(Bethany Beach, DE, May 14, 2023): (Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of previews of the homes that will be on display during the 31st Beach & Bay Cottage Tour to be held virtually July 16 through August 6, and for 5 preselected homes, in-person on July 26 and July 27.)

Having both grown up spending summers in their families’ beach homes, the owners immediately drove to the beach in the summer of 1990 to share the news of their engagement with their families. Thirty years later, when they purchased their home in North Bethany, they realized that they had driven right past their house when it was being built back in 1990. The property had been a rental for twenty years and needed substantial attention, so they undertook a renovation with the goal of updating every detailꟷdown to the hinges on the doorsꟷto create a comfortable, easy-living beach cottage for the owners and their growing family.

The inverted floor plan includes four bedrooms on the lower level, all but one with private porches. The primary bedroom with an adjacent sitting room is upstairs on the second floor. The expansive decks on every level take maximum advantage of the lot’s eastern orientation offering a direct view of the ocean just a block away.

The living room’s elevated coastal decor features a comfortable oversized sectional sofa with plenty of seating for relaxing in front of the wood-burning fire with views of the ocean. The original stained wood trim on the interior molding was retained to highlight the graceful arched windows and sliding doors that frame the views. Just off of the living room the couple has converted what was formerly a whirlpool tub room into a new bar, with a fully stocked refrigerator, kegerator and a dedicated dishwasher for glassware. The spot has become a popular hangout for visitors enjoying what has become a highly competitive cork toss game that they’ve aptly named “The Bottle and Cork” as a happy reminder of their engagement celebration at the iconic bar of the same name in nearby Dewey Beach so many years ago.

This is just one of the outstanding properties that will be viewed by those who purchase tickets for the 31st Beach & Bay Cottage Tour. Like all 10 homes on the 2023 tour, this home will be available to tour virtually by holders of both Combo and Virtual tickets. Each of the 10 homes will feature a professionally produced video which will offer Tour patrons with a safe opportunity to view each home as often as they want from anywhere during the three-week virtual tour period. Special features include bird’s-eye drone video footage and the ability to view the Tour on any internet-enabled device.

The 31st Beach & Bay Cottage Tour is proudly presented by Leslie Kopp and the Leslie Kopp Group.

Combo tickets are $50 and Virtual-only tickets are $35. Combo tickets are strictly limited to 500 tickets for each of the two in-person days of the Tour. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit the Cottage Tour’s website at beachandbaycottagetour.com. The Cottage Tour is produced by the Friends of the South Coastal Library. All net proceeds directly benefit the library’s operations.