OCEAN CITY — Set in mature, professionally landscaped gardens, the unique home at 1436 Simpson Ave. is fabulous from floor to ceiling and operated by the touch of a button.
Designed to be light and bright, the home needed no lamps during a tour on a recent gloomy winter’s day.
What could be seen of the sun streamed through a skylight and multiple windows and doors — including three in the front that when open blur the border between outside and inside.
Behind those doors is a spectacular space showcasing beauty, design and the best materials that could be sourced regardless of price or distance.
The sellers, who dreamt up and guided the home’s construction, handpicked each outlet, switch plate and lighting fixture, getting planks for the fireplace from Kentucky and reclaimed wood for the fantastic flooring.
Set back on a 40-foot by 115-foot lot, the home offers a sense of privacy and calm rarely found so close to the heart of Ocean City. It is the perfect mix of rustic charm and modern technology.
“The residence pairs coastal architecture with high-performance systems, smart home automation and elevated finishes throughout,” listing agent Emily Wilkins said, noting it is being offered mostly furnished with designer furnishings from ABC Carpet & Home, Design Within Reach and other sources.
The home is accessed via a paver walk through gardens bursting with color and fragrance. Steps rise from both sides to the covered front porch, where a central door painted a blue hue flanked by glass doors opens into the great room.
“The sliding glass doors and front entry open directly to the covered front porch, extending the great room into the gardens and creating an effortless indoor-outdoor connection — ideal for morning coffee, evening conversation or relaxed entertaining framed by greenery,” Wilkins said.
The first impression is one of awe, as the stylish flooring at once contrasts with and complements the other features, such as the crisp white walls, the rustic plank wall with a linear fireplace and modern cabinets with quartz countertops.
“The interiors reflect a refined, European-influenced point of view — shaped by years of global travel and coastal living abroad — where natural materials, restrained palettes and thoughtful proportions create spaces that feel intentional, layered and quietly luxurious,” Wilkins said.
The layout is very simple, with the sitting area to the right, dining area in the front corner and kitchen in the back — all beneath a dramatic cathedral ceiling soaring more than 20 feet high.
The home was constructed with 2×6 framing, hurricane-rated windows and sliding doors, sound-dampening insulation between floors and solid-core doors throughout.
The chef’s kitchen features modern soft-close cabinetry, a vented cooktop hood exhausting to the exterior, pot-filler faucet, industrial sink faucet, full subway tile backsplash, Bosch dishwasher and stove and a top-of-the-line Electrolux dual-ice refrigerator. A skylight fills the space with natural light.
Off the great room, stairs rise to one of the two bedroom suites, while the other is down a short hallway on the first floor.
There is a door providing access to the side yard and parking area out back, where there is space for four cars outside and three inside the garage.
The back hall also provides access to the powder room, laundry facilities and the first of the two bedroom suites, which is in the back corner and set up similar to the one upstairs.
The entire top floor is dedicated to the primary suite featuring a custom built-out walk-in closet, abundant natural light, a live-edge natural shelf and sliding glass door opening to a private deck overlooking the rear garden.
Spa-inspired ensuite bathrooms in each suite include heated floors, heated towel racks, oversized rain showers with handheld wands, extra-thick frameless glass enclosures, floor-to-ceiling custom tile, adjustable lighted anti-fog medicine cabinets and auxiliary baseboard heating.
A Victoria + Albert soaking tub serves as a focal point in the primary bath along with dual vanities.
The smart home is fully automated via wall-mounted controls and a mobile app, managing door locks, lighting, HVAC, heat, irrigation, water-leak detection and cameras.
Audio is integrated throughout with independent room control, while front and rear outdoor cameras provide 24-hour cloud-based recording with motion and sound detection.
Outdoors, the property is equally fantastic, with custom paver walkways and driveway, solar garden and stair lighting, drip irrigation and an enclosed dog run.
A whole-house, hard-wired 20kW Generac generator with natural gas, surge protection and Mobile Link provides peace of mind year-round.
A private enclosed outdoor shower with new fixtures and a whole-house water filtration system complete the ground level.
Additional highlights include a tankless water heater with filtration, attic storage, Restoration Hardware fixtures, imported tile and systems maintained under service contract since installation.
The HVAC system is less than three years old and includes an oversized filtration system for enhanced air quality.
While the owners chose to build a single, the lot is zoned R-2, allowing for a future duplex if desired.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff