A WATERFRONT VISION IN SEASHELL WHITE AND OCEAN BLUE, THIS DREAMY BEACH MEGA-BUNGALOW IN SEASIDE PARK DIALS UP THE DAZZLE

BY AMANDA McCOY

Tucked along a two-mile stretch of Atlantic shoreline on Barnegat Barrier Island, the vibrant coastal hamlet of Seaside Park feels like summer incarnate. Cool ocean breezes are carried through the corridors that connect the whimsical water front homes lining the beach, each boasting magnificent views of the sand, surf, and families soaking up the season. An address here promises a private slice of paradise: serene and secluded (the town’s population barely exceeds 2,000 residents), though mere minutes from the arcades, amusement rides, and rollicking merriment of the neighboring Seaside Heights Boardwalk and Pier.

Boasting a median home listing price just south of $1million, real estate in Seaside Park leans affluent, with water-front addresses demanding well above seven figures. (Fun fact: the borough was born under the moniker Park City in the late1800s, referencing plans to cultivate a large leafy park near the ocean, but the non-native trees could not grow in the barrier island’s soil).

Perched on an oversized block steps from the sand, a two-year-young wonder at 1109 S Ocean Avenue offers denizens a first-class ticket to eternal summer. Fully equipped with the latest in home tech (a four-zone Sonos Ready system, LED high hats and integrated lighting, and exterior security cameras, for example), the home marries modern luxuries with the barefoot glamour of beach bungalow living. Featuring an ocean-inspired facade of sea blue shingles and crisp white casings, the4,455-square-foot home greets inhabitants with a stone entryway and wooden front door.

The four-bedroom, four-bath-room home opens to a light-soaked foyer, boasting gleaming hardwood floors, warm gray walls, and white custom molding. Each room is thought-fully outfitted to reflect its coastal setting: tasteful starfish accents in the bathrooms and above the bar, for instance, and a wooden mermaid sculpture swimming over a guest bed. The soft gray and white palette flows throughout, splashed with the occasional pop of oceanic blue. The first level comprises two bedrooms, a full bath, and an entertainment area, featuring a full wet bar replete with a beverage refrigerator, kegorator, and ice maker, a perfect nook for crafting icy afternoon mojitos after a languid morning on the beach.

Take the elevator up to the second level, which houses a cavernous open-concept den, dining room, and kitchen. Towering nine-foot ceilings and a full wall of floor-to-ceiling windows maximize the prime ocean views, while plush leather sofas and armchairs invite denizens to sink into an afternoon nap or evening movie. Double glass doors open to reveal a spacious ocean-facing terrace, decked out in lounge chairs for watching the action below. A floor-to-ceiling driftwood sculpture keeps watch over the gourmet kitchen. Gleaming white cabinetry and quartz Calacatta countertops are juxtaposed with modern steel fixtures and designer Wolf, Sub-Zero, and Miele appliances, and a large center island under a trio of circular pendant lights provides plenty of room for a casual breakfast or happy hour horsd’oeuvres for four.

Dining options are plenty: there’s an eight-person table indoors, or denizens can opt to feast in the open air on the adjacent deck, where a BBQ is primed and ready to sizzle steaks under the sun. A powder room and additional en-suite bedroom round out the middle level. Ascend one more flight of wooden stairs (or take advantage of the three-stop elevator) to find the sprawling master suite, decked out in designer lighting and custom finishes. The bedroom’s focal point is an oversized pair of double glass doors that open to reveal an open-air Timber Tech deck with uninterrupted vistas of the Atlantic.

Minimally dressed with only a pair of lounge chairs and small table, it’s a perfect perch for sipping morning coffee or reflecting on the day against a soundscape of waves. A fireplace, walk-in closet with custom built-ins, and a light-drenched spa bathroom round out the suite, the latter gleaming in porcelain floors and warm gray walls. The room features his-and-her vanities, a generous walk-in shower with dual heads plus a rainfall, and an idyllic white soaking tub beneath an ocean-facing window.

Outside, high-end paver walkways connect the covered and uncovered decking, totaling an additional 1,149 square feet of space. Fully encircled by aluminum fencing, the backyard grounds feature an oblong designer swimming pool, several loungers and seating areas under sunny-hued umbrellas, a firepit, and decorative ocean-themed finishes to capture the magic of seaside living. This home is listed for $3,795,000.

The Lisa Temple Team Keller Williams Shore Properties / 732.830.1535  / lisatemplehomes.kw.com