cape islands

Antique hand-adzed timbers crown the walls throughout the main floor, instilling a sense of history and a rustic counterpoint to the sleek limestone floors.

Designer Richard Hallberg used two tables in the dining room to accommodate large or small gatherings; the woven rope patio chairs can be used indoors or out.

The homeowner says everyone congregates in the kitchen or on the deck, whose expansive table easily accommodates twelve.

A Max Frintrop painting commands the kitchen’s seating area, which features a customized pair of Alvar Aalto Paimio chairs. The television over the sideboard was recessed into the wall and framed with Sheetrock for a seamless, built-in look. The Tao Gray Light limestone floors are from Exquisite Surfaces.

The compact powder room off the dining room features a custom triangular sink crafted from limestone.

The swimming pool culminates in an invisible edge that visually blends into Buzzards Bay.

A desk doubles as a headboard in one of the guest rooms. The angled walls recall the attics the owner played in as a child.

A Wetstyle tub in the master bath overlooks scrub-covered dunes and the bay beyond.

The deck railing follows the curve of the wetlands setback abutting the house; a second seating area at the rear capitalizes on its western exposure.

A deft mix of antiques and contemporary pieces fosters a charming cottage ambience. “The wife and I had a wonderful time sourcing pieces,” says interior designer Linda Banks. “Many of them are from local sources.” Holding court in the living room, the old cherry coffee table has a waxed finish reminiscent of a boat’s deck.

The generous deck wraps around the house and is accessible to the living room and the guest bedroom.

The king-size bed in the guest room is from Leonard’s in Seekonk, Massachusetts. “Should the owners ever want one-floor living, this room is like a secondary master suite,” Banks says.

Versatile x-benches slide out of the way when not needed, while an oat straw and wood Orkney chair lends texture.

The living room’s vintage black barley twist writing table was among the first purchases made for the home.

The eye-catching painting is by local artist Allen Whiting, who was inspired by the Norton Point Breach, a breach in the barrier beach connecting Edgartown with Chappaquiddick. The wife scored the captain’s chairs at a charity flea market in Manhattan, and Banks designed the weathered oak refectory table crafted by furniture maker Mike Elkins of Elkins and Company in Boothbay, Maine.

The daughter’s bedroom boasts a headboard covered in a textured fabric that looks like crewel work.

In compliance with the owner’s wishes, the rejuvenated house looks like it has always been there. “We wanted to maintain the home’s modest scale but also make it function the way people like to live today,” explains architect Patrick Ahearn.

The sophisticated walnut dining room table sports a hand-planed top and rustic carved bases—a fetching contrast to the hearth’s edited frame. The living room’s vintage black barley twist writing table was among the first purchases made for the home.

The breakfast area is open to the kitchen and living room, which allows family members to engage in different activities and still be together; the framed commemorative scarf is a memento of one of the numerous Newport to Bermuda races the husband has sailed.

The cathedral ceiling is painted in high-gloss white to enhance the sense of height and emphasize the simplicity of the beams and trim work.

The rope motif of the Lee Jofa wallpaper is echoed in the headboard’s trim and the twisted plaster rods of the chandelier.

Gold flame honeysuckle climbs the pergola, overlooking the perennial garden’s mix of lavender, salvia, Rozanne geraniums, Bluebonnet, and Asiatic lilies.

The nautical motif was extended to the back deck, where a white, powder-coated aluminum dining set overlooks the Centerville River. The rebuilt deck’s surface was chosen as a close match to the interior floors for a seamless transition between spaces.

The designer worked with a sailmaker to create mainsails for headboards in the children’s room.

The built-in bench and cabinetry hold summer gear, while teardrop marine cleats are used as coat hooks.

The open kitchen is outfitted with custom cabinetry that sports authentic marine cleats for hardware. Silvery crackle ceramic subway tile adds shimmer to the backsplash. The owner wanted countertops of Caesarstone for its high style and low maintenance.

A classic barn door was updated with navy high-gloss paint and modern hardware for a polished, but rustic look.

The home’s classic shingled exterior looks much the same, post renovation, with the addition of a multitude of new window boxes filled with pink geraniums.

A new foyer was created to establish a true sense of arrival. Navy grasscloth walls let the white furniture, accessories, and high-gloss white trim pop.

