Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Spacious Cottage on the Jersey Shore
Custom woodwork details inspired by the sea create an open and inviting home
Most seasonal beach towns are built upon the same principle: build to sleep as many people as possible, because the summer season is short, and land is at a premium. Tucked away in Ocean City, N.J., where duplexes considerably outnumber single-family homes, sits a cottage like you’ve never seen. In fact, calling a 5,000-square-foot, 6-bedroom home a “cottage” is a bit of a contradiction. One of the more intriguing contradictions of this turn-of-the-century style house would be its technological advancements. Nestled away in a small closet sits a slew of devices, including the HVAC, security and stereo systems, all of which are controlled through an iPad. Although this home is state-of-the-art, it’s also perfectly reminiscent of the getaways that our great-grandparents would have wished they’d summered in.
The asymmetrical layout and other architectural details like the “Witches Hat” cedar shake roof and oval windows give this home its old-fashioned cottage look. Mike Buck, who grew up in the Main Line region outside of Philadelphia, built this home to suit the needs of a clientele that he’s very familiar with. His challenge was to build the “Goldilocks” of cottages: not too big, not too small; but "just right" for a couple or a crowd. As a child from a large family (he is 1 of 9 kids), he knows what it’s like to be crammed under one roof. It was important to him that this house not only comfortably fit an onslaught of summer visitors, but that two people could live here in the off-season without feeling as if they were floating in an empty house.
The house greets you with the vast vertical space of the entryway. From the doorway, you can see all the way up to the third-floor loft. Buck redesigned the stairway last minute to give the space more breathing room. That inspired change allowed for a second floor reading nook flanked with built-in bookcases.
White trim, high-end hardwood floors, and period fixtures all ground the 19th-century theme. Notice the white paneling underneath the stairway, a detail that gives elegance to a usually uncelebrated piece of real estate.
Such attention to detail is impressive throughout the house, but it is most apparent in the woodworking. Angled beams, dramatic archways and elevated ceilings resemble those of a chapel.
The windows are stunning in themselves, but Buck has taken it an extra step by highlighting the curvature with wooden slats that mimic the hull of a sailboat.
A mudroom is an essential part of any beach house. If you’ve ever dragged home armloads of sandy towels from the beach, you understand this concept well.
Here it’s been designed to look like a converted porch, finished with exterior siding, a brick bench, and a slate floor.
The dining room has a understated elegance that suits this home perfectly. The simple wooden table (Bassett) and chocolate walls are offset with upholstered chairs (Restoration Hardware), textured silver accessories and subtly scattered starfish.
A wet bar leads you from the dining room into the best room of the house — the kitchen.
White cabinets stretch from corner to corner, giving the kitchen a very uncluttered, clean feel. Even the appliances are masked as ordinary cabinets. A built-in hutch displays dishes and serving platters, each one dimly lit from the base of the shelf it rests upon.
The wooden island provides enough counter space to both prepare and eat your meals in the same place, and a lovely distressed table offers seating for six just a few steps away.
The wooden island provides enough counter space to both prepare and eat your meals in the same place, and a lovely distressed table offers seating for six just a few steps away.
Glass-paneled pocket doors create a subtle separation between the kitchen and family room, but still keep an open, airy flow.
In the family room next door, a mirror is strategically placed to pop off the sage walls, and reflect the windows that have become a signature aspect of this home. A wood-burning fireplace adds a homey touch to the room, which is designed with sophisticated entertaining in mind. The bright colors of the throw pillows give this proper room energy and warmth.
Sofa set: Bassett
Throw pillows: Bassett
Sofa set: Bassett
Throw pillows: Bassett
On the second floor, the master bedroom awaits. Vaulted ceilings and a round sitting room (this is what’s hiding in the Witches Hat) give the illusion of a lot of space, but it’s actually quite cozy and intimate.
Upholstered chairs: Bassett
Upholstered chairs: Bassett
The vaulted ceilings are accented with white beadboard to give the master room a quaint, cottage-like feel.
Sleigh bed: Bassett
Sleigh bed: Bassett
Sky blue walls and white fixtures create a soothing experience in the master bathroom. A freestanding tub and his-and-hers marble sinks carry the antique feel.
The white cabinetry that appears throughout the cottage comes into play once again for the dressing room. Built into the space with 17 separate drawers and cabinets, it begs you to sit down and take time to pamper yourself.
In one of the six bedrooms of the home, a custom-built window seat was built with extra storage. It serves as another functional and beautiful detail in the home.
More inspiring homes:
Shingle Style Meets Soho on the Jersey Shore
Eclectic Country Beach House
A Neutral Palette Pleases By the Sea
More inspiring homes:
Shingle Style Meets Soho on the Jersey Shore
Eclectic Country Beach House
A Neutral Palette Pleases By the Sea
Builder: Mike Buck
Location: Ocean City, New Jersey
Size: 5,000 square feet, 6 bedrooms, sleeps 20!