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New homeowners Carl W. Hurlebaus III and Amy Lauvray Hurlebaus had been searching for the right waterfront property for more than a year, buying this residence within just 28 days of going on the market, in part, because of the many details they found enchanting. "We felt like we'd looked at every waterfront piece of property in the area," says Amy, a certified nurse practitioner. When both toured the home, "[Carl] was down at the dockhouse, I was in the kitchen, and we both fell in love with different parts immediately. It suits our family really well," she adds.
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Certainly, the four-bedroom, four-bath, two half-bath waterfront contains what you'd expect in a modern luxury home for a young family—from its gourmet kitchen and upscale cabinetry to its open floor plan and ample acreage. But it's the subtle finishes—little granite and wood insets on the floors, a spice rack built into and concealed in the front of a pantry door, shutter and shingle accents inside the home, a fire pit next to the boathouse (with its own security system, running water, and Bose speaker system)—that are real treats.
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Down to the Last Detail
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From the street, the home hardly conveys its 6,600+ square footage, blending into the well-forested and eclectic neighborhood of Cape St. John, with its mix of new and remodeled homes interspersed with older ranchers, bungalows, and colonials. The community, located just off the South River, has its own beach, boat ramp, picnic area, and playground, as well as access for both power and sailboats.
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Step up to the intricate custom walnut front door and the littlest elements build up to something spectacular. Entrants to the foyer are greeted with a decorative mosaic-tiled emblem on the porcelain floor. A striking hand-built mahogany staircase contrasts with crisp white wainscoting and triple-pane windows. Eschewing the "matchy-matchy" look popular among some builders, there are varying uses of elegant and complementary woods throughout the house, including oak, maple, cherry and mahogany.
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Warm butter and sage hues with punches of richer colors flow throughout the home. The Hurlebaus family so liked the muted shades and jewel-toned accents used by the previous homeowners that they chose to keep many of the same colors, even purchasing some of the sellers' existing furniture and treatments to add to their décor.
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The dining room table, for example, is a mahogany work of art, with leaves that must be laid in specific order to display the spiraling of the original tree's grain. A Lenox chandelier (its twin can be found in the master bedroom) hangs overhead, with em oidered silk window treatments capping off the room.
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The kitchen, great room, and eakfast room spread out across the back of the house, with rows of windows overlooking the spectacular yard that slopes down to the water. One of the Hurlebaus' first modifications was to retrofit some of the custom built-ins (including one in the great room) for larger flat screens and technological updates.
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A three-season, screened-in porch encompasses special touches, including closable windows on the north-facing side to keep out winter winds, and railings within the screens for decorative and practical purposes.
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Elegant Elements
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The same attention to detail isn't spared in other parts of the home. The master bedroom includes multi-tiered crown molding like the main floor, along with column details and more rows of windows, plus a viewing deck overlooking the backyard and water. The marble and granite master bath, with its soaking tub and his-and-hers areas, also has a steam shower with multiple shower heads.
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Tucked away in the lower level, with its large, open family room, built-ins and spotlights, sits an impressive wine cellar. The mahogany room, which can accommodate 770 bottles, is temperature-controlled, with a terrazzo tile floor and recessed lighting.
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Structurally, the home features various other useful yet unseen components, from a heated, extra-deep garage to a back-up generator, intercom, sprinkler system, tankless hot water heater and second-floor laundry.
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Hidden in Plain Sight
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But certainly the most eathtaking area—replete with more unassuming yet charming corners—is the extensive backyard. A large deck opens to a lush, green lawn, with an abundance of trees, shrubbery, and flowers on all sides.
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Stone and ick walkways carve paths to a lounging area veiled with rose bushes and a multi-level stairway down to 122 feet of riparian waterfront. Dredged to nine feet MLW (Mean Low Water), it can float boats even with exceptionally low tides. Plus, Boyd's Cove is a naturally protected land mass, considered a "hurricane hole" by mariners. The home's 75-foot pier has three slips (to accommodate varied-sized vessels), lighting, water, security cameras, and a 10,000-pound boat lift.
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The Hurlebaus family enjoys using their whaler and participating in water skiing, tubing, and knee boarding, and hope to purchase another craft soon. From the water, the foliage on land offers abundant coverage of their home, ensuring this gem of a residence remains splendid and secluded.
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