The clean lines of the bedding and furniture play well against the wallpaper’s whimsical nautical design in the master bedroom.

The original entry was transformed into a sitting area, where swivel chairs surround a pierced cast-resin cocktail table, adding a sophisticated touch to the beachy vibe.

Higgins and her client laid out the garden like a parterre, with four flower beds surrounding a bird bath.

Kevin Baker Stonework is responsible for the hardscaping, including the stone terrace on the water side of the house, where the homeowners’ pup, Chewie, enjoys the view.

Original exterior details, such as the cornerstones, were replicated in the new parts of the house.

An antique folk art horse and an old rooster weathervane add character to the family room. A fish-themed mosaic floor and a porthole window give the master bath nautical flair.

A soft palette of peach and gray enhances a guest bedroom, where Badger, Helen Higgins’s faithful Jack Russell Terrier, stops for a rest. The pastel palette, reproduction cane bed, and brick-lined fireplace augment the space’s romantic ambience.

A white wash lends subtle color to the master bedroom’s paneled walls.

A twentieth-century Rockport School painting marks the entrance to the pantry.

An antique fish weathervane decorates the kitchen’s custom hood.

Custom shades from Blanche P. Field finesse the powder room sconces.

Louis XIII wing chairs and a leather-upholstered ottoman help create a comfortable fireside oasis in the great room.

An assortment of plant-filled pots dress up the front door.

A crushed-clamshell drive lined with boxwood leads to the new porte-cochère. The home’s top-to-bottom update blends modern features and character-infusing details, such as high-efficiency windows made with hand-blown glass. “A typical summer house has become a four-season home,” says interior designer Helen Higgins.

The Duxiana bed tucks into a headboard, with built-in nightstands and bookshelves, that separates the room’s sleeping and sitting areas.

The master bedroom holds a spacious sitting area, where a George Nakashima stool keeps company with a Holly Hunt sofa and Christian Liaigre table.

A broad window with a transom lets light wash over a cozy sitting area defined by tapered stone columns.

Along the scullery hall, the homeowner has a favorite niche that holds books and a comfortable place to read.

The kitchen is furnished with simple wood cabinetry and pale counters, with tapering stone columns that form a solid connection to the rest of the house.

A seating area in the kitchen features an Eero Saarinen Tulip Table.

The dining room, located in the open space next to the living room, offers comfortable seating to host lots of friends and family.

Wood, stone, glass, and an abundance of natural light define the living room, where a Dash and Albert rug delineates a seating area that includes Christian Liaigre sofas and Holly Hunt drum chairs.

Stone pillars along a hallway are just one way the natural world is brought indoors.

Tapered and notched rafter tails speak the language of Wright.

The house design includes bedrooms with covered porches away from the public spaces.

At this Martha’s Vineyard house, the deeply overhanging roofs, stone walls, wood colonnade, and ample windows were inspired by the iconic work of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Set amid vibrant but groomed grounds, the stone patio offers an outdoor gathering spot perfect for warm summer nights or cooler evenings around the custom fire pit.

Featuring built-in trundle beds, the boys’ bunkroom is an ode to the interior of a ship.

The dining room fulfills the owners’ wish for a space that seats their large extended family without being too formal.

An antique American flag anchors the airy living space and serves as an inspiration for the home’s color scheme. Modern accents, like the custom floor cubes, create an appealing contrast to the more traditional decor and neutral carpet and walls.

The coastal-chic white rocker and bench, stars-and-stripes pillows, and a door painted in Ralph Lauren’s Club Navy keep the space in sync with the homeowners’ tasteful patriotic aesthetics.

The perfect place to sit with a Sunday paper and coffee, the entry porch is a nice respite from the summer sun

A short jaunt from the beach and the heart of Falmouth, this sun-drenched home was renovated to nearly double its original size and now serves as a family getaway. The cleverly terraced yard and lush landscaping complement the sizable circular driveway, built to accommodate a large family and many guests.

Landscape designer Mary LeBlanc created multiple outdoor seating areas, including this charming nook with a fire pit.

Elms opted for an all-white interior, and then added a shot of yellow with fun pillowing and a striped quilt by Denyse Schmidt.

