“I can’t live in this home.” Those words are what stood out in Kay Hammond’s mind the first time she saw the two-bedroom home at 1480 Wyn Cove Drive in Wyn Cove as she describes the foil wallpaper topped with velvet, baby blue shag carpeting, linoleum, Formica countertops and a chartreuse vanity in the guest bathroom.
“I don’t have anything against chartreuse, but this was a chartreuse found nowhere in nature,” adds Hammond, laughing at the recollection.
It is hard to reconcile what Hammond remembers as you walk into the elegantly appointed beach cottage that exists today.
Hammond originally came to Vero Beach to visit her parents, who had a home in John’s Island. “I fell in love with Vero Beach and thought, ‘I’m going to take the Florida Bar exam; and if I pass it, I’m going to stay. If I don’t pass it, I’ll go back to Memphis.’ Lucky for me, I passed.”
After extensive renovations, the house became, Hammond says, a haven from all the troubles of the day. “Before I retired, I was a magistrate. There would be some days where I would have heard some pretty horrendous cases. I’d go home and just feel the serenity and peace and calm.”
As you pull into the U-shaped brick-paved driveway, you can feel the tensions of the day fade away. The entrance to the house is hidden within the walled courtyard, where you may decide to just take a seat in the private space to listen to the trickle of the fountain and take in the view of the Royal Poinciana across the street.
“It is such a serene place. I love to sit in that little courtyard with the fountain,” says Hammond.
Stepping into the light-filled house, it’s evident that Hammond has lovingly cared for this charming home. With a wall of windows at the front and rear of the spacious formal living room, the indoor and outdoor living spaces seamlessly blend, allowing for the perfect environment from which to entertain.
The elegantly appointed house would be perfect for a young family or a retired couple, says Alex MacWilliam agent Bethany Burt, who is co-listing the house with Charlotte Terry.
“I love the floorplan. The house is well-designed and functional. It is easy to live in. You could literally bring a suitcase and move in,” says Burt, noting the fine finishes. “It has a little bit of a Palm Beach flair to it. It feels sophisticated but livable.”
“It’s a really comfortable house. It’s a cozy house, but it’s got a sense of elegance too, which I love,” Hammond agrees.
The two bedrooms and two bathrooms are located in the eastern wing of the house. The guest room is at the front with a bathroom available for overnight guests and those stopping by for drinks.
The owner’s suite is at the rear of the house, with access to the pool and a view of the foliage that creates a natural buffer at the back of the property. A walk-in closet, dual sinks and a walk-in shower complete the room.
The main living area is on the western side of the house. The dining room is in a nook off the living room and next to the kitchen, which is reached through a doorway at the rear of the room. In the kitchen, a granite countertop stands out amid the white cabinets and appliances, drawing attention to a trio of windows overlooking the pool and the profuse greenery at the edge of the property.
Hammond says she’s watched a menagerie of wildlife through these windows, including the time she saw three bobcat kittens learning to climb one of the palm trees in the backyard. “I watched the two females go first and shame the male into trying. I’ve seen some fascinating things back there.”
Just off the kitchen is a room that could be used as a playroom, family room or den, where you could sit in the corner to read a book or watch a favorite TV show. Sliding glass doors provide access to the pool.
Outside, there are spaces to take in some fresh air from under cover or bask in the sun around the fenced pool. With the natural buffer between the house and the abutting neighborhood, you can relax in solitude.
At the end of the street, a path leads down to the beach. Wyn Cove is in the fortunate position of being on an accreting beach, where the sand gets a little wider each year instead of washing away.
“The neighbors are so friendly here, and everyone enjoys walking their dogs on the beach,” Hammond says.
Wyn Cove is a single-street, oceanfront neighborhood comprised of about 30 homes with community beach access. The neighborhood is conveniently located just a mile from Saint Edward’s School and mere minutes to the 17th Street Bridge, the Vero Beach Museum of Art, Riverside Theatre, shopping and dining on Ocean Drive.
Photos provided
