waterfront

The study’s griffin-base table lamps once adorned Venetian gondolas; the homeowner found them via Instagram at the Valley Attic in New York’s Locust Valley.
The living area’s custom tiered coffee table with brass edges makes way for cocktails and storage.
Left to right are architect Lisa Botticelli, designer Amy Thebault, and local garden designer Julie Jordin of The Garden Design Company, who helps the owners cultivate their pretty and appropriate garden.
The powder room’s Margate wallpaper from Thibaut calls up the color of the sea and sky. A rope sconce and lacquered-brass fixtures add a maritime touch.
A tulip-shaped coco-bead chandelier illuminates a well-appointed guest room; the round Moroccan table was a Brimfield Antique Show score.
Comfy Minton Spidell stools surround the marble-topped island. Rather than tiles, the owners opted for a light-reflecting mirrored backsplash for the range.
“An all-white kitchen didn’t suit this house,” says interior designer Amy Thebault. “The green cabinets look like they’ve always been here.”
The upstairs hall wears a Christopher Farr grasscloth; the console table was created from a repurposed antique chest.
Twin sofas further fireside relaxation in the welcoming great room. The eagle from Nantucket’s John Rugge Antiques, an eclectic plate collection, and two shadow boxes featuring exquisite handmade vegetables on gilded backgrounds boost visual interest. So does the tabletop’s large scrimshawed whalebone by Jon Laubin from Nantucket’s Sylvia Antiques.
: A classic moon gate enhances the entry from the street. Billowy hydrangeas of all kinds are a Nantucket staple.
Window shades of Quadrille’s Clementine pattern keep the morning sun at bay in the master bedroom. The elephant sconce, one of a pair, is another Brimfield triumph.
Midcentury French daybeds were the inspiration for the custom twin beds in a guest bedroom. The Love One Another light fixture from CB2 and the woven window shades amp up the room’s airy feel.
An intimate dining area is simply furnished with a table from Noir and chairs from France & Sons.
renovation that gives the cottage a chicness all its own. The exterior was clad in reclaimed cypress, and the deck was rebuilt out of strong, weather-resistant Ipe.
The common rooms were brightened considerably by a good whitewashing—from the vaulted ceiling to the new concrete floor. Reclaimed wood wraps the exposed beams for a rustic vibe, and the entire house was furnished with collected treasures from around the world for a well-traveled
Serena and Lily’s Costa bed of hand-braided water hyacinth brings rich texture to another guestroom.
The detached bunkhouse is a bonus space that Farmer imagined as a rainy-day retreat for games and TV.
Custom kitchen cabinet doors were crafted from reclaimed cypress.
The home’s L-shaped footprint was the only thing that stayed the same; the exterior was transformed with reclaimed cypress siding, a new roof, and new windows and doors.
A charming first-floor guestroom features a classic four-post bed.
Interior shutters allow for calibrating light in the master bedroom.
Wicker armchairs add warmth and texture to the mostly white living room. The modern abstract painting over the fireplace camouflages the television.
The kitchen island makes a perfect spot for casual breakfast or lunch.
A classic gate bids welcome.
Four sailors’ valentines decorate the nook by the stairway that leads to the family’s bedrooms.
Family dinners take place around a sturdy farmhouse table in the light-washed dining room.
A couple of new windows and a coat of Benjamin Moore White Dove paint transformed a cave-like space into the airiest bedroom in the house.
A ladder leads to a loft that provides space for play in the otherwise cozy confines of the upstairs bedroom of the family’s twin boys.
The screened porch with its teak trim is meant to invoke yacht designer Nathanael Greene Herreshoff. The homeowner loves the seasonal Lexan storm panels that help keep the room warm in the cooler months (a double-sided fireplace helps, too).
In the library, a custom table and side chairs from Woodland Furniture are illuminated by The Urban Electric Co.’s Alexander fixture, while the bookshelves are lit by Visual Comfort picture lights.
The original home didn’t have a porch, but the reimagined structure includes the perfect spot to sip lemonade from one of the Kennedy rockers.
The tub in the master bathroom sits on a pedestal crafted from the same oak found throughout the rest of the house.
The shelves around the living room’s wet bar were custom made by local blacksmith Whit Hanschka.
Herrick & White created the kitchen cabinets to look like pieces of furniture. Urban Smokebell pendants from The Urban Electric Co. light up the bar, which boasts a brushed-nickel footrest. The Pratt & Larson Scraffito tile lends the backsplash a mother-of-pearl sheen.
