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Beachmist

Some of the most appealing locations in New England are where historic villages meet the ocean. Often these locations are developed with infrastructure for fishing and boating, but occasionally beautiful dunescapes and soft sand beaches occur. These are highly coveted home locations. Beachmist has such a site. The back of the house looks out over dunes, beach, harbor, and ocean. Also in view is the beloved historic district in which the house sits. Antique houses abound, including several directly across the street.

Beachmist PSD Intro
Seaside
Scope of Work Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Construction
Finished Space Above Grade 3,226
Photography Jared Kuzia
Chatham PSD 1 Exterior
Chatham PSD 2 Exterior
Beachmist PSD Entry

The street side is a modified Cape Cod Cottage, compact in both footprint and height to meet regulatory agency preferences that include historic stylistic consistency and minimizing blocking neighbor’s views.

The house is relatively close to the street, befitting its village location, but separated from it by a traditional fence. A shallow front porch, big enough for symbolic meaning but not so big as to use up much of the maximum allowed footprint, welcomes visitors to a casually off-center front door.

Chatham PSD 3 L Doorway
Chatham PSD 3 R Mudroom
Chatham PSD 4 Living Room
Chatham PSD 5 Living Room

The primary goal was creating a beach house that took full advantage of its spectacular location while at the same time was a friendly and appropriate participant in the historic context. Adding to the challenge were both historic and conservation regulations that restrict building in such a sensitive location.

Chatham PSD 6 Kitchen Dining
Chatham PSD 10 L Bedroom
Chatham PSD 10 R Stairhall
Chatham PSD 8 L Bathroom
Chatham PSD 8 R Bedroom
Chatham PSD 9 Bedroom

On the ocean side the house opens to the view and a large deck that sits just above the top of the dunes.

Wide sliding doors and a cable railing allow the dynamic view to be largely uninterrupted from the interior spaces and give this side of the house a more contemporary feeling.

Chatham PSD 7 L Deck
Chatham PSD 11 L Rear Exterior

As Seen In...


BDG Cape Islands24 PSD Beachmist
Cape & Islands Design Guide

A Duneside Jewel, by Maddie Brisbane, Annual 2024.

PSD's "Beachmist" project is featured in the Spring/Summer 2022 issue of Chatham Living by the Sea magazine.
Chatham Living by the Sea

A Dream by the Dunes, by Carol K. Dumas, Spring/Summer 2022.