The new floor plan allows for plenty of room to stretch out and relax.

Thanks to a little imagination, a beloved Mid Cape home has taken on a new life

Sometimes the best-laid plans become something else entirely. That was the case with Scott Peacock and a new client the day that a kitchen remodel project was about to start. “The contracts were signed, windows had been chosen, the kitchen plan and cabinets had been designed, a wall had even come down,” Peacock explains. “I arrived for the first day of construction and the homeowner was so excited. She told me that she was so happy to start this project, but really more importantly she couldn’t wait to start Phase Two. ‘Phase Two,’ I asked her, ‘what is Phase Two?’”

It turns out this energetic and enthusiastic homeowner had envisioned a three-season room replacing the deck space off of the kitchen. “I stood back and saw her vision and said, “Whoa, we have to hit the brakes, we need to start with that,” Peacock recalls. “The long-term plan would have made the remodel that we were about to undertake completely senseless.”

Luckily the homeowners—a husband-wife team that splits their time between California, the Cape and Florida—had chosen the right contractor in Peacock. Hanna Werner from Fine Line Design in Osterville, worked with Peacock and the homeowner to create an addition with a new gabled roofline and subsequent plans that could be submitted to the town’s planning and conservation boards. A plan to add a rectangle, 16 feet deep, along the back of their nondescript ranch, which the homeowner had inherited from her parents eight years before, began to take shape. “Once I gave her the idea of what the space could become, it just took off; she has such vision,” Peacock says of the owner, who is such a free spirit, she ultimately benefited from the newly imagined, open and airy space in which she could soar.

What was intended to be a modest L-shaped renovation of the kitchen, without any deliberate point of view, now had the luxury of creating a space that was determined by the way the homeowners live. The new kitchen plan, designed by the homeowner and fabricated by Scott Horgan of Osterville’s Horgan Millwork, called for a long run of lower cabinets topped by a sunlight-filled bank of windows framing woods that border conservation land, all resulting in the feeling that the home is a tree house perched high above the woodland floor. A massive center island runs the full length of the kitchen with a perch for two counter stools at the end, perfect for morning coffee or a casual dinner. One more bank of cabinets is topped by the only set of upper cabinets in the kitchen, allowing for all of the storage of dishes and serveware the family needs. Long lengths of Millenium granite, in a forgiving and stunning leathered finish, make up the counter space throughout, resulting in plenty of space to prep, work or just enjoy.

Long expanses of leathered granite and the absence of upper cabinets allow the open kitchen to subtly share the space with the living area.

A new pantry tucked around the corner is home to an impressive barista station—a daily passion of the homeowners that quickly becomes part of the experience for any lucky visitors as well. The homeowner is quick to run through a list of beverage options that rival any trendy coffeehouse, and being an avid and accomplished baker, it is hard to resist her unique and thoughtful offer of such a cozy and satisfying way to chat.

Peacock’s new plan called for a transition in the gables of the rooflines, resulting in a cathedral ceiling over a portion of the dining and living area. Massive whitewashed beams span above the newly opened space, with its freshly painted white built-ins and seating areas with comfortable, white upholstery and decorative blue accents. A 10-foot-long chestnut dining table, with the most subtle live edge, custom built and designed by Colonial Tables in Chatham, allows the family and friends to gather together for memorable meals throughout the year. Despite time split between three residences, the homeowners spend as much of the summer as they are able to and much of the spring and fall at this home that is full of memories of the homeowner’s parents. When their two grown boys and new daughter-in-law are able to break away from their busy lives, the family will meet at the Cape to reconnect and recharge.

Underneath all of this rich activity lie the spectacular floors that Peacock had some convincing to achieve with the homeowner. “She wanted all new floors and kept asking me what I thought of various samples,” he says. “I kept telling her that the white oak floors from the original home were in great shape and didn’t need to be replaced. But she kept looking at me saying, ‘Really?’ Finally I convinced her that we could keep the floors, but get the look she wanted.” Peacock sanded the two-and-a-quarter-inch white oak floors and then stained them with a light gray pickled finish. The effect is an expanse of driftwood-like foundation upon which the whole design relies. Now, the homeowner is profoundly grateful for Peacock’s perseverance because she not only loves the look, but she also feels that she is walking in her parents’ footsteps. “The floors sound the same when you walk through the house,” she says with sentimentality.

A quiet nook allows the homeowners to enjoy their woodland surroundings.

Flanking each side of the dining area, two long built-ins, also crafted by Horgan Millwork, provide definition to the space and ample storage and display opportunities—the simple aesthetic of their design adds a decorative element to the otherwise white walls. “Working with Scott Horgan was awesome,” the homeowner recalls. “I knew exactly what I wanted—like no toe kick at the base of the cabinetry, and he really hesitated. I told him I wanted it to look like it was furniture, not cabinets, even in the kitchen. I told him that he would see how great it would look and probably would never offer toe kicks again!” Her determined energy ultimately paid off, and was reconfirmed as she sourced unique and inspired hardware choices throughout. “It’s those little details that I notice,” she says. “I don’t know if anyone else does, but it makes me happy, and I guess that’s all that matters.” In fact, she sells herself a bit short, because it’s not long before visitors to the space find themselves subconsciously drawn to the countless thoughtful details found in unexpected places. Outlets, including USB ports, are intuitively located under the granite overhang of the island, and light switch plates have been deliberately placed so as not to distract. The concentration on subtle details, by the entire team, is what makes this project stand out. “Everyone’s contribution to this project was invaluable,” the homeowner confirms. “From Scott Peacock to Scott Horgan to Kathy and Don at Cape Cod Counterworks, who actually called another client and asked them to give up the granite slab they chose so we could have it, everyone contributed to this masterpiece. I say to our friends that it is our Monet. I look out those gorgeous windows and I see such a beautiful scene. It is just such a gorgeous gift!”

And the three-season room the homeowner envisioned for Phase Two? That was also incorporated into the plan. Now a screened-in dining porch creates another space to enjoy the wooded surroundings. “This site is so unique because this part of the Cape does not usually have houses that enjoy this kind of privacy,” says Peacock. “When you look off the back of the house, due to the way it is positioned, you can’t see any other houses. It truly feels like you are by yourself in the woods.”

