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Morning wake-ups are always welcome in this primary bedroom in the Chambers-McCallam home, which is Home 3 on the 2025 Beach & Bay Cottage Tour.

One of the most anticipated events of summer in Southern Delaware is the Beach & Bay Cottage Tour, and this year’s tour is now under way.

This year’s 33rd tour has both in-person and virtual components. The virtual portion of the tour, featuring 10 homes in a variety of styles and personalities, is taking place now and will continue through Aug. 3. Seven of the homes, which have been pre-selected, will be presented for in-person viewing Wednesday, July 23, and Thursday, July 24.

The homes are located along the shore from Fenwick Island to North Bethany, in downtown Bethany Beach and inland, including canal and bay views. Of the 10 homes on this year’s tour, seven will be available for in-person viewing by holders of Combo Tickets.

The 33rd Beach & Bay Cottage Tour is being presented by Leslie Kopp and the Leslie Kopp Group. This year’s Platinum house sponsors include Bruce Mears Design/Build, CRx Construction, 84 Lumber, Garth Enterprises, Heather’s Home Works, Marnie Custom Homes, and PNC Bank. Gold Sponsors for 2025 include SEA Studio Architects and Jonathon Selway Architects.

Each of the 10 homes features a professionally-produced video that offers tour patrons an opportunity to view each home as often as they want from anywhere during the three-week Virtual Tour period through Aug. 3. The video presentation is being sponsored by Schell Brothers.

Buses for the Fenwick Island Homes are sponsored by PNC Bank. Virtual-only tickets are priced at $35, and Combo tickets at $50. They may be purchased only through the Cottage Tour’s website at beachandbaycottagetour.com.

“We will only sell 1,000 Combo tickets this year, and they may be used on either Wednesday or Thursday,” said Kathy Green, tour chair. “And holders of Combo tickets will receive a printed tour booklet sponsored by Natelli Homes which covers all 10 homes; a hang tag sponsored by Pohanka of Salisbury; and a 33rd Anniversary Tote Bag.”

The tote bag sponsors for 2025 are Annie Powell Del Vecchio, the Town of Bethany Beach, PNC Bank, Sea Colony Recreational Association, G&E Hocker’s Supermarkets and Scott & Schuman.

“And, of course, the media sponsor for this year is the Coastal Point,” said Green.

No Cottage Tour would be complete without the raffles, and this year’s raffle is being sponsored by Nally Homes. The winners of the Dinner Raffle will dine at either the Café on 26, Bethany Blues, the Blue Crab, DiFebo’s Restaurant/Market, Fins Ale House–Bethany, Good Earth/Flavor, Honey’s at Station 26, J.R.’s Seafood Shack, Mancini’s, Mango’s, Mickey’s Family Crab House, Off the Hook, the Parkway, Patsy’s, Perucci’s, Rosenfeld’s Jewish Deli, the Salted Rim, The Station/Pantry, SoDel Concepts restaurants or Touch of Italy.

The Art Raffle, featuring local artists, offers framed artwork from Tara Funk Grim, Laura Hickman, Claire Howard, Wayne Lyons, Jeanne Mueller, Damon Pla, Deb Rose, Amanda Sokolski and Cheryl Wisbrock. Tickets for both raffles cost $1 each and available online only at beachandbaycottagetour.com. Winners will be selected on Aug. 4 and notified on that day.

With the Adopt a House program for hostesses, many organizations will also be involved in the 2025 tour. Participants this year include the Barefoot Gardeners, Bayside Ladies, Bear Trap Ladies, Bishop’s Landing Ladies, Coastal Gardeners, Forest Landing, Friends of Eileen Giaquinto, Friends of Margaret Oliver, Gardeners by the Sea, Ladies of Bay Forest, Ladies of Windhurst Manor, Linda Broderick & Friends, Lord Baltimore Women’s Club, Millville by the Sea, Reserve’s Beach Gals, Salt Air Gardeners, Salt Pond Women’s Club, South Coastal Village Volunteers and Women’s Civic Club of Bethany Beach.

