8 MILTON AVE Lewes, DE 19958

This quintessential Lewes beach cottage, two minutes (five homes), from a picture-perfect, family-friendly beach, is far from day-trip crowds and parking lots. +++The stylish home offers light-drenched open-concept social spaces, high ceilings, and every conceivable seaside amenity, all within a brief stroll of the Lewes Canal and prime shops and restaurants.

From the beach, you can view visiting dolphins and participate in a range of water sports and activities. +++ sunset bonfires, and off-hour doggie beach walks await. Safely park kayaks and beach chairs by the boardwalk overnight.

Cape Henlopen State Park, with its broad array of programs, activities, and biking/nature trails, is only two miles away. +++The home is ideally located in a private green oasis, surrounded by tall, dense trees, at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac abutting Lewes' protected marshes.

From the large new deck along the front of the house, view cattails, deer, foxes, hawks, and ubiquitous bunnies. +++Walls of windows, vaulted ceilings, and remote-controlled skylights illuminate the interior, which extends from the large, multi-chef kitchen through a dining room easily seating twelve, to a big comfy living-entertainment room and giant enclosable sunroom with Murphy bed to use as an extra bedroom. +++

Two sets of double glass doors in the dining and living rooms open onto a huge front deck with an elegant, remotely-retractable awning.

The leafy back deck outside the glass sunroom French doors is perfect for morning coffee, private chats, and, thanks to a large stainless utility sink and propane line, easy BBQ prep.. +++

Gleaming pale oak hardwood floors unify the main level. A muted indoor-outdoor carpet covers the upper stairs, bedrooms, and hall. Each window is fitted with real wood plantation shutters. +++Five ample bedrooms and 3 ½ bathrooms, plus a sunny small room perfect for nursery or child's hideaway, are spread across three floors. The two main-floor bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms.

The large, modern, open kitchen features spectacular, custom-made beach-glass counters (costing more than $20,000), and can accommodate several chefs hosting many friends at the eat-in counter bar. +++The kitchen's white wood, custom, inner-lit cabinets boast self-close doors, slide-out shelves, and a large pantry. High-end appliances include gas stove, large dishwasher, double-wide stainless steel fridge, and separate wine cooler. Three vintage Deco ceiling lights overlook all. +++In the living room, six large storage drawers, along an entire wall, allow convenient storage of games, puzzles, and beach paraphernalia.

On the upstairs landing, a large built-in computer area, with five-foot drawered desk and open shelving, allows for quick email checks or printing tickets for the next flight.

The house features a huge above-grade lower level for conversion to a mother-in-law suite, with two outside entrances, bright front windows, new floors, separate storage room, double closet, cable TV, and lots more storage. +++The big lower-level laundry room, has an extra-large washer and dryer for beach towels and quick linen changes, plus ample folding, drying, and ironing space, a large stainless utility sink, and a spare toilet. (Part of the area now stores items awaiting a mid-July auction and yard sale.) +++

The lot features a double-wide outdoor shower, four off-street parking spaces, a large cedarwood play structure, and a carport for kayaks, bikes, folding chairs and other beach gear.

The house was improved with all-around, top-line Hardie Board siding, upgraded electrical panels, new HVAC system, and sump pump. +++No power outages thanks to a propane back-up generator and large storage tanks. There's an irrigation system, and a propane water heater for many hot showers at once.