In full bloom, the royal poinciana at the center of the circle driveway at 715 Indian Lilac Road in Bethel by the Sea commands a great deal of attention.
When you’re able to look past the scarlet blossoms, you’ll find a “true beach cottage,” according to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty agent Michelle Clarke.
“The living space is cozy. It hugs you,” she continues, noting that the home was renovated in 2014. It may be beach cozy but has all the modern conveniences.
From the moment you step through the front door, you are enveloped by the weathered, beachy feel created by Aaron and Kathryn Wold. Their use of shiplap, which provides texture, and the wood-like tile, which is both practical and aesthetically pleasing, complement the clean lines of the contemporary design.
The open floorplan creates a sense of spaciousness in the light-filled rooms. The great room runs from the entry to the rear of the house, with plenty of room for a dining area. If you want to keep things simple, you can use the concrete countertop that delineates the kitchen from the rest of the space for casual, family-style meals.
Complemented by stainless-steel appliances and the simplicity of floating dish shelves, the concrete countertops provide distinction and visual excitement, giving the room a modern feel.
Pecky Cypress cabinets soften the look, and additional storage spaces are cleverly hidden with vertical drawers abutting the GE Cafe refrigerator and a pantry tucked behind a pair of doors accented with porthole windows.
Over the kitchen sink, the windows slide entirely out of the way, creating a pass-thru to the outdoor bar on the back porch.
The laundry room and an en suite guest bedroom are just off the kitchen. It’s the perfect spot for an office or a yoga studio.
The owner’s suite, a second guest bedroom and the pool bath are located on the opposite side of the house. The pool bath, decorated with distressed wood, makes you feel like you’re in a ship’s cabin. A conveniently located keypad gives you easy access to the house from the backyard so you’ll never find yourself locked out.
The owner’s suite opens into the backyard with calming views of the pool. In the owner’s bath, the clawfoot tub and bamboo tile design are additional touches that give the home the feel of a cottage. Dual sinks, two walk-in closets, a shower and a water closet finish off the space.
Heading outside, you’ll discover a backyard oasis hidden in the fenced yard. A saltwater pool with a sun shelf tempts guests to plunge in to cool off. They can rinse off in the outdoor shower after taking a walk on the beach. The home is just a block from the sandy shoreline, so you can hear the ocean and smell the salt in the air as you lounge in the hammock or sip drinks on the lanai.
The summer kitchen is hidden beneath a tiki hut and includes a Green Egg grill where you can cook up an array of delicious meals for friends and family.
You really feel like the outside is coming in, says Clarke, pointing out the screened glass sliders and doors that open onto the patio. “It feels like you’re living in a resort.”
An automatic gate allows access to the backyard, where you have plenty of space to store a boat or RV. The two-car, detached garage has generous attic space and a carport for your golf cart, kayaks and surfboards.
The décor and setting may be that of a casual beach cottage, but the home is an Alexa Smart house so that you can turn everything on or off from your cellphone. And the whole-house generator ensures that you won’t have to worry about losing power.
“It’s a lifestyle. You feel like you’re on vacation every day,” explains Clarke. “You can take your golf cart, ride your bike or walk down to the little village for a cup of coffee. This is such a desired part of Vero. Everybody feels lucky when they’re here.”
Bethel by the Sea, a sleepy, bungalow neighborhood located just north of the Merrill P. Barber Bridge, is convenient to mainland shopping and a short walk to the beach and the Ocean Drive shopping district. Enjoy cultural offerings at Riverside Theatre or the Vero Beach Museum of Art. Riverside Park offers a tennis facility and boat launch just south of the City Marina and an off-leash dog park, all just a bike ride away.
Photos provided
