Living for the Views

Written by Kristen Hampshire
Photography by Dana Hoff

At their new oceanfront home in south Bethany Beach, owners embrace pure coastal living— effortless, elegant and open to the water.

When Kathy and Rob Taishoff first set foot in the beach house they bought years ago, it already had Marnie Oursler’s stamp on it. After all, she had designed and built the home as a personal residence in 2009. Years later, she sold it to the Taishoffs, who appreciated its characteristic features like abundant glass, an open floor plan, layered neutrals and an indoor-outdoor coastal connection.
Homes list and sell. But this was different.

While the couple lived in their first “Marnie Home” for several summers, they collected memories and got a feel for what life at the Delaware shore could be. Then they landed a unicorn seaward lot with panoramic views. There were no obstructions to the north—just full-on views. Toward the northeast, lot line setbacks preserved vistas.

With this property, The Taishoffs decided it was showtime for their own custom build.

It had to be a Marnie—an encore.
“It was flattering that they wanted to build a home with our team, and Kathy had lots of ideas sketched out and put so much effort into the process,” says Marnie of her eponymous firm’s collaboration with the couple. “It was rewarding to bring her vision to fruition.”

What ultimately resulted is dubbed Pura Vida: a 3,700-square-foot custom home in South Bethany that lives up to its name—pure life, in every sense.

All Together
Inside, the tone is bright and natural—white oak floors, soft blues and sandy neutrals flow through rooms designed to be lived in. “The goal was to keep everything open and airy while making sure it all functioned perfectly,” Kathy says. “Even if a room was small, it had to feel thoughtful.”

Working with Marnie and Sokolow Architects, the Taishoffs designed the house around light, views and function. “We wrapped the kitchen and living spaces in glass to take advantage of those panoramic views,” Marnie says.

The kitchen is the home’s hub, anchored by a massive island topped with white Bellagio Quartzite. Floating glass shelves hang in front of the windows, keeping sightlines clear while creating storage for barware and dishes.

A built-in pizza oven is center stage, situated on the back wall, heating to 1,300 degrees in minutes. “It’s one of my favorite features,” Kathy says. “I love to cook, and it’s become a magnet for friends and family.”

There’s also a dog-washing station and a built-in feeding nook, inspired by the family’s pack of doodles and huskies. An easy-fill water dish “sink” saves a whole lot of time and accounts for four-footed family members.

“We wrapped the kitchen and living spaces in glass to take advantage of those panoramic views,” Marnie Oursler says.

Finding Space
Every inch of the house was planned with purpose. With five grown children and five dogs, the couple prioritized six bedrooms and six-and-a-half baths, balancing private spaces with open gathering areas. “We wanted everyone to have their own space, but also those easy places where we could all just hang out,” Kathy relates.

Marnie maximized available square footage with custom built-ins and bunkrooms designed like staterooms on a yacht. Clever storage niches and window seats were sized precisely to fit overnight guests.

“We used every inch,” Marnie says. “Kathy had such a clear vision, and she was incredibly supportive of the creative problem-solving it took to achieve it.”

This philosophy extended throughout the home, with Marnie and her team managing technical artistry. Large glass panels required steel framing and creative cantilevers to preserve the dunes. The pool was craned in over the house—by two cranes—and set oceanside to create a seamless extension of the deck.
What looks effortless in the outcome was choreographed with care.

“We can see forever. It’s everything we wanted.” — Kathy Taishoff

Inviting Stays
The sleeping porch is a screened-in terrace off the primary suite fitted with skylights, ceiling heaters, and twin daybeds.

“When the doors are open, it feels like an outdoor bedroom,” Kathy says of the space that extends beyond their third-floor primary suite. “We can sleep out there, watch movies—it’s our favorite place to unwind.”

Connecting to views was a priority. So, beyond the primary, two additional screened porches extend outdoor living: one off the kitchen for breezy dinners, the other by the pool for shaded afternoons.

Meanwhile, the ground level houses a rec room, kitchenette and full pantry with two bedrooms. There’s the main bunkroom (with four beds) and an ancillary room, plus an additional sleeping nook—a spacious twin-sized window seat in the gathering area. It all leads to another deck, the beach, an outdoor shower and fun for days.

The project came together in less than a year—full speed for an oceanfront build that began with the deconstruction and donation of the existing home. “It was an incredibly smooth process,” Rob says. “Marnie’s team kept us updated through their platform, and everything ran like clockwork.”

What they have now is their anytime and forever home. “It’s a place that feels completely ours,” Kathy relates. “When the beach gets busy, we sit on the deck by the pool, and it’s peaceful. We can see forever. It’s everything we wanted.” CS

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Living for the Views

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