August 23, 2017 | Sandy Giardi
Summer Homes & Style:
California-Style Dream
High atop a bluff in North Truro, Cape Associates has crafted a vision in red cedar and glass that epitomizes modern summer style. While the flat-roofed beach house may be more Hollywood Hills than ol’ Cape Cod, the coastal retreat is deeply rooted in its Northeastern site, and it is fabulous. Designed by Falmouth architect Jill Neubauer of Jill Neubauer Architects, Inc., the dwelling was crafted to be LEED compliant and utilizes alternative energy systems. It also has an indoor/outdoor harmony that runs deep, and a beautiful balance of warmth and sophistication.
The property’s rectangular form parallels the wide stretch of dune and sea it overlooks (78 steps down!) to allow for exceptional views from all rooms. The covered porch, which boasts screens that wrap its perimeter to usher in salty sea breezes, has a “roll-down” screen on the ocean-facing view, explains project manager and Executive Vice President of Cape Associates Mark Kinnane. When mosquitos aren’t biting, the owners can open that up for completely unadulterated panoramas. The protected patio is outfitted with a refrigerator, a gas grill for cookouts and a lobster pot for clambakes on one end and a fireplace on the other. When it’s cool, occupants can lounge hearthside on twine-colored sofas amid pillows colored a tropical punch.
A sleek yet comfortable living room is adjacent to the screened porch. Stone, used underfoot and on a palatial fireplace surround, gives the space impeccably clean lines, while the firebox itself, comprised of Cor-Ten steel, staves off any chill with its smoldering rust patina. Glass stretches to the corners to give the room a wide-open feel and yet another perspective on the surf and landscape.
Virtually every room has a connection to the great outdoors, as well as its own take on it, and the heart of the home is no different. The kitchen features muntin-free windows (Asks Kinnane, “Who wants those blocking the view?”), allowing the home chef to feel close to the water, and beautiful Tabu ash cabinetry from Italy. The paneling, by cabinetmaker Ken Franklin, comes off as a polished take on driftwood that is all the more striking against the deeper shade of the cedar exterior. Though disparate, the interior echoes the horizontal siding of the outside, offers Kinnane. “It has a groove put in every eight inches to carry the line of the wood around the whole room.”
The master bedroom breathes in the open air from both sides. On the water side, a sliding door opens up to the sea, while the opposite wall reveals an outdoor shower—elevated. That outdoor bath is more like a deck and the largest Cape Associates has done to date. It boasts a freestanding tub, shower and indoor-outdoor furniture, as well as a stack of rolling doors that the owners can leave open for a view or close for privacy. The enclosed area mimics the red cedar tongue and groove siding of the exterior, explains Kinnane, “but it’s done in such a way that it can let air come through.”
See this project featured in 8 Outdoor Showers You Need to See.
Should the residents prefer to be sheltered from the elements, they can always draw a tub in one of two light-filled master baths. The oasis pictured below offers a luxe alternative. Again, it’s laden with Tabu ash, though this veneer was dipped in a subtly different shade to give the ensuite its own character, and welcomes in that enviable coastal scene as seen through ivory whisper-thin drapes.
The sleeping quarters for the kids are just as thoughtfully designed. Spirited his and her bedrooms feature built-in bunk beds as well as motorized glass garage doors that come down to shut out the weather and open up to embrace it. Just beyond those, a second drop-down screen allows those sleeping on the deck to dream en plein air without worrying about insects.
A sensational roof deck is the icing on the cake and the ultimate perch for those looking to soak up the sun or throw caution to the wind. With its dining island, lounge seating and row of chaise longues (buffered a bit from strong gusts by a glass railing), the skyward spot has a clear California vibe. That is, until you spy Wellfleet and the Provincetown monument in the distance.
Construction: Cape Associates, Inc.
Architecture: Jill Neubauer Architects, Inc.
Interior Design: Forehand + Lake Interior Design
See all Summer Homes & Style:
Seacoast Sophistication
Dedham Divots
The Maine Event
Killer Views
Bayside Gem
Family Retreat
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