Friends and family say that Pam McGuigan loves a project, so it was no surprise when she and her husband, Stuart, started thinking about a winter home in Florida. She purchased the 50-year-old home at 1525 Club Dr. in the historic Indian Bay neighborhood and, in 2017, “took it down to the studs.”
Pam started coming to Vero Beach about 34 years ago to visit her mother and has loved the little seaside town ever since.
Running through the list of extensive upgrades, Pam says of the renovation that she selected only the finest materials for the house she loves because she thought she would be there forever. Now, though, her children are grown and thinking of marriage and families, so the McGuigans will be spending more time up north.
“All this finish work is just amazing,” says listing agent Mary Stevens with AMAC Alex MacWilliam Inc. “She was very careful and thoughtful. It’s so comfortable you can move right in. You wouldn’t have to do anything.”
Among the features are wheelchair-accessible doorways, phone charger plugs, tankless water heater and whole-house water filter and generator.
“You don’t see this very often,” says Stevens, noting that Pam did everything with attention to detail and the highest quality.
Pam says she was drawn to the property by the canopy of trees and the abundance of wildlife that visits along the canal each day, everything from dolphins and manatees to otters, elegant wading birds and owls.
“We do all our living out the back of the house. It’s like living in an Audubon preserve because of the wildlife we see,” says Pam.
Situated at the end of a quiet street, there’s no traffic to disturb the sense of serenity that overtakes you as you pull onto the circle drive bordered by lush vegetation.
With the metal roof and a trellis with jasmine climbing across it, the angular symmetry of the house is perfectly situated in the verdant green foliage.
From the driveway, you can park on the northern side of the house on the parking pad or enter the two-car garage, leaving plenty of space for guests to park near the front entry at the end of a walkway on the southern side of the house.
The glass entry door opens into the foyer and living room. Sliders off two sides of this room allow easy access to the outdoor living spaces. Beamed ceilings with nickel gap shiplap add texture and ambiance to the predominantly snow-white palette.
In the adjacent kitchen, a 16-foot marble island dominates the space. Pam sited the island to make the most of the views. “I made sure the windows go all the way down to the countertops, so when you are in there, it is a panoramic outdoor setting.”
Pam loves to entertain, so it was important for the kitchen to handle large gatherings. A wall of custom cabinets and storage spaces ensures room for everything. And with an induction cooktop and wine cooler among the high-end appliances, she can handle pretty much anything.
“It’s a great party house because it’s in an open ‘U’ around the pool and the deck. There’s enough deck to dance and enough privacy to blast the music,” says Pam.
At the center of the house, a hallway off the kitchen contains a pantry with lots of extra storage space. Two guest bedrooms – one of which the McGuigans currently use as an office – and a shared bath are at the front of the hall with a larger, private en suite guest bedroom located at the end of the hallway.
A family room with a gas fireplace next to the kitchen provides access to the garage and the primary suite at the north end of the house.
The spacious primary suite overlooks the pool and backyard with glimpses of the canal.
Sliding glass doors and a large window let you take in the beautiful scenery, spectacular when the sun is streaming through the trees.
The owner’s bathroom is a marvel with a walk-in closet, dual sinks, a water closet and a walk-in shower that houses the soaking tub. Small, iridescent tiles flow directly into the shower, creating a wet room.
Outside, travertine tile as elegant and durable as the Italian tile throughout the house surrounds the heated pool. With plenty of places to lounge and a charming swing hanging from a tree, it’s easy to be lulled into thinking that you’ve ended up in a slower-paced, more bucolic time.
“When you’re outside, it feels like you’re at a resort,” says Stevens.
“There’s nothing across the canal from us. None of us has fences, so we have a view all the way down the canal. It’s very, very private,” adds Pam.
The property has 146 feet of water frontage and direct access to the Intracoastal Waterway.
The boathouse with a 7,000-pound boat lift is a real boon since you can no longer erect boathouses.
Indian Bay is located just south of the Alma Lee Loy Bridge. The neighborhood is convenient to Saint Edward’s School and Beachland Elementary School. It’s close to the beach, the Ocean Drive shopping and dining district, and mainland shopping just over the bridge.
Riverside Theatre and the Vero Beach Museum of Art provide cultural offerings nearby, while Riverside Park offers a USTA-operated city tennis facility, boat launch and exercise course. The municipal marina and a waterfront, off-leash dog park are next to the park.
Photos provided
