Tour an Outdoor Oasis on Cape Cod

For this secluded family paradise on a private Cape Cod island, landscape architect Michael Coutu laid two shades of granite paving around the pool and spa. The granite keeps feet cool during the heat of summer. “It has that barefoot-on-the-island feeling,” says Coutu.

Coutu’s team planted an abundance of hydrangeas and roses in what he refers to as “Cape Cod summer colors.”

The home boasts two grilling areas, one on the patio and a second at the pool house, where a New England Fieldstone fireplace provides warmth after the sun sets.

A path winds through oak and pine trees to a private beach.

The home’s patio is a favorite spot for entertaining; “A regular night in the summer has us with ten-plus around the dinner table,” says the wife.

Sudbury Design Group created a putting green, replete with water views.

Extensive lawns offer ample room for rambunctious kids—and their watchful parents; native plants provide a buffer between the grass and the waterways.

A haven for family. That’s how the owners of a ten-acre private island on Cape Cod describe their sanctuary. Landscape architect Michael Coutu states it a bit more candidly: “I’ve been working on Cape Cod for forty years, and this is one of the nicest, most unique properties I’ve seen.”

Of course, it didn’t start out that way. When the Boston-based couple originally saw the land, from the water, in 2014, a thick forest of pine and oak trees along with a poorly sited home didn’t make the best first impression. “It was going to take a lot of vision and energy,” recalls the wife. They reached out to builder James Bowes, who had built the family’s previous vacation home. Bowes assembled a team of professionals that included Coutu,  principal at Sudbury Design Group. Coutu worked with the Barnstable Conservation Commission to ensure the protection of the surrounding waterways; a fifty-foot buffer of native trees and plants encircling the island does the job. The team retained as many trees as possible and planted additional ones to create what Coutu calls “view corridors” from the house and recreation spaces.

On approach, a gravel driveway first passes by a barn and tennis and basketball courts as it slowly climbs to
the main house. Along the way, lush expanses of lawn and groves of trees enticingly reveal glimpses of the water and, finally, the home itself, which includes a pool, spa, pool house, outdoor kitchen, two grilling areas, and two outdoor showers. A private beach and dock allow for boating, kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming, and sunbathing.

Coutu’s team added understory plantings with a focus on perennials, grasses, lowbush blueberries, hollies, hydrangeas, and roses. “It’s at once sophisticated and wild,” says Coutu. “Transitioning the home to the natural beauty of the island was key.”

So was capturing the homeowners’ casual style. “You approach the house from the side, and along the way, you’re more and more surprised by what you see,” says the husband. “It feels very natural.” His wife agrees. “It feels subtle, not grandiose, and that’s much more our style.”

Project Team
Landscape design: Michael Coutu, Sudbury Design Group
Builder: James Bowes, Bayside Building
Architecture: Timothy Luff, Archi-Tech Associates