Donald and Tricia Heaton first came to Vero Beach to visit friends. That led the couple to move here, trading one Florida island community for another, leaving Boca Grande on Florida’s west coast and purchasing the home at 700 Lantana Lane in Ocean Corp.
“We are from Dorset, Vermont, and there is a huge Dorset contingency here. We came for a visit and just loved it,” says Tricia of their purchase of the only home they looked at before buying in Vero Beach.
“We spent 10 minutes in the house and fell in love with it,” she adds.
It’s hard for Tricia to pinpoint the one thing that drew them to the house. From the palm-tree-lined driveway and blue-shuttered windows to the interior courtyard and pool, it reminded Tricia of a European villa.
“This is by far the most special and well-built home under $2 million [available at the moment],” says Dale Sorensen Real Estate sales associate Cathy Curley of the custom home designed by Vero Beach architect Scott Layne as his personal residence and built in 2002 by JC Welton Construction. “It’s a great value.”
“It’s a very compact but open house that creates lots of different wonderful places to reside,” says Layne.
“The house is light and bright,” adds Curley.
A prior owner who lived in the house after Layne sold it brought the architect and JC Welton Construction back in to make improvements.
“We got to do all the things that I couldn’t necessarily afford to do as a young architect building his first house,” recalls Layne. It was the millwork embellishments, the ceilings in the living room, a modern kitchen, an enhanced powder room and laundry area, and master bath update that “brought it up to a whole other level.”
Noting the arched doorways, quartzite counters, limestone and walnut floors, Curley says, “There are a lot of great custom finishes, as you would expect from a high-end architect design.”
“What we always try to do here at Moulton Layne is create a timelessness in the architecture where you can’t tell if it’s a year old or 100 years old,” says Layne.
The first-floor guest bedroom is accessed just off the foyer to the left, with the laundry room and a bathroom between the kitchen and dining area.
“This is a great concept for a laundry room in a smaller home where you can close it off as a powder room,” says Curley of the sliding door that separates the two spaces. And with details like the stacked wood on the wall, it’s functional and beautiful.
The kitchen is a modern Italian wonder with an oval island. “It’s fun – a showstopper kitchen,” says Curley, noting the Italian Pedini cabinetry, breakfast bar and high-end appliances.
“We have a son who is a chef, and it is his favorite kitchen to cook in,” adds Tricia. “It has a lot of really beautiful high-end features.”
The kitchen opens onto the pool terrace, making it perfect for poolside entertaining, something Tricia says they did a lot of with their large family.
“We have had an absolutely wonderful time in the house. We set up tables all around the pool,” adds Tricia.
The garage is at the back of the house, just off the kitchen, a great location for bringing in groceries but also for privacy.
Two bedrooms and a luxurious bath are on the second floor, with access via the staircase near the foyer.
Noting features like the European towel warmer, frosted glass doors and under-counter lighting in the bathroom, Curley says, “It’s very luxurious.”
The L-shaped floorplan has the added benefit of creating a sheltered space in the fenced backyard so you can lounge poolside on the terrace in privacy.
“It is such a happy house and deserves to have a wonderful family living there,” says Tricia.
With seven children scattered around the country and overseas and Tricia’s work-travel schedule, the couple has decided to sell their beloved home so they can be more mobile.
“But we’ll be back,” she promises.
Ocean Corp subdivision is located on the island east of the Alma Lee Loy Bridge. The neighborhood is convenient to Saint Edward’s School, Beachland Elementary School, mainland shopping, and it’s just a short walk or bike ride to the beach and Ocean Drive shopping and fine-dining district.
Riverside Theatre and the Vero Beach Museum of Art are close by with superb cultural offerings. Riverside Park has a boat launch, exercise track and USTA tennis facility with 10 courts, a pro shop and classes. The city marina and an expansive, riverside dog park nearby.
Photos provided