The diminutive Shingle-style guesthouse beckons visitors with its sunny demeanor.

The master bedroom gets a dose of luxury in the form of rich, textured wallcovering, beautiful drapery, and linen-wrapped bedside tables in Nantucket red.

Visiting grandkids get their own colorful bathroom and custom bunkroom on the lower level.

Detailed design—a toe-kick in the bathroom pulls out to serve as a step, and each bunk has two USB ports so iPads stay charged—defines the spaces.

In the study shared by the husband and wife, Elms designed built-in desks and shelves painted a deep gray-blue. A textured wallcovering and leather accents, such as the rolling chairs and leather-wrapped drawer pulls, add gravitas.

A glassed-in, temperature-controlled wine cellar and a handsome, comfortable sitting area encourage relaxation.

On the screened porch, Elms started with a neutral foundation of gray-striped cushions and gray paint on the floor, then added accents of ocean-blue and orange. The many windows let nature’s green act as part of the palette.

A statement-making walnut peninsula with a waterfall edge separates the kitchen from the dining room.

The dining table and buffet hail from the owners’ old house; designer Dee Elms added a contemporary three-drum chandelier and wishbone chairs.

Symmetry rules in the living room, where Elms designed matching built-in bookshelves and cabinets to flank the fireplace.

A woodland landscape, anchored by beautiful oaks, provides a lush backdrop for this Shingle style Falmouth house designed by architect John Dvorsack.

A pool cabana further screens the house from the street and offers extra bedroom space for guests.

Around the side of the house, the gardens form outdoor rooms that make perfect spots for play or relaxation.

Surgical precision was required to site the house among the mature trees. Donaroma’s Nursery and Landscape Services created an inner courtyard rimmed with plantings.

The bed was one of the last things the couple found while working on the decoration of the house. A multicolored woven blanket and pillows by John Robshaw are finishing touches.

Soothing blue is one element that gives the master suite its getaway feeling. A cozy sitting area in front of the fireplace and a large balcony overlooking the backyard are other bonuses.

The bed was one of the last things the couple found while working on the decoration of the house. A multicolored woven blanket and pillows by John Robshaw are finishing touches.

Wood beams and painted beadboard emphasize the vaulting of the kitchen ceiling; the design team took down walls, allowing the kitchen to flow into the breakfast area and living and dining rooms.

A fun mix of seating around the table gives the breakfast area its relaxed feeling.

The large living room, outfitted to accommodate the homeowners and their six children as well as plenty of friends, has multiple seating areas scattered around a fireplace conceived and built by stone artist Lew French.

Layers of antiques and flea-market finds fill niches such as this one in the entryway.

Mimi Bennett’s study/sleeping porch has dramatic views on three sides.

George Bennett’s vanity tucks sideways into the nook under the window.

Reclaimed pine tops the kitchen island.

The big dining table is a copy of the one in the old rental house.

The living room’s comfortable furnishings echo the sand, sea-blue and corals of the beach outside.

The exposed rafter ends look like stylized fish heads, reflecting the family’s love of fishing.

Gambrel roofs and low eaves give the house its horizontal, ground-hugging quality.

The wife’s office area is part of the master suite.

The kitchen’s tiled countertop and green faux-painted cabinets add to the home’s cottage look.

A reproduction lace-maker’s table holds summer’s bounty. Sconces set into painted wood beams add ambience in the evening.

Built-in wooden benches line the patio and serve as additional seating for entertaining.

The window seat wraps the perimeter of the living room.

A whale carving that once hung on the outside of a Sconset house dominates the living room with its whitewashed walls.

A schooner painting by William P. Stubbs gets prominent placement in the entry hall.

An addition to an existing post-and-beam house on Nantucket gave its new owners a wide porch and more formal entry area.

Furnished with casual pieces from Restoration Hardware’s Leagrave collection, wide porches invite overflow guests, easy conversation, and kicking back.

Outdoor living is essential to the Cape experience, of course, and it’s celebrated in this family compound.

The TV room is layered with textures.

Comfort and a go-with-anything palette rule. Punches of color, exaggerated patterns, and touches of wood, rattan, and wicker jazz up the living room. The living room’s Balou lounge chair from JANUS et Cie is a favorite perch.