For the ocean-facing side of the home, Dan Gordon Landscape Architects engineered wheel blocks into the walkway for quick and easy parking of bicycles. The “Tory chimney” is a nod to the Colonial era when Crown sympathizers communicated their political leanings to passersby.
The dining room is the central room in the house, and it includes a table designed by Martha’s Vineyard craftsman John Thayer and lighting fixtures from The Urban Electric Co. painted in a custom shade of red.
The designers sought to immerse Big Bluff in its late-1920s heritage, which meant using some of the original furnishings and sourcing other pieces, like these kitchen nook chairs, from places such as the Brimfield Antiques Show.
The master bedroom windowsills are extra deep to accommodate a colorful collection of books left behind in the original house.
On the back patio, a Santa Barbara umbrella provides shade for a dining area with seating for up to ten. Landscape architect Anne Penniman also carved out spaces for lounging and sunning as well as an outdoor kitchen.
A bluestone-topped fireplace compliments the patio pavers and cozies up a seating area.
Luxurious details in the master bath include a mosaic stone backsplash and grasscloth-clad cabinetry.
A television hides in the master bed’s footboard; a wire-and-glass tapestry by artist Susan Freda was commissioned for the room.
A lacquered mirror and tasseled lamp hang in a playful powder room.
The sunroom’s V-groove ceiling and slate tile floor evoke a classic beach house vibe. Wedge ottomans under the coffee table provide extra seating.
The breakfast nook’s table by Lorimer Studios is where the family takes most meals. Artwork by Christian Potter Drury adds a color pop.
The Calacatta Bluette marble that tops the kitchen’s double islands informed the palette in the room and just beyond, while mixed-metallic finishes heighten the drama. The client also “thought through every daily ritual,” says Watson, which helped define realistic storage that results in a calm, clutter-free space.
For ample seating in the living room while keeping the space airy, designer Patti Watson brought in ottomans that tuck under the coffee table and portable benches in playful blue and yellow. A photograph by Newport, Rhode Island, photographer Onne van der Wal hides the television above the fireplace.
The entry’s bi-directional shiplap and custom newels deliver pared-down detailing that riffs on traditional vernacular.
The dining room’s custom built-ins have Niobe Beige marble countertops that double as serving surfaces. The Keith Fritz table, Sunbrella-upholstered chairs, and an Urban Electric Co. chandelier emphasize a circular motif.
The beds and nightstands are all built in, for a cleaner, more spacious look.
The wife’s bathroom vanity is flanked by frosted-glass partitions enclosing the toilet and shower.
Oversize two-over-two windows enhance the connection to the landscape (and get around Nantucket’s prohibition on windows without muntins). Even the sliding doors are taller than normal, to take advantage of views. The architects obliged the owners’ request for recliners with these sleek models from Design Within Reach, which sit in front of the wood-burning fireplace.
A slatted screen admits light to the stairwell while establishing a midcentury vibe that’s echoed in the living room furnishings. The neutral palette defers to the scenery, save for the sofa’s incendiary spark.
Gridded steel windows line the upstairs hall, introducing an industrial edge and views of the spaces below.
A boardwalk underscores the home’s coastal character, guiding visitors to a recessed entry that provides shelter from the elements without breaching the home’s tightly regulated footprint.
Daisies dapple the meadow bordering this new home on Nantucket’s southern shore. The owners like to grill, so the deck wraps around all four sides of the house, assuring refuge from the sometimes-brutal winds. The central saltbox is framed by one-story wings containing his-and-hers master bedrooms.
The custom dining table expands to seat six. White lacquer cabinets hug the kitchen ceiling at rear, coaxing maximum storage out of the space. The backsplash is back-painted glass.
The latter doesn’t get much use, thanks to the elliptical tub overlooking the dunes and ocean; the shiplap ceiling above falls short of the walls, so it appears to float.
A pass-through frames the adjoining bar, which doubles as a laundry room.
An immensely versatile space, the loft/family room sits at the top of the stairs on the second floor. The chrome and wicker settee was found on Nantucket. Designer Lisa Tharp papered the daybed alcove wall with book pages and ephemera to inspire daydreaming.
Tharp designed the master bedroom’s custom canopy bed with a subtle reference to boat dock cleats. New ceiling rafters and planking throughout add airiness and authenticity.
The guest bedroom is a rich mix of textures with its navy grasscloth backdrop, embroidered pillows, and bed linens.
