OCEAN CITY — The ridiculously stunning home at 55 Walnut Road in the exclusive Riviera section of the city is a masterpiece of wood, metal, stone and glass overlooking another of water, wind, sand and salt.
“This one-of-a-kind waterfront estate boasts over 8,000 of living and entertaining space with 80 feet of water and dock frontage,” listing agent Patrick Halliday said.
The expansive estate has seven bedrooms and seven full bathrooms, plus a nearly 80-foot-wide great room with views of Sunny Harbor, Great Egg Harbor Bay and spectacular sunsets. There also are multiple decks and bonuses galore, including top-of-the-line amenities and materials.
Featuring curb appeal aplenty, the home boasts a bluestone slate driveway on either side of a grand staircase rising to the covered front porch.
Doors to either side of the staircase open into separate two-car garages, while a gate in the privacy fence leads to the extensive ground-floor deck and waterfront dock out back.
On the porch, which is decked in ipe hardwood, four square pillars hold up a roof with a mahogany ceiling.
“The welcoming front porch is finished with gas lanterns providing an upscale ambiance leading to a large open foyer,” Halliday said.
Light tan cedar siding is offset by walnut railings and a dark wood door with side panels. Up top, each of the two front-facing bedrooms has a private deck.
The handsome door opens into a large foyer with a view of the natural beauty of the lagoon beyond through multiple sliding glass doors.
A central staircase leading up and down adds an Escher-esque architectural component that is both functional and fashionable, while wide-plank wood flooring complements the white custom floor-to-ceiling paneling and fine woodwork.
The paint has barely dried on the home, which was built in 2025 and has all of the latest gadgets and gizmos.
“Immerse yourself in absolute luxury and enjoy all that this beautifully appointed waterfront oasis has to offer,” Halliday said. “As you enter the home, you are immediately surrounded by the finest finishes available.”
Wings to either side of the foyer lead to an office and powder room on the right and a bonus sitting room on the left, while the great room is straight ahead past the stairs.
Stretching the width of the home, the great room features a coffered ceiling with white oak planks.
To the left is the cozy living room with a brick fireplace sporting a rustic wood beam mantel, flanked by window seats and beneath a large-screen television. There are two sectional sofas to provide space for the extended family and friends inside a double sliding glass door opening onto the waterfront deck.
The central area, where a chandelier hangs from an oval-shaped tray ceiling above the long wood table, is for dining and includes another set of glass doors.
Just steps away, the amazing kitchen features the biggest island on the island — checking in a 6 feet, 8 inches by 11 feet — with eight stools on three sides, along with doors and drawers below the quartz countertop.
The space is immense, with custom cabinets on three sides and access to a butler’s pantry.
The lagoon side features a fold-away window that opens to a stretch of barstools above a sink flanked by four beverage drawers and a wine refrigerator, perfect for entertaining.
A Sub-Zero refrigerator, huge farmhouse sink, built-in coffee maker and Wolf wall oven make up the middle length, while the third consists of a six-burner Wolf range.
In the butler’s pantry, cabinets painted a delicate robin’s egg blue and a Thermador refrigerator/freezer provide additional storage space.
Back in the foyer, the stairs rise to a third floor with four bedrooms, including the incredible primary suite.
All of the bedrooms have expansive walk-in closets, leaving the bed chamber free of furniture except for a bed and wall-mounted nightstands to either side.
Double pocket doors open into the primary suite, where the bathroom through another set of doors commands attention with its deep soaking tub standing solo inside a bank of waterfront windows. A whimsical light bulb chandelier hangs overhead. There’s also a tiled shower large enough for a small crowd and his and hers vanities — one featuring a makeup counter.
The bedroom itself has a king-size bed beneath a high peaked ceiling with exposed oak beams and white planks. Double sliding glass doors open onto a private waterfront porch.
Reminiscent of a high-end jewelry store, the walk-in closet is lined by mirrored cabinet drawers and includes a washer and dryer and folding counter.
One of the three other bedrooms is in the rear, offering a private waterfront deck, while the other two face the street out front.
Atop another flight of stairs are two more bedrooms, one featuring two sets of built-in bunkbeds and a private bathroom, and the other a teen’s retreat with a private waterfront deck offering the highest viewpoint in the house. It also has its own sitting area and expansive walk-in closet.
Between the two is a bonus sitting area where the younger set can hang out without being bothered by the grown-ups.
The Riviera, stretching from 16th to 23rd streets along Great Egg Harbor Bay, is a boater’s paradise with many luxurious homes set right on inland lagoons, providing a safe anchorage for pleasure boats as well as a great place to go kayaking or paddle boarding. It’s a destination rather than a thoroughfare, meaning traffic is limited to neighbors and guests.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