The kitchen and dining room are perfect examples of an intentionally casual mix of materials and styles.

The main house family room was fashioned around neutral seating from Restoration Hardware.

Most of the furnishings in both houses were collected over time, some from previous residences, others from catalogs, says interior designer Barbara Lazarus.

A bright red door, twig chandelier, and compass rose create a welcoming vibe in the larger main house.

A pergola shelters the main walkway between the entry doors.

Sited to face the lawn and lake, the houses connect to the outdoors—and each other—by way of multiple paths, porches, and patios.

Inspiration for the two nearly mirror-image homes came from classic Cape architecture, a lovely, private lakeside setting, and the idea that both would function as one family retreat.

Local photographer Daniel Sutherland’s work brings a bit of the island’s scenic landscape into the master bedroom.

A sloped ceiling and paneling are classic New England touches—the perfect contrasts to the family room’s custom console and attention-getting artwork from Natural Curiosities.

In addition to the poolside cottage, which has been reborn as guest quarters, and a pool house for equipment, the property also holds a separate garage with second-floor studio space.

Dartmouth, Massachusetts, woodworker Scott Pacheco crafted the kitchen’s sawbuck table and bench. The latter is clad in vinyl for easy cleaning, and the pillows are dressed in a Galbraith & Paul fabric.

Strips of iridescent glass tile shimmer against white granite in the bathroom.

A custom bench is reflected in a mirrored dresser in the bedroom.

In a departure from the home’s cooler tones, Ouellette designed this bedroom around a floral pattern she loves.

Louis Ghost chairs cozy up to a white pedestal dining table; a purple chenille sofa adds a pop of rich color.

Ouellette’s collection of art glass is housed in specially designed wall niches.

The homeowners’ dog, Chloe.

The English countryside inspired the back garden, which boasts an ordered mix of annuals and perennials such as day lilies, impatiens, gladiolas, lavender and roses.

A seating area on the terrace.

A terrace area allows for entertaining space and an open lawn lies just behind the stone wall.

A view of the hydrangea garden.

Other hues, such as the shell-pink accents, are also drawn from nature.

With an eye toward geometric shapes, Ouellette painted all of the artwork in the house.

Lush hydrangea bushes surround the house.

Homeowner/designer Margo Ouellette chose a palette of blues and greens to represent the ocean and sky.

A tiny attic room makes a cozy guest bedroom.

The neutral palette gets extra punch in a guest room, where the artwork inspired the seafoam-green accents in the bedding.

The octagonal cupola lets the light shine into the master bedroom.

A weathervane inspired by the Fool in the Tarot deck stands atop the cupola.

A bluestone terrace surrounded by lush plantings makes a peaceful outdoor dining area.

The old standalone garage is now a fitness room and studio.

The back stairway takes a whimsical turn with its motif of sun, moon and stars.

Landscape architect David Hawk planted lush perennial beds along a meandering bluestone path.

The kitchen ceiling echoes the shape of the glass-topped island.

A sitting room adheres to the same neutral palette and simple window treatments as the rest of the home.

The living room's curvaceous but clean-lined furniture forms a seating group with the fireplace as a focal point. The fireplace screen's sea-life motif hints at the home's Cape Cod location.

The original Cape-style house still forms the core of the expanded home.

The dining room sounds a contemporary note with its sculptural dining chairs surrounding a walnut dining table that sports an inset center strip of glass. A Ligne Roset sideboard makes a handsome companion, and a custom Tibetan rug from Williston Weaves brings texture to the room.

Barnes commissioned the shell-framed mirror, by Laurette Kittle, to play off the terracotta walls and white trim of the master bedroom.

Barnes gave the living room a neutral backdrop and added pops of blue, including an arresting water photograph by Tamara Bahry Paterson.

Barnes tried tables of various sizes and shapes for the kitchen and ultimately selected a long, narrow table from Leonards, which makes a perfect match for the built-in banquette.

Designer Charlotte Barnes outfitted the dining room in an array of styles, anchoring the space with a timeless antique birds-eye maple table, then adding mid-twentieth-century chairs and a Crate & Barrel sideboard. A vibrant, Caribbean-inspired painting, purchased locally by the homeowners, adds a relaxed feel.

