“I walked in and loved it at first sight,” recalls Katherine Solley of the house at 3645 Ocean Dr. in Veromar.
Solley, who had been visiting Vero Beach since her mother moved here in 1974, knew that she wanted to live here, and the quaint beach cottage with a wide paver-lined driveway leading to a two-car garage and car park had everything she needed.
“I love the beach and the ocean. I like that I can swim almost every day,” shares Solley of her decision to move to Vero Beach from Princeton, N.J.
“I love the ‘small town-ness’ and being able to be outside more,” she adds.
“It’s timeless. There’s a simplicity about it, and there’s a glamour,” notes Realtor Michelle Clarke, Dale Sorensen Real Estate. “It exudes character and it’s comfortable.”
“The tray ceiling in the living room is a reflection of the John’s Island cottages,” says Clarke, noting the detailed craftsmanship that is apparent throughout.
“This same type of house was built on a bigger scale in John’s Island. This home is one of the first ones that Russell and Randall Flinchum built,” she continues.
The atmosphere is bright and sunny from the moment you step into the foyer and pause to take in the view of the pool and garden through the doors and windows on the far side of the dining room.
“There’s so much good light in this house. It moves throughout the day. It’s just so charming,” says Solley.
The dining room at the center of the house is lined with built-in bookshelves, an added bonus for Solley, an avid reader. French doors lead from the dining room to the outside spaces, allowing light to filter into the room and through other areas connected to the dining room.
The split floorplan, with two guest bedrooms and a shared bath in the south wing, allows guests to enjoy a good measure of privacy.
“There’s privacy on both sides. You can engage in various rooms and they’re good size,” says Clarke.
Just off the foyer in the north wing, a sitting room provides a cozy spot to chat or watch television. Completing this wing are the garage, laundry room, kitchen, living room and primary suite. You can live entirely in the north wing of the home.
The kitchen features a butcher-block island with seating that helps define the space without closing you off from guests sitting around the electric fireplace in the living room.
The neutral palette will allow a new owner to make their mark, adding splashes of color throughout.
An anteroom creates a buffer between the living room and the primary suite at the rear of the house, a lovely spot for a writing desk or just a comfortable place to relax and read.
The spacious primary suite opens onto the lanai, making it easy to enjoy indoor-outdoor living to the fullest. Two walk-in closets, a soaking tub, dual sinks and a shower complete the suite.
You can relax in the tub while enjoying views of the garden through two large windows.
Outside, there’s plenty of room for dining, lounging poolside or playing in the lushly landscaped backyard. The fence ensures complete privacy, and the pool depth is perfect for water games.
Solley says she’ll miss having friends over to watch the Christmas Parade from her front yard, but her daughter is getting married, and Solley plans to spend more time closer to her.
“We had so many fun times,” adds Solley of the front-row seat they have for the annual holiday parade. There’s even a concrete pad in the front yard where you can stage drinks and snacks.
Clarke notes the proximity to Ocean Drive shopping and dining. “It’s a quick walk to the shops, restaurants or your favorite coffee spot.”
The proximity to the beach was key for Solley. “I walk to the boardwalk every single morning. It’s been wonderful to be able to walk to the beach and into town,” she says, adding that the location also makes it easy to get to everything on the mainland.
While the house is located close to the bustling little seaside village, none of the sounds of the village and its traffic disturb the tranquil setting created by the sound of waves and soothing ocean breezes. You can sit outside with a cup of coffee in the morning and watch the sunrise or in the afternoon with a glass of wine to enjoy the passing panorama of walkers and bikers as they come and go.
Veromar is on the ocean in the section of Central Beach located north of the Merrill P. Barber Bridge. It is convenient to mainland shopping and a short walk to the beach and the Ocean Drive shopping, dining and resort district. Cultural offerings are nearby at Riverside Theatre and the Vero Beach Museum of Art. Riverside Park offers a walking-exercise trail, a large tennis facility and a boat launch just south of the neighborhood. The city marina and an off-leash dog park are nearby.
Photos provided
