If you wanted to be in the heart of Shelter Island, this house on South Midway Road might just be as close to the Center as you’ll get . Which means you have access to much of what your heart desires on the island.
Built in 2021, but with a traditional vintage vibe, this four-bedroom house features a gabled front and a “conversation porch” overlooking the lawn—perfect for rocking chair afternoons, happy hours or listening to peepers.
“The house was built by Matthew Kast, whose father Ralph Kast built iconic Shelter Island homes that are favored by designers,” says Penelope Moore, who represents the listing at Saunders. “Matthew is a thoughtful, detail-oriented craftsman.”
She says the home satisfied the sellers’ desire to “build a home that has a low profile, is practical for a family and an easy flow from one room to the other.”
That go-with-the-flow design begins on the open-plan first floor, entered from the front porch into the living room and dining area (combined square footage of 550 square feet), beyond which is the 255-square-foot kitchen. Plenty of paned windows let in light, as does a sliding door leading to a side yard. Off the kitchen to the back is a 127-square-foot covered porch that offers a natural outdoor extension of the kitchen for dining. White oak solid hardwood flooring unites the rooms throughout.
The kitchen is a study of traditional meets modern with white custom Decora cabinets, Tebas Black Silestone countertops and oversized subway tiles on the walls. A center island expands the work space and also seats three, serving as a breakfast bar. The stainless steel appliance suite is the Frigidaire Professional Series. A laundry room is just off the kitchen.
Also on the first level are a guest room with hall access to a full bathroom and the 200-square-foot primary suite with its own bathroom and walk-in closet. Situated at the back of the house, it offers leafy views and solitude.
The second floor features lots of space for sleeping, sitting and creating something new, with a 600-square-foot space above the garage—nearly finished and just awaiting finish flooring or carpeting. Front and back windows bookend the room, which has its own external staircase. Facing the front yard through a gabled window is a 182-square-foot sitting room that adjoins a small home office and a 163-square-foot bedroom. Down the hall toward the back of the house is the fourth and largest bedroom (336 square feet). Both bedrooms have walk-in closets and share a hallway bathroom, finished with Kohler fixtures, marble-topped sink vanities by Decora and tiled floors.
The basement level is partially finished, with polished concrete floors and radiant floor heat, sliding doors to the yard, a half bath and 1,056-square-foot space currently used as a recreation room. Two rooms house the mechanicals, but also offer more storage.
Perennials and shrubs have been planted along the property and the fenced-in backyard features osmanthus privacy hedges (read: deer proof!). The home’s perch on a .8 acre lot offers views of saltwater inlets and is only 1.2 miles to Wades Beach; along the way are Fresh Pond and Menantic and Dickerson creeks. It’s well located to a neighborhood offering casual dining, the library, a gym and Fiske Field, where Moore said the owners “liked to take their children to the local baseball games, where there are old fashioned hot dog and ice cream vendors.” Also less than a mile’s walk are Black Cat Books, a Peeko Oysters outpost and the Shelter Island Florist (who also sell fresh eggs).
Though there’s water, water everywhere, there’s plenty of green space, too: just 1.5 miles south is Mashomack Preserve, with 20-plus miles of hiking trails and a well-deserved reputation as a bird-watcher’s paradise—more than 200 documented species— on Route 114/South Ferry Road.
Listing for $1,845,000, details on 4 South Midway Road and details are found here.
