OCEAN CITY — Be the first to track sand across the beautiful wide-plank European oak hardwood floors in the new home at 801 St. James Place.
The spacious single is amazing both outside and inside, where there are five bedrooms — including a top-floor primary suite — five bathrooms, an open great room and multiple porches in an upside-down design.
“Offering a modern design with abundant space, this home is an ideal retreat for both family living and entertaining,” listing agent Patti Gallo said.
The four-floor home commands attention at the corner of St. James Place and Atlantic Avenue, where it stands tall and proud with its Alaskan cedar shake siding. The asymmetric layout features a mahogany main entrance to the left and a single door into the two-car garage to the right.
A concrete walk flanked by flowerbeds leads up to the front door, which is sheltered by the porch overhead. Mahogany planks on the ceiling add a nice touch, something that is repeated on all of the outside spaces.
The door opens into a tiled foyer with shadow box wainscoting and a handsome wooden staircase rising to the left. Two doors on the right provide access into the large garage, which has a storage room and direct access to the enclosed outside shower, while a slider in the rear leads to a covered patio with a dedicated gas hookup for a grill.
“With meticulous attention to detail, every inch of this residence has been thoughtfully crafted to combine functionality with style,” Gallo said.
The stairs ascend alongside windows that provide natural light from the west. At the top, a hallway with hardwood flooring leads left to three bedrooms, one with a private bathroom and two that share a hall bathroom.
One of the bedrooms has a fantastic window seat, a great place to crawl into with a book and a blanket in the evening. All three have base and crown molding and spacious closets with built-in organizers behind solid-wood doors painted a light blue to contrast with the white walls.
The fourth bedroom on this floor is in the front, where a sliding glass door opens onto the composite-decked porch. There also is access from the hallway. It has a private bath with a tiled shower and frameless swinging glass door.
“The layout is perfect for growing families or those looking for extra space for visitors, with large windows that flood the rooms with natural light and create a bright, airy atmosphere,” Gallo said.
The heart of the home is on the third floor, where there is a coffered cathedral ceiling, multiple windows and a double sliding glass door opening onto the covered front porch.
“The living area in the front boasts large windows that provide beautiful views of the surrounding neighborhood and the iconic charm of Ocean City,” Gallo said.
It features a gas fireplace with a fireplace rustic in look only topped by a large flat-screen television.
An open dining area is highlighted by an ocean-facing window seat just steps away from the fantastic kitchen.
“The open-concept kitchen is a chef’s dream, featuring top-of-the-line appliances, sleek countertops and ample cabinet space,” Gallo said. “The kitchen flows seamlessly into the dining room and living room, making it perfect for hosting gatherings.”
The huge island is topped by a crystal quartzite slab about 3 inches thick. Combined with the pendant lights, the aesthetic draws the eye straight to it. More Wellborn cabinets with quartz tops run along the back wall.
A laundry room decked out with a sink, built-in hampers and multiple cabinets, along with a washer and dryer, of course, is located just off the kitchen, adding to the overall functionality of the space.
Another flight of stairs rises to the top level, which is a private retreat designed with luxury and comfort in mind.
“The primary bedroom offers a tranquil haven with ample space, a large walk-in closet and a beautifully appointed ensuite full bathroom,” Gallo said.
Double doors open into a cozy seating area, perfect for unwinding, reading or enjoying some quiet time. The extensive walk-in closet is to the left and bathroom straight ahead. It has a dual-sink vanity and tiled shower with a round window providing an ocean view.
The bed chamber is in the front, where there is access to the deck via another slider. Outside, the ocean views are amazing.
“This home is a true gem in one of New Jersey’s most sought-after shore towns, offering an exceptional blend of luxury, style and convenience,” Gallo said.
Ocean City is one of the most popular shore resorts on the East Coast, featuring an oceanfront boardwalk filled with hundreds of shopping, dining and entertainment venues, as well as miles and miles of pristine beaches.
A great location doesn’t only mean beachfront or bayfront on this 8-mile-long island — there are 10 distinct neighborhoods, each with its own characteristics.
The beach and boardwalk — 2.5 miles of oceanfront entertainment, restaurants, thrill rides and souvenir shops — get most of the attention in this seaside resort, but the island has much more to offer.
An award-winning downtown stretches from Sixth to 14th streets along Asbury Avenue and has expanded onto other nearby streets, offering more than 100 shops and cafes.
There’s also the popular watersports district around Third Street on Bay Avenue, where the brave can rent powerboats, go parasailing, join the crew of a pirate ship and take a kayak tour of the back bays. Private and party boat fishing tours are also available.
The Northend contains many of the island’s historic homes. It’s heavily residential but there are many mom-and-pop shops and corner cafes that are traditional stops for families for generations.
Extending from North Street to Sixth Street, the Northend is an eclectic blend of single-family, duplex and triplex properties. The boardwalk begins its 2½-mile span here.
The 14-story Gardens Plaza, the tallest structure on the island, sits on the Boardwalk in the very center of the Northend. In addition, it contains the Historic District, from Third to Eighth streets and Ocean Avenue to Central Avenue. Designated as such by Ocean City’s Historic Preservation Commission, the district seeks to maintain the look and feel of classic island architecture.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
