Shore Bliss

The Avalon home of John and Jana Scarpa is an updated take on the neoclassical wood-shingle style of the early 20th-century Jersey Shore. “I’ve always loved the Mantoloking-style home,” John says. | Photos: Halkin Mason Photography

John and Jana Scarpa spend much of the year in Palm Beach, but their hearts are at the Jersey Shore: “It’s so relaxing compared to the Palm Beach scene,” Jana says. The couple, both Jersey natives, had a home in Avalon for more than a decade. Three years ago, tired of spending money on maintenance, they decided it was time to replace their 1970s beach house with something that would take full advantage of its dune-side site.

But what would it look like? John and Jana have divergent tastes. He loves the classical elegance of their Florida home and wanted something traditional here, too. Her aesthetic leans towards the modern — clean lines, open informality. So they decided to split the difference: John got the outside, and Jana got the inside. The result is a striking marriage of classic Seven Mile Island architecture and relaxed modern style.

They achieved that fusion with help from architect Mark Asher, who specializes in the traditional style of Jersey Shore homes, and interior designer Marguerite Rodgers, whose work is decidedly contemporary but can mesh well with classic buildings. The outcome is a home with unspoiled views and room to entertain that they both love.

And even though the exterior was his domain, John admits, “The interior turned out magnificently.”

Editor’s note: In our Habitat feature in the August issue, we incorrectly identified the owners of the Avalon home as John and Jana Scarpo and the interior designer they worked with as Marguerite Miller. Marguerite Rodgers Interior Design did the interior design work for the home, which is owned by John and Jana Scarpa. Philadelphia magazine regrets the errors.

The Scarpa House in Avalon

Master Bathroom

Rodgers recommended the sliding glass door and balcony to bring the shoreline inside the master bathroom. "The master bathroom is reflective of my love of the ocean," Jana said.

Main staircase

Jana recognized the main staircase presented an opportunity for a dramatic glass wall that brought the outdoors inside in a big way, and after some discussion, the architect agreed.

Second-floor deck

The kitchen opens onto this large outdoor space on the second floor that faces the beach, to provide ample room for indoor and outdoor entertaining.

Master bedroom

The home takes advantage of Avalon's relatively permissive zoning ordinances in order to provide unparalleled views of the shoreline from the third floor, where the master bedroom is located. At night, Jana says, it's possible to see the lights of the Ferris wheel on the Wildwood boardwalk.

Library

While thoroughly contemporary in style, the library’s use of chocolate-colored wood adds a traditional touch. John praised the way Asher, Rodgers and contractor D.L. Miner worked together: “It was almost effortless,” he said of their collaboration. “The pride all of them exhibit in their work shows.”

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