Tour a Shingle-Style Home in Chatham

An open front door reveals a sight line straight through the house to the harbor. White cedar shingles, white trim, and an aged-copper lantern speak to the Cape Cod vernacular.

A whitewashed maple table, CB2’s acrylic chairs, and Pelle’s Bubble chandelier keep the breakfast area feeling light and airy.

“We played with a mix of symmetry and asymmetry,” says architect Tom Catalano, a trick that helps the house nestle into its site.

A custom flat-weave from Palace Oriental Rugs makes a strong statement on the living room floor, giving the space energy and personality without deflecting from the view.

Designer Julie Stein incorporated soft blush tones in the color scheme, as seen here in a piece by New York artist Mary Nelson Sinclair.

Stein and her clients worked with kitchen designer Veronica Campbell of DEANE to give the kitchen its casual, coastal feel. Two islands, one for prep and cleanup and one for casual dining, hold plenty of extra storage. “We wanted it all to feel built-in and have continuity with the home’s moldings,” says Campbell about the custom Downsview cabinets with their greige hue and polished nickel hardware.

A sweet porch at the rear corner of the house makes a perfect spot to enjoy a summer morning. The American flag is a mosaic made of candy by artist Kevin Champeny. The primary bedroom sits above the porch.

Richard Wrightman’s O.F.S. dining chairs have a lawn-furniture-like look that furthers the beachy vibe; Stein embellished their backs with Seema Krish fabric.

The back stairway, designed by Elena Stancheva and Catalano, incorporates traditional and contemporary elements and sports a runner from Palace Oriental Rugs.

The primary bath’s stand-alone tub has a view of the Stage Harbor Lighthouse.

Palacek’s Everly chandelier of abaca rope handwoven over a powder-coated metal frame hangs against a paneled vaulted ceiling, giving the primary bedroom the feel of a Caribbean resort. The painting above the fireplace is by Cape Cod artist Lauren DiFerdinando.

A natural stone fireplace is a focal point in the pool house’s living room.

Two infinity edges make a swim in the pool feel almost like a dip in the harbor. Landscape architect Allan Broadbent used buff-colored limestone that feels soft underfoot to connect the pool and spa with the seating terraces. Native plants such as blue hydrangea bring texture and color.

Glass doors fold away as if by magic, opening the billiards room to the outdoors (screens drop down from the ceiling, should mosquitos make an appearance).

The billiards room was painted a glossy deep blue-green. Hand-applied rope gives the ceiling its textural look.

Hydrangeas, roses, and catmint are among the plants Broadbent used. “Most of what we chose is short,” he says, “because the whole point is to maximize the property’s sweeping views.”

The new owners had an ambitious plan for their waterfront property in Chatham. Overlooking Stage Harbor and its historic lighthouse, the parcel held a ramshackle old cottage that the couple planned to raze to make room for a family dwelling in a classic Shingle style, along with a guesthouse and a swimming pool and pool house.

The design team was up for the challenge, but they faced an obstacle or two. “We were a little frustrated with how tight the pool and pool house had to be in relation to the main structure,” says landscape architect Allan Broadbent.

For architects Elena Stancheva and Tom Catalano, the challenge came in the form of an imposing house next door. “Our clients wanted to maximize the view, which is spectacular,” says Catalano. “But they didn’t want to have to look at the neighbor’s place.”

Not to be deterred in their dream, the couple did a little recon and discovered that the next-door neighbor was amenable to selling. Problems solved. “It gave us another two acres, which gave us so many more options,” Broadbent says.

Now, the buildings—the main, guest, and pool houses—and the pool tie together in one expansive and glorious whole, offering spaces for gathering as well as for privacy. And with the house next door removed, the family’s new home offers water views from every room.

Because the house perches at the top of a sloping lot, the architects made use of multiple rooflines and a wraparound porch to bring down the scale. “The property goes uphill from the driveway to the motor court, and we didn’t want the house to seem like it was looming over everything,” explains Stancheva. A red cedar roof and white cedar shingles, along with white trim and a front door painted a cheerful blue, add to the Cape Cod feel.

Broadbent devised a cohesive landscaping plan that makes use of bluestone and limestone hardscape and plantings of native grasses, shrubs, and perennials in blues, whites, purples, and greens for a soft, textural, casual feel.

Inside, interior designer Julie Stein continued the relaxed feel with a nautically inspired palette of blues supplemented with soft grays and blush tones, all set against walls of Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace.

In the open kitchen/family/dining space, Stein complemented traditional coffered ceilings, transom windows, and moldings with more contemporary, clean-lined furniture. Beachy accessories, such as the wooden Secto Design pendants above the kitchen island and the Richard Wrightman chairs at the
dining table, add to the casual, yet tailored, feel of the home. “It’s very livable, but I would say it’s also quite refined,” Stein says.

In choosing furniture, the designer made sure the backs and sides of every piece were as pretty as the fronts. “Because of the openness of the rooms, you have a 360-degree experience in each space,” she explains. “I paid a lot of attention to how pieces would be seen from every angle.”

As lovely as this home is, from the classic Shingle-style architecture to the interiors with their perfect balance of comfort and elegance to the landscaping plan that ties everything together
so beautifully, the true success lies in the design pros’ adherence to their clients’ wish that the focus stays on those gorgeous water views.

Project Team
Architecture: Catalano Architects
Interior design: Julie Stein Design
Builder: KVC Builders
Landscape design: Broadbent Design Studio