WEST CAPE MAY — Curb appeal is more than just a selling point, although it is that — a welcoming aesthetic can boost one’s mood as he or she arrives home after a long day, or the look in a guest’s eyes as they pull up to visit for the first time — that special combination of envious and impressed.
In the case of the home at 106 Burgins Lane in West Cape May, curb appeal is a year-round experience, because this witchy little beach cottage looks as good in a frosting of snow as it does on just another spectacular summer day.
Although built in 2019, this home has a lot of design touches that make it seem like a vintage gem dressed up in new finishes.
The tall peaked roof makes it distinctive in a street full of recent builds that also try to maintain the Craftsman style of a slightly later heyday in the island’s history. The overall effect would be at home over by Madison Avenue on the island’s east side, but this peaceful neighborhood is off the beaten path west of Cape May Creek.
The difference might not be vast as the crow flies, but come Fourth of July it will be much more apparent, as this sleepy lane remains quiet and friendly.
A deep front porch ushers residents (or guests) from the sunny street to a wide center hall leading to the stairs. Everything has been designed to feel finished without being overly formal: the light brown shades of the roof and Hardie siding are reminiscent of the old-school cedar shingles of the original Craftsman homes on the island, without feeling like a theme park reproduction.
These elements continue inside the house in the wide-plank wood floors found throughout, the beautiful custom wood cabinetry in the kitchen and the flagstone surrounds of the living room hearth.
With such careful tonal matching throughout, this home can handle priceless antiques or kid-friendly sectionals without losing its distinctive charm.
The home has four bedrooms, the first of which is found right off the central hall: a suite with a spacious bathroom. Another room right off this hallway could also be a convenient home office, but since this home has been used as a seasonal rental for the past few years, it’s set up as a bedroom.
Three more bedrooms are up the old-fashioned wooden staircase, two with attractively wainscoted accent walls that share a pristinely tiled bath in a Jack-and-Jill style. The larger of the two bedrooms is tucked into the eaves of that distinctive witch-hat gable, but still has room for bunk beds and a twin.
The primary suite is large, private, with a huge walk-in closet and an ensuite bath that is larger than some city apartments, filled with custom touches such as river stone in the shower and a private water closet. The double vanities and marble flooring make this room feel like a fine hotel married a day spa.
The shared spaces in this house are even lovelier than the bedrooms. The great room combines ample space for a living room gathered around the gas hearth, a dining room with room for eight and the kitchen which is, if anything, the standout of an already-amazing home.
In defiance of recent rules, this kitchen has stained wood cabinets — although before anyone collapses in shock, it must be noted they are only on the top.
The lower cabinets were painted in a complementary creamy taupe that references the highlights of the wood tone without competing with the high contrast of the deep wood stain against a backsplash and matching countertops of a clean, simple white.
This combination grounds the space when seen from across the great room without making it too dark or formal, an achievement it takes one who has been lost in the sauce of paint samples and focal points to appreciate.
Some cabinets are glass-fronted, to showcase the plates and pretty bowls, while a built-in appliance garage hides the ugly things we need to survive lately, from air fryers to magic blenders.
The actual appliances in this kitchen are all beautiful, of course, with dueling ovens and a tall refrigerator built into the side wall, a stainless sink under the window, and the glass range on the center island, which is a wide space with a matching countertop and seating for four.
A small nook or closet in the back of the kitchen combines a butler’s pantry with a more typical pantry, except it’s meant to be seen: everything matches, the coffee bar is here, plus the wine refrigerator and more glass-fronted cabinets for glassware.
To the side of the great room is a rather amazing space that opens onto the backyard: a sunroom of sorts, with windows on three sides, creates another seating area beyond a short wall that opens to a powder room behind door number one (bringing the total number of bathrooms to four), and a laundry room/utility/storage room behind door number two.
Amazingly, there is yet another giant refrigerator in here: this home will never run out of space to keep things cold, hiding them in at least three rooms. (Could a small make-up fridge in the primary ensuite be far behind?)
Opening the glass-paned door to the backyard reveals even more space for entertaining: a small deck followed by a vast patio space, completely fenced in so the littles will be safe whether they are of the human or pet variety.
Privacy and a focal point are provided by the separate garage, which matches the home in every respect: another old-fashioned touch in this modern home, and one that adds even more parking to the side drive that offers off-street parking for at least four cars.
The lot is 6,600 square feet, much of it behind the house, so there is a lot of flexibility there for the next owner.
It should come as no surprise that this home is a popular rental, although perhaps the scale is shocking: earning more than $130,000 in gross income in 2025, and already booked for more in 2026.
This is the way of things now on the island, but it is possible to imagine a time when this lovely house could be a real home to just one family all year long. A porch like that rewards staying in one place and seeing all the seasons pass, and Halloween could be particularly epic with that front gable. Until then, it’ll just be a good investment in a nearly perfect location.
