Homeowners Alex and Nicole Bender longed to live near the sea. When they moved to the New England town of Marblehead, Massachusetts, seven years ago, the quaint, coastal setting felt like a perfect place for their dream home. Yet, scoring a waterfront property along the small peninsula can be challenging. After years of searching, the couple stumbled across a 1970s midcentury-modern-style home—a diamond in the rough from which they created a modern and airy dwelling for their family of five.

After purchasing the property, the couple embarked on an extensive renovation that included gutting the entire interior. They envisioned a contemporary space with a calming and inspiring ambiance created by a stronger connection with their lush natural surroundings. The resulting home easily flows from indoor to outdoor spaces, with an airy overall atmosphere for entertaining and enjoying New England’s vivid seasons.

“My favorite room is the kitchen,” says Nicole. “We wanted it to be the center of the home. When people come over, everyone goes there.” The room’s contemporary design features a 10-foot marble island and large windows to frame picturesque views of the waterfront landscape. “We love that we can see the sunset when we are preparing food or talking to friends—the sun shines through and it’s just fantastic,” adds Alex.

“When we began the remodel, we honed in on the materials that were going to make the biggest impact,” notes Nicole. For her and Alex, the flooring, along with the doors and windows, were those things. “We ended up choosing beautiful European white oak, wide-plank flooring. Yet, when it came to the windows and doors, it was a little bit harder.” Seeking a sleek, modern look and maximum thermal protection for the harsh Northeast winters, it was suggested to consider the VistaLuxe® Collection by Kolbe Windows & Doors.

Shop the Look

From the main entry courtyard, floor-to-ceiling windows create sightlines through to the water and surrounding greenery. Large expanses of glass also wrap around the rear of the home, providing glimpses of wildlife living among the treetops. Even during the long winters, the views of nature inspire the family to get outside. “In the Northeast, each season is so beautiful,” comments Nicole. “Having so many windows makes it a magical place to live.”

During the warmer months, a large deck off the dining room offers the family more space to relax and entertain. “When we are having a dinner party and we open the folding doors, our guests are blown away,” says Alex. “We had always envisioned bringing the outdoors in,” adds Nicole. “We were so excited to find out Kolbe offered a 10-foot folding door. It’s just so fun.”

The home’s connection with nature extends to the bedrooms as well. A large picture window and door connects the primary suite to a private corner of the deck, compete with a live plant wall, stainless-steel hot tub, and water views. Of all the home’s features, it’s the connection with land and sea that the Bender family loves most. “The views are why we bought this home and to be able to capture that is pretty magical,” concludes Nicole.

For more details about the VistaLuxe Collection, please visit the Kolbe website.

Appears In

This Seaside Home Offers Comfort and Views for Today’s Modern Family