“I want to thank all of the hundreds of volunteers that make this tour a success,” said Green. “In particular, I would like to recognize our Tour Committee for the efforts that they have put into this tour since last year. And, of course, our tour would not be possible without the cooperation of the homeowners who have agreed to share their homes with our community.”

The Cottage Tour is produced by the Friends of the South Coastal Library (FOSCL). It is the group’s major annual fundraiser and the principal source of FOSCL’s funding for 2025 and 2026. As in the past, all net proceeds directly benefit the library’s operations.

To purchase tour tickets or raffle tickets, or to make a donation, go to beachandbaycottagetour.com.

“Treat yourself to a special look at some of the loveliest homes in the Bethany area while benefiting one of our community’s best assets — our South Coastal Library in Bethany Beach,” Green said.

2025 Cottage Tour homes

The homes that may be toured in-person by holders of Combo tickets only (and are also available on the virtual tour) include:

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Home 1 — Sussuro del Mar

In-Person Home 1 — Sussuro del Mar

(Home 1 is being sponsored by Gold Sponsor Jonathon Selway Architects.)

Searching for a seaside vacation home, the owners of this home were drawn to the welcoming community of Fenwick Island. In 2018, they found the perfect spot — an oceanfront corner property with a beautiful small cottage. They began planning a larger home, one that would be a welcomed retreat and a gathering spot for family and friends. It was “a labor of love” that took two years.

The cottage was replaced with a modern home, which they call “Susurro del Mar,” completed in 2023. Water views take center stage in the home’s design. Expansive decks on two levels and the third-floor great room provide panoramic views of the beach and ocean. Spectacular views of the bay can also be seen from a rooftop vantage point, complete with a garden, hot tub and seating area. The home’s garapa Brazilian hardwood siding with mitered corners and hidden nails gives the home a clean and seamless look. The owners wanted a design that, while modern, fit in with the natural coastal landscape.

The home’s interior rivals the stunning water views. The owners shared a vision of a modern, uncluttered home but they wanted to avoid a stark, industrial aesthetic. To make the contemporary home feel warm and inviting, natural light shines through floor-to-ceiling windows. Beautiful, built-in continuous grain cherry wood cabinets on both floors offer a simple elegance while providing functional storage space.

In addition, the home has plenty of wall space to showcase the owner’s photographs and artwork from local and international artists. Textured linens and bright antique rugs provide pops of color while playful artifacts and sculptures add whimsy. Susurro del Mar proves that modern lines and eclectic treasures can create a beautiful harmony of design.

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Home 2 — The Strickland Home

In Person Home 2 — The Strickland Home

On a large end lot in Fenwick Island, Okemah and Bill Strickland built an amazing home on the bay. While the water views are impressive, the owners’ priority was to create a comfortable gathering place for their close-knit family of six adults and five grandchildren.

This active family enjoys boating trips from their two docks, relaxing in the saltwater pool, sitting around the firepit and sharing a meal on a screened porch equipped with a kitchen and TV. Indoors, the first floor has conversational spaces and decks with expansive views of the bay and a magnificent crisp white kitchen area sized for children and adults.

The Stricklands designed the second floor primarily for their two adult sons and their families. Ensuite bedrooms are spacious and lovely. For the children, there is an enchanting mermaid-themed bedroom, a charming turtle-inspired bunk room and a “Finding Nemo”-design bedroom/playroom, all brightly decorated. A simulator/theater room allows adults to practice golf, and the children can watch their favorite movies.

After decorating two spacious homes, Okemah Strickland welcomed the opportunity to start with a clean canvas, acknowledging her aesthetic sensibility had evolved. She began with the first item she found and loved — a beautiful smoky glass lighting fixture to hang over a future dining room table.

“The rest of the décor and design was predicated around that,” she said.

Against light grey walls, she used her favorite color, navy blue, in accent walls, bed linens, picture frames, nautical items and floral bouquets. From the largest furniture arrangements to the smallest crystal knobs, her decorating skills shine through. This home is a wonderful place to find design ideas to make adults and children feel welcome.