The windows in the room’s new bump-out bathe the space in natural light. The breezy shades can be rolled up and fastened with rope, while shutters offer flexible privacy control at the room’s front window.
The screened porch is furnished with comfy sofas and tea-height tables for casual eating and reading, making it a favorite gathering spot.
The master bath’s indoor shower connects to its outdoor counterpart.
The living room adopts a nautical air without being too obvious.
The kitchen was designed with an eye toward functionality and good looks, with yacht-inspired lighting and counters of teak and holly woods
The kitchen opens to the light-filled dining room.
The dining room’s velvet-covered wing chairs provide a luxe counterpoint to the vintage violin maker’s table and textural pendant light.
One of two matching vanities in the master bath; the wire bases are former flower displays.
The living room is contemporary in feel, now that the old brick hearth has been replaced by a sleek stone surround. Easy-care slipcovered chairs flank a cocktail table of black grasscloth and brass.
The kitchen features form and function in equal measure.
The house is a study in simplicity—and problem solving. It was a tough site, says architect Jim Estes: “Not much room and close neighbors.” To make the most of the lot, he took the house up to the setback lines, which created a courtyard on the street side.
Lots of doors and fixed floor-to-ceiling windows blur the lines between indoors and out.
The dining area can accommodate a crowd.
The soothing neutral palette makes any touch of color pop, as seen in this bedroom.
The clean and serene master bath features a floor-to-ceiling window and maple cabinetry.
The natural landscape design incorporates an abundance of native plants; the long, bottom leg of the “U” (the back of the house) is oriented to take full advantage of the water views.
Horizontal lines and a mix of light wood finishes, including walls clad in pale yellow sugar pine, contribute to the home’s seamless look.
Slats and boards on the waterside deck mimic the interiors.
The great room’s sitting area is anchored by the massive fireplace built with locally sourced stone. Furniture keeps a low profile, the better to focus on the views.
Cream-colored ceilings and island add a light touch to the kitchen.
To help the house blend into its natural surroundings, the design team kept the existing woodlands wherever possible, supplemented with native trees and plants. Red cedar shingles and stone enhance the home’s connection to the land.
The entry hallway sets the tone for the home with natural touches such as the twig-like door handle.
The owners enjoy their second-story porch all year long.
The master bedroom opens to a private balcony.
The master bath features an oversize tub of marble and limestone tucked into a windowed niche.
Sunset-colored furnishings give the library its warm ambience.
The windows in the light-washed breakfast area, like those in most of the house, are left bare to forge an indoor-outdoor connection.
The boathouse deck makes a pleasant gathering spot.
The architecture of the poolhouse.
To integrate the pool with the landscape, “We conceived of the rectangular pool as a farm relic—perhaps the foundation for a farm structure,” says Horiuchi. Behind the pool, plantings on the sloping lawn will grow lush over time.
Stone mason Eben Armer hand selected each locust branch for this outdoor shower he designed and built.
Reclaimed vintage white oak rafters add a rustic touch to the cedar-clad great room.
The wife orchestrated the placement of the engaging cow photos—a nod to the home’s pastoral nature.
Wood decking links the nearby parking area with the dairy barn. The barn door is just one of many thoughtful details reinforcing the home’s farm narrative.
A boon to entertaining, the butler’s pantry is accessible to the kitchen and screen porch.
The screened porch provides views of the poolhouse (which also functions as guest quarters) and the water. Stiving-Nichols and furniture maker Jeff Soderbergh collaborated on the design of the handsome reclaimed cypress dining table, one of several he crafted for the house.
The random sizes and shapes of the paving stones further the natural look of the landscaping.
“The kitchen was a labor of love,” says interior designer Liz Stiving-Nichols. The room’s wood ceiling links the space to the adjacent great room.
Guest bedrooms and the family room occupy one wing of the home. The oversize windows light the staircase to the owners’ second-floor sanctuary.
An opening on the second floor offers a dramatic view of the clerestory that runs the length of the living room. At the far end, a window strategically set into the chimney provides a water view.
In the screened porch, the vibe is casual, inviting lingering on slipcovered chairs and a large circular daybed from JANUS et Cie.
The screened porch on the third floor invites relaxation with swinging daybeds and a bird’s eye view of Quonochontaug Pond.
A view from the mudroom into the tower captures the lighthouse-inspired newel post and the cushioned hideaway beneath the stairs.
White grasscloth woven in a herringbone pattern gives the walls of the master bedroom an understated texture that blends with the mild lemon-yellow and gray of upholstered pieces.
