HOMES OF THE TREASURE COAST
FIXED
UP
An abandoned
home in Riomar
24
in Vero
is transformed
into a showplace
When Holly and Chris Brown decided
to move from their home in Vero
Beach’s John’s Island, they went on
the hunt for a location that would
be centrally located and close to St. Edward’s
School, which their three children attend. With a
love of the water and outdoors, the couple also
wanted easy access to the Indian River Lagoon.
They found a location in Riomar that fit the
criteria, but the house itself had been abandoned
for more than a year. “It was in rough shape,”
said Chris. “The backyard was a jungle of weeds
and the pool was black. But, the bones of the
house were there. It was perfect for what we
needed. Holly has a good eye for design and saw
the potential.” The property was in a short sale
making the purchase more difficult than normal,
but the couple persevered through the hurdles.
They were adamant that this was the right place
for their family.
Since Holly enjoys design, she worked directly
with a builder and draftsman to develop the
plans for renovation. “We like to have people
over,” said Chris. “We wanted the house to be
functional for our family and friends, not just
something pretty to look at.” With that in mind,
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BY CAMILLE YATES
PHOTOS BY ROB DOWNEY
The Browns spend
a lot of time in the
family room and
kitchen. The mirror
above the fireplace
disguises a flat
screen TV.