Perhaps the most remarkable part of this renovation is the part that hasn’t changed at all. Peacock’s new renovation that transformed the interior so dramatically with its soaring gabled ceiling did not impact the front façade and rooflines of the modest ranch. “Our friends all knew that we were under construction for several months,” the homeowner recalls. “And they were listening to me talk their ears off about every last decision and stage of construction. So when people came to see the final result, they would pull in the driveway with all sorts of expectation and be so disappointed because it looks exactly the same from outside.” It only takes a moment for the confusion to dissipate, because as soon as you push open the door, you are awestruck. Your mind requires a minute to adjust, but regardless, it is secondary to the gasp that escapes when your jaw drops open. The process of crossing the threshold is truly transporting. For some it feels as though you are in a dream where you have landed in a California beachside tree house. For others like the homeowner and her family, it is a perfect intersection of the deep and rich history of her parents Cape house and the fresh California aesthetic she unpacks every time she is here.

The post California Dreaming appeared first on Cape Cod LIFE.

The Chatham Home reimagines holiday celebrations in some most unusual spaces.

As Wendy Potenza first set out to curate her coastal living store on Main Street, Chatham in 2013, she put herself in her future customers shoes—or, rather, in their homes—honing in on what exactly they would want in their Chatham abodes. Beach-inspired furnishings? Of course. But at The Chatham Home, as Potenza aptly named the business, it’s about providing that beachy, coastal feeling in an elevated, modern way. From sofas to pillows and everything in between, The Chatham Home’s product offerings aren’t your cliché “usual suspects,” explains Potenza.

“We want to make sure that when you come in the store it’s a place where The Chatham Home team can help you find a lot of different things that you wouldn’t find at a lot of other places,” she says. In addition to their unique product offerings, what sets The Chatham Home apart also lies in their custom interior design services. In-house designer Erin Masterson works one-on-one with clients who need help bringing to life their vision of their dream home. “The Chatham Home wants to know how you live in your home, because it might be different than someone else,” Potenza says. “So Erin not only designs, but she’s also a design buddy.”

That means Masterson takes the time to get to know homeowners, understanding their daily lives and what products will best accommodate the way they live. To Masterson, it’s about designing for a lifestyle, something she is well-versed in, having previously worked in the fashion industry in New York. “Having a great outfit on is definitely going to change your day, and being in a home where you feel comfortable and fits your lifestyle, that’s going to change the way you live,” she says. “We understand the Cape Cod lifestyle and what you’re here for—what you want to do, what you want to feel when you step into your home—so our products here represent that.”

Whether you’re looking to decorate your entire home or simply in need of a hostess gift, The Chatham Home can help. With the holiday season in full swing and festive dinner parties on the horizon, The Chatham Home can even help you create the perfect tablescape to impress your guests. “I love the idea of having a dining experience,” says Masterson. “You want it to be personal and you want your guests to see your personality in the way you lay out your table.”

Your tablescape also benefits when it reflects your surroundings, Masterson adds. “We live in such a beautiful place here on Cape Cod,” she says, “and it’s all about the ocean and the seafood, so pulling that into your tablescape is only fitting.” On the following pages, see how Masterson brought a piece of Cape Cod to the table in two different, yet equally imaginative, tablescape designs.

Why let the walls contain your joy? What better way to incorporate your natural surroundings in your holiday tablescape than dining outdoors? With Eastham’s serene Salt Pond as the backdrop, Masterson designed this tablescape to be as elegant as it is relaxed. Accents of Juliska silverware, place settings and crystal, along with Vietri and Mariposa serveware and a show-stopping floral arrangement by Blossoms of Cape Cod, elevate the look, she says. Juliska straw placemats and a rustic barn door table by Colonial Tables balance out these finer details and draw in the surrounding seagrass. Just as important as your surroundings are in designing your tablescape, says Masterson, is the meal you’re serving. Here, the silver tones and textured, natural elements complement the main course—clams and mussels.

“Cape Cod Christmas” is the idea Masterson had in mind when designing this cozy-meets-formal tablescape. The woven coffee table, custom upholstered swivel chairs—in navy Lee Industries linen with a white-striped skirt—and rope Palecek side table help establish the coastal, nautical vibe, playing off the marshland and ocean just beyond this Chatham home. Red-patterned table runners and napkins subtly provide a warm, holiday feel—and complement the lobster meal. To Masterson, layering is key, and the various patterns, colors and textures here add dimension and interest. Another lovely floral arrangement by Blossoms is the cherry on top of this simple yet sophisticated setup.

The post Gather ‘Round for the Holidays appeared first on Cape Cod LIFE.

Life imitates art, and art imitates life, in the transformation of one family’s Harwich Port home 

In Shakespeare’s final play, “The Tempest,” the sorcerer Prospero and his servant, a magical spirit named Ariel, create the illusion of a fierce storm that appears to wreck the ship carrying the king of Naples, his son Ferdinand, other dignitaries and the crew. Though no soul actually perishes, Ariel separates the characters into different groups. Some of the men fall into enchanted sleep, while others must try to make sense of the bewildering world of Prospero’s desert island. To heighten the disorientation and loss in the mind of Prince Ferdinand, Ariel sings the following lyrics: “Full fathom five thy father lies; / Of his bones are coral made; / Those are pearls that were his eyes: / Nothing of him that doth fade, / But doth suffer a sea-change / Into something rich and strange.” It’s a mean trick, as the prince believes that his father has perished, but the song does contain an important truth—the king, very much alive, will undergo a radical, positive transformation, a “sea-change,” as will nearly every character in the story.

One interpretation of “The Tempest” claims that Prospero represents Shakespeare himself, and that the magic and illusion in the play represent art. And one of the mysteries of great art is its inherent quality that allows for a range of meaning. Thus, scholars continue to analyze the Bard’s work over 400 years after his death, and the understanding of his stories, while universal in some respects, changes through generations of readers. Though the grand ideas of literature may seem to lie far from the shores of Cape Cod, disconnected from its weathered dwellings, some architects, builders and designers draw inspiration from the same creative well that slaked Shakespeare’s thirst. One firm that seeks to create art in the form of homes is Polhemus Savery DaSilva Architects Builders (PSD) of East Harwich, and one of its recent masterpieces, a home in Harwich Port, alludes directly to Shakespeare’s magical tempest in both its appearance and its name—“Sea Change.”

Sea Change, like many of its interior and exterior features, is both a work of transformation and a statement about the concept of transformation. On a literal level, the house would seem at home in many traditional neighborhoods on the Cape. Its shingles and white trim would allow it to camouflage easily. Yet its lines are more dynamic than the average; its peaks and curves make it stand out and evoke other concepts. In other words, while it’s a house, it also allows the observer to associate with it other forms. For instance, from the street, it might look like a ship, a galleon, with a arc at the “stern” that suggests the captain’s quarters. Its bold windows further support this interpretation, as do the peaks of its three gables, which rise like masts carrying full sail. The gable farthest from the stern swoops into a curve that resembles the confluence of a jib and a bowsprit. Like a galleon, the home appears both ornate and practical, ready to set sail, yet grounded in its proper place.

