Living Well | Chesapeake Life | July 2006
Cottage Houses Designing Ideas
When Michael Cusumano and Ed Albers decided to start their new business, dcor - Design Center of Rehoboth - Cusumano said they wanted to "step way outside the box," - and that's exactly what they did.
Albers and Cusumano settled on property, located on Atlantic Avenue in Rehoboth Beach, in late July 2005. The original structure and garage was built in the 1930s as a small summer cottage. When they bought the property, the cottage was in poor shape with faulty wiring and no heat.
Despite the problems, the owners had no desire to tear down the original property and start anew.
Instead, Albers and Cusumano decided to completely renovate the existing structure in order to create a completely unique look that would be certain to attract customers in the Rehoboth area. Six months later, the Design Center of Rehoboth is complete and ready for business.
"Ed conceptualized everything," Cusumano said. The newly renovated property consists of two cottages linked by a relaxing, landscaped outdoor patio complete with a fountain. The main cottage serves as a show house and displays furnishings such as bedding, one-of-a-kind artwork, sofas and the avid design styles of Albers and Cusumano.
The second cottage serves as a design studio and library for Albers.
"I wanted to show people my concept for the total home," Albers said.
Inside the main cottage you'll find furniture from Berman Faulk, a Vancouver-based company, and custom-made Italian linens. Cusumano said the Design Center of Rehoboth is the only place in Delaware and perhaps the East Coast that has these unique items.
The main cottage also has a number of windows which provide natural light, custom-made carpets, interesting fixtures, a fireplace and custom tiling, such as the River Jack Stone tile in the sun room.
The modern, yet cozy cottages are an example of how people can fix up their homes without tearing them down and building a "McMansion" that may conflict with the character of the neighborhood.
Last summer Rehoboth passed a floor-area ratio reduction to combat new, overly large structures inconsistent with the city's existing homes.
Cusumano said since his design center property is zoned residential and is located in a neighborhood, he and Albers wanted to keep with the neighborhood feel.
As a testimony to their work, Albers and Cusumano placed pictures of the cottage in its previous condition throughout the interior of the home.
"We're pretty proud and were hoping people can see our talent," Albers said.
Interested clients can tour the cottages and view the quality of work.
The Design Center of Rehoboth can help customers decide their homes from furniture and paint to lighting plans and landscaping. The center can also be a resource for contractors and architects who are looking for new ideas for home design.
Cusumano said someone has already noticed the newly renovated property and was amazed. He came to the design center and asked Albers and Cusumano about their services before the business even opened.
Albers said he decided to get into the design business several years ago after his house on Silver Lake won an annual Rehoboth Cottage and Town award. People liked Albers��� home so much that it prompted him to leave the corporate world and go back to school for interior design in 2001.
"I quit my job, went back to school and I���ve been doing it ever since," he said.
"We wanted to bring a level of sophistication and design to Rehoboth Beach."
The Design Center of Rehoboth is located at 112 Atlantic Ave. in Rehoboth Beach. Business hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, call 227-9341 or visit www.rehobothinteriors.com.
This article was taken from the February 15, 2006 issue of Delaware Coast Press.
