If there’s a place that says, “cozy beach cottage with modern conveniences,” it’s the recently renovated home at 715 Indian Lilac Road in Bethel by the Sea.
The hint of fun family gatherings is heavy in the summer air as you pull into the gravel-covered circle drive and park near the royal poinciana holding court at the front of the house.
“Being so close to the beach, it’s a true beach house,” says Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty broker associate Beth Livers, noting the use of design finishes like Pecky Cypress cabinets and shiplap throughout the entire house.
“They’ve incorporated everything to create an old, Florida-style beach house,” she adds.
The owners carried over the “beach house” vibe with the furniture, which is available for purchase, which Livers notes, “makes it truly turnkey. It’s definitely lock it and leave.”
“The house was renovated in 2014, and there is a new roof as of 2020,” Livers adds.
From the moment you step through the front door, you are enveloped by the weathered, beachy feel of the home. Shiplap on all the interior walls provides texture, and the porcelain tile floors complement the contemporary design’s clean lines.
“I love the floorplan. It flows well,” says Livers of the spacious light-filled rooms.
The great room runs from the entry to the rear of the house, where the dining area features views of the swimming pool through sliding glass doors.
A concrete countertop with seating for casual meals creates a division of space between the kitchen and other areas, ensuring everyone can chat as you work in the kitchen.
Stainless steel appliances, floating dish shelves, concrete countertops and portholes on the pantry doors work well in the hybrid beach-modern design style with Pecky Cypress cabinets to soften the look.
“There’s plenty of storage here,” notes Livers, pointing out the cleverly hidden vertical drawers abutting the refrigerator.
Over the kitchen sink, Livers notes, “the windows slide out of the way and open up for a great pass-thru” to the outdoor bar on the back porch.
The laundry room and an ensuite guest bedroom are just off the kitchen, which is great for guests.
The owner’s suite, a second guest bedroom, and the pool bath are nicely laid out on the opposite side of the house.
“This is the best setup because it’s a dedicated bathroom for the guest bedroom, and it’s your pool bath,” says Livers of the pool bath, decorated with distressed dark wood walls and a rustic table vanity. Industrial aesthetics modernize the traditional beach cottage attributes.
A conveniently located keypad gives you easy access to the house from the backyard and from the pool deck.
The owner’s suite opens into the backyard with views of the pool. The clawfoot tub and bamboo tile design are just a few more touches that give the home the feel of a beach cottage.
Dual sinks, two walk-in closets with built-ins and a shower complete the space.
Outside, the backyard is secure and private with a fence and automatic gate. The saltwater pool beckons you to jump in and cool off before lounging on the sun shelf, and the outdoor shower ensures everyone can rinse off after taking a walk on the beach, which is just a block away.
“You’re close to everything. You can walk down to dinner, and there is a lifeguarded beach at the end of the street with the boardwalk to walk along,” says Livers. You’re just a golf cart, bike ride or walk away from Vero’s famous seaside village for coffee, shopping, dinner or night of live theater.
The outdoor living space has a variety of seating options, with bar seating outside the kitchen window, deck space for sunbathing, and a gazebo so you can enjoy a drink poolside without sitting in the sun.
“This is the perfect home for any family,” says Livers. “The current owners bought it as a place for their family to gather. They had a lot of fun here, but now they’re empty nesters and have other things to focus on.”
In the backyard, you have plenty of space to store a boat or RV, and there is a two-car, detached garage with generous attic space for storage and a carport for beach toys, including kayaks, fishing gear and surfboards. There’s also plenty of room for the eight-seater golf cart that’s available for purchase outside the contract, if you want a cool island vehicle, notes Livers.
Bethel by the Sea, a sleepy bungalow neighborhood located in Central Beach just north of the Merrill P. Barber Bridge, is convenient for mainland shopping and a short walk away from clean, uncrowded Atlantic Ocean beaches and the Ocean Drive shopping district. Enjoy cultural offerings at Riverside Theatre and the Vero Beach Museum of Art. Riverside Park offers a USTA tennis facility and boat launch just south of the City Marina and an off-leash dog park, all just a bike ride away.
Photos provided