John DaSilva, design principal at PSD, deployed the architectural idea of associationism when the firm conceived and built Sea Change. He explains, “Associationism is related to symbolism, but it requires more interpretation. Forms imply other things outside the reality of the building itself. This possibility of multiple readings makes it richer.” In other words, it’s an art of illusion, of magic—which places DaSilva and his team, to extend the home’s foundation of allusion, in the roles of Prospero and Ariel. “It’s a way to do something fresh and contemporary but not be too abstract,” says DaSilva. “Where one person may see a ship, another might see a mountain range or a pool slide. Where you might see a port hole in the round window, someone else may see the eye of a fish. This is intentional in what we design. The home takes on another character at night, too, as the profile becomes very prominent—almost as if you stood up an architectural drawing.”

PSD is a fully integrated firm that takes care of nearly every facet of creating a new home. DaSilva says, “We build virtually everything we design and we design virtually all that we build. We’re one-stop shopping, which is easier for clients; they never have to mediate between the architect and the builder.” The homeowners of Sea Change concur, stating, “It was extremely helpful to be able to have all the parties involved at the same table helping each other so the right decisions are made. And on the construction side, they’re true craftsmen, very skilled at what they do, people who take the utmost pride in their work.”

One of the reasons the homeowners and PSD chose “Sea Change” as the name for their home arises from another meaning of the expression. In the business world, a sea change is also a transformation, but often one that is systemic. The term is somewhat interchangeable with a paradigm shift. The homeowners began their time in Harwich Port, on this lot, in a purely summer home. “It was an old beach house, built in 1929, and we’d been using it for about 10 years,” the owner says. “In 2013, we were ready to do something more permanent, though, and it wasn’t the house for that.” After the family moved into their newly rebuilt home, they explored the meanings of “sea change” further and were pleased to find that its original use, from Ariel’s Song, fit thematically with what PSD had accomplished.

Though they still work in the Boston area, the owner notes: “We spend most weekends here year-round now. There’s so much that we love about the house; the layout is just so accommodating to all ages.” On the first floor, rather than using walls to divide space into rooms, PSD created a number of distinct features that partially separate key areas. One might think of these serving like rocks in a stream, interrupting the flow of water, or like a small archipelago—which, of course, extends “The Tempest” reference. DaSilva says: “I don’t mind the thought that there are multiple islands. For instance, the fireplace and built-in shelves are free standing.” The latter contains structural columns at either end and provides storage cabinets in the lower portion of the piece along with shelves that allow for the display of photos, ceramics, and other items or artwork. “It’s articulated more like a piece of large furniture,” he explains.

While the storage/display unit partially frames the living space and separates it from the stairs and den at the back of the home, an airy arcade, in its series of four columns, forms a border with the entrance hall. The kitchen/dining space, with cabinetry designed by Classic Kitchens & Interiors, and living room lie on long, perpendicular axes. DaSilva notes, “The fireplace provides a transition, a knuckle; it’s a freestanding object and a partial barrier between the two spaces.” Set on an obtuse 130-degree angle from the shelves, the turn the fireplace makes also lines up with the pattern on the ceiling and points toward the side-yard-facing porch. The overall layout allows for circulation as well as social flow. Says DaSilva, “You can be in the kitchen or in the living space and still feel connected.” This is true of the dining area, as well; it inhabits a space with wraparound windows at the back side of the kitchen, to which it remains completely open. Says the homeowner: “Having the two islands in the kitchen is really great for us, having two cooks in the family. We also enjoy the banquette, near the fireplace—it’s nice to sit there and have coffee, to watch the comings and goings on the street.” Other elements of the layout include the location of the master bedroom on the first floor, which, says the owner, “works really well for us,” and three other bedrooms upstairs. In the southwest corner of the second floor is a game room, which notably contains no television. Family and friends use this space for board games or playing cards.

When the owners approached PSD, they wanted in Sea Change a shingle-style home with Classical design. However, says the homeowner, “We really stressed to John that we were open to anything—that he should use his imagination and also consider the neighborhood. He pulled it together such that the house leaves people to interpret meaning—like art.” The final result draws upon tradition—for instance, DaSilva points out that shingle-style is the first American architectural invention, appearing in the late 19th century—yet contains contemporary and whimsical elements that he says “cause observers to first wonder and then smile.”

The most obvious example of DaSilva’s intent is probably the entrance to Sea Change, where a robin’s egg blue door nests behind the frame of two columns and an archway. However, as DaSilva points out, “The columns are not real classical columns. They are references to the classical. They are flattened, which makes them more interesting, unique and contemporary—playful, not stodgy.” Likewise, the archway refers to the familiar while allowing for other effects. “There’s a sort of incompletion,” he says, “with one full arch and hints of two others. Or one might see two brackets that spring from the top of the columns, or fountains, or torches.”

The use of “multi-thematic architecture,” explains DaSilva, “is more reflective of our modern world, more consistent with our era.” The home’s exterior has a “taut skin” into which both the entrance porch and the larger side porch have been “incised.” He says: “The effect is subtractive rather than additive. There are multiple reasons for doing this: it’s efficient for mass, for the footprint, for the use of the roof, and it helps keep the house looking fresh and of our day rather than of a different era. And yet it’s still compatible with Greek Revival and other styles common to the Cape.” The sea change from a simple beach house to this dynamic Harwich Port home truly displays, as Ariel sings in “The Tempest,” a metamorphosis “Into something rich and strange.”

The post In the Eye of the Beholder appeared first on Cape Cod LIFE.

“Brant Point Symmetry”

Life has come into focus for photographer Kevin Bennett

There’s the adage that everything in life happens for a reason. At times that can be hard to accept—other times it offers just the right perspective. Looking back, it’s clear to photographer Kevin Bennett how every decision, every circumstance led him to his calling.

As a student at Fordham University, Bennett was uncertain of his future career path. On a whim, he purchased an old Pentax K1000 film camera and started shooting scenes around New York City. A passion was ignited, and he went on to study visual arts. After graduating from Fordham in 2005, Bennett, a Cape Cod native, followed his older sister out to San Diego. “But I actually didn’t get into any visual arts career,” he says. “I needed a job, and I had experience working with children, so I started working at a private school out there.”

