A seashell’s throw from the south end of the boardwalk at Conn Beach sits an impressive, two-story oceanfront estate. With 100 feet of beach frontage, it’s a rare property for the Central Beach area.
“Due to the 100-foot lot width, this house was built 60 percent wider than six of the other eight oceanfront homes [nearby]. The wider home allows for significantly more ocean views throughout the house,” said listing agents Joseph O’Neill and Joseph Schlitt at Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
I never would have bought this place had it not been for my dear friend Luis Lapitz,” says Rory Dougherty, who purchased the home at 3756 Ocean Dr. several years ago and gave the designer the freedom to create intriguing spaces.
Dougherty notes the symbiotic relationship between the art and the décor strategically placed to complement the sui generis pieces Lapitz discovered.
This grand Mediterranean-style home somehow fits the tropical setting. The automatic gate that stretches across the brick-paved drive creates a sense of mystery about what lies inside the meticulously maintained home.
“The house has many enviable features, including a beautiful island kitchen, renowned interiors, cultivated landscapes and generous living areas,” said O’Neill about what lies behind the imposing front entry door. “The luxurious master suite features a spa-like bath, soothing ocean breezes and vibrant sunrises.”
Clean lines, elegant moldings, trim, and an abundance of other custom designer details are paired with subtle modern touches and a black and white schematic to create modern, seaside elegance.
A staircase leads to the welcoming front porch that runs the width of the house. The front doors open into a two-story formal living room filled with an abundance of natural light.
To the right, an impressive gas fireplace adds warmth to the room. To the left, a sweeping wooden staircase leads to the family living spaces on the upper level. Spectacular ocean views take center stage through the wall of windows and doors that opens onto the veranda.
Along the hallway leading to the southern wing of the house are an office, a powder room and two guest bedrooms. Each bedroom has an en-suite bath, with the bathroom in the rear bedroom also serving as the pool bath.
Lapitz created an under-stair wine room beneath the secondary staircase that leads to an upstairs laundry room, three upper-level en-suite guest bedrooms and a shared lounging area.
From the mezzanine, you can sit in the library loft just off the north wing, where the elevator and gym are conveniently located adjacent to the owner’s suite. A wrap-around balcony provides plenty of outdoor spaces to view the beach.
The spacious owner’s suite encompasses the northern wing. A sitting area provides a quiet space for the owner to watch television and enjoy the warmth of the gas fireplace without interfering with the sleeping area. With windows on three sides of the room, you can watch the sunrise and enjoy the sounds of the ocean.
The central feature of the bathroom is the round, jetted tub. Dual sinks, an oversize shower with rain heads and a water closet complete the space. A passageway off the bathroom features the walk-in closet and provides private entry to the workout room.
Back downstairs, the gourmet kitchen, dining and family room are strategically placed on the northern side of the house with easy access to the pool through French doors. The kitchen has a gas range, custom wood cabinetry, an expansive island countertop and high-end appliances, including a Wolfe gas cooktop.
Toward the front of the house, a hallway leads to the garage access and houses two large pantries, a powder room, a cleaning supply closet, a laundry room, a desk nook and the elevator. Doors open to the carpark at the end of the hallway, where you can access the three-car garage via a breezeway.
O’Neill says this seaside estate features “alluring outdoor living, a captivating pool and widespread coastal vistas.” Especially the expansive lanai, heated saltwater pool, splash pad and hot tub.
There are numerous places to enjoy the ocean breeze from a shady spot or soak up some sunshine. “Depending on where the sun is, you can chase it or avoid it,” says Schlitt.
The home is situated for optimal privacy without giving up the long view of the ocean, offering indoor-outdoor living at its best. There’s even a gated path alongside the house that is handy when guests drop by to hang out at the beach. “That way, they don’t track sand through the house,” says Dougherty, noting the heavy, iron gate was salvaged from an old estate in Georgia by Lapitz.
“You have a natural flow in the terrain. It’s really like the beach is your backyard,” said Schlitt.
Lapitz created a tropical, beachside resort by bringing the beach into the backyard. Hammocks sway in the wind between palm trees surrounded by sand. You can hardly tell where the beach ends, and the backyard begins, even though there is a seawall that provides protection from erosion.
“The house showcases panoramic ocean views in one of Vero’s most desirable locations,” said Schlitt. “This oceanfront estate is in the center of Vero’s Ocean Drive, allowing for a short walk to boutique shops, markets, the arts and restaurants.”
Photos provided
