Whatever the state of the national economy, Florida continues to lure wealthy Snow Belt retirees and second-home clients. And as upscale enclaves like Palm Beach and Boca Raton have become more crowded, relatively quiet Vero Beach has begun to attract migrants from the south as well as the north. In addition to a slower pace of living, the owners of this home in the planned community of Windsor found a quality rare in most parts of Florida: architecture with a sense of historical context. The Windsor design code draws on Caribbean colonial architecture and the building traditions of Charleston, New Orleans, and St. Augustine—”Places that dealt with the climate before air conditioning,” says architect Clem Schaub.
Consistent with the code’s bias toward outdoor living, the home consists of three pavilions, joined by covered terraces, around a grassy walled courtyard and pool. To peer over a bank of beach vegetation, the main pavilion is configured in “upside down” fashion—master suite down, kitchen, dining, and living spaces up. A second pavilion serves as quest quarters and a pool cabana; a two-bedroom guest apartment occupies the second floor of the garage pavilion. The building layout provides shelter from cool northerly winds while opening to the sun and southerly breeze. Generous balconies and covered porches allow activity to flow easily between indoors and out. The ultimate expression of tropical ease is a space that Schaub calls the “Living Porch.” With its large fireplace and sheltering roof, it brings living-room functions poolside.
Project Credits: Builder: AAC Builders, Vero Beach, Fla.; Architect: Clemens Bruns Schaub Architect & Associates, Vero Beach; Living space: 4,986 square feet; Site size: .21 acre; Construction cost: Withheld; Photographer: Alan Karchmer.
Resources: Bathroom/kitchen cabinets: Brookhaven, Circle 446; Bathroom countertops: Corian, Circle 447; Bathroom plumbing fittings: Grohe, Circle 448 and Jasco, Circle 449; Bathroom plumbing fixtures: Kohler, Circle 450 and Waterworks, Circle 451; Dishwasher: Bosch, Circle 452; Doors/windows: Piosch, Circle 453; Exterior siding: Hardiplank, Circle 454; Flooring: Dal-Tile, Circle 455; Garage doors: Clopay, Circle 456; Hardware: Baldwin, Circle 457; HVAC equipment: Trane, Circle 458; Kitchen plumbing fittings: Elkay, Circle 459; Kitchen plumbing fixtures: KWC, Circle 460; Lighting: Lightolier, Circle 461; Oven: Thermador, Circle 462; Paints/stains: Sherwin Williams, Circle 463; Refrigerator: GE Appliances, Circle 464; Security system: Ademco, Circle 465.
