“We lived in Miami. It was becoming crowded, and we wanted a place we could go and relax,” says Pascal Nicolle of his and wife Elisa’s decision to look for a place away from the urban hustle and bustle.
After checking out other areas, the couple visited Vero Beach and fell in love with the place.
“We saw the house and heard the waves. We were kind of seduced by the house,” recalls Pascal.
A large greenspace at the front of 946 Reef Lane in Pebble Beach provides a verdant welcome to the home at the end of a one-street subdivision with only 13 houses.
“We like the house because it’s very bright and happy,” shares Pascal of the mid-century modern home with a French Provincial flavor, noting that they have made a few changes to accommodate their lifestyle, including impact windows and doors and updated vanities and fixtures. They have also replaced the roof, septic system, air conditioner and water heater in recent years.
“The house is beautiful,” says Kathleen Pogany of The Reynolds Team of Compass. “It’s light, bright, airy and move-in ready. All the French doors give it personality.”
The double-entry glass doors open into a small foyer designed to be welcoming while also ensuring privacy.
The couple kept the terrazzo floors in a smart nod to the classic Mid Mod architecture. Clean lines, large windows and open floorplan ensure functionality while creating complementary indoor-outdoor living spaces.
The living room, dining room, ensuite bedroom and primary suite are located on the east side of the house, allowing the owners to enjoy a modicum of privacy.
“The layout is really flexible. There are a lot of possibilities. It’s the perfect size for a couple or someone with kids. There’s plenty of space,” notes Pogany of the variety and size of the rooms.
Initially, the primary suite was the art studio where the late Walter Brightwell, a local artist of some repute, painted. As such, the room features large clerestory windows over the French doors that open to the resort-style pool.
Pogany notes that the Northern exposure is perfect with the clerestory windows that allow natural light to illuminate the space and enhance the ambiance of the now generously sized primary suite with a sitting area. The elegant suite has a soaking tub, water closet, shower and walk-in closet.
Pascal notes that with the kitchen in the center of the living space, they were enamored with the lifestyle offered by the layout of the house. A breakfast bar separates the kitchen from the family room, allowing everyone to gather in the casual and formal living areas surrounding the kitchen, making it easy to entertain family or large groups comfortably.
In the bright, white kitchen, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and modern lighting fixtures are enviable touches that make food preparation a pleasure.
On the west side of the house are the two-car garage, laundry room and two guest bedrooms.
The bedrooms share a bathroom and a sitting room. This allows visitors to spend time in the central area of the house without intruding on the owner’s privacy.
Outside, the electric-heated pool has a tanning ledge where you can keep cool while enjoying a sunny afternoon. There are numerous patio niches, notes Pogany, pointing out various areas for casual dining and sunning on a raised, poolside grassy area.
Paired with lush vegetation, there is substantial space on both sides of the house to ensure complete privacy within the confines of the fenced backyard.
“We try not to go out to the restaurants because we can make dinner outside and hear the waves,” shares Pascal.
A unique feature of the home is the outdoor spiral staircase that leads to the rooftop patio with peeks of the ocean.
“You can see the sunrise and the sunset from up there,” says Pascal, adding that they have created a lot of lovely memories in the house.
The entrance to the street’s granted beach access is just across from the house, making it easy to head down to the beach and then back to the house, where you can rinse off in the outdoor shower before hopping into the pool or going inside.
“They’re essentially the second house from the ocean and in a really good location,” says Pogany.
Pascal shares that he and his wife rented the property, often to repeat guests. It got to the point that there weren’t many open weeks for them to enjoy it. So, since they are spending more and more time with their grandchild, it didn’t make sense to hold onto this house, no matter how much they have enjoyed it.
Located east of A1A and convenient to the Village Shops and the Village Beach Market, Pascal says the neighborhood is quiet and convenient for everything they need.
Pebble Beach is not far from anything. The neighborhood is just a few minutes from Ocean Drive, where you can shop, dine and drink, and Riverside Park where you can enjoy acclaimed live theatre, a great art museum and a USTA-run tennis center. The Vero Beach Yacht Club, the City Marina, country clubs, golf courses and resort hotels also are nearby.
Photos provided
