Beachmist

Beachmist is a special house on a dynamic site. It looks out over dunes to the harbor and ocean beyond, and also over a beloved historic district, just a walk away from the downtown Main Street. Sitting above the dunes, the goal was to design and build a classic beach house that fit into the historic district while also taking full advantage of its spectacular location by the sea. It has contemporary details, expanses of glass, and a large deck on its ocean side, but respects its traditional neighborhood on its street side.

At the front, a white picket fence extends the length of the property and welcomes visitors through two gates—one to the front porch and main entry, and the other to the side terrace and side entry. Walking through the front door, there is an immediate connection with the land- and sea-scape. The main living, dining, and kitchen spaces are open to one another in a large great room. The first-floor also features a primary bedroom suite, mudroom, pantry, and laundry. Along the rear of the house are floor-to-ceiling sliding glass panels, which further the connection to the outdoor scenery. A cedar deck with a stainless-steel cable railing extends the entire rear, as well as along one side of the house. It is accessible from the main living spaces, the first-floor primary bedroom, and the side entry; a perfect place to enjoy the seaside beauty. Upstairs, there are two additional bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, and an additional living room that opens to a small second-floor deck. Light oak flooring and shiplap walls add to the beachy vibe at this new custom home. The deck provides the best view of the sandy path that winds through the beach grass dunes to the beach and ocean.

Permitting and conservation were key components of this site-sensitive project. When designing and building on Cape Cod’s waterfront, there is always at least one regulatory agency involved—and sometimes several. The house is further from the environmentally-sensitive dune area than the previous structures on the site. As the landscape architect, we designed a minimal and natural landscape. A crushed shell driveway leads down the back of the property, where a two-car garage and storage space makes up the lower level.