In the living room an antique Chinese table and surrounding oversize sofas and matching chairs are arranged at an angle. Framed ocean-themed prints adorn the walls. “My favorite way of decorating is to use different furniture, paintings and accessories and then pull them all together with linen treatments,” says designer Luis Lapitz.
Morning comes gently to the small beachside community where early risers smile and wave as they go on their way to see the sun’s first rays dance on clear blue waters. At first glance the two-story house on the southeast side of the street looks much like it did before it was hit by the twin hurricanes of 2004, yet on closer inspection one notices a few subtle changes: the roof is tile instead of cedar shake, the driveway has a brick design, and the upper level somehow appears larger.
It’s only when you have the opportunity to go inside that the transformation which took two years to complete can be fully appreciated. What had been an attractive but dated interior is now, as Jan Jelmby of Helmet House Construction puts it, “a true masterpiece.” High praise, but well-deserved, and Jelmby should know; his firm custom-built the house for a client 22 years ago.
“At that time there were just a few homes on the street and none on the beach, so this house had an almost unobstructed view of the ocean,” he says. “The footprint is basically the same, but because the present owners have so many children (nine), we added two more bedroom suites upstairs on the west side to accommodate everyone. In essence there are now five suites.”
Read the entire article in the April 2008 issue
True Tails is a series written by Amy Robinson for Vero Beach’s dog lovers. Ask Amy about your dog’s behavior by clicking below.
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