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Home 3 — The Chambers-McCallam Home

In Person Home 3 — The Chambers-McCallam Home

(Home 3 is sponsored by Platinum Sponsor CRx Construction.)

Having outgrown their bayside Fenwick townhouse as their family expanded from six to 14, Sue Chambers and Dennis McCallam began a years-long search for a larger space. Their search ended in 2022 with the purchase of a large 1990 home in the nearby oceanside Curves neighborhood. Although the house required significant work, it had solid bones, seven bedrooms and stunning ocean views from multiple vantage points.

As a self-described “serial renovator,” Chambers was undeterred by the need for repairs and immediately undertook a full update, completing the transformation in 2023. The modern coastal design features clean lines, expansive windows to capture the ocean views and an open concept with light wood floors to foster airy spaciousness.

The home’s style blends the relaxed charm of coastal living with the rustic warmth of farmhouse design, incorporating natural accents of driftwood and woven linen textures to enhance the cozy ambiance. Favorite pieces crafted by local artisans, coupled with weathered metal lighting fixtures, add character to the comfortable atmosphere. A lower-level family room leads to a private pool and recently updated pool house, offering plenty of opportunity for this growing family to relax and enjoy their oceanside retreat.

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Home 4 – The Bucher Home

In Person Home 4 – The Bucher Home

(Home 4 is sponsored by Gold Sponsor SEA Studio Architects.)

After vacationing in the area for many years the Bucher family’s dream of having their own home here become a reality with the purchase of a bayfront lot in South Bethany. They worked with local architect Scott Edmonston to design a modern, light-filled home incorporating panoramic views of the neighboring marshland. Mission accomplished! Views of water, wildlife and sunsets abound on every level.

“It’s like living in a different landscape painting every day!” said Amy Bucher.

The main floor is bathed in light from a massive bank of south-facing two-story windows that capture sweeping views of the wetlands from every vantage point. A central steel-and-glass staircase, highlighted by the streaming light as it rises to the soaring two-story ceiling, provides a natural separation between the comfy living room and the sleek kitchen and dining areas. Double sliders fully open to a side deck for additional indoor/outdoor entertaining space. The primary bedroom and an adjoining office complete the main floor.

Upstairs a glass-fronted catwalk faces the window bank and leads to three ensuite bedrooms and a wet bar. A rooftop deck lies, above with 360 degree views of the entire area.

The interior of the house is designed for easy maintenance, with water-friendly concrete floors on the lower and main levels, and luxury vinyl plank flooring upstairs. White walls are warmed by wood-like ceramic accent tiles in the living room and kitchen. The comfortable furnishings employ neutral tones to allow the views and artwork to add depth, texture and color. Built-in cabinetry and ample closets keep the interior clutter-free and serene.

The exterior of this multilevel contemporary is dominated by the towering wall of glass windows facing the wetlands and the dramatic peaked roofline, a signature SEA Studio feature. The modern facade is softened by the interplay of white siding and horizontal wood slat accents, and is grounded by an abundance of native foundation plantings.

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Home 5 — The Lindsey-Loftus Home

In Person Home 5 — The Lindsey-Loftus Home

(Home 5 is sponsored by Platinum Sponsor PNC Bank.)

At just 950 square feet, this charming 1950 South Bethany cottage is a perfect example of vacation beach homes of that era, with just three bedrooms and one bathroom in its small original footprint. The home was purchased in 2015 by Elise Lindsey and Michael Loftus, who gave it a quick facelift before moving in for a year to monitor the construction of their new canalfront home on a prime corner lot down the street. (Some may remember that home from the 2022 tour.)

The plan thereafter was to use the cottage for family, friends and overflow guests from their primary home. By 2018, it was in need of a complete update to make it more comfortable and functional for frequent guests. The renovation began with a realignment of the original layout and grew to include the addition of an extra bedroom and bathroom, a completely new kitchen, windows, siding, HVAC, an outdoor shower and an enlarged deck overlooking the canal.

