At Home in Inlet Isle

Written by Kristen Hampshire | Photography by Krista Valliant

AFTER NEARLY THREE DECADES OF SPENDING SPECIAL TIME IN OCEAN CITY, THE SHEMANSKIS BUILT THEIR OWN ESCAPE THAT CAPTURES WATER VIEWS FROM EVERY ANGLE

ENTERTAINING SPACES Awash in natural light, this kitchen’s nautical feel is thanks to a navy-and-white color palette and an airy, open space that can accommodate as many as 20 people.

Ocean City has been a destination vacation for most of Becky Shemanski’s life, having grown up spending time with her family in their condo for 27 years before she and husband Gregg decided to purchase a property in the iconic former shantytown area that is now Inlet Isle. The community of 13 homes all feature waterfront views on the inlet, private docks and easy access to downtown’s amenities.

“We worked off of the idea of a home that is coastal contemporary,” said Becky, relating that builder David Bradley of Bradley Construction helped them achieve the vision. “We definitely wanted to maximize the water views, and we wanted a large gathering space along with a number of bedrooms with their own en suites.”

Speaking of views, there are 98 windows in the home, which is about 6,000 square feet on three levels topped with a turret that offers a 360-degree lighthouse vista.

The couple’s home base is in Pennsylvania, but they envision spending much more time on the Maryland coast. Already, they do quite a bit of entertaining and simply relaxing in their new home.

“We always have a gang over for the White Marlin Open because we can see all the boats coming in for the weigh-ins,” Becky said. Often, the vantage point is from inside the plunge pool with built-in sunken bar stools facing the water.

The home’s clean-lined design and intentional features — a bonus room that converts from workout and entertainment space to sleeping quarters — suit the couple’s aesthetic and lifestyle. “It was a lot of fun designing a custom home and picking out everything from scratch,” Becky said, adding that they did incorporate a couple of paintings, vases and other touches from the condo, “so we have a sense of history and nostalgia.”

Mixing Blues. “I gave myself permission to not have all of the blues match because the ocean and sky are not all the same color blue,” Becky related. With that mindset, she selected varying colors of navy, cobalt, baby blue, cerulean and pops of teal that coordinate with the home’s front door and custom garage doors. This theme is carried out in furnishings, such as the breakfast nook’s leather seating, great-room sofa and velvet-covered dining chairs. It’s also on walls, namely the navy-painted shiplap in the office and the kitchen’s sophisticated herringbone backsplash.

Inspiration In Print. Artwork featuring elegant blue herons, which Becky selected for the primary suite guided color selections for the space: blues, grays, taupes, whites. The primary quarters that the Shemanskis enjoy as a respite includes a clean-lined fireplace with a texturedstone facing that has glints of sparkle. “We want to enjoy the home during all four seasons, so having a fireplace in the bedroom and living room is a nice feature,” she said, adding that it takes the chill out of cool Atlantic nights.

Designed for Entertaining. The kitchen’s nautical-fresh feel is thanks to a navy-and-white color palette and the airy, open space that flows into a charming breakfast nook and great room with floor-to-ceiling windows. The area is awash with natural light. With island and table seating, the Shemanskis can comfortably accommodate 20. Brushed-brass pulls juxtapose the mixedmetal approach they chose. “We have stainlesssteel appliances and faucets, and the large lanterns on our front porch are copper,” Becky says. Much like not getting married to one shade of blue, “we decided to not be afraid to mix our metals,” she adds.

HOME coastal

Decked Out. Durable Zuri deck material mimics hardwood and provides a maintenance-free surface for the first-floor deck and upper-deck party platform, which is partly covered and connects to the home office. Each bedroom has a balcony step-out space, so family and guests can enjoy private outdoor views too. As for flooring throughout the home, continuing a mindset of coastal practicality, the Shemanskis chose luxury vinyl plank flooring in sandy tones that speak to a beachy aesthetic.

Play and Stay. The Shemanskis planned bedrooms with en suites so that they can host their adult children, family and friends, with four guest rooms laid out on the second floor. “We decided to add a coffee bar and lounge here, so when they get up, they can make their morning coffee without having to come downstairs to the main kitchen,” Becky shared. “That has proven to be very popular.” CS

The Tour Continues

See more photos from the Shemanskis’ spectacular home in West Ocean City’s Inlet Isle online at CoastalStyleMag.com.

Dustin Darby’s tips for a successful bathroom remodel

Collect Inspiration

Create a file of photographs and search for styles that move you on sites like Houzz, Instagram and Pinterest. “Even if there is just one feature you like in the picture, it gives us an idea of your vision and what you have in mind,” Darby shared.

Explore New Materials

You can achieve durability and stunning design with some of the new products available for bathrooms, including acrylic tubs and showers that are laser-etched to look like tile. Ask your designer and contractor, “What’s new?”

Ask About Warranties

The bathroom is a high-traffic space in any home. “Everyone uses it every day,” Darby pointed out. So when investing in a remodel, ask about warranties on the materials and fixtures you select.

Go Full Service

When you partner with a remodeling contractor who handles every aspect of a project in-house, there’s a single point of contact. Darby advises homeowners to seek out a “red carpet experience” like what’s offered at Coastal Bay Construction.