OCEAN CITY — “You don’t have to go to Starbucks for your coffee,” Clark Edward said, noting the home he is building at 105 E. Atlantic Blvd. will have a fantastic pantry with an espresso machine.
That’s just one of the many perks of this home now under construction in the exclusive Gardens section of Ocean City.
Other highlights include five bedrooms, four full bathrooms, a saltwater swimming pool and spa, multiple decks — the one off the primary bedroom provides ocean views — and a short walk to the white-sand beaches of America’s Greatest Family Resort.
Edward described the home as “top of the line” and “spacious and finely crafted,” noting he is known for his high-end materials and quality craftsmanship.
The four-story home is tall and narrow, taking up most of the 130 feet depth. Out front, there is room for two cars on the paver brick parking pad, with space for two more inside the garage.
A set of composite stairs with a mahogany cap and stainless steel cable rails rises to the covered front porch, where arches combine with the cedar shake siding for an eye-pleasing aesthetic.
Beneath the stairs, a ground-level foyer provides access to the four-stop elevator and stairs rising to the first floor.
Up on the porch, the main door opens into the great room, which stretches back to another overlooking the swimming pool and patio below.
“It’s very open with flowing circulation,” Edward said.
A handsome oak staircase runs up alongside the right wall of the front living room.
“The stairs are going to be to die for, open all the wall up with a beautiful bank of windows,” Edward said.
The great room features 7-inch-wide plank flooring, custom woodwork and real bluestone around the fireplace, as well as four-panel French doors he called “very much a full wall of glass.”
Moving toward the center section, the dining area enjoys abundant natural light through a triple window above the sideboard. This space boasts floor-to-ceiling oak paneling with a wine rack built into the wall and is just steps away from the gourmet kitchen. A powder room is conveniently located off to the right, alongside the elevator access.
The kitchen is where things really start to shine, thanks to Wolf, Sub-Zero and Cove appliances, along with quartzite countertops on Wellborn cabinets. The full backsplash runs up to the bottom of cabinets, easing cleanup even with the messiest of teens.
A large center island has a sink and dishwasher on one side, and four stools on the other for overflow seating or to have a drink while chatting with the cook.
Along the right wall is a hot and cold beverage center, sporting the coffee and espresso maker along with a beverage center for chilled wines and a soda machine offering three fountain flavors.
Out back, the covered porch overlooks the pool.
Back in the living room, those fantastic stairs rise to a more private floor offering four bedrooms.
Just off the stairs, the front bedroom is large and includes a full bathroom and access to the covered front porch. Two more along the left share a hall bathroom between them, while a third bathroom is just outside the back bedroom, where four windows overlook the action below.
All of the bedrooms have built-in dressers and bureaus, so only a bed and nightstands are needed.
There’s also a laundry room on this floor with a sink and cabinets.
The top floor is a luxury primary suite with a sitting room/office and rear sun porch high above the island.
A hallway off the stairs passes the elevator and a private laundry facility to the bedchamber in the rear. Dual closets flank a hallway into the primary bathroom, offering custom tile work and high-end finishes.
Out back, the covered paver patio provides a perfect place to have lunch poolside but out of the sun. There’s a built-in grill and detached shed for pool gear.
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.
Those quick on the draw still have a chance to choose their finishes.
