Dolly Kelly was leaving the beach with her nephew Sean Kelly on a sunny day in 2020, when she passed the Angelsea Cottage, her favorite house in North Wildwood.
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When she spied the For Sale sign on the front lawn, she got excited.
“I just loved that porch,” Dolly recalled. “We actually walked up the steps, sat down, and took a picture.”
The next day, Dolly walked through the house and made an offer, but she was outbid. She was devastated.
But two months later, she got a call that the deal had fallen through — the house could be hers. She made a successful offer that day and moved in three months later.
While Dolly loved the 675-square-foot cottage built in 1913, it had only two bedrooms and one bathroom. With a large, close-knit family, she wanted a gathering place with lots of space to entertain. She was sad to knock down the original house but given its age and condition, adding on wasn’t a viable option.
“I have 13 nieces and nephews and 13 great-nieces and -nephews who come over all the time,” Dolly said.
She spent a year-and-a-half building a 2,400-square-foot home with an open concept and a porch similar to the original one she adored. She was helped by Shore Pro Builders in Wildwood. And her nephew, owner of DUNE by Sean Kelly, handled most of the home’s design with “modern coastal living” in mind.
“The finished home blends the timeless architecture of Nantucket and the Hamptons with a distinctly North Wildwood personality,” Sean said. It “honors the history and character of the original Anglesea Cottage while creating something entirely new.”
Dolly’s must-haves included a covered carport, large covered porch, open-concept living area, and three bedrooms. She calls her design style elevated and intentional.
To honor the history of the original house and the town itself, their goal was building a home in a traditional style with a lot of character. The home’s interior is mostly white with blue accents — for summer. She changes the pillows and accessories for each season.
The living room blends style with comfort. The furniture is white, which might seem like a risky move in a house where lots of kids are encouraged to play. But Dolly isn’t concerned because the performance fabric is easy to clean.
The kitchen is the hub, where everyone congregates as Dolly cooks. It’s not unusual for a dance party to break out. The island is quartz; the appliances are all GE Café, and the pot-filler is a prized possession. The backsplash is made from three types of stone.
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Dolly eats most of her meals in the breakfast nook, bathed in natural light. One door from the original house was salvaged and repurposed as the pantry door.
Her office is tucked behind large glass doors with black windowpanes, custom designed by North Wildwood-based Window Hub. She appreciates being able to see out, while also having privacy.
The primary bedroom features a water room — a large enclosed shower with a soaking tub, offering the feel of a luxurious spa.
To maximize sleeping space, one bedroom contains queen-sized bunk beds with a queen-sized trundle. The home can comfortably sleep 12, but when there are more guests, the kids find other creative spaces to spend the night.
Dolly loves shopping, finding beautiful accessories to match the decor. The spherical crystal floor lamp she found at Restoration Hardware blends traditional crystal with contemporary metal geometry.
The chandelier that hangs in the stairwell — a globe pendant featuring a hand-hammered mercury glass shade — came from Visual Comfort & Co. in High Point, N.C.
The home has become the family retreat Dolly envisioned. This past Memorial Day weekend, 19 family members descended to hang out with their beloved aunt.
“I couldn’t be the aunt I am today if I didn’t have them all around,” she said.
The group spends time at the beach but also in the built-in heated swimming pool in the backyard. She keeps it open from April through October.
The front porch features comfortable furniture including a two-person swing and is one of Dolly’s favorite spots to entertain or chat with neighbors.
“This is the gathering place whether it’s just a casual Sunday-Funday sitting by the pool barbecuing, or if it’s a big bash,” she said.
Is your house a Haven? Nominate your home by email (and send some digital photographs) at [email protected].