Summertime Home Tours: Classic décor

in a renovated bungalow, a breezy beach house, and cottages made for family

Bethany Beach, Delaware, is a beautiful coastal town that offers pristine expanses of sand and beaches lined with boardwalks. It’s the sort of place that encourages connection with nature and each other. However, those seeking their own little corner of this coastal retreat must contend with Bethany Beach’s building restrictions. Enter Marnie Oursler, President of Marnie Custom Homes. Marnie’s company specializes in designing and building homes in Bethany Beach. “Each home presents a new challenge,” she says. “Each homeowner has different needs, and I have to fit their wish list into a constricted space that’s based on the city’s lot and height regulations.” She’s been the saving grace for many—including a couple who sought a second home in Bethany Beach.

THE PERFECT PLACE

The couple found just the right lot for their getaway home. Its proximity to the beach and the downtown area means they can park their car upon arrival and never drive again during their visits, since everything is within walking distance. The property is narrow, as is characteristic for lots in Bethany Beach—only 40 feet wide and 113 feet deep—but they embrace the fact that the smaller lot means minimal landscaping and upkeep, a key feature for a second home. However, when they bought it, it contained an unfortunate 1960s duplex that didn’t suit their needs at all. So they turned to Marnie to create their dream home from scratch.

“The homeowners loved the property,” Marnie says. “But they wanted a home that had enough space for their teenage daughter to bring her friends to visit, as well as having room for extended family during their annual beach week.”With these needs in mind, Marnie and her team designed a residence meant for the lively bustle of family and friends. The results are a masterpiece of a home that’s built for generations to enjoy. It sleeps 16 with 5 bedrooms, a loft and 5.5 bathrooms. Visitors are met by a unique exterior design accentuated by cedar siding, which gives the classic beach house feel. A front porch and a custom, extra-wide blue front door, which is a signature of Marnie Custom Homes, give a cheery welcome and immediately make everyone feel at home.

COASTAL CONTEMPORARY ELEGANCE

The home’s style starts with its exterior and continues on in. The aesthetic is coastal contemporary elegance, and every room teems with inviting classiness that puts guests in the vacation mindset. “The homeowners envisioned a look that’s sophisticated yet comfortable,” Marnie says.

White was chosen as the home’s color scheme because it establishes a feeling of peace and tranquility. The calm, neutral palette is reminiscent of salt air that drifts in off the ocean. But in order to keep the home from looking sterile, Marnie used a variety of shades of white as well as textures to enliven the rooms and add dimension. “We incorporated natural textures, such as driftwood, wicker, jute and rope, inspired by the coastal surroundings, throughout the home,” Marnie says.

Design elements like custom built-ins, molding, reclaimed wood accents, hanging beds, exposed beams and French doors leading to a private balcony give a thrilling experience every time the homeowners arrive. Another aspect of the home is also centered around connection and family: firstfloor living. Marnie says, “The couple envisioned an open inviting space where everyone would hang out together, and they didn’t want to walk downstairs to open the front door.”

“Each home presents a new challenge . Each homeowner has different needs, and I have to fit their wish list into a constricted space that’s based on the city’s lot and height regulations.”

“The homeowners loved the property. But they wanted a home that had enough space for their teenage daughter to bring her friends to visit, as well as having room for extended family during their annual beach week.”

|ABOVE| SPACE FOR FAMILY. The main family room is located to the immediate left of the entry and is geared for hosting. “We wanted to keep this space open so you can easily entertain in one big area from kitchen to living room,” Marnie says. |LEFT| MADE FOR MUD (OR SAND). A mudroom is an ideal place for the owners to keep all their beach accessories like flip-flops, towels, hats, etc. It sits off the kitchen with a washer and dryer nearby. The homeowners also wanted a place to keep chips and cereal off the counter and tucked away, so the tall cabinets on the right are a pantry for extra food storage.

CURB APPEAL. Marnie and her team designed and built the entire home. “This is one exterior I get asked about over and over again because of its many architectural details, which include an arched porch entry, tampered porch columns, oversized glass front door, and cedar shingles with sweeps that add an architectural flair,” Marnie says. A pop of color is provided by Benjamin Moore Antique Glass paint. When the home is lit up at night, you can see the gorgeous chandelier from the two-story sitting room.

|RIGHT| MEET AT THE BAR. A bar area sits right off the kitchen. Marnie likes having a separate bar area because it’s a natural way to shift everyone away from the kitchen island and space out the flow of entertaining. The backsplash, cabinets and hardware are all the same as the kitchen, which ties everything together. Here, though, a glass cabinet with a nautical X to showcase glassware and nicer kitchenware, becomes a visual treat.

|OPPOSITE| LOVELY LINES. The kitchen design is a study in the use of lines to elongate. Marnie extended the upper cabinets to the ceiling to make the space feel taller. In addition, she continued the backsplash to the ceiling, which lengthened the area while also giving a high-end look.