Keith and Jacquelyn Schaeffer found their two-story home at 855 Reef Road in Floralton Beach literally at the end of the rainbow after a stormy afternoon looking at houses.
Jacquelyn has driven from Orlando to Vero Beach for years, first to visit clients as part of her interior design and cabinet businesses and later to vacation with her children.
When the couple decided to by a home in Vero they stumbled upon 855 Reef Road as the sun broke through the clouds. Jacquelyn recalls the overwhelming sense of nostalgia she felt when they saw the house. “It reminded me of my grandparents’ house on Jacksonville Beach.”
The character of the house was just one of the factors that steered them toward purchasing the home – which she describes as having that “classic, old Florida look” – six years ago.
At the time they purchased it, it was to be a vacation home for them that they rented out seasonally. But Jacquelyn says with every visit, she fell more in love with Floralton Beach and began spending more and more time here. They eventually sold their Central Florida home and took up residence in Vero Beach full time.
The house is sited just across the street from the Atlantic Ocean with nearby granted beach access, a perquisite Jacquelyn is enthralled with every day.
“This house is one of the most charming I’ve come across in a very long time,” says Premier Estate Properties broker associate Cindy O’Dare, who has the home listed for $2,150,000 with her partner Richard Boga.
When you step through the red front door – a color which represents a welcome place to rest – and into the two-story foyer that runs the depth of the house, you feel that charm and sense of ease. The foyer is lined with pecky cypress that makes you feel like you’re being enveloped in a big hug, says Jacquelyn.
“Of all the homes I have owned, this is my favorite. It’s a lifestyle, not just a home,” she explains, noting the glorious sunrises she witnesses daily as the “beautiful, orange sun” begins to make its way up over the horizon.
“There’s a spiritual connection when you go outside,” she continues, describing the blanket of stars that can be seen at night and interesting parade of clouds against the clear blue sky during the day.
Then, there are the animals that have made their home here, too – from the tortoise Jacquelyn has befriended that comes out when she heads down to the community beach access to the pair of rabbits that pop up around the house all day long. Noting the lushly landscaped backyard, she adds that various birds make their homes among the bougainvillea bushes that run along the back of the property.
The formal living room, two guest bedrooms and a bathroom are to the right of the foyer, giving guests their own private wing. On the opposite side of the house is the dining room, kitchen, family room, powder room, laundry room and access to the two-car garage. The rooms flow for optimal entertaining.
French doors open onto the patio from each of the communal rooms off the rear of the house, allowing for indoor-outdoor living to the fullest.
The updated kitchen is central to these rooms with natural stone countertops and high-end appliances, creating various entertainment opportunities. An island delineates the kitchen from the family room with seating for casual dining. There’s even a fossil in the island countertop, just one of the many fascinating features found throughout the house.
“The kitchen is remarkable, and many people ask me who designed it,” says O’Dare. “The homeowner, Jackie, is multitalented and is solely responsible for the look and feel of the entire house.”
A barn door hides the powder room off the family room, and built-ins surround a window seat that provides both storage space and a cozy spot to curl up with a book.
Jacquelyn says there is no shortage of storage space in the house, from the understairs closet to the various built-ins and even in the laundry room and garage.
A staircase in the foyer leads to the second-floor owner’s suite, Jacquelyn’s favorite room in the house. This gorgeous space enjoys awesome views from sunrise and sunset balconies – the best of both worlds. The private rooftop sundeck allows for private sunbathing.
Jacquelyn says she’ll miss watching the sunset from her rooftop perch. Each night the sun follows a path between the two coconut palms in the backyard, providing a spectacular show.
“One of the best things about the house is that you get the sunrise in the morning and the sunset in the afternoon. That’s something that grounds you, gives you peace,” says Jacquelyn of the east-west views.
Outside, the Schaeffers enjoy their private oasis amid the lushly landscaped, fenced backyard.
A trellis exploding with vibrant bougainvillea and sweet-smelling jasmine creates an arch of shade where you can sit and watch the little ones float and frolic in the oversized saltwater pool.
“It’s so peaceful,” says Jacquelyn, pointing out the seagrape tree, hibiscus, coconut palms and bamboo that add to the rich diversity of flora.
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 away from Vero’s famed Village by the Sea with wall its shops, restaurants and resorts, Riverside Theatre, the Vero Beach Museum, the city tennis center, the city marina, a huge dog park and many other civic amenities – not to mention the endless stretches of uncrowded beach where sea turtles nest and children play.
Photos provided
