NORTH CAPE MAY — The North Cape May section of Lower Township sits atop remnants of old farms and forest, surrounded by nature preserves and little creeks dipping in from the flat coastline of Delaware Bay.
Despite the natural beauty teeming all around it, the streets still represent that post-war, 1950s-style dream of orderly lots and grid-like communities, providing abundant detached homes within walking distance of the beach to families who wanted to get their children out of the crowded cities all summer long.
The resulting sun-baked neighborhoods often seemed in the past to shrink away from the curb, like little Monopoly houses marooned in flat, green lots with no shade and no outward life once the kids had grown up and moved on.
Driving through North Cape May now is an eye-opening experience, as so many homeowners have thrown off the sameness of years past to adapt their properties into massive homesteads, adding layer after layer like a wedding cake.
Additions, outbuildings, fenced areas and paved drives all carve up the long lots into multiple small areas for specific tasks.
Gone are the rows of simple, modest houses that once welcomed multiple generations into their surprisingly spacious interiors.
Such ambitious additions inevitably led to the same generational shifts one discovers in other neighborhoods: as the owners aged, the house became too much for them, and they had to sell off and move on.
Ironically, they usually moved to a smaller home rather like the one they’d started out with.
How did 1203 Rosehill Parkway escape this fate? By staying true to its roots while seamlessly combining the classic seaside single-family home with modern comfort and aesthetics, elevating the property to a luxury setting.
In the past year, the original house has been expanded and updated for this century, with all new amenities, high-end features and luxury finishes, including some that may surprise visitors.
The most obvious changes are aesthetic, of course, with a new porch out front complete with an old-fashioned swing, and an enclosed (soon to be screened-in) dining area on one side, accentuated by a simple wood rectangle design. This design will be repeated all over the common areas of the home indoors, bringing just a touch of craftsmen-style detail to the simple interior, albeit a very streamlined version of it.
The sea-blue front door with its vintage-style window top opens to a newly renovated great room, combining the kitchen and living areas right at the front of the house.
The kitchen is pretty and bright, with a charming mosaic backsplash and clean white quartz countertops. The appliances are all from the Cafe Collection and include a built-in wine fridge.
The rather oversized island is also where the kitchen sink is located, leaving all other appliances on the exterior wall surrounded by crisp, white cabinets. There is a built-in drinks area to the right of the kitchen, and beyond that a very cozy dining area or breakfast nook.
Additional seating at the island means this home of 1,549 square feet can host a surprisingly large gathering, and most of that is due to the clever built-ins like banquet seating in the dining nook and careful demarcations of zones within the space.
The lighting also helps set the boundaries of task areas, which when combined with the natural light pouring in through the new windows, makes this clean white space cheerful and bright.
The repeating pattern of wooden wall panels adds all the decoration needed to make what was merely efficient into a surprisingly elegant space.
To the right of the front door is the living area, where the hardwood floors that run throughout the home are really given a chance to shine. The gleam of honey-colored wood floors next to the clean, white wood molding create a vintage feel in the simple space, and the sliding doors opening out to the exterior dining area also add light and color.
A central hall leads back to three bedrooms and two bathrooms, one of which is in the primary bedroom.
This portion of the home was a recent addition to create more living space and improve functionality. The bedrooms are large and have ample closet space, with wide windows looking out over the backyard.
The same wood floors are present everywhere but the bathrooms, one of which has custom tile and the other wood-look flooring. The same wood paneling found in the front extends down the hallway, once again offering a slightly prettier space than is usually found in a back hallway.
The doors, hardware, light fixtures and other touches all coordinate well together, creating a feeling of detail-oriented care that is as calming in the private spaces as it is welcoming in the shared spaces in the front of the home.
There is much more in store, however, as the side door leads to a starkly paved white patio that surrounds a bright blue saltwater swimming pool, meaning the first dip of the day can happen before breakfast and without worrying about getting visitors, dogs or supplies to the beach.
The scenic beach at the end of the street is only eight short blocks west, but for those who want to swim at night, or have no interest in dealing with sand (or other people), this unexpected luxury cannot fail to delight.
While it still needs some landscaping or furniture to make it a truly jaw-dropping home resort, those decisions are best left to the next homeowner, who will no doubt enjoy taking the great bones of the place and adding some personal touches in accordance with how much sunbathing, gardening or outdoor cooking they want to do.
There is an existing fence, but if privacy is a concern, there are always ways to add that as well. The lot is 60 feet by 125 feet, providing ample room for gardens, play space or entertaining.
The beautiful renovation by N.L. Martucci Properties has given what was the original footprint a new life with the complete renovation and addition done at the property.
The home is a perfect canvas to begin adding whatever pieces the next homeowner desires, with perfect assurance that everything from the outdoor shower to the central air conditioning is up to date.
The location speaks for itself, close to everything from shopping and schools to the beaches and nature preserves. It will be decades before another one like this is on the market.
