the Moorings Property Owners Association, residents have private beach access and patrolled security. Originally designed as a boating community, The Moorings Yacht & Country Club offers a full suite of country club amenities, including Pete Dye’s signature golf course, Jim Fazio’s Hawk’s Nest championship golf course, tennis and croquet and pickleball courts, a fitness center with pool and spa, and yacht club, as well as fine and casual dining.