OCEAN CITY — The fantastic three-story single-family home at 5345 Asbury Ave. has more twists and turns than the Gardens section of the island, but certainly is easier to navigate.
Still, there’s a surprise around every corner in this 3,392-square-foot dream home designed by architect Jim Chadwick and built by custom builder Russell Snow.
Let’s start with the outside since there is so much worth noting.
Located on the ocean side of the street, just two blocks from the beach, the handsome exterior features robin’s egg-blue cedar-impression siding with white window trim and porch railings behind a white-picket fence and grassy front yard.
It’s asymmetric in design, with the living room on the first floor and a bedroom upstairs jutting out on the left, shielding the front door and covered porch that wraps around the house to the right. Neat architectural features include the sloped ceiling over the second-floor porch — both out front and on the side — and the six clerestory windows up top that provide natural light to the third-floor multipurpose room.
The porch has a wide set of composite steps leading down to the side yard and another, narrower set, leading down to the ground level. A side door into the one-car garage is to the left and a paver patio with a barbecue grill is to the right. This patio extends through the gated fence to the rear, where it opens up to accommodate at least four cars just off the alley.
A detached shed, decorated to match the home, includes a shower and clothes washer as well as a place to change.
More steps ascend to a small covered porch with access to the home through the laundry room, while another set rises to the second-floor sunporch. A room with private access off the porch was intended for office or storage space but a bed and refrigerator turned it into a bonus bedroom or sitting area.
Back out front, a black door with a dentil accent, leaded-glass window, transom and side panels opens to reveal a spacious, wide-open great room. The dark hardwood flooring complements the table and kitchen cabinets and is offset by white window trim and wainscoting. Multiple windows with plantation shutters combine with the 9-foot ceiling to make the space feel even larger than it is.
The design creates a true connection between the disparate spaces, with one flowing right into another.
A round table that seats eight is located in the front right corner beneath a hanging lamp just steps away from a huge quartz-topped center island with room for six barstools. Likewise, the living room, with its sofa and several armchairs atop an area rug is just off to the left, where a gas fireplace with a wood mantel commands attention.
In the kitchen, more dark wood cabinets with quartz countertops are located on the back wall, where a six-burner dacor stove sits beneath a stainless-steel hood. The vertical glass-tile backsplash is a nice added touch. To the right is a two-door refrigerator with bottom freezer drawer. Against the right wall is a wet bar with a stainless-steel sink alongside a built-in dacor oven and microwave. A Bosch dishwasher is just to the left of the sink in the island.
A hallway leads off both sides of the kitchen.
To the right, it leads to a pantry closet and laundry room with a full-size Whirlpool washer and dryer, cabinets and shelves, as well as an exterior door.
To the left, past a closet under the stairs, is a large bedroom suite with comfortable wall-to-wall carpeting, a king-size bed, sectional sofa, armchair and armoire. A hall to the left leads to a makeup station, large walk-in closet and full bathroom featuring a granite-topped vanity with his and hers sinks and a fully tiled walk-in shower with a glass wall.
Out in the hall is the home’s powder room, which has bead board wainscoting and a corner sink with three pendant lights hanging above.
Back in the great room, a dining nook in the corner featuring a glass-top table with four chairs is beside the staircase, which matched the color scheme with dark wood treads and white risers.
At the top, a landing with hardwood flooring offers access to four bedrooms, two bathrooms and the sunporch.
The home’s second bedroom, to the left, has a full-size bed atop carpeting and a walk-in closet. Across the hall, the third bedroom has the same amenities but offers direct access to the back porch via a swinging glass door.
Between the two bedrooms is a full bathroom with a tile floor, ceramic-topped vanity, one-piece fiberglass tub/shower with a curtain and bead board wainscoting.
Moving toward the front of the house, the fourth bedroom is in the front right. It has a full-size bed, wall-to-wall carpeting and access to a private front porch. It also has a walk-in closet with a granite makeup counter. The final bedroom is in the front left. Like its neighbor, it has access to a private porch, this one on the south side of the home. The two bedrooms share a bathroom.
Near the stairs, a door with 10 glass panes opens onto a carpeted staircase that ascends to the final surprise.
On the third floor is a huge multipurpose room that could serve just about any want or need. It has a peaked ceiling with an exposed wood beam running down the middle and multiple square clerestory windows, such as the six seen from out front.
The home is located in the deep Southend of the island, where it is narrowest and there are fewer people. That makes for a quieter lifestyle than in other areas of the island and a nice retreat after taking in all of the action on the boardwalk or downtown.
The home is listed for $2.95 million with Joe Sheppard of The Sheppard Team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Fox & Roach Realtors. Call (609) 602-0501 or (609) 399-0066, or email shep@ocjs.com, for more information or to set up a tour of this wonderful home.