Photography remained a hobby—but only that. Flash forward to 2011, and Bennett’s father introduced him to an acquaintance, Brian Hart, who owned a picture framing business in Denver. Bennett spent the following summer in Denver working for Hart, not only learning how to custom frame, but also realizing you could make a living both framing and selling your artwork. In 2014 Bennett, now living on the Cape, began taking part in the HyArts Artists Shanties program, selling his Cape and Islands landscape and seascape photography for the first time.

Hyannis Yacht Club, Veterans Beach

“I was learning what my niche was, and what images people were attracted to,” he says. “With my photography, I really like to focus on angles, texture, line, composition, color—taking the ordinary landscape that someone sees through their own eyes and turning it into an attractive, intriguing piece of art.” His best-selling image was and continues to be of Brant Point Light—with the red, weathered walkway in the foreground leading the eye to the lighthouse in the distance.

By 2017, Bennett was working part-time as an art teacher at the Barnstable Grade 4/5 School. When a full-time position opened up, Bennett applied, but didn’t get the job. “It was actually a blessing that I didn’t get the teaching job,” he admits. “That was my motivation to finally open a gallery.”

Bennett’s gallery, located on Main Street, Hyannis, is where he sells his photography prints and notecards, and runs a custom framing business in the back, framing both his photographs and others’ artwork. He loves exploring the artistry in both framing and photography, and at the end of the day, he says what’s most rewarding is sharing his creative vision with others. “For example, the first image I ever sold was of this rusted doorknob that I came across when I was hiking on Sandy Neck,” he recalls. “When a woman from Manhattan came into my shanty and said, ‘I love that doorknob! Can I buy that blown up?’ it was a nice feeling—that something so trivial could be turned into such an interesting piece of art that sparks different feelings in people.”

The post Art Through the Aperture appeared first on Cape Cod LIFE.

As winter nears each year, Casabella Interiors in East Sandwich transforms into a haven of resplendent holiday design.

Casabella Interiors puts their annual fresh spin on winter decorating

It is common this time of year to see local businesses punctuate their regular environs with pops of holiday décor. What is not common is what happens at a small yet distinctive shop on Route 6A in East Sandwich. Casabella Interiors is an exquisite home furnishings and accessories shop that also includes a full-service design studio. Every year owner Michele Chagnon-Holbrook, and her hardworking team of six, clears out the entire 2,600-square-foot space and reimagines the six rooms as a winter wonderland. “We empty the entire store, and then we bring in all new items, we hang new artwork, mirrors, and transform the space into what I call our ‘winter look,’” Holbrook explains. “I steer away from a style that shouts ‘holiday.’ Instead, our clients are able to update their homes for the season, and the winter look is a different vibe from what gets conveyed in the warmer months.”

This unique philosophy is really what sets Casabella apart from other home shops. Holbrook helps her clients identify versatile foundation pieces that they love, but always have the flexibility to become transformational elements in their décor. “For example,” she notes, “you could take a beautiful urn and fill it with mercury glass balls. Then for Thanksgiving, you might accent it with rustic touches and then swap those out for ornaments as you roll into Christmas. Finally, after the New Year, fill it with a lush, green topiary, add a simple neutral bow, and it balances against the starkness of the winter months. It’s just all about reimagining your space.” And that is exactly what Holbrook does each year as she reopens the shop for winter with her annual open house in early November.

Simple color palettes, accented by the juxtaposition of sparkle and greenery, keep the design clean and sophisticated. Pops of Casabella’s signature color, Spa Blue, are unexpectedly cool and icy yet don’t scream “holiday.”

Upon walking through the front door of the charming shop—that truly feels like a home, as the quest for design keeps visitors wandering from room to room—the signature Casabella color, Spa Blue, is found throughout. “We don’t do red here, even for the holidays,” Holbrook says with a twinkle in her eye. “We say our Casabella red is blush.” The soft blue is paired with ivory, silver and taupe accents throughout, making for a very soothing palette. Emphasizing again the ability to freshen the look with the introduction of a few simple elements, Holbrook sites a new deep purple-blue jewel tone found in the designer showrooms she and her crew visited last January as they scouted items for this year’s winter theme. Holbrook explains that with just a pop of that color in a pillow or a throw, suddenly a sofa or chair seems to take command of everyone’s attention. “We were so excited to see that color,” she says. “We just all looked at each other and had the collective thought, ‘We’re going to have a BLUE room!’” It’s that kind of inspiration that starts the momentum of what ultimately becomes the magical destination of Casabella.

“Whatever project we approach, whether it is a full house project for an interior design client or transforming our showroom here, we are continually thinking, ‘What can a room be?’ And almost always it starts with color,” Holbrook explains. “People like to shop by color—it is how they shop for clothing. So we tend to create vignettes that are grounded in a few simple shades. That is what pulls a look together. The same principles we apply to the rooms in the store, homeowners can employ in their own homes if they want that sophisticated, thoughtful look.”

That process of inspiration is communicated and shared with the customers that come to the store, and thus the excitement as well. A simple ornament might catch the eye of a shopper and trigger an emotional response, and Casabella’s innovative team will then suggest new and different ways to incorporate those elements into any homeowner’s décor. The team will often organize a layout of certain items—for a client’s mantle, for example—and then take a photo with the customer’s phone so that when they get home, they have the image to refer to as they set up the look themselves.

No corner goes unadorned with holiday charm at Casabella Interiors.

Often it is a far more simple and subtle application of Casabella’s unique look that goes home with the shoppers in search of a different accent during the holidays. A selection of miniature faux boxwood wreaths might seem to be charming but not right for a homeowner’s décor, until someone at the store suggests hanging it on each of the dining chairs, or on the lampshades in the living room. A variety of charming ornaments might catch the eye of a holiday shopper who may hesitate because their tree is already full of nostalgic memories. Why not place one on the plate for each of your dinner guests, the creative team will suggest.

Last year’s dining vignette featured a Christmas tree as the centerpiece—perhaps not the first choice for most hostesses, but Casabella’s display showed how at the right scale, with the right tree, it is as delightful as any other choice and might actually initiate some interesting conversation. One idea sure to spark discussion is the upside-down Christmas tree often found somewhere at the shop. “We try to do the unusual here,” Holbrook says. As fantastic as it may sound, an upside-down Christmas tree is actually far more practical than one might imagine. First, it resolves any issues involving a lack of floor space; second, it virtually functions as a chandelier, providing whimsical light and ambiance to the space. This year, the team has interpreted the windows of the shop in a whole new way that will surely inspire additional creative interpretations in homes across the Cape.

