OCEAN CITY — The Mediterranean-style villa at 409 Gull Road is the perfect example of a classic single-family home lovingly updated with modern amenities.
Built in 1922, the 2,336-square-foot home boasts ocean views from its multiple decks and a short walk to some of the island’s most popular beaches.
“The classic feel of the Gardens nostalgia is felt throughout with hardwood flooring, custom molding, original doors and more,” listing agent Dorothy Phillips said.
The home is among the winding, pedestrian-friendly streets of the Gardens, which is a destination rather than a thoroughfare but close enough to the boardwalk attractions that the scent of caramel popcorn, pizza and other treats wafts by on the gentle breeze.
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 Bay 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 home has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a powder room, as well as a living room with its own sunny sitting nook, music room, formal dining room, gourmet kitchen and spacious family room with a cathedral ceiling.
Beautifully landscaped, the home has a grassy front yard where two shade trees flank a concrete parking pad large enough for two cars. Its crisp, white exterior offset by terracotta roof tiles makes it stand out from its neighbors.
A brick walk leads up to the covered front porch, where a door with 15 glass panes opens into a living room with narrow-plank hardwood flooring.
The space is light and bright, featuring a couple of windows to the right as well as a nook jutting out toward the street with windows on three sides.
The main part of the living room features a handsome stone fireplace with a wood mantel on the left wall, just at the base of the wood staircase leading to the second floor.
A wide doorway leads into the dining room, which has plenty of room for a large table that seats six to eight beneath a chandelier.
The kitchen, featuring tile flooring, abundant cabinetry with a granite counter and subway tile backsplash, has stainless-steel appliances and a breakfast bar with a couple of stools.
In the rear, the primary suite features a large sleeping chamber with a king-size bed and multiple windows wrapping around in a curved arc, as well as a private bath and sitting room.
The bath has tile flooring and halfway up the walls, a tiled shower and pedestal sink.
The lower level also includes a cozy family room, the ideal place for gathering, playing games and unwinding after a long day at the beach. Its lofty ceiling makes it feel even larger than it is.
The second floor features three bedrooms and a full bathroom. One has a full-size bed, another twins and the third is currently set up as a nursery. Two of them have access to the back deck.
There are two outdoor decks — one in the front with awnings for shade and an extensive rear deck with plenty of room for catching some rays if the short walk to the beach is too much.
A spiral staircase leads down to the main-level deck and lush gardens. The rear paver patio is the ideal location for dining al-fresco.
The home also has a laundry room with a full-size washer and dryer, utility sink and under-counter beverage refrigerator just inside the back deck.
