Vero Shores is a peaceful, desirable neighborhood of attractive well-maintained homes, located east of U.S. 1 near the St. Lucie County border. Shady trees and manicured lawns characterize this hidden slice of paradise, worlds away from the maddening crowd.
Venice has its canals, and so does Vero Shores. The real treasure of this neighborhood is its proximity to the water. Many of the houses in the neighborhood are located on canals leading to the Indian River Lagoon and the Intracoastal Waterway. The Fort Pierce Inlet and access to the Atlantic Ocean is just minutes away by boat.
This week’s featured home sits on a small, private lot filled with bougainvillea, mature palm trees and other tropical flora. There is a dock with a lift in the backyard, so you can fish for your dinner.
Built in 1961, this 1,415 square foot single-story classic Florida cottage has been meticulously renovated and updated inside and out with loads of charming details that add elegance and grace. This is a romantic cottage built for two people who like to entertain.
According to listing agent Dan Downey, a realtor with Norris & Company, this is the best waterfront deal in Vero Beach. Visitors are amazed when they walk into the living room by how dazzling the view of the backyard is, as well as the efficient use of space. This entry is unusual because there is a hallway with not one, but two coat closets, unusual here in Florida where people do not often wear coats!
The living space in this house has been divided artistically by interesting details such as tasteful wood columns, crown molding, plantation shutters and recessed lighting. Skylights add to the open, sunny feel, giving this snug-as-a-bug cottage a feeling of being much larger than it is.
A pitched ceiling in the living and dining area adds volume to the room. Tile floors in the living room, dining room, kitchen and lanai, as well as blonde wood floors in the bedrooms, make this house a snap to keep broom clean. Pale, neutral paint colors adorn the walls and add to the crisp feel of this cottage.
“Nowhere else could you be on the water for less than $400,000,” said Downey. “This cute cottage embraces the Florida lifestyle. The canal is your backyard.”
Although the cottage is small, it has all the luxuries of a large house. The efficient kitchen boasts updated appliances, gorgeous granite, a lovely tile backsplash, and sufficient storage space, all in an 8’x13’ space. The room does not feel small, thanks to a skylight and the fact that it opens to the dining and living room. Beadboard cabinets add to the fresh cottage feel of the kitchen.
Gracious French doors lead to the large lanai lined with nearly floor-to-ceiling windows, just the spot for cocktails on a warm tropical night. The current owners have put a large pool table out here, and there is still room for company.
Both bedrooms have views of lush, tropical greenery and each room has more than enough space to accommodate a king-sized bed, with no wasted space. The bathrooms have been updated with sparkling tile, new fixtures and glass walk-in steam showers with spa shower heads. There are screened-in patios off of the bedrooms where you can sip your coffee each morning and plan the day’s fishing trip.
This house has a two-car garage with an added bonus room that is currently being used as a home office. Another exciting feature is what looks to be a large back patio with large swinging fence doors, but is really a storage space for a boat, so it can be moved into the canal from the driveway with little effort.
This house is perfect for a couple who want to live a practically maintenance-free lifestyle. The neighbors are nice and close-knit, and most are boaters. The neighborhood is out of the way enough to be secure, but close to shopping and restaurants.