Details within details, like the Christmas tree ornament nestled in the flocked grapevine wreath and hung on the back of a chair above, are one way in which Casabella creates a unique look for the holidays.

Holbrook confesses that she and her team are actually their own worst enemies because they are continually trying to come up with something that is brand new. “We are always looking for something that no one has ever seen before,” she explains. “In our home design projects, you will never find the same fabric, lamp, artwork or any other major element repeated. We encourage clients to consider neutral backgrounds for upholstery, et cetera so that they have the flexibility to flip a look whenever they want, but other than that, it is always a fresh canvas so that the client’s space becomes uniquely their own.”

Holbrook talks about the wide range of shopping options available under one roof. “We certainly offer full design services with hundreds of fabric and rug samples on-site so clients can choose what they like, but we also see a steady stream of people who come in for gifts, not only during the holiday, but throughout the year.”

It may be the eighth year that Holbrook and her creative elves completely reimagine their little shop in Sandwich, but visitors can rest assured it won’t be anything they have seen before or anywhere else. And best of all, it can help you transform your own home as well.

The post Winter Wonderland appeared first on Cape Cod LIFE.

Schumacher Companies lights up a lucky homeowner’s landscape for the holidays

Pioneering Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier defined architecture as “the masterly, correct and magnificent play of masses brought together in light.” Never is that more evident than during the holidays, as we adorn our homes in festive bright lights to mark the season.

At the Lower Cape home affectionately known as “Fool’s Paradise”—the creation of Polhemus Savery DaSilva Architects Builders (PSD)—owners Tim and Judi have turned to the creativity and expertise of the design team at the Schumacher Companies year after year to transform their property into a sophisticated winter wonderland. Here, the holiday lighting design has never been typical—no lights are strung on the house itself. Instead, designer Marcelo Lauar’s vision has hinged on highlighting the landscape. Last year, over 1,500 linear feet of ground lighting was used, encompassing the driveway and the perimeter of the front yard and its garden beds, and approximately 200 strings of lights were used to decorate the trees and shrubs.

“The lights don’t take away from the architecture of the home—they enhance it,” says Schumacher’s Adrienne Mitchell, account manager for Fool’s Paradise. “And it’s not overdone. What Marcelo chose to accent with the lights is more complementary.” A great example of this is seen in how only the lower halves of the trees are lit. “If you keep going up too high to the top, from the street you’re going to see the height of the tree and you’re not going to pay as much attention to anything else and the rest of the landscape,” Lauar explains. “That’s why I want to keep everything low and at eye level.”

To John DaSilva, design principal at PSD, decorating our homes with holiday illumination not only allows for the appreciation of their architecture—it also serves to epitomize the holiday spirit. “To string lights on and around buildings,” he says, “connects us to tradition, helps celebrate good times, and is an affirmation of the joy of living.”

The post Twinkle Twinkle in Paradise appeared first on Cape Cod LIFE.

An undeniable water view sets the stage for a seaside dream home on Cape Cod Bay

Perched above a tranquil cove on the western edge of Cape Cod Bay, a Plymouth home boasts something vast, unpredictable, and ever-changing in color and mood. This spectacular, panoramic view of the ocean is accentuated by the elevation of the home, 40 feet above a pebbled beach below, and able to be enjoyed from every room in the house, even the dog’s favorite resting spot.

After spending 20 years raising a family in the suburbs of Boston, Deb and Greg anxiously awaited the day they could pick up their roots and hopefully settle down someplace where the coastal charm and power of the sea would influence their lives going forward. In 2012 Deb and Greg found a site with the kind of view they had only imagined. They decided to purchase their soon-to-be full-time residence on the shores of Plymouth.

However, the couple required the right interior designer to adequately interpret their lifestyle demands, all the while creating new interior space that would not only complement the show-stopping panorama but also provide the serenity they desired. Their vision was to completely remodel the home—anchoring the design to the ocean view and converting the space into a comfortable, year-round home base, where their four adult children would be pulled, like the tide, to visit.

“The amazing ocean view sold us on the house, and when it came time to renovate, it was important that nothing took away from the view,” Deb says.

In 2016, the couple enlisted Tiffany LeBlanc of LeBlanc Design, a transitional design firm based out of Boston, to manage the yearlong renovation project. The new plan called for completely reworking the layout, as well as updating all of the surfaces and aesthetics for every room in the home. Translating what Deb and Greg’s wishes were for their own active lives, as well as those of their energetic children, LeBlanc reinterpreted the space to comfortably accommodate the family’s needs through every season.

“I wanted to create a transitional style that complemented the view,” LeBlanc says. “They wanted a year-round house that felt akin to the ocean outside.” LeBlanc used the subtlety as well as the majesty of the home’s surroundings as her source of inspiration when choosing the variety of elements for the new space. Natural textures, handmade details and refined choices transformed the space, lending each room its own personality and the freedom to create a moment, all the while connecting them together by tying them to their focal point: the sea.

“We always want there to be good flow of color and style within a house,” LeBlanc says. “But we want each room to feel like its own space—to feel fresh. We don’t want to duplicate design or use the same exact color palette, but there’s always a nod tying back the color or textures to the other rooms.”

The overall feel of the home is casually elegant, while offering sophisticated comfort. Throughout the home one’s eye lands upon shapes and forms that are modern and streamlined, yet never overly decorative due to the deliberate choice of elements with clean, simple lines. Seaside elements hint at the home’s location without overwhelming visitors with a beach house vibe.

Expanding upon the original design of the home, the new layout includes three bedrooms, allowing for personal space for everyone; a suite in the basement for their kids when they visit; a new expansive living room; a new office; an open dining and kitchen area; a new powder room; and a new luxurious master suite. 

The office plays the role of a functional space for Deb and Greg—a hub where they can organize and run their busy lives, all while keeping things tidy and organized. In the original design, the office was closed off, but LeBlanc utilized a peek-a-boo bookcase to open up the space and invite the ocean view into the room. Hand-blocked fabrics bring in the texture of the rocks and sand of the beach, while billowing sheers, evocative of sails on a boat, invite a sense of coziness into the office.

The office opens up to the more sophisticated living room. It’s refined with feminine touches, like the soft brass and seashell chandelier. The beach glass around the fireplace adds a subtle element of seaside personality as it sparkles from the light of cool evening fires. “It’s ready to host people drinking white wine on a warm summer night,” LeBlanc says of the sophisticated living area. “It’s meant to entertain, where someone can be comfortable and kick their feet up, but also feel like they’re in a really finished space.”