The wife’s love of bold geometry plays out in the living room’s rattan chairs. A piece of art above the fireplace conceals the TV.
In the living room, artwork collected by the client dictated the blue, white, and yellow palette.
Kitchen designer Donna Venegas and interior designer Jennifer Palumbo collaborated on the kitchen, where subtle color gives classic elements a fresh look.
A glassed-in gable and clerestory windows splash sunlight onto a seating area in the “away” room.
Architect Lyman Goff worked closely with the clients to design a moderately proportioned Shingle-style home.
In the front entry, bold artwork and grasscloth wallcovering introduces an interior that’s both edgy and traditional.
Wicker seating and a custom sideboard featuring panels made of birch rounds introduce an organic element into the dining room.
The rails of the floating dock are made of rope.
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 guest room’s washstand was made in England.
The living room’s vintage black barley twist writing table was among the first purchases made for the home.
The petite bibliothéque features a range of comforts including an enticing window seat for soaking up the views.
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.
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 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.
A raised tub and lots of windows turn the master bath into a lofty oasis.
In the master bedroom, which sits in the original part of the house, a rounded wall of windows offers an almost 180-degree view. On this second floor of the house, the owners kept the original natural fir ceilings.
Designer Andrew J. Paraskos let the view take the starring role in the family room, complementing it with furniture in sandy neutrals and grounding it with a textured rug that has a horizontal pattern to echo the transoms and subtle colors that speak to the water.
The expansive new kitchen has double Caesarstone-topped islands. Rift- and quarter-sawn oak cabinets are a modern interpretation of the Shaker style.
The kitchen’s breakfast area is a sun-washed niche with a wraparound banquette that looks out across the front yard.
Goff designed a sliding barn door that lets the homeowners close off the dining room from the kitchen.
The staircase railing was painted white, allowing the rope-twist newel posts to stand out.
Throughout the first floor, cherry floors were replaced with pale oak and natural fir ceilings were painted white to give the house a more summery feel.
The new porch offers views of Narragansett Bay as well as plenty of space for friends and family to gather.
Plantings around the pool are lush and natural.
Goff pushed the rear of the house out to add the glass-walled family room and the covered porch.
The broad entry allows a view of the sloping front yard, where gentle terracing helps guide rainwater away from the house.
Irregular, rounded stone forms a walkway from the drive to the front door.
Gale Goff, the architect who designed this Jamestown, Rhode Island, house, returned to forge an addition to expand the kitchen and create a family room. The addition, which segues from the enlarged kitchen to the spacious covered porch, was accomplished seamlessly.
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 study, where Kramer and Celeste often take their morning coffee, shows off Murphy’s deft blending of the couple’s tastes—her preference for traditional and his for a more bohemian look.
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.
A sink base picked up at the antiques show in Brimfield, Massachusetts, finds a new home in the first-floor powder room.
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.
The owners fell in love with the house in part because of its views, which include iconic Maine landmarks such as the Isle of Shoals and Boone Island Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in New England.
Plantings and stone terracing enhance house and property.
The owners fell in love with the house in part because of its views, which include iconic Maine landmarks such as the Isle of Shoals and Boone Island Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in New England.
The owners fell in love with the house in part because of its views, which include iconic Maine landmarks such as the Isle of Shoals and Boone Island Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in New England.
Plantings and stone terracing enhance house and property.
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.
Homeowner/designer Margo Ouellette chose a palette of blues and greens to represent the ocean and sky.
A new deck off the kitchen makes a ­picture-perfect place for casual dining.
Boaters have easy access via the dock.
Those staying behind on the covered porch can monitor comings and goings.
The owner’s yacht ties up in view of the house.
The living room’s soft color schem­complements the rustic house and its woodsy, lakefront locale. The husband’s study sits off the living room.
A charming boathouse sits mere yards away, nestled on the tree-lined shore.
Every season is picturesque but none more than autumn.
The children’s bedrooms sit on the ground level, while main living spaces are situated on the second floor.
The foyer trumpets the home’s new relaxed persona with pale walls and antique rugs in soft, woody tones.
Water views initially drew the couple to the house.
The rugged beauty of the ledge outcropping, now freed from year of vegetation, adds further drama to the waterside site.
Boating, swimming and docks to leap off make this the perfect spot for family fun.
The stonework edging around the base of this classic Maine camp was inspired by the original structure’s chimney, a nod to the history of this special place.
Building the deck only a few inches above the ground eliminated the need for a railing.