Christian and Nancy Hendricks had a list of things they were looking for when they decided to retire and move to Florida from Washington, D.C. Having searched up and down both coasts of Florida without finding their dream home, they were intrigued when a colleague suggested checking out Vero Beach.
While attending a conference in Orlando, the couple got a map out and decided to take a drive to Indian River County.
Nancy recalls the sense of rightness as they crossed the Barber Bridge and drove along A1A. “Coming over that bridge and seeing the ocean, we said, ‘This is where we’re going to live.’ We didn’t know where, but we knew that we were going to live somewhere on this island. It just captivated us.”
They were preparing to build a home on the island when they decided to take one last look at existing homes before starting construction. That’s when they discovered the two-story, lakefront home at 700 Marbrisa River Lane in Marbrisa.
It checked all the boxes – waterfront, large lot, oak trees for that Florida feel.
“We loved Marbrisa because it’s ocean-to-river, which was very important to us. We wanted that access,” says Nancy.
“We saw this house and just fell in love with it. It really suited us because everything that we needed to live is on the main floor,” she says of the 4-bedroom, 4-bath, 3,406-square-foot residence that is listed with ONE Sotheby’s International Realty broker associate Janyne Kenworthy for $2,195,000
In the 18 years since they bought the house, the Hendrickses have made extensive upgrades – and not just at the surface, says Kenworthy.
The couple has replaced everything from the flooring to ductwork to the pool deck and added a third A/C zone.
A horseshoe driveway adds function and flow to the front of the house, adjacent to the three-car, side entry garage. A portico allows for covered entry into the home through a pair of clear, textured and beveled glass front doors, which open directly into the two-story living room with views of the pool and lake beyond.
To the left, an office and full pool bath provide a bit of a buffer for the owner’s suite, which completes the north wing of the house. The spacious haven has two walk-in closets, a sitting area with lake views, a completely updated bathroom with dual sinks, a walk-in shower, a water closet and a jetted tub.
The dining room, family room, kitchen, laundry room and access to the three-car garage are all located in the southern wing, with an artful switchback staircase that leads to the second floor at the center of the house.
A gas fireplace is set into a built-in cabinet beneath a two-story window with expansive views of the lake. The abundance of windows throughout the house allows natural light to flood in.
In addition to a plentitude of fine finishes, the understairs bar is a functional perk with space for wine and liquor and extra storage – something the home has no shortage of.
The house is well laid out, says Kenworthy. “You don’t have to go upstairs unless you want to. It is single-story living that works well for a couple or a family.”
A flex room at the top of the stairs is perfect for a second office or family room. It has a closet so that it could be used as a fourth guest bedroom. Three bedrooms, one en-suite and the other sharing a Jack and Jill bathroom, are located along the bookshelf-lined landing. One of the rooms has a private sunset balcony.
Outside is a large, screened pool and hot tub. The shelf running the length of the pool is a perfect spot to lounge.
The backyard has many distinct spots from which to enjoy wide lake views amid the lushly landscaped haven that Christian has lovingly created. Nancy’s favorite is the shade garden with a fountain, which she also enjoys looking at while working in the kitchen.
“It’s been a work of love for him,” says Nancy, noting that the outdoor shower her husband installed has been a definite plus. From nurturing the two glorious frangipani trees from cuttings to the lush foliage along the path in the shade garden and the walled berms, Christian built around the flora and along the lake.
“We spend a lot of time out here,” says Christian, pointing to the patio where they watch an abundance of wildlife living in the natural world, from ducks to owls and all other types of winged creatures.
“How we’re situated on the lake and with the ocean, we get a nice breeze coming down the lake, and it cools everything off,” adds Nancy.
“This has been a wonderful home and neighborhood for us,” says Nancy, but the couple have decided it’s time to move to Arizona, where their family lives. “At this point, there’s so much going on in their lives, and we want to be closer.”
Marbrisa is a private, ocean-to-river, gated community with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Jungle Trail and Indian River Lagoon to the west. Two clubhouses provide a wide range of amenities, including an exercise-fitness room, sauna, Har-Tru tennis courts, a screened pool, and day docks on the river at the west clubhouse. Across the road, the oceanfront clubhouse offers granted beach access, a pool and kitchen.
Photos provided