Meandering past the living room, the kitchen and dining room’s combined personality acknowledge the importance of family time. LeBlanc and team reworked the floor plan, replaced all the cabinets, added new tile, created a new lighting plan, and added a butler’s pantry in the back. The two spaces are open concept, encouraging an inclusive and participatory cooking experience for the couple, their family and any adventurous guests.

The sink and stove work opposite each other, while the dining room table sits nearby, ready to be set for a family dinner. A customary light fixture above the dining room table was purposely left off the menu, allowing for no interruptions of the picturesque view.

“The kitchen is my absolute favorite,” Deb says. “You can see water on all three sides. If you’re sitting at the island drinking coffee in the morning and you look to your left, right or behind you, you’ll see a different view of the ocean.”

Upstairs, the master bedroom encourages relaxation by utilizing calming neutrals and comfortable, private surroundings. “It was all about simplified sleeping, no embellishments,” Deb says. Of course, waking up to the view encourages one to get up and get out. Fresh linens and crisp cottons play up the coastal vibe just a touch more than downstairs, while lending themselves to a serene and restful atmosphere. The white color palette enhances the view, allowing the ocean to become the other color in the room. The trim features a semi-gloss, while the walls and ceiling were painted the same color in a flatter finish, creating volume and maximizing space. The layering that provides the foundation of the design interest comes into play in the room’s carpet and bedding. 

The bedroom opens up to a quaint deck, made for soaking in the various moods of the ocean, either with a steaming cup of fresh coffee in the morning, or with a cocktail fit to say goodnight to the sun in the evening.

For the adjacent master bath, LeBlanc and the homeowners worked with Eric Thorson and his team at Thorson Restoration and Construction. The bathroom was completely gutted to open and modernize the space, and infuse the ocean vistas into the room. The new design introduced an enlarged shower with a linear drain and floating stone bench. A new floating vanity across the room keeps the space light and uncluttered. The cool tones of the blue-bleached walnut custom cabinetry complement the organic, marble mosaic wall tile and water-resistant wallpaper. Details like warm brushed brass fixtures give the master bath an old-world elegance, while elements like the beautiful soft wave mosaic pattern of the tile tie the design back to the fresh, modern theme of the entire home.

“The old bathroom was the opposite of the home’s new coastal feel,” Thorson explains. “It was dingy, dark and heavy. All of the finishes throughout the house are light and airy, and I think the bathroom reflects that.” Apparently others agree with the successful design, since the master bath won a 2018 National Association of the Remodeling Industry “Contractor of the Year” gold award for a residential bathroom.

For the homeowners, LeBlanc and the team at Thorson, the delight they shared in working together is reflected in the overall success and satisfaction found throughout the entire project—and will continue to be reflected as Deb and Greg enjoy their ocean views from their home for years to come.

“Our vision was to take as much advantage of our fantastic water views as possible and make that almost part of the décor of the home,” Deb says. “Every time I walk into the house, I’m like, who lives here? Oh, me! I get to live here!”

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Cape & Islands artisans keep the tradition of quarterboards alive

Photos courtesy of Dan Driscoll

Once used to identify sailing ships, quarterboards have evolved into a distinctive form of home décor that recalls Cape Cod’s seafaring heritage. Today these ornamental signs are most often found above the main entrance to a home or garage, with lettering that spells the family name or a clever slogan. Decorative carved end pieces—such as scallop shells, pineapples or whales—complete the custom look.

After the War of 1812, many privateers became pirates, explains Paul McCarthy of Nantucket Carving and Folk Art. To protect legitimate ships, the government required all ships to have signage on the aft quarter of the vessel. It typically fell to the ship’s figurehead carver to make the “quarterboards.”

Because of the treacherous shoals around Cape Cod and the Islands, shipwrecks were common during the heyday of the maritime trade, from around 1850 to the 1930s. “The quarterboards collected from wrecked ships were huge—perhaps eight to ten feet long and appropriate to the scale of the ship,” writes Sharon Hubbard in “Quarterboards: A Unique Art Form” (Mill Hill Press, 2008). “Due to their size and shape, the most likely place to store them was on the wall of a house or barn.”

McCarthy has been hand carving quarterboards for 50 years and figures he’s produced about 9,000 signs in that time. His business partner, Jean Petty, an expert in color matching, does all of the time-consuming finish work along with complete restorations of old pieces. While quarterboards were originally sized to the scale of a ship, today they are sized to the scale of trim boards on a typical house, he says. Since most trim boards are 5.5 inches, the typical quarterboard is 4.5 inches high. The length is determined by the amount of text to be carved onto the board. “Some people start giving me encyclopedias for these quarterboards,” he says with a laugh, but most are around 4 feet long.

White pine is the traditional wood. During the height of the maritime trade, most timber went into the building of ships, McCarthy says. What was left over was Eastern white pine—accessible, plentiful, and big—which was used for figureheads and other ornamentation. It’s still McCarthy’s favorite wood. “I use the grain to my advantage,” he says. “I can see it; I know what it’s doing.”

Another traditional material is gold leaf. In addition to increasing visibility, gold leaf was used for its durability, McCarthy says, pointing out that it’s the same metal used on the domes of churches and public buildings. “When you see a quarterboard with gold on it, you recognize it. It’s startling. It’s stunning.” Because of the high price of gold today, McCarthy has been using gold leaf more on ornamental ends than on individual letters.

Shells, whales and pineapples are among the most popular designs for the ornamental ends, which in McCarthy’s studio are carved into the board itself, not applied separately. Using pineapples as symbols of hospitality goes all the way back to Nantucket’s whaling days. When whaling ships visited the Hawaiian Islands, the sailors would gather pineapples and store them in the ship’s hold. When the ship returned, the captain would set a pineapple on an iron fence post in front of his home to let islanders know the ship and crew were back and everyone was invited to stop in to celebrate.

Prices depend on size and complexity, McCarthy says. A small, basic quarterboard runs around $600, while elaborate pieces can cost $3,000-$4,000.

On Martha’s Vineyard, JP Uranker hand carves a variety of signs, including quarterboards. “A sign is a piece of artwork families are going to have for years to come,” he says. “They are family heirlooms.” Eagles and quarterboards are his biggest sellers.

Uranker, who has been carving for about 50 years, makes all his signs out of mahogany, which he considers more durable than pine, and finishes them with a marine-based paint made in Europe. He uses 23-karat Italian gold leaf, which he says has “a nice shine and presentation.” One of his signature touches is brass keyhole slots on the back of the piece, so there are no holes going through the sign.

On the Vineyard, people tend to opt for traditional designs on the carved ends, such as pineapple fronds, but the sky’s the limit, Uranker says. “As big as someone’s imagination is, that’s what I can put on the end of a quarterboard.”

