CAPE MAY POINT — If romantic fantasy sweeps through one’s heart when imagining a life by the sea, this week’s House of the Week is everything for which one could wish.
Named the “Somewhere In Time” house, the cedar shingled wedding cake house at 202 Ocean Ave. in Cape May Point is truly the stuff of dreams.
Dreamy details include: two levels of porches on the front trimmed in stark white gingerbread that could be lace or icing (the first level of porch seems to have been created for afternoon parties or nighttime concerts); garden beds bursting with old-fashioned annual blossoms lining the walkway to the front; the weathered cedar shingles jog every salt-scented memory of the beach one could possibly have.
Best of all, that promise of a dune-protected, wind-swept beach is no lie: the beach access is only a block from the front door of this incredible condominium unit.
Yes, that’s right: no need to worry how to decorate a home this massive, since it’s already been divided up into nine bright and lovely condo units.
Any fears of the old-fashioned rooming-house division should be put to rest right away, as the way this jigsaw puzzle was designed keeps much of the vintage charm intact while adding safety, convenience and privacy.
This particular unit now offered for sale is on the second floor, right at the front of the house overlooking Ocean Avenue. Discrete partitions in the upper porch make this comparatively small unit more spacious and bright than many modern units, with a private balcony overlooking the front gardens and a living room lined with windows.
When entering the home from the Ocean Avenue side, the walkway leads to double front doors in a deep wood stain. This opens to the old center hall of the home, well lit and still sporting narrow-plank hardwood floors leading to the intricate wood staircase.
Although the ceilings are tall, it’s still only one floor up to this unit, whose door opens at the back of the living space. A short vestibule area gives one a chance to remove a raincoat and then flows directly into the kitchen, where deep black countertops provide visual contrast to the clean white cabinets of what is essentially a very simple kitchenette, with that rarest of all commodities: appropriately sized appliances.
No one shoehorned an oversize refrigerator to make too much noise and drive up the power bills; this condo unit is perfectly proportioned for one person to live out their dream life by the coast, or maybe two if those two get along exceedingly well (hint hint, nudge nudge, and all the rest).
After a simple repast has been prepared, it can be eaten at the small table close to the private porch — or better yet, on the porch, which has plenty of room for dining well above the height mosquitoes can fly.
All that gingerbread creates an elegant cafe to enjoy morning coffee or late-night hot chocolate while watching fishermen, children on bikes, joggers, bird watchers and other neighborly passers-by in a daily parade that has to be one of the most unique aspects of life at the Point.
Should a sudden rain drive one back indoors, the living area of this condo flat has windows and doors enough to ensure one doesn’t miss the best parts of the storm.
Snuggle on the couch, watching movies or just listening to the sounds of nature all around. Of course, nature is around everywhere we go; but it is also true that nature at Cape May Point just happens to be more poignantly lovely, and slightly more dramatic, than other places — regardless of season. This corner unit will stay dry and tight, but with so many windows it will be hard to resist the call to venture outside.
When it’s time to rest, the single bedroom is an oasis of calmer and quieter space, positioned farther back away from the street and lit by a double window along the north side. A spacious closet with mirrored doors offers more storage.
The unobtrusive wall unit to heat and cool this room works in tandem with the unit in the living area to provide the most energy efficient climate control, something that a home like this, built in 1900 to be the summer “cottage” for a wealthy family, probably always needed.
Although this unit feels larger, it’s only 410 square feet, so those two units offer more than enough capacity for the space, even if one is baking cookies in the sleek new oven.
The home’s bathroom is tucked in the corner near the front door, just as one enters from the outside hall. It’s hard to overstate just how simple this design was kept, with clean white spaces, a square vanity beneath a rectangular mirror and a sleek glass door leading to the shower.
One could add shelves or storage for a 12-step skincare routine, or just relish the break from clutter and keep it spare and simple; it’s truly up to the next resident to choose their adventure.
That adventure could come with many of the furnishings, since they do fit the vintage proportions so perfectly. There are other amenities within the huge lot at 202 Ocean Ave. to keep in mind, including a laundry room for tenants, storage back in the old beach-shack storage unit (nice to see someone bring that style of “beach locker” back as an amenity), an outdoor shower, shared gardens, a barbecue grill and space to entertain, and two parking spots per unit in a cleverly designed side lot along Yale Avenue.
One could imagine the briefest of excursions for supplies (Lobster House for fresh seafood, the West Cape May Farmers Market for veggies, one of the many chef-centric stores for bougie treats and wine, and a quick stop along Seashore Road for fresh flowers) and then: put that car away, lock the bike at the designated bike rack in the back of the house, throw open the windows and listen to the waves and seabirds as dinner simmers on the stove and Christopher Reeve falls in love with Jane Seymour on the telly.
It is called the “Somewhere In Time” house, after all. And while it’s not exactly a dead ringer for the Grand Hotel in Mackinaw Island, it’s safe to say Chris and Jane would’ve enjoyed looking gorgeous on the very photogenic porches, gardens, balconies and beaches hereabouts. Anyone longing for the soothing effects of beautiful spaces: consider this your call.
