In scenic Indian River Farms subdivision, along a road that curves past fenced pasture, discover an estate like no other, a one-of-a-kind homestead brimming with authentic Old Florida charm and awaiting just the right family to make it their haven, now and for generations to come.
Exploring the property, you’ll come upon many delightful design elements and creative touches.
The previous/original owner designed his family home and had it built to his specifications with a wealth of gorgeous, carefully selected wood and tons of charm. Thoughtful updating by the current owner has made the home even more comfortable and convenient.
At the end of a palm edged road, tucked within a canopy of trees, the home exudes welcome. A huge open-beam porch spans the entire front facade, its dark, elegant, 6-inch spiraled columns crafted of semi-green Douglas Fir from New Mexico’s Sangre De Cristo mountains. The spacious, two-level porch deck is of honey-hued rough-cut pine from a sawmill in the Ocala National Forest.
This wonderful gathering space easily accommodates a long dining table with seating for 10, with lots of room to spare. Up a single stair, the top level of the double-decker porch has an old-fashioned porch swing.
Adjacent to the porch is a Chicago brick paved patio and a charming water feature. Across a little arched bridge, a path leads to a dock which extends into the large, fully stocked pond, its mirrorlike surface alive with curious fish – large-mouth bass, tilapia, bluegill, minnows, shiners, koi – and sparkling with reflections of the sky and trees.
From the Brazilian mahogany-framed front door, step inside, where the first-level floor glows with Eastern White Pine, harvested in Vermont and installed with antique, square-cut nails. Some boards reach 18 feet in width.
A graceful chandelier presides above the foyer, where a wooden stairway with colorful carpet runner and white open balustrade leads to the second level. There, a long open hallway with a balustrade on one side overlooks the foyer below.
The focal point of the spacious living room is a wood-burning fireplace, with warm wood surround and mantel. The doors and windows also feature wood trim. White and pastel walls and white woodwork give the entire home a bright ambiance and showcase the beauty of the flooring.
The island kitchen features white cabinetry, recessed lighting, stainless-steel appliances and cheerful yellow, blue and white patterned full-length tile backsplash.
A wide doorway leads from kitchen to dining room, where you’ll find plenty of room for another long dining table.
French doors from the living room and dining room open onto the back porch, a huge space for friends and family to share meals and fellowship, sporting an open-beam ceiling and the same spiraled columns as the front porch. Here you’ll also find a summer kitchen, built-in BBQ, sink, ceiling fan, long sideboard and plenty of lighting for all sorts of entertaining.
The first floor primary suite includes a cozy sitting room with barn-door style door opening into the bedroom, which is a charming space with wood plank ceiling, ceiling fan/light and a pleasant view of the front porch and sparkling little lake beyond. The chic bathroom features a wood vanity with mottled brown/tan/white granite countertop, oval mirror and sleek curved glass-door shower. There is also a powder room on the first floor.
The second floor primary bedroom wears soothing pale blue walls, and crisp white woodwork, and offers a ceiling fan/light, two large closets – one a walk-in – and a bathroom with long double sunken basin vanity and garden tub. There are two additional bedrooms.
A 20,000-gallon cistern collects rainwater to supply the home itself and the back porch sink. An artesian well supplies water for hoses outside, and there is a reverse osmosis water purifying unit in the kitchen.
Although sufficiently far from the madding crowd, this extraordinary estate is only about a 20-minute drive to the commercial, medical, entertainment, gallery and dining opportunities in mainland Vero Beach, and about a half hour to Vero’s destination island village, with its resorts, country clubs, fine and casual dining, boutiques, marinas, live professional theater, an outstanding fine art museum and miles of clean, uncrowded beaches.
Photos provided