In Chatham, Bob Lacy has been creating quarterboards at Chatham Sign Shop for 30 years. Like McCarthy and Uranker, he started out carving by hand. But in the early 2000s, he and many other carvers began using a CNC (computerized numerical control) router for lettering, though some of the ornamental end pieces are still hand carved.

Creating quarterboards with machines isn’t necessarily less expensive, Lacy says, because the machines are very costly. But it does allow the shop to produce a greater volume, and it’s much less punishing on the carvers, who are vulnerable to such problems as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Around the same time that Lacy switched to the CNC router, he began working with alternatives to forest wood. “Wood has one purpose, and that is to transport water up the trunk of the tree and into the leaves,” he says. “Composites allow us to use a material that won’t absorb water and holds paint better.”

Some things have not changed. Many templates are based on historical quarterboards; scallop shells are still the most popular motif; black and gold remain the first choice for lettering; and Lacy still uses 23-karat gold pounded into leaf for accents. “Gold leaf outlasts any other kind of finish,” he says. “I’ve seen the old boards rot away, but the gold stays.” Gold-leaf-accented quarterboards created at Chatham Sign begin around $365, Lacy says, and can run up to $2,000 or more depending on size.

Paul White, of Paul White Woodcarving in East Sandwich, started making quarterboards as a hobby in the mid-1960s. Some 50 years later, he specializes in a variety of hand-carved items, including signs, figureheads and various marine creatures. His signature eagles, created with chisels and mallets and finished with 23-karat gold, are displayed in homes and businesses around the world.

White has been teaching almost as long as he’s been carving. “Half the people on the Cape who carve, either I taught or people I taught have taught them,” he says. His two-day basic carving course gives beginners a strong overview, but success is all about practice.

Among White’s more unusual commissions are a gorilla, a horned creature from the children’s book “Where the Wild Things Are,” and a 6-foot grape Popsicle. What does he most like to carve? “Something new and different.”

Seaport Shutter Company, based in Brewster and Chatham, recently launched The Sign Shop, specializing in custom signs, many in the quarterboard tradition and style, says Lauren Huard, director of sales. Huard’s father, Peter Malone, founded the company in 1992 and remains very involved on the creative side, Huard says. “Our business is all about design, style and color. My father has personal style, flair, spirit and a very creative eye—he helps make our products come to life.”

Seaport crafts signs primarily in mahogany and finishes them with five coats of paint or a marine-grade stain or varnish. “We find that mahogany does well in the elements,” Huard says, “and it has a natural, traditional, timeless look.” While signs are carved by machine, a team of artists hand letters each sign, and finishes can be applied by hand. Prices begin around $395 for a small (24-inch) quarterboard.

In addition to its large selection of carvings and appliques, the company offers all custom designs too. Huard describes a sign created for a Los Angeles family with a summer home in Orleans, with the slogan “Coast to Coast” flanked by appliques of California and Massachusetts.

Most quarterboard artists have tales to tell about the clever wordplay that finds its way into their custom creations. Lacy recounts the story of a man and woman who had each just gotten divorced, and were about to wed one another. For their slogan they chose “Eat, drink, and remarry.” And there’s no lack of double entendre on Nantucket, says McCarthy. He has made several quarterboards for the Frazier family, including one that says “Deuce Coop” for Libby Frazier, who keeps two chickens as pets. “And because the Beach Boys are my husband’s favorite,” Frazier notes. Another memorable sign is a quarterboard McCarthy made for a surgeon that says simply “Suture Self.”

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A comfortable home with plenty of room for everyone serves as a backdrop for a family who loves their time together

While the Laverty home in the Nye’s Neck neighborhood of Falmouth was built to be a place for generations of family to gather and enjoy all of the outdoor activities the Cape has to offer, it is, at its core, a family home, one that is enjoyed throughout the year. Architect Denise Bonoli created a design that would acknowledge the drama of the water, even if you were in the middle of the house, by making sure the footprint was not too wide and the light was still able to penetrate all of the living spaces. The options for living, seating, gathering and resting are seemingly endless upon first inspection, but considering the size of the family—the patriarch and matriarch, Charlie and Judy, their four grown children with various partners and four grandchildren—a weekend gathering would be a full house in any scenario.

Visitors enter through the exquisite front door, which Judy requested to be replaced after construction was complete. The original door was impressive with its massive wood design, but the new door has inset glass panes that not only help to identify visitors but also enable the light for the front of the house to stream into the large foyer. “I had no idea who was at the door before,” Judy explains. “So it was always a surprise, and sometimes that’s not a good thing, if you know what I mean. Some people you want to make sure you’re looking your best for!”

Beyond the foyer, the main living area stretches out in either direction with that mesmerizing view spanning the entire backside of the house. A low bank of cabinetry serves to create a passageway between the two ends of the house as it flanks the open dining area. The formal living room creates a sophisticated and cozy place to gather with exquisitely appointed built-ins that showcase art, collectibles and family photos that chronicle decades of the family’s special memories.

At the other end of the large room, adjacent to the kitchen is an impressive room informally known as the study. The tray ceiling that runs throughout the ground floor is reimagined here. Instead of the fresh ivory paint that accents it in the rest of the house, here Ralph Cataldo of Cataldo Custom Builders stained the bead board to coordinate with the warm walnut millwork that wraps the walls of this comfortable space. “Oh, that ceiling was a bit of a problem,” Charlie recalls. “Ralph walked in and took one look at it and wasn’t satisfied. Peter Sarkinen, Ralph’s project manager, arrived and pulled the whole thing down. He re-installed it himself. I don’t know what was wrong with it, but Ralph did and Peter fixed it.”

Charlie says this room is the most common place for everyone to gather. The reason for that isn’t quite evident but could be influenced by a number of factors. First, it is extremely comfortable and inviting due to the inspired décor, accomplished by interior decorator Susan Connor. Deep comfortable upholstery in neutral colors and soft textures encourage long conversations. With a television as a focal point on one wall, this is the perfect place for the family to come together to watch their beloved Boston College football games.

Charlie says that when things get a bit raucous, another television positioned over the fireplace in the living room allows a more peaceful experience. One might think that the room is so popular because it is the most comfortable area that is also in closest proximity to the kitchen, but the team at Faneuil Kitchen Cabinet was thoughtful enough to include a small fridge and bar within the long wall of walnut cabinetry that runs the length of the room. Perhaps the strongest reason this room is so popular is because it is often where Charlie can be found (when he is not swimming in the ocean just beyond, or tending to his gardens). The room just beckons the opportunity to sit, relax and enjoy a conversation with Charlie on any variety of subjects—an activity that could consume the better part of a morning.