Painting the original knotty pine walls white and adding white shiplap in the bedrooms lightened the entire house inside. Outside, the flower-laden window boxes and blue awnings flanking the teal front door give a boost of curb appeal to this cozy waterfront cottage, helping it retain its original historic charm.

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Home 6 — The Favinger Home

In Person Home 6 — The Favinger Home

(Home 6 is sponsored by Platinum Sponsor 84 Lumber.)

This peaceful, welcoming home has quite a story. It began as a prefab home on Coastal Highway advertising Nanticoke Homes, the only modular-home builder in Delaware at the time. In 1985, it was re-assembled on a lot in a small Bethany Beach community. Then, 34 years later, Karen and Tom Favinger bought the home as a rental property.

It wasn’t long before the home’s story took a dramatic turn. The Favingers loved the community, with its variety of home styles and its proximity to the beach, their church, downtown Bethany Beach and tennis. As they reasoned, “You can change a home, but you can’t change its location.” Looking past the home’s small footprint and deteriorating condition, the Favingers imagined their future home.

Moving from a large, colonial-style house to a small, dated cottage might give some people pause, but the Favingers embraced it enthusiastically. Rather than raze the house and build anew, they created their “coastal modern” dream home through renovation. Wanting a first-floor open concept for entertaining, they moved the kitchen from the back of the house to the front to create a larger space for prep, cooking and conversation. The unstable Florida room inspired a great room with many windows and a higher ceiling, for a spacious, airy feel.

The Favingers also wanted the first floor to be self-contained, with a primary suite, laundry room and screened porch so they could age gracefully in place. The second floor would have an office/bedroom, second bedroom and a Jack-and-Jill bathroom for family and guests. The beautiful, uncluttered home is testament to a “less is more” philosophy, filled with ingenious space-saving and storage features, and designed without sacrificing what was important to them.

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Home 7 — The Lahlou Home

In Person Home 7 — The Lahlou Home

(Home 7 is proudly sponsored by Platinum Sponsor Marnie Custom Homes.)

The Lahlou family loves the Bethany area. Although they owned a South Bethany home for many years, they always “dreamed about being oceanfront.” Their dream was realized when an original cottage on a slim 17-foot-wide beachfront lot became available in Bethany Beach. The old cottage was eventually replaced with their new home, affectionately called “Narrow Escape.”

The Lahlou beachfront home is an inventive architectural solution to building on a narrow lot. The design features two separate homes connected by a deck with a swimming pool, offering ample living space by building up and prioritizing ocean views. The views are particularly stunning in the main home’s great room and primary suite. The home is light and airy, and never feels cramped, despite its narrow profile.

Oceanside wall-to-wall glass doors and numerous floor-to-ceiling windows in both homes offer lots of natural light and ocean views. High ceilings, perfectly sized furniture and neutral walls create a spacious feel. A wonderfully appointed chef’s kitchen and six ensuite bedrooms imbue a sense of coastal luxury.

This unique home has many beautiful elements. Shari Lahlou’s eye for detail and her talent for mixing unusual, modern pieces with more traditional accents is impressive. Sparkling accents and gold tones warm each space. She enhanced the home’s sense of spaciousness by balancing linear elements with curves. For example, the rectangular dining table features curved brass legs and circular accents on both the table and lights.

By meticulously choosing the appropriate hardware, incorporating vibrant colors through artwork, and completing the room with interesting and brightly colored lighting, she has created “an elevated coastal” home for family and guests.

Note: Homes 8-10 will only be seen virtually by all ticket holders.

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Home 8 — The Santry Home

Virtual-Only Home 8 — The Santry Home

(Home 8 is sponsored by Platinum Sponsor Heather’s Home Works.)

The Santry family loved everything about their first summer in the Bethany area. As Brooke Santry explained, “My husband, Adam, always wanted to live near water,” and this was their chance. They were drawn to South Bethany, with its peaceful setting and dedicated lifeguards to protect their young family. They bought an older, oceanfront home to renovate as their summer home but soon decided a new build would better suit their family.

