Town- 14 Gardner Street and 7 Howard Court

This stately home, circa 1843, welcomes you with a double staircase, elegant foyer and original historic details that are exquisitely preserved. Informal entrances, on either side of the home, offer easy access from the driveway, side and rear of the home. The thoughtful layout makes daily living easy, and also creates an impressive statement. Two parlors (one used as an office) and a dining room are on the front side of the home (which retains its historic footprint). Large family/living area, kitchen, informal dining and screened porch extend from there. You can find privacy and quiet in these rooms, or entertain large groups of people. They are multi-functional.

Two separate staircases lead to the second floor. At the front of the house, the original antique staircase, with a custom-painted mural of island imagery, leads to two bedrooms and a gallery space. The main staircase, in the family/living room, leads to an upstairs center hall with access to all four bedrooms, as well as stairs leading to the third-floor bunk room. Each one of the five bedrooms has an ensuite bathroom. The primary bedroom also has a cozy sitting room and French doors opening onto a private balcony overlooking the garden. A perfect place for stretching in the morning or relaxing in the afternoon sun. Two of the secondary bedrooms boast original fireplaces, and all have been tastefully updated.

A fun and historic space that evokes the whaling days of the 1800s, the third floor has exposed original chestnut beams and paneling adorned by19th century hand-carved names of whaling ships. Four built-in beds, with individual book shelves and nautical lights, make this the perfect sleeping area for children or teens. The attic bedroom also has a full bathroom with double vanity and large shower.

Arriving back from the beach, you can rinse off in the outdoor shower and immediately enter the house through the lower level to drop off your towels and beach gear in the basement laundry room. Two sets of washers/dryers, a large utility sink and a powder room make it easy to leave the sand behind before you go upstairs and enter the main living space.