A RENOVATION FIT FOR A FAMILY OF FIVE (PLUS PETS)
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Something for Everyone A RENOVATION FIT FOR A FAMILY OF FIVE (PLUS PETS) WRITTEN BY ANN TAYLOR • PHOTOGRAPHY BY IVAN HERRERA
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The Thorpe’s family room is the perfect blend of timeless architecture and fresh furnishings. The Surfing book is a favorite read due to Michael and Harrison’s passion for catching the big waves.
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The six-bedroom house on an oceanside street wasn’t what Kim and Michael were looking for, but it turned out to be just what they were meant to find.
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anted: house near ocean, four bedrooms with master on first floor, three-car garage. That was what Kimberly and Michael Thorpe
were looking for. As seasoned Realtor-brokers who have multiple residential listings at their fingertips, one would think their search would be a snap. Think again. “We punched in what we thought we wanted and there was nothing that was right,” says Kim, sending Michael a knowing smile. “And here we are, in a house with six bedrooms, the master on the second floor, and a two-car garage. We couldn’t be happier.” Michael sensed it was the house for their family of five the minute he and Kim walked in the front door. Traditional architectural details had always appealed to his wife, and panoramic ocean views seen from the second floor made his surfer’s heart beat faster. The extra bedrooms were a bonus. Not only would the couple have a master suite, their three children — Shannon, 18, Rachael, 16, and 12-year-old Harrison — would have
bedrooms of their own. The fifth bedroom had home office written all over it, and Kim quickly stamped her initials on the sixth, but more about that in a bit. Time was of the essence. Michael and Kim had already sold their home and were leasing until they could find the house they thought they wanted. Now that they had found one that ended up being even better, there were a number of renovations to be made and less than a month before the move-in date. High on the list was painting the dark wood molding and trim throughout the two-story 5,000-square-foot residence white. “The house seemed very dark and we wanted to lighten things up,” Michael explains. “The good thing was that in order to make the house more saleable, the former owner had all the walls painted a cream color, which is just what we would have picked,” adds Kim, who immediately called interior designer Joseph Tanacs to the rescue. “Joe and I go back to 2004 when he decorated a house I had in Castaway Cove, and it turned out amazing. When Michael and I landed here and I told Joe some of the things we wanted done and when, he went into ‘turbo drive,’ refinishing many of the things we already had and adding new pieces.” Tanacs had also renovated the couple’s Treasure Coast
The welcoming foyer features a soaring ceiling and curved stairway that leads to the second story.
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Harrison, Rachael, Kim, Shannon and Michael Thorpe all agree the house fits them, and their two adopted dogs, to a “T.”
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Sotheby’s International Realty offices on A1A, so he had a feel
Tanacs reupholstered the twin side chairs and designed new
for their preferred style. His first order of business was replac-
custom draperies. The fireplace mantle and molding were painted
ing slate and tile floors in the main living areas with travertine.
white, enhancing the beauty of the green marble surround, and
“My goal was to make the house light and fresh,” he says. “It’s
a trio of framed maps found a new home. After a busy day, this
a welcoming home that looks attractive and well put together
is Michael’s preferred place to catch some quiet time reading, or
while still being very livable.”
reaching for the remote that controls the TV above the fireplace.
And livable is the operative word for this active family with
“We’re private people,” says Kim. “Mike and I work hard and
a pair of playful pups and two cats. That’s why the living room
when we get home we like to unwind. That’s why this house
to the right of the entrance foyer has an appealing, informal
works so well for us.”
feel. The sink-in sofa’s crisp white slipcovers defy sticky fingers,
On the other side of the foyer, where traditional furnishings
beverage stains and muddy paw prints. As Kim says, “I just take
welcome and a sweeping stairway leads to the second floor, is
the slipcovers off, toss them in the washing machine, and they
the family room. Existing built-in cabinetry in a rich red shade
come out looking brand new.”
was a bonus as were corner cupboards with cornice arches.
Friends tend to gather in the open family room and informal dining alcove that overlooks the swimming pool, a perfect place to share news, views and good food.
“Mike and I work hard, and when we get home we like to unwind. That’s why this house works so well for us.”
Thanks to designer Joseph Tanacs, the kitchen was updated in record time. Freshly painted cabinets, new marble counter tops, hardware, lighting and appliances, including a gas cooktop, as well as a trio of counter stools are welcome additions. Kim’s friend Diana Dichter created a beautiful table scape in the adjoining dining room.
