The historic Riomar neighborhood got its start nearly a century ago when three Midwesterners came to Florida in search of a respite from the long Ohio winters.
They found the climate they sought between the Indian River and the Atlantic Ocean on a portion of Vero Beach Barrier Island, then unnamed and only reachable by boat. Today Riomar is an established residential community centered on a golf course and bordered by white-sand beaches.
The elegant formal dining room sits to one side of the entry hall. (DALE SORENSEN REAL ESTATE)
This Spanish-style house is emblematic of the character and charm of the homes along Riomar’s tree-canopied streets.
A fanlight atop the double front doors mirrors the shape of the arched entry hall ceiling. More arches, these in the room openings off the hall, lead to the formal dining and living rooms.
The kitchen’s center island and a breakfast area provide less formal dining options. (DALE SORENSEN REAL ESTATE)
Wainscoting and a dramatically high ceiling add visual interest in the dining room. Wide-plank wood floors and tongue-and-groove ceilings further enhance the home’s interiors.
The roomy kitchen has a granite center island with a sink, prep space and room for bar dining. There’s an adjoining butler’s pantry and a 1,000-bottle wine cellar. The kitchen has a vaulted beamed ceiling and leads to a back patio.
Casual living space connects directly to the outdoors. (DALE SORENSEN REAL ESTATE)
Arched wooden doors open to the home office/den, which has wainscoting, a built-in desk with shelving and a tray ceiling.
The primary suite has a corner gas fireplace; a large closet with an island and built-ins, and a coffered ceiling for a total of four bedrooms and five bathrooms in the main and guest houses. French doors open to the swimming pool area.
Details in the primary suite include a coffered ceiling and corner fireplace. (DALE SORENSEN REAL ESTATE)
There’s a dedicated laundry room with a built-in desk under a portal window and lots of storage. A covered terrace along the back of the house has wood ceilings that tie into the motif of the interior space.
The secluded backyard feels like a tropical oasis. Flagstone paving surrounds the central pool and spa tub, which is slightly elevated and pours into the pool. Beyond the irregular-shaped swimming pool is the one-bedroom guest house, a multi-hole putting green and expanses of lawn.
Matilde Sorensen of Dale Sorensen Real Estate is the listing agent for 865 Riomar Drive, Vero Beach, Florida. The asking price is $5.9 million.
Beaches and restaurants are within walking distance.
