PORT ST. LUCIE HOMES
Skip Hartzell’s ultimate studio has enough room to build a sculpture the size of a FedEx truck.
favorite color. The design is monolithic and minimal with
plenty of open space and high ceilings with five Big Ass Fans
to help cool the house.
The studio has skylights that open to allow even more
breeze through the airy workspace. Floors have a shiny,
polished concrete finish. Heavy beams are complemented
by tongue-in-groove wood in the ceilings above the outdoor
decks.
INDOOR AND OUTDOOR
“I was always attracted to bringing nature and the interior
of the house together,” says Skip. “It is an indoor/outdoor
concept you see in California or Hawaii. All doors open up,
so you are outside when you are inside.”
And the outside landscaping is spectacular with all native
plants. The property has been certified as a National Wildlife
Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.
No fertilizers or pesticides are used anywhere on the two
acres. To kill weeds, Jeanette uses a mixture of industrial
vinegar, kosher salt and Dawn detergent.
“I love to dig in the dirt,” she says. “I always wanted to live
on moving water. I love the peace and serenity and a walk at
midnight with the moon and the dogs.”
While her passion is gardening, Jeanette also gives her time
to Conservation Alliance, League of Women Voters, Sierra
Club, Rivers Coalition and Planned Parenthood Defenders.
Skip donates 40 percent of his sales to dog rescue organizations,
locally and nationally.
There are 10 rain chains that allow runoff from the gutters
to stream down to rock basins below, into pipes that feed
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20 Port St. Lucie Magazine
GREG GARDNER
All of the rain run-off feeds to water mains which empty into the catch
basin just before the river. The two lots each came with docks, and the
covered boat house was added.