Celebrating Fine Design, Architecture, and Building
Gather, share, and make room
The more contemporary elements of the residence are carried through to the pool house. The pool itself runs perpendicular to the main house, which optimizes clear sight lines to the water from the primary living area. The spa is set down even further into the landscape at the far end of the pool.
Surrounded by water, this Cape Cod property is the ultimate place to unwind.
FROM TOP LEFT: Artworks by Martin Kline (left) and Glen Baldridge hang in the entry, whose walls are coated with Venetian plaster. The living area contains a Showroom sofa, a pair of vintage leather chairs, a cocktail table from Studio 534, and a rug from Holly Hunt. In the adjacent dining area, a custom light fixture by Nacho Carbonell hangs above a custom table from Wüd; the sideboard is from Mark Jupiter.
Set between the harbor and the bay, this Cape Cod residence is a true celebration of its site. To help optimize the property’s rare beauty, the client called on some old friends, including Hutker Architects, Elms Interior Design, Horiuchi Solien, and Sea-Dar Construction.
“We designed a long, linear home to maintain a visual connection to the water in every direction,” says Hutker Architects design principal Ryan Alcaidinho of the 8,000-square-foot residence. “The exterior language draws from the area’s historic architecture—the traditional proportions, weathered shingles, double-hung windows, rafter tails, and rhythmic window patterns—but is juxtaposed with modern detailing and glass connectors.”
Meanwhile, the entry volume, which contains the
service spaces, references a historic boathouse on the property. A large gable houses the main living areas and features a free-flowing floor plan.
“A central staircase serves as an organizing element, separating the everyday spaces from the more formal areas,” says Alcaidinho. “Wood slats with metal links form a stairway enclosure that’s inspired by the sand fences seen on the beach below.”
Throughout, an attention to detail was critical. In addition to ensuring that the variety of wood
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: The same oak-slat system appears behind the headboard in the primary bedroom, where the bed and nightstands are from Holly Hunt, the light fixture is from Ralph Pucci, and the rug is from Marc Phillips; a covered sleeping porch is beyond. The office is anchored by a desk from Wüd; a light fixture from The Future Perfect hangs above. The primary bath, which is sheathed in a wallcovering from Phillip Jeffries, features a concrete tub from Native Trails.
species complement each other, Sea-Dar Construction brought in metalworkers to fashion the fireplace surrounds and other blackened metal accents and expertly crafted the plaster trimwork on the first floor. “Plaster trim isn’t as common as wood,” notes Sea-Dar’s John Kruse. “However, unlike wood, plaster doesn’t shrink with humidity.”
From the various wood and metal accents to the stone and concrete, the serene materials palette was a collaboration between the architecture and interiors teams. “We provided feedback on certain things, including the primary bath materials, plumbing, stonework, and lighting,” recalls Dee Elms, founder and principal of Elms Interior Design. “The materials offer a sense of luxury, yet nothing is overly fussy.”
The furnishings themselves are a mix of new, custom, and vintage pieces in soft, neutral tones inspired by the surroundings. Elms helped the client source new artwork in addition to incorporating a few items he had inherited. “We worked together to find the right pieces,” says the designer. “Merging the old with the new results in a nice, collected feel.”
She and the client also sought to find artistic furnishings that make a statement. For example, in the dining room, the client was drawn to a table topped with a live-edge wood slab. “It’s
BELOW: In addition to the sleeping porch off the primary suite—which has views of both the bay and harbor—there’s also a widow’s walk offering panoramic vistas. LEFT: Throughout the property, the design team created moments to escape harsh elements like the sun and wind; the covered portion of the pool house is no exception.
really dynamic,” notes Elms. “We paired it with a painted light fixture that’s constructed of netting and bronze branches by artist Nacho Carbonell. The goal was to bring in some lightness and warmth through the furnishings. I wanted it to feel elegant yet understated and comfortable.”
This sense of comfort and ease extends to the landscape and outdoor areas—whether it be the screened porch, whose panels open up, the pool house’s covered terrace, or the firepit near the beach.
“There’s a casual quality—even a bit of scruffiness—to the surrounding landscape, which we wanted to connect with,” explains landscape architect Dan Solien. “We installed native plants and ornamental grasses in the fifteen feet surround-
ing the structure to bring that coastal experience right up to the house.”
No matter where one is on the property, there are always quiet moments of reflection to be had. “I wanted a peaceful place where I can feel relaxed and restored,” says the homeowner. “When I’m here, I never want to leave. The house has a way of holding you. There’s almost a magical quality about it.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: For details, see Resources.
ARCHITECTURE: Hutker Architects
INTERIOR DESIGN: Elms Interior Design
BUILDER: Sea-Dar Construction
LANDSCAPE DESIGN: Horiuchi Solien
Location, Location, Location, page 256
One of several sculptures that dot this Cape Cod property is artist John Bisbee’s Shed, a one-ton column of welded twelveinch spikes. A childhood friend of Bisbee’s, the homeowner visited the artist’s Maine studio when construction on the residence began and selected what spoke to him. “I’ve worked solely in nails for forty years, transforming them from their rigid, linear, and industrial origins into organic, flowing sculptures,” says Bisbee. “It’s wonderfully unclear whether they are gathering themselves or dispersing into space. The house itself is angular and modern, and the soft, oxidized curves of the nails complement the structure beautifully.”
—Alyssa Bird