(Bethany Beach, DE, July 6, 2023): (Editor’s Note: This is the ninth 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.)

After 20 years of summers in a shared South Bethany family beach house the owners and their three daughters knew the time had come to begin a new chapter of their own. They bought a 60-year-old cottage in 2018 and began construction on their summer home soon thereafter, hoping to create a spot that felt like a vacation each time they walked through the front door.

The exterior of the two-story home seamlessly blends traditional white oak shingle siding and multi-paned transom windows with modern horizontal teak and glass insets. Inside a lower-level entry offers a direct sight line from the front door through the folding glass doors of the pool room to the spa and pool beyond. The home has a unique L-shaped design with two separate guest wings flanking the entry, each with two bedrooms and a shared bathroom, and an en suite bunk room that sleeps six located in the rear.

Upstairs the main living area is open and spacious for large gatherings with spots for smaller groupings in the sunroom and two decks. A second set of folding glass doors opens from the living room to an all-season screen porch providing the family with true indoor/outdoor living. The serene primary suite is tucked away at the rear of the main floor just past the white marble bathroom and private laundry and has direct access to the rear deck overlooking the pool.

The light and airy decor was inspired by the simplicity of Bahamian island homes with dark quarter sawn white oak floors, white walls, high vaulted ceilings with exposed structural beams and soffits and large ceiling fans. Furnishings are soft, white and comfortable with nubby textures, wood accents and simple accessories in natural materials.

This is just one of the outstanding properties that will be viewed by those who purchase tickets for the 31st Beach & Bay Cottage Tour. This week’s home is one of the 5 homes on the 31st tour that will be available for in-person tours by holders of Combo tickets. And, like all 10 homes on the 2023 tour, this home will be available to be seen 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, and this week’s home is sponsored by Gold sponsor, SEA Studio Architects, who designed this beautiful home.

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.