Pied-A-Terre In The Sun

The way Bob and Donna Breadner see it, they have the best of both worlds. When a change of place and pace is desired, the Canadian couple simply hop in their plane, leave the hustle and bustle of Toronto big city life behind, and within a few hours are enjoying the relaxed lifestyle they cherish at their oceanfront home in Orchid.

Here the welcome mat is always out. Not only are guests warmly greeted by Bob and Donna, they’re affectionately nuzzled by their two Vizslas, Abby and Charlie, gentle dogs who are obviously delighted you’ve come and as eager as their owners to show you around.

The Breadners’ home is a reflection of their love of art; it’s also a testament to their resolve and resourcefulness because they first learned the property was for sale shortly after the twin hurricanes of 2004. While others would have walked away after seeing the extensive damage, they didn’t. As Bob is quick to point out, the house had good bones. It would take a year before those bones were sturdy and strong, but to the Breadners it was worth the wait. The two-story, four-bedroom main house and two-bedroom guest cottage are now just the way they knew they could be from the very beginning. It’s their pied-a-terre in the sun.

The couple got their first breath of fresh Florida air in the late 1970s when they visited Donna’s parents at their condominium in Palm Beach. The Breadners quickly fell in love with the tropical lifestyle and wishfully talked about having a place they could call their own. But, as Bob puts it, “We decided to wait until we were older and in more of a position to do so.”

Read the entire article in the Summer 2007 issue