Down By The Sea House
A Boston family with roots in the Cape had been searching for ten + years for the perfect ocean side home. The effort certainly paid off when they found a property with views that are nearly unparalleled in New England. What began as a renovation turned into a purpose driven new build to take advantage of the lot’s setting and maximize every bit of the sweeping maritime vistas.
The existing house had it’s charm, but the low ceilings and small rooms did not make the most of the spectacular views. A massive, brick fireplace stood at the center of the house, dividing all of the spaces and making it hard to design around. The renovation turned quickly into a new home design. The homeowners brought in their team - people they had worked with before, who understood the desire for a modern space that did not feel out of place with the older homes overlooking the sea.
From project conception, architect Kent Duckham, builder Steve Overstreet and designer Lindsay Bentis worked together on the plans as a team. They developed a floor plan that would allow the family to play together but still have private spaces to retreat to. They created the sculptural stairway and ridge skylight that anchors and unites all of the spaces. Paul Reidt was brought in to collaborate on the salty cabinetry that spans every room. Stephanie Hubbard of “Site Creative” came on board to work through the many outdoor entertaining areas.
The exterior of the home has clean lines and large modern windows, but the material - cedar siding - has a long history in Cape Cod Homes. The landscape was created from native plants. The plan for the interior finishes was to use modern lines, made from materials that have texture, patina and irregularity to soften them. This can be seen in the Ann Sacks Moroccan tile on the kitchen walls, the Heath tile used in multiple baths and the handmade Kismet tile in the powder room. The furniture is a combination of custom designed pieces created by Bentis, and imperfect vintage pieces reupholstered in beach friendly fabrics. Art and objects compliment the materialistic aesthetic and were sourced from both the East Coast and Bentis’ native California. A custom designed sculpture blurs the line between the first and second floor, traveling up the stair wall like an underwater creature while light pours down on it from above.
The homeowners trusted their team, and gave them much creative freedom on the project. The end result is one that everyone loves - a creative, warm, and modern space for the family to enjoy for generations to come.
