HOMES OF THE TREASURE COAST
At almost an acre, the property is fenced and heavily landscaped.
Her master bathroom is simple yet elegant with a custom stone shower and tub.
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“It is totally private here and every room has beautiful
views. This is an in-town estate home.”
All of the windows were replaced with impact glass in
PVC-covered frames, so there is no painting or maintenance.
7Ke floors tKrougKout tKe ÀYebedroom 1/2-bath home
were replaced with reclaimed river bottom heart of pine lumber.
In the old days, loggers on the Mississippi River inevitably
lost lumber to the river bottom. Reclaimed, this tough
wood has a soft look, accenting the Old Florida furniture.
Becker had a carpenter cover the stainless steel refrigerator
with wood to match the cabinets in the remodeled kitchen,
which now features windows and a breakfast nook.
Built by the largest seawall builder in Florida at the time,
the 62-year-old structure is in excellent condition. But the
guts of the house needed to be replaced to meet current code.
In the past three years, all of the duct work for the three-zone
air conditioner, insulation, electrical wiring and plumbing
was replaced with complete crawl spaces making the work
much easier. “Every square inch on this house has been
redone,” Becker says. “We were always doing something, but
the house is perfect right now.”
&lem 6cKaub was tKe arcKitect for tKe Àrst renoYation of
the home and also drew the plans for the Beckers’ makeover.
“This is a major renovation when you are moving rooms
and functions around,” Schaub says. “The kitchen was
moYed to imSroYe tKe flow. ,t was buried in tKe bacN. $ lot
of Kouses were built for tKe staͿ to cooN for tKe owners. :e
made it a famil\ NitcKen in tKe Keart of tKe famil\ flow. ,t was
kind of a total redo and the feel of the house changed. The
children started to grow up and move on so it was updated
to their current lifestyle.”
LOCATION IS MAGICAL
“The home’s placement in old Riomar is a magical spot,
looking south with the view that goes on forever,” Schaub
continues. “We moved the windows. You can’t see the road
so it feels like you own the golf course. And you are not
aware of other houses. It is a great house on a great property
for great people.”
Atop the basement sits the 5,000-square-foot home rising
from an elevation of almost 20 feet. The entryway is lushly
landscaped around the Mexican tile steps that rise up to the
front door.
After you easily open the 800-pound door made from Brazilian
Ipe wood, the tropical feel lives on through the foyer
with murals painted by artist Patty Vaughn.
“I wanted the continuation of that feel from the outside as
you come inside the house,” Becker says. “It is a Zen transition.
,t is Must an oSen Kouse ³ not formal ³ for SeoSle to
come in and relax, welcoming family and friends for football
or a barbecue. My kids always brought their friends over.
This is a beach house with attitude and a lot of character.”
In the almost empty-nest tradition, the Beckers have decided
to downsize. “It is a gut-wrenching decision,” Becker
says. We have had beautiful Christmases and great parties
here. It will be tough. If I had grandchildren, I might keep it.
We love Vero and we wouldn’t live anywhere else.”
The Becker estate is listed for $3.25 million by the French
and O’Dare Team at Premier Estate Properties.