Cottage Loved….a Vero home tour.

I love the champions of old homes and cottages and neighborhoods

believers. fixers. finders.

They walk among us unnoticed. Passionately working. Whispering life back into souls of wood and stucco…

acknowledging history.

Sometimes making a dime. Often not.

I think of the Jane Coslick’s  of our world.

saving Tybee Islands cottages…and their dogs and cats.

But every community has them.

Here, we are lucky to have  many.

Not a lot of old homes. And maybe not so old compared to other places in this beautiful country.

But In this little town, like many, we have some enclaves of old fogey and tenderly loved homes.

And thankfully… many keepers of their flames.

Like many communities…homes like the cottage above would just assume be razed. And built new.

But take a peek into the old beautiful soul….that may have been lost…

Yes it was pouring cats and dogs (so the pictures are darker…can we say cozier :) )….and the

 sound of the rain

on the metal roof was lulling…symphonic.

These old metal roofed gals SING in the rain.

Peeking inside original wavy glass windows into this cozy home was compelling on this rainy day

and…YES…I was invited.

 

Join me.

This beautiful aged relic was recently bought…like a week ago…and loved…by a local home lover, Cindy.

Original Dade county pine floors…scuffed from years of life. Newly shined with love.

filled with beautiful art and furnishings.

I can just feel the old gal sighing a happy sigh.

A vintage textile on a lampshade…gorgeous vintage tropical prints in faux bamboo frames

a nod to its history. Early Florida. In it’s hey Day.

Cindy…the new caretaker, has decorated it beautifully… all of it’s three bedrooms

and one bath.

a new barn-type sliding door has been added to the bathroom/laundry room.

Painted Robins egg blue, the old gal is

kicking up her heels a tad.

 

The kitchen is lovely…wood counters…cork floors…built in’s and shelves

Three beautiful and cozy bedrooms are housed in the back area of the cottage

One…maybe my favorite…exposed to the rafters

This cottage lives big…tall ceilings…wood detail.

And even a small “guest house/studio” in the back.

Just waiting for life to be breathed into it.

Cannot wait to see what it becomes!

Tipping my hat to the saver and lover of the oldies

y’all know who you are.

<3

Tropical Hideaway~ A home tour

                                                                        …Homes and gardens are a form of autobiography

Grab your coconut oil and flip flops…

and come visit another hidden oasis in our little town/city of Vero beach.

Tucked away on Tropical Ave of all places… it sings with birds, cicadas, trickling water.

And…Rex.

Iguana ask you a question? 

But it TRULY is a retreat for the soul

for the eyes

for all of the senses.

Carol and Bili have given a once empty and sad place some spice and warmth and soul.

They created a stunning jungle-garden filled with tropicals…

and plums,pineapple,lemons, mangos, avocados, starfruit, passion fruit, eggplants, peppers

yum

all hugged and protected by 300 year old live oak trees

winding paths lure you …

to the turquoise pool…

and palm thatch tiki hut

Which is really a home away from home housing a bar…

and comfy furniture…lighting. a ceiling fan.

I want to see Maryann coming around the corner with a coconut cream pie…But that may just be me.

Behind the tiki hut….

at the end of another winding path is a small working art studio

Carol and our Artist friend Ginny  :: see her fun casa here ::

have a fun biz~Beach Works~ making art from Beach trash.

Yep…they are those people…who can make the most ordinary beach trash into art.

here, a piece awaits a new life…..

win win…clean the beach~create  beauty.

 

This well loved property also houses a green house and a funky  covered outdoor dining room

At night this outdoor oasis is lit with landscape lighting….firepits…candles along the paths 

Inside the creativity continues

with a gourmet kitchen built out of Tamarind wood from The Keys

….every nook and cranny is a place for cooks tools

Carol owned a restaurant in South Florida

To the east…The kitchen looks out onto a screened in dining room

…and under the stars dining to the West

Bedrooms and sitting rooms are filled with art and fascinating finds

 

 

check out the view from this office…

Carol and Bili have built another beautiful home in the Bahamas on the  island of Eleuthera

…where they will live with their  Bahamian potcake dog Abbie

and plant and harvest fruit…and walk barefoot….and live happily ever after.

Which means….

YOU could have their oasis.

Yep….get workin’ on that.

Would’ja?

 

learn more about this tropical hideaway right here.