Honoring family, tradition and time spent at the beach were paramount in creating a custom Rehoboth Beach home. The result is an impeccable place to gather that capitalizes on the property’s unique surroundings.
Written by Kristen Hampshire
Photography by Svetlana Leahy, Refined Capture
Landing an expansive lot on Lake Avenue in Rehoboth Beach is a rare feat. Most properties are 100 feet deep with no more than 50 feet of frontage. Then there’s 63 Lake Avenue, set on nearly double the acreage—one of two family homes collaboratively designed by previous owner Susan Crampton Davis and Seattle-based Cheryl Hughes of Hughes Studio Architects, with Dewson Construction ultimately bringing their vision to life.
“Building a house is easy, but building a home is a sacred process where you take time, intention and love to create a gathering place where people will make lasting memories,” says Susan, crediting Dewson Construction and senior project manager Steve deBrabander, who helped guide a lengthy construction process to the finish line in September 2024.
The storyline for 63 Lake Avenue and its neighboring home began when Susan’s extended family recognized a need for more living space, having summered and vacationed in Rehoboth Beach for decades. They happened upon a B&B property comprised of two lots and the owners’ next-door third lot, on which stood a traditional bungalow the family had owned for more than a century while operating their cozy beach rentals.
“This satisfied what we were looking for as a family—a communal gathering place that honors family, tradition and going to the beach,” Susan relates.
They acquired the property, and to do its legacy justice, set out to design and build two distinct family homes. Located in the quaint downtown district, the home’s park-like setting is walking distance to the ocean and offers a front-porch community feeling and private outdoor living in the back.
“At first, I had no idea we were going to build two houses, but it felt right,” Susan says.
After spending time in the homes, they decided to sell 63 Lake Avenue, listing with Jack Lingo, Inc. REALTOR® in Rehoboth Beach. The listing agent was Zane Jones and the co-listing agent was Randy Mason.
Susan’s intention was to “re-home” the special beach property to a family who shares an appreciation for light, nature and a practically designed house made for making memories. This came to fruition in June.
Timeless Living
The kitchen continues the theme of inviting the outside in, with a warm, subdued color palette including smoky green cabinetry and a Clé zellige backsplash in weathered white tile from Morocco. Unlacquered brass hardware offers a lived-in, timeless aesthetic. Glass upper cabinetry and open shelving contribute to a sense of airy lightness.
The home has five bedrooms, and what Realtor Zane Jones describes as a “smart layout” designed for gathering. A roomy foyer with a staircase of open walnut treads allows light to pour through and up to the second level. A third-floor loft space serves as an office and media zone, opening to a veranda overlooking the backyard.
“Upon entering, you are immediately struck by how easy it would be to entertain in the space,” Zane notes, pointing out one of many reasons the home sold quickly.
A feeling of continuity and togetherness is what Susan had in mind when building the home, especially in its primary living spaces that accommodate everyday activities. Equally important was the collaborative process of designing this retreat.
“It honors beach traditions,” says Susan.
Light, by Nature
Ushering in natural light was a priority and a design element Susan had exercised in previous home projects, such as a house in Montana with a glass kitchen ceiling.
Of 63 Lake Avenue, Susan says, “Design elements revolve around where light comes into the home.”
Back doors and transoms by West Coast-based Pinky’s feature tempered glass fortified with heavy-gauge wrought iron and are designed to scale impressive heights. “They are timeless and strong, providing a sense of stability,” Susan says.
Panels of glass throughout the home invite nature into living spaces. “Our hope was to have as much green space as possible, and the glass doors leading into the kitchen were a subtle way to connect the inside to the outside,” Susan relates.
Meanwhile, in the living room adjacent to a dining space where some privacy is afforded without sacrificing openness—thanks again to Pinky’s—a row of clerestory windows above eye level introduces light while obscuring a building next door.
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