OCEAN CITY — It’s hard to decide whether having a terrific view of the beach and ocean or having a house that close to the beach is better.
The next fortunate owners of the exceptional and expansive home at 15 Nassau Road can sit and ponder that while enjoying a cold drink on their balcony looking out on that view, all the time being just a little more than a clam shell’s toss away from having toes in the sand.
“Immerse yourself in luxury with this breathtaking custom-built home in Ocean City’s exclusive eastside Gardens neighborhood, located just steps from the beach,” listing agent Patrick Halliday said.
Sporting 4,469 square feet of living space, the home is shaped in an L, creating a backyard area with a large paver brick patio and swimming pool sheltered on two sides. Trees and fencing border the other sides of the 6,400-square-foot lot.
Inside are six bedrooms, five bathrooms and a powder room, along with two distinct great rooms with glass doors opening onto multiple decks.
From the rich knotty-pine hardwood floors to the bead board wainscoting, plantation shutters and custom mill work throughout the home, the quality craftsmanship is evident wherever the eyes may roam.
“From the moment you enter this one-of-a-kind home, you are immediately surrounded by the finest finishes,” Halliday said.
The home has curb appeal aplenty, featuring an asymmetrical exterior with cedar-impression siding, stacked-stone foundation and an interesting roofline.
A paver driveway along the left offers a couple of parking spots and leads back to the patio and a two-car garage.
Mulched flowerbeds with mature shrubs flank the wide hardwood steps leading up to the front porch, which sets the tone of grandeur with its 8-foot-tall wood doors topped by an arched transom.
Inside, the foyer features a dramatic custom staircase and double-height ceilings boasting rich wooden wall trim accents.
A pocket door opens onto a remarkable family room that stretches across the back of the home. Beneath the plank ceiling with exposed beams are a sofa, multiple chairs and double TVs, along with a full built-in bar area, full bathroom and deck access leading to the outdoor space and pool area.
There’s also multiple quartz-topped cabinets, a wine refrigerator dual beer taps, microwave, sink, dishwasher and Sub-Zero refrigerator.
On the opposite side of the ground floor are two large bedrooms and a full bathroom, as well as access to the garage and elevator. A back staircase leads up to the second floor.
Back in the foyer, stairs with white risers and wood treads rise and curve around to a landing, where a nook with a window is the perfect place for the fantastic ship model now anchored there.
To the left, the great room has a lofty cathedral ceiling with cutouts for windows high up near the roofline. The sitting area is to the right and the kitchen and dining area share the left half of the space.
Triple windows flank the gas fireplace, offering abundant natural light. A leather sofa and two chairs are arranged around the television above the wood mantel.
The dining area features a china hutch and long wood table that seats eight beneath a chandelier hanging from high above. More seating is just steps away at the center island in the kitchen, which has an under-counter microwave.
White Grabil cabinets with a tile backsplash line two walls, where stainless-steel appliances include a dishwasher to the left of the two-basin sink, four-burner Wolf range/oven with a griddle and hood, and a Sub-Zero refrigerator.
Back on the landing, a hallway leads to the primary suite, a junior suite, powder room and laundry room.
The primary suite features a walk-in closet to the right just inside the door, along with a large square room with a king-size bed. There’s an office area in the corner and a sliding glass door that opens onto a private deck. The bathroom has a tile floor, two-sink vanity and tiled shower large enough for a crowd.
Another flight of stairs asecnds to the third floor, where there are two more bedrooms connected by a large Jack-and-Jill bathroom.
“The outside of this home is just as remarkable as the interior, with several large decks, a private courtyard feeling backyard on the oversized and a wonderful pool area,” Halliday 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.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff