As the developer of Pebble Bay Estates, Ed Schlitt had his pick of the lots in the riverside community and earmarked the half-acre lot at 4745 Pebble Bay Circle on the north circle to build his family home, where he and his wife Marguerite resided for many years.
Keeping things in the family, he enlisted architect John Schlitt to design the home and prominent builder George Frederick to build the four-bedroom, four and one half-bath home in Indian River Shores with river views as the central focus.
Expansive views of the river can be taken in from almost every room in the house – from the screened lanai, dining and family rooms, and second-floor balconies. The home’s sensitive design makes you feel almost as if you’re floating along the Indian River Lagoon on a riverboat.
Situated on McCullers Cove, the property overlooks Gifford Point and a smattering of spoil islands. Blue and green is all you’ll see – no sign of civilization in sight, just the birds roosting in the mangroves across the way and dolphins following in the wake of boats as they chase schools of mullet.
In the evening, the sky is alight with spectacular pink sunsets.
“My mother loved the view of the river here,” says Linda Schlitt Gonzalez, Coldwell Banker Paradise broker. “She’d sit out here at night and watch the sunset. No matter how hard my father tried, mom wouldn’t leave this view.”
With 136 lineal feet of river frontage with only a seawall between you and the water, it’s a dreamy spot to while away the days.
The house is set back from the street, allowing one to take in the impressive stone-columned front façade, which overlooks an expansive lawn and circle drive.
The substantial home was built to handle a large crowd – necessary for the large Schlitt family. Ceilings soar in the foyer, opening up the house lit by natural light shining through beautifully designed stained-glass windows that were left transparent so the morning sunlight could pour in.
A breathtaking curved staircase sweeps up from the two-story-high foyer to a large landing which Gonzalez notes fondly is the perfect spot for a bride to make an entrance.
The south side of the house has been designed for entertaining with a formal living room at the front that flows into the dining room overlooking the river. A pass-thru to the kitchen at the center of the house ensures that guests can be served directly.
A breakfast nook sits between the island kitchen and the lanai, offering views of the patio and pool. It’s the perfect place for a cup of coffee in the mornings, afternoon homework sessions and dinnertime chats as the evening meal is being prepared.
Just off the kitchen, the large, bright living room is open and spacious with a beamed ceiling and sliding doors that open onto the screened lanai with pool and Intracoastal Waterway views.
The fireplace, surrounded by stones all the way to the second floor, is a substantial anchor along with the landing overlooking the room and river beyond.
The northern wing also includes an elevator, family staircase to the upper level, powder room, guest suite, second family room, access to the side-entry two-car garage and, tucked at the rear of the house, a workout room and sauna.
The fitness area also includes a full bath, patio access and a room that is often used for overflow guests. It’s the perfect spot for a mother-in-law suite, live-in caretaker’s apartment, an au pair suite or as a teen hideaway. The possibilities are endless.
A private sunset balcony offers a long view of the river from the second-floor master suite. The generous space also includes a sitting room and spa-like bathroom with dual sinks, a water closet and his and her walk-in closets.
Also upstairs is another generous suite with its own sunset balcony and an eastern-facing bedroom so that the entire family can reside on one floor.
The expansive outdoor living space with a heated freeform pool is screened so that guests can hang out poolside no matter what time of year they visit. An outside storage room provides a convenient space to store pool, river and beach paraphernalia. And a paved pathway leads down to the seawall where a dock with lift and kayak launch allows for easy access to the river for any type of watercraft.
“The view may have been what kept them here all those years, but Pebble Bay is a very friendly neighborhood with a nice blend of people,” notes Gonzalez, adding that it’s an enjoyable walk through the neighborhood to the private beach access just across A1A.
Pebble Bay Estates is comprised of two circles with a total of 49 homes sites. Located on the west side of A1A, the neighborhood lies just inside Indian River Shores, with a short drive to Ocean Drive for island shopping and dining with the Village Beach Shops nearby.
Vital Statistics
- Address: 4745 Pebble Bay Circle
- Neighborhood: Pebble Bay Estates • Year built: 1980
- Construction: Stucco and block with some frame
- Architecture: West Indies
- Lot size: Half an acre • Home size: 4,947 square feet
- Bedrooms: 4 • Bathrooms: 4 full baths and 1 half-bath
- Pool: Heated free form swimming pool
- View: 180-degree river view
- Additional features: Second-floor master suite; two family rooms; elevator; office; caregiver suite; fitness room; sauna; screened outdoor living space; two-car garage; dock; boat lift; kayak launch and private beach access
- Listing agency: Coldwell Banker Paradise
- Listing agent: The Schlitt Gonzalez Team 772-559-7367
- Listing price: $1,350,000