Brooke Santry created a beautiful, family-friendly home, taking full advantage of the glorious ocean views. As she said lightheartedly, they wanted a place “to enjoy without feeling worried about guests/children destroying it.” For inspiration, she drew upon a place they love: Charleston, S.C. Evoking the city’s charm, the front porches have Southern-styled railings and “haint blue” ceilings, window boxes filled with flowers and gas lanterns. Recalling features of Charleston homes, Brooke Santry expertly used patterned wallpaper in soft shades of blue and sometimes pale pink to customize a room or highlight a wall. Carefully chosen rugs, lighting, accessories and furniture combine a sense of Southern elegance with practical durability.

To continue her self-described “Southern coastal” aesthetic, she chose Florida — specifically Palm Beach — to inspire the spaces their three daughters share. Their bunkroom suite includes six beds for extra playmates, bright pink ladders and cutouts for cherished possessions. A delightful raspberry-tiled bathroom is perfectly sized for kids.

Divided by a wall, the suite also has a playroom with a large round table for crafts and reading, and built-in shelving and woven baskets to hold supplies, toys, favorite books and family photos. The walls are adorned with Floridian-inspired sundresses worn by the Santrys’ three daughters when they were younger. This colorful space is a joy for children and highlights Brooke Santry’s flair for design.

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Home 9 — The Martinez Home

Virtual-Only Home 9 — The Martinez Home

(Home 9 is sponsored by Platinum Sponsor Garth Enterprises.)

This recently renovated Bethany Beach house represents a perfect prescription for combining form with function by adding the extra space that the growing family needed while retaining its classic shingled-cottage charm.

The stylized “RX” house sign near the front entry proudly references Anne Martinez’s grandfather, a D.C.-area surgeon. He bought the lot more than 60 years ago for $4,500 and built the house in 1969 for $28,000. It’s remained in the family ever since, as a favorite summer retreat. An initial update by Anne and Frank Martinez in 2009 was followed by a major renovation in 2023 to accommodate the shift from vacation home to primary residence.

The addition of just 5 feet created a larger, more comfortable, open-concept living space for their extended family gatherings. The second-floor front screened porch was enclosed with wrap-around windows to bring in natural light from three directions, and a large screened porch with fireplace was added to the rear of the house.

A serene neutral style permeates the home, with white oak shiplap accents and natural stone elements adding depth and character. A surprise contrast can be found in the distinctively modern first-floor powder room with black matte shiplap walls and a unique Bulgarian terrazzo utility sink.

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Home 10 — The Somma Home

Virtual-Only Home 10 — The Somma Home

(Home 10 is being sponsored by Platinum Sponsor Bruce Mears Design/Build.)

The Somma family’s recently completed home is located on one of six wetland lots in Breakwater Beach accessible via an elevated wooden bridge. Piles for these future homes had to be driven prior to their eventual construction, so the challenge for builder Bruce Mears was to design a home that met his clients’ needs within the confines of the previously laid pilings.

Building on their years of experience spending summers in Tower Shores, this New York family collaborated with Mears to design each level of their new four-level home with thoughtful attention to details that accommodate everyone’s vacation needs.

A powder room in the ground-floor garage provides convenient post-beach access and is adjacent to two outdoor showers, leading to a mudroom and beach laundry room. Nearby, an exercise room and ensuite bunk room that sleeps eight contain the busy comings and goings of their kids.

The second floor is dedicated to visiting guests and includes three ensuite bedrooms, an office, guest laundry room, powder room and a fully equipped guest lounge opening out to the pool deck and gas firepit. The open-concept upper level is designed for easy entertaining, with a stunning lighted, glass-enclosed wine closet, a massive marble kitchen island, two screened porches and a secluded primary suite tucked away in the rear.

The décor is crisp and modern, utilizing a soft beach palette and natural elements of driftwood, shells and sand to keep the mood relaxed and in perfect harmony with the coastal setting. A rooftop deck offering panoramic views of bay and ocean tops it all.