British West Indies architecture meets the lush tropical landscape of Palm Island Plantation at 40 White Orchid Way, an attached courtyard home built in 2019 by Westmark Construction.
Berkshire Hathaway broker associate Debbie Bell notes that the positioning of the home sets it apart, providing an abundance of privacy and light.
“There are only three end units that face west, and to us, that was very important because you get all afternoon exposure,” says Kurt Liljedahl, who has enjoyed the home with his wife, Mary Anne, for the past several years.
The transition to Palm Island was a natural progression for the Liljedahls, who previously lived in Sea Oaks and spent years renting throughout the area. “We’ve been following Palm Island almost from the beginning,” says Kurt.
“At the time [we bought our home here], this was the only property available for sale,” recalls Kurt, adding that they were fortunate because it “checked all the boxes.”
Approaching the house, the sense of quiet and privacy that comes with being tucked away on a cul-de-sac at the back of the community is tangible. Gorgeous bougainvillea graces the trellis over the two-bay garage, complimenting blue shutters that add a pop of color, drawing attention to the entryway.
The home feels welcoming the moment you step into the entry. Grass cloth wallpaper and elegant molding set a coastal tone, while the tongue-and-groove cathedral ceilings create a sense of expansiveness, defining the open spaces.
“There are so many beautiful windows and so much natural light. It makes the house really special,” Bell says.
Just off the foyer, an ensuite guest bedroom ensures visitors have plenty of solitude away from the main gathering areas. Nearby, the den with pocket doors and access to the pool is the perfect spot for overflow guests or a family sitting room.
“This could become a fourth bedroom for grandkids. A lot of places don’t have that option,” says Kurt.
Across the hall, the dining alcove is centrally located, so activity flows easily into the kitchen and living room and out onto the courtyard patio. The open, defined space allows for formal dining when desired.
Nearby, the kitchen is anchored by a large island with seating for casual meals that defines the culinary space without blocking the flow of conversation with guests gathered around the fireplace in the living room. The high wooden ceiling creates a seamless transition without losing the sense of defined areas.
At the rear of the house, the second guest room features an adjacent bath that also serves as a powder room and pool bath. Pocket doors close off this area, creating a guest wing with its own private patio, perfect for visitors.
The primary suite features large windows and French doors that open to the pool deck. Opposite the pool, a private patio offers total seclusion. The elegant ensuite primary bath features a walk-in closet, garden tub, dual sinks, a shower and a water closet.
Wrapped around the courtyard, the home’s living areas permit a seamless indoor/outdoor lifestyle. Sliding glass doors across the living room merge the interior space with the outdoor area. The heated pool and a spillover spa, surrounded by walls draped in climbing greenery, create a private sanctuary.
“These are pocket doors,” Bell says, sliding the glass in the living room away to merge the interior with the covered outdoor area.
The Liljedahls are so captivated by the community that they now spend more time in Vero Beach and have decided to move to a larger house in the same neighborhood.
“We loved Palm Island so much that when a single-family home became available, we bought it,” shares Kurt.
Maintenance-free living is a Palm Island Plantation hallmark, with a monthly HOA fee covering everything from the guarded gate to weekly pool service. “It’s nice not to have to worry, especially if you’re away for a while,” says Kurt of the turnkey home.
Bell notes that the community is a favorite of those moving from larger estates in search of a “lock and leave” lifestyle.
Palm Island is one of the most architecturally refined and beautiful communities on the barrier island, a guard-gated, ocean-to-river enclave that offers resort-like amenities. Within the 58-acre British West Indies development, the oceanfront Beach Club offers a heated pool, spa, private cabanas and a bar. You can work out at the fitness center, swim in the pool or ocean, relax in the steam rooms or swing a racquet on the Har-Tru tennis court. Boat slips are available at the River Cabana with deep-water docking on the Indian River Lagoon.
“It’s nice because in Vero, and especially in Indian River Shores, there are only so many communities that are ocean-to-river, and this is one of them. It makes it very special,” says Bell.
The historic Jungle Trail and Environmental Learning Center are just around the corner, and it’s a short drive to shopping and dining in Vero’s famous Village by the Sea. To-notch cultural experiences are on hand at Riverside Theatre and the Vero Beach Museum of Art, located among Riverside Park’s oaks, along with a USTA run municipal tennis center. The city marina and an expansive waterside dog park are nearby.
Vital Statistics
40 White Orchid Way
Neighborhood: Palm Island Plantation
Year built: 2019 • Construction: Block, concrete, stucco
Lot size: 45 feet by 127 feet • Home size: 2,647 square feet
Bedrooms: 3 • Bathrooms: 3 • View: Pool and garden
Pool: Gas-heated courtyard swimming pool and spa
Additional features: Guard-gated community; den; chef’s kitchen with island; fireplace; Wolf appliances and Sub-Zero refrigeration; wine cooler; linear AC; plantation shutters; garden tub; laundry room; French doors; two patios; crown molding; two-car garage; courtyard; impact windows and doors; and granted beach access.
Listing agency: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty
Listing agent: Broker associate Debbie Bell, 772-473-7255
Listing price: $1,695,000
Photos provided
