Surrounded by wetlands with tributary views, this Lewes retreat is naturally iconic
Written by Kristen Hampshire
Photography by Krista Valliant
Riviera Drive in Lewes is a significant departure from the modern Colorado mountain home Mark Single and Jeff Groton built a number of years ago. Yet the sprawling natural wetlands environment along a Rehoboth Bay tributary inspired a two-year project resulting in a marshy retreat that reflects their preference for minimalist design and dramatic artwork.
“We’re not all about building a showpiece,” Mark says. “It’s about form, fit, function and livability, and that’s what we were going for. And, being in a beach community, there can be a lot of conformity. That was not even part of our thought process. We had a vision in mind.”
The couple enlisted Dion Lamb of CRX Construction and architect Jeffrey P. Manley at Martin Manley Architects to breathe life into their concept.
Dion says, “Mark and Jeff are such a great example of the type of collaborative work we do with clients. We are very much in the realm of being our clients’ partners, and we spent a lot of time on the front end identifying materials and vendors.”
In the Clear
But before the design and specifying process, the team first had to determine whether the property was even buildable.
Initially, the couple had been undergoing a feasibility study on a property two streets away from the current site. Then, nearing the close date, an acquaintance from Sussex County suggested, “Go take a look at this one.” The lot had been on the market for two years. Mark and Jeff quickly discovered why.
“It was basically a jungle,” quips Jeff of the wildly overgrown, untouched land.
A neighbor wandered over to say hello and delivered a “30-minute tutorial” on why the couple should not buy the lot. “No one should live here,” he told them. “There are bugs, flies, and your home will flood.”
They understood his point.
“We were concerned we would not have water views,” Jeff adds.
The realtor assured Mark and Jeff, “This guy just doesn’t want a neighbor.” (Now, they are all great friends.)
CRx Construction launched some drones to capture footage of the vista beyond the weedy, woody mess. Sure enough, it revealed a stunning viewshed of Love Creek, which flows into Rehoboth Bay from the northwest.
The 14½-acre lot is primarily wetlands with only 1½ acres of property that could be developed.
“It was really difficult to visualize what was possible there,” Dion says. “It looked like overgrown marshland and scrag forest.”
But after research, including aerial photography, Dion established the necessary 9-foot height to raise the home to achieve desired views. Significant site prep was required before breaking ground, with attention to maintaining the marshland as nature intended.
Mark says, “There are now unobstructed views of the water, and that was the over-arching design goal, above everything else.”
“We’re not all about building a showpiece. It’s about form, fit, function and livability, and that’s what we were going for.”
Views by Purpose
Upon entering the front door, a clear sight line to the back of the home’s wall of windows reveals a serene, waterfront backdrop. “It’s as if you are walking out onto the water and into nature,” Jeff says.
Only three rooms are without windows: the master suite closet, laundry room and mud room, which shows views when the door is open. Expansive, 10-foot glass panels by Pella stretch from floor to ceiling. Even the front door is flanked by glass. The Pella pivot door swings from the middle for a sleek, wide entrance.
Space planning also centered on capturing the best views, Dion says, explaining how the layout positions the lower level master suite and main living area at the back of the home. Upstairs is a secondary entertainment getaway with a billiard table.
“That is an evening space where we unwind from the day,” Jeff says, noting they decided on the pool table after renting vacation homes. “Our nieces and nephews would congregate around the table.”
Every space has a purpose, going back to the couple’s desire for a home that functions for the way they live. The kitchen is Mark’s spot, with Cabico custom cabinetry that push to open—resulting in a clean-lined alternative to cabinetry with hardware. The same is true for the wood-paneled refrigerator and freezer.
A quartzite backsplash and countertop with a waterfall treatment add movement to the kitchen’s primarily charcoal color palette, which is offset by light European oak engineered hardwood floors in Tableau Monet by Monarch Plank.
Nature On Deck
Ever mindful of maintaining unobstructed views, the couple passed on typical railings around the pool, opting instead for a planting shelf that handles the necessary zoning requirements beautifully. “The plants are sitting on a shelf that is 30 feet below the deck,” Mark says.
Jeff notes, “The planting shelf accomplishes two things. One, there’s no railing. Two, it was important to me to bring nature right up to the pool deck while allowing us to look out to a plain of wetlands.”
Ipe decking withstands the elements along with a screened-in porch, advised by CRX Construction as protection from the insect-prone tidal marsh environment. The porch spans the entire length of the living room.
Finally, overhangs finished in mahogany double as an architectural feature while providing cover from the sun and creating an outdoor room feel.
The house stands out, admit Mark and Jeff. And of all the houses the couple has built, bought, and sold, “This one really feels like home,” Mark says. CS
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