Daybreak and dusk are the most magical times at the beach. On an empty shore, infinite spans of sand, sea and sky have hypnotic, soul-calming powers.

A Rehoboth retreat perfectly positions its owners to savor not only Atlantic sunrises, but also to bask in watery sunsets over Silver Lake to the west. The new getaway was a fantasy come true for a Northern Virginia-based couple and their children.

“I’ve been going to Bethany Beach down the road since I was a kid,” says the husband. “We were in awe of properties on Silver Lake. I thought it would be fascinating to have the lake as a front yard and the ocean as a backyard.”

Forty years later, the opportunity arose when he visited the property, which was formerly home to Shell House—a Martha’s Vineyard-esque 1920 manse built by a member of Delaware’s du Pont family. After lingering on the market, the faded grand dame was dismantled in 2020 and its acreage split into three parcels.

Having acquired one, the professional services executive and his wife began to imagine their future getaway. “We were interested in something representative of a coastal environment, but with contemporary flair,” he explains. “We envisioned a home that would support our family and hopefully future generations.”

They turned to Wayne Adams of BarnesVanze Architects to shape their preferences into a cohesive plan. Photos of homes dotting shores as far-flung as Sullivan’s Island near Charleston, Rosemary Beach in Florida, and Bermuda inspired fruitful dialogue. Adams distilled elements of these examples to arrive at a pared-down, Shaker-style dwelling that would pay homage to its predecessor yet forge a modern path.

On the lake side, stucco and shingle siding, gabled roofs and a steep, curved stair lean into a classic vocabulary, while sleek linear forms and glass rule out back. “With the glassy exposure on the beach and traditional face toward the lake, the house fits between these two very different environments—the rough and wild ocean and the calm, freshwater lake,” observes Adams.

Completed by Horizon Builders, the three-story, 8,875-square-foot escape celebrates laid-back, beachy living. Though the open kitchen-dining-living area and party-ready roof deck make entertaining a breeze, cozy nooks throughout happily cosset parties of two. “We added small elements like bays and porches, which play down the mass of the home and create opportunities to see the water,” relates the architect.

Along with ocean breezes wafting through the home’s casement windows and nine bifold doors, a luxe, modern vibe flows through the interiors. From the great room’s decorative tray ceiling to a sculptural staircase framed in glass, architectural details signal that this isn’t your grandma’s beach cottage.

The ground floor is a play zone, complete with TV lounge, bar and golf simulator; a bunk room hosts sleepovers. Sliding doors open to the pool deck; Tundra Gray marble flooring extends out to the terrace, where guests can unwind in the pool and spa.

“Downstairs, the house is more rugged, with people coming from the beach,” says Adams. “But upstairs, it transitions to spaces that are elegant and tailored.”

On the second-floor, the main living area and kitchen flank a central conversation spot—all spill onto an expansive deck. The primary suite, owners’ offices and a private deck occupy the same beachfront footprint on the third story. On the lake side, two ensuite guest rooms on both the second and third levels await visiting family and friends.

The owners tapped designer Chad Alan, who’d completed their primary home, to outfit the second-floor public spaces, primary suite and offices. “We wanted interiors that were clean, modern and sophisticated,” he affirms. “But we also wanted it to be a place where you could put your feet on the furniture.”

Visiting the Washington Design Center with Alan, the owners fell in love with an Ochre chandelier, its blown-glass lights resembling jellyfish, and an acrylic rug in moody blues, both from David Sutherland. Now ensconced in the dining area and conversation area respectively, these pieces were jumping-off points for the décor, marrying practicality and a touch of glam. Performance fabrics were chosen to withstand sun and wet bathing suits, and a color scheme of blues, grays and white prevails.

“Art was also important,” Alan remarks. “We needed showstoppers that could go toe to toe with the architecture.” In the airy foyer, modern works by Moritz Neuhoff and Jill Moser “convey something special is coming when you walk into the house.”

Bob Hruby and Meredith Forney Beach of Campion Hruby Landscape Architects took charge of the grounds. They orchestrated the chic pool terrace and created a welcoming arrival court, where a checkerboard of stones floats in turf and aligns with the front entry. Hydrangea, Russian sage, crape myrtle, Salvia and a profusion of potted plants fringe the house.

The residents love spending time together—and hosting guests—in their Rehoboth retreat. But, insists the wife, nothing beats the sunrise. “We wake up and the first thing you see is the ocean,” she marvels. “It’s breathtaking. Once we’re there, we never want to leave.”