In the living room, antique mercury glass lamps sit atop a reproduction desk from HB Home.

A nineteenth-century table turns the space under the stairs into a quiet reading nook.

Bright pops of pink join lush grasses around the swimming pool.

Tangerine and periwinkle blue accent a sunny first floor bedroom.

The dining chairs’ hand-screened Galbraith & Paul fabric picks up the tangerine hue on the walls. The primitive elephant painting is from Nantucket Looms.

An oil painting by American artist Megan Hinton, a focal point of a seating area in the living room, picks up the blue of the ottomans and accessories.

Rattan stools surround a large center island in the kitchen, which blends cottage-style wainscoting with botticino marble countertops and contemporary stainless steel appliances.

The classic Shingle-style house was built in 1996.

The designer combined bold texture with a serene color palette inspired by the coastline, picking up the tones of the fieldstone fireplace and the pickled beams. Objects collected from the sea (coral, shells, sea sponges) and the marine motif of the upholstery are reminders of the home’s island location.

The covered porch at the back of the house lets the owners relax outdoors rain or shine. The chairs, the sofa and dining table are from Restoration Hardware, while the coffee table, side table and lamps are antiques store finds. Antique bricks were used to build the fireplace, and the metal ship’s model on the mantel is also an antique.

Simple sheers at the windows give the spacious master bath privacy. "There’s something about a summer breeze gently moving sheers that says relax and take it easy for me," says Gauthier.

In the owner’s paneled bedroom, an antique bow-front chest serves as a nightstand beside the dark-framed bed.

The husband’s study, where much of his outstanding scrimshaw collection is showcased, is clad in reclaimed pine paneling. An antique portrait of a ship’s captain hangs above the fireplace.

The owners bought the striking hall sculpture because, says the wife, "It makes us smile." Shallow Rumford fireplaces like the one in the living room are classic features in old houses.

The pool house mimics the house. The pool includes an attached spill-over spa with a stacked rock veneer.

"Generous portals help keep the kitchen and family room area connected," says designer Jim Gauthier. The homeowners’ collection of antique blue bottles-along with a painting they commissioned of some of their favorites that hangs over the mantel-adds color to the quiet palette.

The dining area’s decor incorporates a stalwart lantern by Formations and a pair of antique chests.

The welcoming parking court, situated between the main house and the pool house, is hidden from the road. Dual chimneys framing the widow’s walk and colorful window boxes at the dormers further the home’s charm.

Comfy seating surrounds an antique chest turned coffee table in the sitting room adjacent to the kitchen.

Like many rooms in the six-bedroom house, the master bath offers great views of the pond and the ocean.

In the dining room, a fireplace and chimney were removed to open up the space and create a niche to highlight a favorite painting. The round raised ceiling, table and rug add visual interest and ease of movement in this hub of the house.

Throughout the home, bleached oak floors and natural rugs help create an updated beach-house look.

Landscape architect Gregory Lombardi dug into the grade in several places, including the pool area, to improve sight-lines and make the hardscaping feel more integral to the land.

The home’s second floor and the pergola that runs along the entire south wall were left unpainted. The wood will weather naturally over time, blending into the landscape.

A quiet spot for reading and lounging is tucked into a corner of the living room.

The pool area offers great views of Sengekontacket Pond, but maintains privacy from the adjacent Farm Neck golf course.

Most of the kitchen is surrounded by windows; the one interior wall is tiled in glass.

The window seat that wraps around the living room ties the indoors to the outside. The travertine fireplace and upholstery colors were chosen for their similar hues to the nearby sand and sea.

A ribbon of wood incorporates nightstands, headboard and shelving in one convenient and good-looking built-in in the master bedroom.

A glass slider separates indoor and outdoor showers in the master bath.

Tau Ceramica wraps the living room fireplace in style. The raised hearth accommodates wood storage and seating.

The pergola surrounding the home frames exterior living spaces while a third floor deck provides water views.

Architect Maryann Thompson cantilevered a soffit indoors and out to manage light in the dining area.

Design Group Italia stools from Herman Miller belly up to a kitchen dining counter clad in bleached, glazed oak.

A cupboard opens to a bar area.

The country kitchen features a tile backsplash