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Furnishings here are all new, as are those in the adjacent alcove
upholstered pieces in my upholstery shop,” says Tanacs, who
where a table is set for breakfast, lunch, dinner and catch-a-
grew up helping out in his parents’ local upholstery busi-
snack anytime. With a view of the swimming pool and its prox-
ness. After a short-lived stint teaching elementary education,
imity to the kitchen, it’s a popular place to gather.
he earned a degree in interior design and returned to take
So, too, is the kitchen, which required serious updating. New White Mountain marble counter tops were installed; cabinets were
over from his parents who were retiring and establish Joseph Tanacs Interiors.
painted white; fresh hardware and fittings replaced old; and a gas
The Thorpes’ table and chairs were right at home in the ad-
cooktop made a welcome appearance as did new island counter
jacent dining room where a glass-front china cabinet and built-
chairs — all in less than a month’s time thanks to relationships
in corner cupboards with cornice moldings showcase place
Tanacs and the Thorpes have formed with industry professionals,
settings, serving pieces and glassware. Everything was picture
among them Stones of Italy and Schlitt Brothers Painting.
perfect, except for one not-so-small detail.
“We also did a rush to recover and build many custom
“The fabric on the back of our dining room chairs had been
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When Kim saw the sixth bedroom she claimed it as her own, knowing it would make the perfect dressing room. Black floors, window blinds, glass-front display cases, a gold-edged dressing table and her collection of music posters lend an Art Deco vibe.
damaged by the cats’ claws, so Joe replaced it with a comple-
purring place for the family’s felines. Kim’s love of animals led
mentary fabric,” notes Kim.
to her involvement with the Vero Beach Humane Society where
The second floor is filled with surprises, starting at the top of the stairway, where an often-played billiard table, ready and
she has served on the board. Both she and Michael are long-time supporters of several local nonprofit organizations.
waiting for a spirited game of eight ball, is the main character in
As elsewhere, the master bedroom furnishings are a blend of
the open family room. By placing a custom top over the green
old and new, fitting in with traditional architectural details such
felt, it converts to a ping-pong table when competitive spirits
as corner cupboards and lead glass panels over the doors that
call for a new challenge.
make an impression.
“We bought the table from the former owners and Harrison’s
What didn’t make an impression was the outdated pink mar-
friends love to congregate here, so much so that the numbers
ble floor in the master bathroom. With limited time to wave his
can be overwhelming at times,” Kim sighs, then smiles, knowing
magic design wand, Tanacs chose a fanciful wallpaper design with
that her son won’t be 12 forever.
flowers that repeat the pink, then had the cabinets painted white,
The family room and three of the five bedrooms on the second floor have panoramic ocean views, and seeing the sunrise over water never ceases to amaze — and inspire.
installed a new countertop, gold fixtures and centered a goldframed mirror over the vanity. Voila — a fresh, polished look. The entire master closet belongs to Michael, as Kim com-
Especially in the master bedroom, where occupants of the
mandeered the sixth bedroom, converting it into her dressing
king size bed, early risers both, savor the sight. When made,
room. And not just any dressing room. She knew the look she
the bed, with multiple decorative pillows, becomes the perfect
was after, and Tanacs saw that it became a reality. Walls were
In the master bedroom draperies frame an ever-changing view of the Atlantic Ocean.
Updating the master bathroom was a must. Cabinets received a fresh coat of paint; a new marble countertop and gold fixtures were installed; and wallpaper with fanciful flower buds that repeat the pink of the marble floor completed the transformation.
painted a glossy cream color, and floors were stained black to
friends. Posters of 24-year-old world champion surfer John John
match a pair of tall glass-front display cases filled with Kim’s
Florence, who calls North Shore, Oahu, home, dot the walls.
favorite accessories. Black window blinds, a plush black wing-
While his bedroom is on the second floor, Harrison’s bath-
back chair with ottoman, gold-edged dressing table and Kim’s
room is on the first, easily accessed via a winding metal stair-
collection of music posters created the art deco look.
way that descends to the laundry room, swimming pool, and
Down the hallway, a bedroom furnished with two desks and
the bathroom where stylized fish swim through dark waters on
a sofa serves as a home office, used only when necessary, as the
designer wallpaper. On the wall a painting of a surfer waiting to
couple’s real estate office adjacent to Johnny D’s is less than a
catch a wave is the perfect touch. “Mike and I were in the car,
mile away. At this point, Kim can’t help but express the admira-
returning from a business trip and on the way we stopped by a
tion she has for her husband. “Mike has been in real estate for
roadside market where I bought the painting. I couldn’t resist.
37 years. He built his first house when he was just 22 years old,
Harrison and Mike are hard-core surfers.”
got his real estate license in 1981, quickly became a top produc-
This fall Shannon will head off to college to study graphic
er and opened his own company in 1990. He’s really a walking
design. Rachel will have returned from a much anticipated study
book of wisdom,” Kim enthuses.
trip to China, and after a summer of surfing in Costa Rica and
Harrison’s bedroom, on a sunny southeast corner of the sec-
Hawaii, Harrison will have plenty of big wave tales to tell.
ond floor, is long, narrow and neat, with bunk beds on one end
It’s been a year since the Thorpe family moved into the
and at the other a small sitting area, which is the perfect space
house they weren’t looking for but are so very glad they found.
for reading, studying or talking waves with some of his surfer
It’s a perfect fit. `
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