From the start, the home at 661 Lake Dr. in Riomar Bay offers a welcome embrace with a courtyard-like entry at the top of the driveway.
As you enter the house, weeping views of the Indian River draw you in and the rest of the world fades away, a characteristic Linda Grierer says she and her late husband were looking for when they decided they wanted a house on the river where they could dock a boat.
The couple spent time looking on both coasts of Florida before settling on Vero Beach. She recalls her husband asking a realtor in Longboat Key, “If you lose people, where do you lose them to?”
The answer: “Vero Beach.”
“As soon as we came over the bridge and saw the flag, we fell in love with the town,” says Grierer.
“It took us a long time to find this,” says Grierer, noting that you can see both bridges with spoil island-softening views of the mainland.
Water views from nearly every room in the house ensure you don’t lose the intentional connection with nature. Soaring ceilings and walls of windows with transoms infuse the house with natural light.
“The draw to this house is you are truly getting your outside, inside. You live almost perfectly simultaneously with the outside,” says Realtor Patti Martin, with AMAC Alex MacWilliam.
“I’m going to miss the river views and the light,” says Grierer, who created a cozy atmosphere in the formal living room and dining room at the home’s center.
Fine details, including ceiling features, crown molding, custom built-ins, and wood, marble and tile flooring add to the luxurious atmosphere.
The home’s clean lines and understated elegance create a peaceful, relaxing environment, enhanced by the open, split floorplan with the primary suite, office, gym and one-car garage in the north wing.
With the office and gym close to the primary suite, you can enjoy a cup of coffee at the coffee bar, exercise and spend some time at your desk without interacting with others in the main areas of the home.
You can take in river views from the sunny seating area in the bedroom or lounge in the updated bathroom with dual sinks, a shower, a water closet and a soaking tub. From the built-in vanity, you can enjoy inspiring river views as you prepare for the day.
There’s also a niche with a built-in desk and mini refrigerator that Grierer uses when she can manage to disregard the views and attend to the business at hand.
On the opposite side of the house, the laundry room, leisure room, eat-in kitchen, family room, powder room, guest cabana and access to the two-car garage enable guests to come and go without disturbing the flow of your day.
The cabana is the perfect space for long-term guests, an art studio or an additional office. It allows for complete privacy when you need to get away from it all and everyone in residence isn’t on the same schedule.
The chef’s kitchen features Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, a microwave drawer, a wine cooler, a pantry, an eat-at bar, an island and a breakfast nook with built-in seating and water views.
The kitchen and family room flow seamlessly outside to the covered lanai and summer kitchen, making indoor or outdoor entertaining a breeze.
Grierer notes the abundance of storage throughout the house, from the multi-level kitchen cabinets to the under-stair pantry and spaces hidden in the built-in bench seating.
A staircase at the center of the house leads to the upper-level living room with a kitchenette, bar, full bathroom, two guest suites and a riverfront balcony. This central area is an excellent space for guests to gather. It could also serve as a game room for teens or a study space.
Of the riverfront balcony, Grierer says that there’s no better spot to watch sunsets and the 4th of July fireworks. “It’s absolutely beautiful. Stunning.”
Martin notes that the house was designed so an elevator could be added if you need easier access between floors.
Outside, the summer kitchen and bar extend the home’s living space. You can sit by the outdoor fireplace and listen to the trickling fountains, hop in the pool or soak in the spa as you enjoy the ever-changing view of the river.
The dock with a 9,000-pound boat lift provides easy access to life on the river. You can head out for a day of fishing or a sunset cruise with ease.
“The neighborhood is very walkable. If you have to get in the car and go anywhere, it’s very accessible. There’s a sense of security with the gate. It’s just a nice, quiet neighborhood,” says Grierer. “You can bike or walk to Quail or Riverside Park, and St. Edward’s is close. The location is ideal.”
Riomar Bay is a gated, riverfront community conveniently located between the bridges with easy access to beachside and mainland locations. It’s just a short walk or golf cart ride to Quail Valley River Club, Riomar Country Club, Riomar Beach access, the City Marina, Riverside Park, Riverside Theatre, Vero Beach Museum of Art, Vero Beach Dog Park and all the shopping and dining on Ocean Drive.
Photos provided
