If you know me, you know that Summer and New England basically go hand in hand… and I honestly can’t think of a better dream than to have a cute little cottage in Cape Cod to call my summer house. Hmmmmmmmm………… The whole family going barefoot walking happily across gently worn interior chestnut floors to a sun-warmed plank porch and the cool grassy lawn beyond.
The following gorgeous ‘cottage’ (if you will) is a historic 1817 house in Cape Cod. It has been beautifully and painstakingly renovated to honor the history yet make it big enough to accommodate large family gatherings… (ok, sounds like it was made to order for Jalon). The materials are pristine, the colors are light and airy… clean and crisp – just like is expected in a Summer Home on the Cape… and the renovation is perfectly done to honor the old but add on the new.
The old house and the property was once part of an old cranberry farm. The plan was to renovate the existing old house and expand on its history with a barnlike addition. The present owners are quoted as saying, "The thought was, if you add a barn onto a house, it can be any size and look appropriate, and the existing residence would retain its small-house feel". The town's historic commission agreed, and the two-level lofted structure added about 2,665 square feet of living space that blends gracefully with the New England landscape.
A two-tiered wood chandelier with a distressed finish hangs from a beam in the center of the great room. Below that sits a boxy woven-fiber chaise lounge that allows seating from both sides. Oh my, I honestly am speechless!
In the dining room, a French antique table found at a Paris Flea Market is surrounded by Windsor chairs. Small crystals are woven in wires of the chandelier. Antique shelves pop against a wall painted bright green. What a beautiful blend of the old traditions with the new life!
The marble-topped island is centered in the work area and has views of the porch and outdoors. Two stainless-steel Sub-Zero refrigerators with bottom freezers flank the center range. Looks like a Cook’s Dream Kitchen for a Cottage, don’t you think?
Folding doors between the covered and uncovered portions of the porch bring the outdoors in. Deck floors are a dense Brazilian hardwood. McKinnon and Harris outdoor furniture, handcrafted in America, is softened with cushions covered in durable Sunbrella fabrics. A perfect spot for family evening gathers.
Plaster ceilings were removed in the original rooms of the 1817 Cape Cod house, exposing upper-level floor joists. "Chimney Wing" chairs by Edward Ferrell are covered in a Brunschwig & Fils "Shaw" fabric, while a John Rosselli Hepplewhite settee cozies up to the fireplace. Simply put: Perfection.
Twin beds are tucked under the second-story eaves of the old house. So sweet, I could curl up here and take a nap any Summer day, how about you?
The bath offers dual faucets and a trough sink from Kohler. The details here are breathtaking, don’t you think?
Above the great room, children can play undisturbed in a lofted space with a green-stained ash floor. See the two tiered chandelier visible through the doorway?
A separate wing was added to the back of the original house for a master suite, with views outdoors. In a nod to the homeowner's Italian roots, reclaimed chestnut floors were stenciled with a Fortuny-inspired design. A John Rosselli chandelier hangs above the "Branwin" bed from Ironies. See, this proves that it’s All in the Detail!
A fresh blue-and-white palette is carried throughout the house, even in the master bath, where Urban Archaeology tiles accent the walls. Maureen Footer designed the vanity, which was executed by Waterworks. Ok, you know this is an amazing cottage… because it doesn’t happen often – but it has happened twice here… I am speechless (again)
The barn addition blends into the rural landscape and complements the historic house. A separate guest house sits at the back of the property. Brilliant details by the architect and the builder… and what an ingenious idea to create additional living space to a historic cottage.
A separate old structure on the property was renovated as guest quarters. uh huh… that’s right… my quarters are awaiting me!
Bleached wood walls and oculus windows on each end of the house keep the interior light. Shelves add height to the sitting area, furnished with Walters Wicker woven club chairs and an Avery Boardman sleeper sofa. Blue fabric on the seating is John Robshaw "Aleppo."
Appreciation goes to Traditional Home for help on this Post.
