OCEAN CITY — Be the first to track beach sand across the floor of the new single-family home at 1135 Bay Ave.
Featuring five bedrooms, three bathrooms and open-layout great room and multiple decks, the home is perfect for a large family and friends to gather at for a summer vacation or year-round living in a close-knit coastal community.
The home was built on piles, so the ground floor contains only the garage — which has a concrete floor and enough room for two smaller cars stacked, as well as direct access from an enclosed shower — and a large enclosed storage area under the front porch. Out back, the parking pad has enough room for maybe six more cars off-street.
Out front, a new sod lawn with two ornamental trees and mulched beds looks as good as the home, which has blue vinyl siding with white porches and trim. Newborn hydrangeas will add a flash of color as the season progresses.
Horizontal planks enclose the storage space under the porch, which is accessed via composite steps, which are durable and maintenance-free. Four square pillars hold up the roof.
A black door with a grated window and dentil trim opens onto a foyer. A handsome set of woods stairs is straight ahead, while the living room and kitchen area are to the left.
The medium-plank laminate flooring complements the white baseboard, walls and trim for a crisp, clean look. Multiple windows flood the area in light, combining with the 9-foot-high ceiling and open layout for a welcoming feeling of spaciousness.
A gas log fireplace with a faux brick and wood surround and mantel is on the side wall with a hookup for a wall-mounted television above. More horizontal planks add to the aesthetic.
Quartz-topped Diamond cabinets with self-close, soft-close doors and drawers and a subway tile backsplash line two walls. GE Café appliances include a dishwasher to the left of the stainless-steel sink, six-burner gas range/oven with a microwave above and a two-day refrigerator with bottom freezer drawer.
A large quartz-topped center island with space for several stools is just steps away from the dining area in a cozy alcove. A door in the corner opens onto stairs down to the garage.
A hallway between the kitchen and dining room leads back to a powder room with a pocket door, tile floor and quartz-topped wood vanity. Across the hall, a laundry room features a full-size Whirlpool washer and dryer, as well as a water heater closet.
In the rear is a the first of the five bedrooms, this one with an en suite bathroom. Three clerestory casement windows line the rear wall and a walk-in closet is to the right. The bath has a tile floor, quartz-topped vanity with his and hers sinks and a shower tiled to the ceiling with a swinging glass door.
Back in the foyer, stairs with wood treads and white risers ascend to the second floor.
A hallway runs along an opening overlooking the foyer and leads to the covered front porch, which also can be accessed via the second bedroom. It has wall-to-wall carpeting, a closet with double swinging doors and a ceiling fan to keep things cool when it heats up.
Following the hallway toward the rear, the third bedroom is on the left. It also has wall-to-wall carpeting, a closet with double swinging doors, two windows and a ceiling fan — just awaiting a bed and someone to sleep in it.
A large bathroom is on the right side of the hall. It has a tile floor, quartz-topped vanity with his and hers sinks, a porcelain tub with textured tile to the ceiling and a curtain. There also is access directly into the fourth bedroom, which is in the rear corner.
The final bedroom, in the back left, has a private bathroom with a pocket door, tile floor, dual-sink vanity and tiled shower.
Ocean City is one of the most popular shore resorts on the East Coast, featuring a 2.5-mile-long oceanfront boardwalk filled with hundreds of shopping, dining and entertainment venues, as well as miles and miles of pristine beaches. There also is an award-winning downtown business district centered on Asbury Avenue and a watersports district around Third Street on Bay Avenue.
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 Gardens is popular with many for its slow pace, huge beaches and winding, pedestrian-friendly streets. The Riviera is a boater’s paradise with many Mediterranean-style homes set right on inland lagoons. The Central neighborhood is bustling with business both downtown and on the boardwalk, while the Southend is narrow with fewer homes and room to stretch out. The Northend contains many of the island’s historic homes and Merion Park, in the south, features wetlands and wildlife along with wonderful sunset views. The Goldcoast has some of the best beachfront homes on the island, while Merion Park offers beautiful sunsets over the bay and wetlands.
Stretching along Great Egg Harbor Bay, the aptly named Bay Area follows Bay Avenue from North Street to 16th Street. This area is particularly appealing to watersport enthusiasts. With marinas, personal watercraft, sailing, parasailing and a new water park, the Bay Area caters to those who love to live their life on the water.