Houzz Tour: Cozy and Playful in Cape Cod
by Vanessa Brunner · 14 photos · 36 comments
This Cape Cod home isn't near the ocean; it gets its beautiful waterfront views from one of the cape's largest freshwater lakes, Lake Wequaquet. The back of the house faces south across the lake, and the rooms, including this ground floor master bedroom, are flooded with sunshine and spectacular views.
French doors in the bedroom open to a private terrace that leads down to a beach.
by Polhemus Savery DaSilva
French doors in the bedroom open to a private terrace that leads down to a beach.
The children's rooms take up the entire second floor. There's a wide age range among the four kids, and they wanted their own rooms with extra space for summer sleepovers with friends.
by Polhemus Savery DaSilva
Like the master suite, the children's rooms open to the lake. Windows cover the top and bottom floors on the back of the house — even wrapping around corners — to take full advantage of the view.
A single upstairs bathroom was split into two separate spaces so two kids can use the bathroom at once.
by Polhemus Savery DaSilva
A single upstairs bathroom was split into two separate spaces so two kids can use the bathroom at once.
All of the living spaces open to a main terrace overlooking the lake. And a screened-in porch off the dining room and kitchen allow the family to enjoy the outdoors year round.
by Polhemus Savery DaSilva
DaSilva used the home's unique architecture to create an "air of enchantment," he says. A bridge that winds down from the master terrace to the private beach brings this approach to life with a functional design.
by Polhemus Savery DaSilva
DaSilva created the terraces to capitalize on outdoor enjoyment in response to the site's sloping topography, which, while it leads serenely down to the beach, kills most of the usable backyard space.
by Polhemus Savery DaSilva
DaSilva built four outdoor showers with an initial for each of children's names. Nearby access to the mudroom and basement makes it easy to get back into the house without making a mess.
by Polhemus Savery DaSilva
The heavily wooded site and history of the area inspired parts of the home's exterior. Victorian architectural elements, like the Gothic arches on the front entrance, evoke a fairy-tale vibe in the forest-like setting.
by Polhemus Savery DaSilva
But the home's material palette, including the green shingles for the roof and unpainted weathered white cedar for the other shingles, blends into the environment and feels more like that of a classic Northeast lake house.
by Polhemus Savery DaSilva
The interior, meanwhile, has a distinctly different feel from the exterior. Bright and airy, the open floor plan gains definition through ceiling changes, floor patterns and columns.
by Polhemus Savery DaSilva
The architect designed the overscale and flattened forms of the staircase to add another playful facet. The family chose a ceramic tile instead of hardwood as a durable and easy-to-clean flooring solution.
by Polhemus Savery DaSilva
Since this is mainly a vacation home that often hosts guests, the homeowners wanted a kitchen that could survive big parties. An efficient layout, a big Viking stovetop and plenty of granite counter space make entertaining a cinch.
by Polhemus Savery DaSilva
Multiple nooks, like this one in the living room, create cozy respites in the otherwise open layout.
by Polhemus Savery DaSilva
In this unique nook, a custom rainbow quartzite fireplace surround makes for a contemporary contrast against the Cape Cod–style beadboard wall.
by Polhemus Savery DaSilva
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I also grew up around wealthy people, but they lived in homes that stayed the same for generations, and for that reason, did not raise everyone's property taxes. In my hometown on the Cape, most new money families now build these outrageous homes then sell them for something bigger in about 2-5 years. My family is left with an insane tax bill. By the way, I work long and hard too...but will not be able to live where my family has lived for generations because of all this need to have bigger, better than everyone else and the need to show it all off...
@capegirl60 I can understand your feelings. Here in Toronto happens the same thing. My co-worker was devastated that property taxes for her small house were raised according surrounding mansions and soon they could be "squeezed out" of the nice area they lived for many years. She didn't care about re-sale price. Harsh reality, poor people.
Another irony is that even though there is a lot of talk about sustainability, recycling, green initiatives, etc., these homes are a far cry from using resources wisely. I've seen homes that are only a few years old torn down because they aren't big enough, and all the fairly new building materials sent to a landfill. It's incredibly wasteful.
The property tax issue is another huge sore spot, especially here in NY. Even in suburban communites as opposed to vacation areas, residents who've lived here all their lives have to move because the property taxes have gone sky high due in part to the overbuilding. (The other reason is the ridiculous school taxes, but that's another discussion for another day!)