The process of buying or selling a house is like falling in love. Some people think that dating lots of people is key to finding the right lover. Others know that it only takes one, the right one, the right person, the right buyer, the right house. This week’s house is for that one person who has dreamed about living in an authentic log cabin. Of course, childhood is full of dreams of living on the land in a rustic log cabin. The log cabin that is this week’s featured house is a relaxing, cozy, sturdy structure full of artistic surprises.
Linda Highsmith and her husband have lived in Vero since 1994, when they purchased this log cabin, located at 5820 33rd Street. The couple relocated from the Miami area after Hurricane Andrew, and Linda, an artist, fell in love with this house when she first saw it. As a child, she dreamed of living in a real log cabin but never thought it would come to fruition. But it did, and the Highsmiths have lived in this house for nearly twenty years.
The two-story Southland Log Home that makes you feel like you are in the mountains sits on .94 acres of land that is part of the small Shadow Brook subdivision. It was originally owned by the neighborhood’s developer, who wanted to have the entire neighborhood made up of log cabins. It did not work out that way, and this house is unique to the subdivision.
Kiln-dried logs are the primary building material, but the house is full of wonderful artistic accents like pecky cypress floors, a stained glass skylight, and fieldstone showers. More practical accessories include a reverse osmosis water softener, an alarm system, and a huge two-car garage and workshop.
The cares of your day slip away as your car enters the fenced-in driveway. The house stands four feet off the ground, so that when you are standing on the porch you have a terrific view of the property and pasture across the street.
The front porch welcomes you and whatever cool beverage you feel like drinking in the evening as you rock in a rocking chair and survey your front yard, full of all types of tropical flora, including grapefruit and orange, trees, and watch the sun dip below the horizon.
“The front porch is my favorite feature of the house,” said listing agent Alex MacWilliam IV, a realtor with his family’s firm, Alex MacWilliam, Inc. “There is nothing better than sitting in a rocking chair, looking out at the horses in the pasture.”
The front door of the log cabin is a particular point of pride for Linda Highsmith, who commissioned an expert carver who worked his magic and brought forth an amazing rendition of a large bear from the solid cypress door.
The first floor of the cabin is spacious and yet intimate at the same time. Wood beams line the ceilings and a massive fireplace is the mainstay of the living room, the spot where family members gather on chilly nights. The open floor plan flows so that practically the entire first floor can be seen from the kitchen.
The well-equipped kitchen has everything needed to entertain a crowd or to cook breakfast for the family. In addition to modern appliances, the counter has been redone by Linda, with tiles that make up a whimsical mosaic kitchen table.
The cabin is quiet and sitting in the living room, you can feel its durability.
“During the hurricanes in 2004, we spent our time in this room,” said Linda. “We fell asleep and never heard anything.”
Along the back of the cabin, on the first floor, is another long porch, overlooking the backyard and a large fire pit where friends and family gather.
Also on the first floor is a laundry room, guest closet, and under the stairs storage.
The second floor is comprised of a master suite and two smaller bedrooms. Stone showers add to the rustic feel of the cabin. In the hallway, there is a skylight that has been made even lovelier by an exquisite stained glass window made by Linda.
The logs themselves and several ceiling fans help to keep the house cool. The house also boasts new light fixtures and a large two-car garage and workshop/studio, perfect for any type of artist or handy man.
Although the cabin makes you feel like you are far from the twenty-first century, shops, schools, and restaurants are minutes away.
“It is a really peaceful house. The landscaping out front makes it feel like old Florida,” said MacWilliam. “If buyers are looking for a warm and rustic environment, this log cabin is for them. There are not many log cabins out there like this one. And it beats driving twelve hours to the mountains.”