The formal dining room, which is not overly formal at all, allows the family to gather for special meals with a table that easily seats 12. Although Charlie says the room probably serves more as a transitional space—the hub of the wheel of the house—since many times meals are shared in the three-season room adjacent to the kitchen that also includes a massive stone fireplace.

The home benefits from eight bedrooms, six upstairs and two on the main floor, that all enjoy en suite bathrooms. Each of the Laverty children has their own bedroom on the second floor—a bunk room for the boys and another for the girls afford the grandchildren their own space. On the ground floor, Charlie and Judy are able to find their own serenity within their spacious master suite, complete with a private patio off of the bedroom, and a guest suite at the opposite end of the house affords privacy and luxury to any weekend guests.

Upstairs, there is no lack of thoughtful alcoves and rooms to inhabit, either individually or as a group. On the landing at the top of the stairs, there is an open area that is perfect for the grandchildren and plenty of friends to collect and connect for games, conversation and of course plenty of online surfing. Adjacent to the space, behind French doors if privacy is required, a space referred to as the library has slightly more formal seating; a fridge; and arguably the best view in the house. Doors open to a stunning balcony porch that offers 180-degree vistas of Buzzards Bay. The room is nestled under the home’s crowning cupola, and the oversized windowed tower glows from within when lit at night.

The comings and goings of this busy family are in perpetual motion, but one thing remains a constant: their intersection. And like any well-planned traffic intersection, flow, volume and intention of purpose have been factored into the design of the home. This family is special and seemingly would thrive and come together despite their surroundings, but this home has a special place in their lives. It is hard to determine whether the home itself influences them or whether, because of the special team that is responsible for thoughtfully considering and creating this space, the family is able to live their best life. “We are very fortunate,” both Charlie and Judy are often heard saying when talking about the precious time with their family in this home.

Ralph Cataldo reminds us how grateful he was to have worked with the Lavertys on two incredible oceanfront homes, where the same team of professionals worked together, trusted each other and created an incredible result, twice!

As these six installments have evolved, so has our relationship with the family. Even though we are now closing the door, and giving them back their privacy, the experience, the smiles, the laughter and the warmth they have shared will continue to influence our lives going forward.

The post Residence Redux: The Inside Story appeared first on Cape Cod LIFE.

A serendipitous find leads to a new and improved bathroom, and one happy homeowner

It is often said that items are designed with a certain person or place in mind, and for designer and Seaside Design Studio and Shop owner Bridget Cahill, this could not be more true. Cahill bought a mahogany dresser with an attached mirror, originally built in 1910, at an estate sale in Brewster and redesigned it for her shop with a certain customer in mind. When the customer saw the renovated vanity, the reimagining of the dresser turned into the redesign of an entire bathroom.

Ever since the homeowner moved from California permanently to Cape Cod three years ago, she has loved everything about her house, except for her bathroom. “The bathroom was an embarrassment to me,” she says. “It was tiny with walls that looked like they had apricot frosting on them and an oversized dark wood vanity. It was a disaster. The vanity at least had to be done.”

The homeowner quickly became a regular at Cahill’s Dennis store through pure love of her products, so Cahill came to understand the homeowner’s needs and style. Given that the home was already filled with furniture from Seaside Design Studio and Shop, it only made sense that the bathroom would follow suit.

The homeowner first saw the dresser, in its original state, last summer in Cahill’s storage space and didn’t think much of it. As Cahill refurbished the dresser, she found the perfect green/gray quartzite for the new vanity’s countertop. She noticed a dash of yellow in the stone and immediately thought of the homeowner, whose living room features yellow couches. When the homeowner attended an early opening of the shop this spring, she spotted the piece sitting in a corner. “My whole body started to smile,” she says. “I told Bridget, ‘I see a streak of yellow in it,’ and Bridget said she knew I would notice.”

From there, the three-year-long wait for a bathroom redesign came to an end—but the task to build an entire bathroom around a vanity was not simple. “The size of the vanity would not have worked in the homeowner’s bathroom unless she added square footage to the space, but I had a sense that, together, we would make that happen,” Cahill recalls. The homeowner was willing to sacrifice a 3-foot bump out into her garage to allow the 5-foot-by-8-foot bathroom to be transformed into an 8-foot-by-8-foot accommodation. The expansion allowed all of the homeowner’s wishes to be granted. It is now home to a 4-foot-by-4-foot walk-in shower, the 50-inch vanity, and a stacked washer and dryer.

The trick, says Cahill, is “In smaller bathrooms, a cohesive quality can help to create a feeling of more space.” Knowing that the vanity was the most important bathroom feature, “it was important that everything surrounding the vanity play off of the color and style of it,” Cahill says. “I selected neutral colored floor and shower wall tiles that wouldn’t distract from the character of the vanity, and added a decorative glass tile (in the shower) that consisted of the same colors as the countertop, highlighting the complementary relationship of the two materials. This balance of neutrality (the gray/white palette) and drama (the White Macaubus quartzite countertop/glass accent tiles) created the cohesive quality I was aiming for.”

At first the homeowner was wary of keeping the mahogany mirror attached to the vanity, but Cahill insisted. “Using the mirror was integral to maintaining the inherent charm of the dresser as it was transformed into a vanity that would fit within current trends,” she explains. The end result was a very happy homeowner whose desires for a peaceful, tranquil bathroom came true. She calls it her “grown-up room. It’s so sophisticated… like a lady who put her jewels on.” The retired accessories buyer for retail stores admits that her house is not the standard Cape Cod style, due to its lack of a blue color palette and modernity. But Cahill was never concerned about the more contemporary nature of the bathroom.

“While the bathroom could be considered contemporary, the vintage character and charm of the vanity softens that value,” Cahill explains. “While the style of the house is not contemporary, the furnishings and general manner of her home are clean, bright and uncluttered. This common thread allows for the bathroom to work within the house.”

What started as only a vanity and a mirror quickly turned into the fulfillment of a longtime wish for the homeowner. Cahill listened to the needs of her client and was able to achieve her own goals as well. “My primary goal with any design is to provide the customer with a finished space they could not get without my help,” she explains. “Knowing that the homeowner did not want to invest in a project that wouldn’t result in all three improvements (a larger vanity, larger shower and washer/dryer), I set out to create a layout that would achieve that and give her the lightest, brightest, cleanest space possible. She entrusted me to do that for her, and I’m happy she did.”

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