Outdoor Focus

Longfellow Design Build transforms a family cottage into an ample and airy year-round residence integrated with the landscape.

Parents of four active young boys, the owners needed a sizable new year-round residence that had a big yard with plenty of space to run around. Maximizing outdoor space and integrating it with the home was another key component of the project. To achieve their goals, the couple tapped Longfellow Design Build.

It was decided that they would forgo the typical outdoor living setup or pool area for a more creative option. By positioning the house at the far edge of the lot, an expansive yard was created. With the home positioned at one end of the property, and the entry, garage, and driveway carefully situated so as not to interfere, the yard becomes the home's focal point.

The kitchen and living room open onto a covered deck via separate sets of Andersen accordion doors. Having both bifold doors open together transforms the entire ground floor into an indoor/outdoor space reminiscent of homes in the Caribbean. When closed (because this is New England, after all), the oversized sliders looking out onto the expansive lawn provide an enhanced feeling of personal space.

The home's interior includes custom features, trim, and millwork designed and installed by Longfellow. The living room has a stunning coffered ceiling, a shiplap entertainment/fireplace wall with window seating to each side, and a built-in bright blue wet bar credenza. The boy's bedrooms have built-in platform bunk beds with stairs, and the kitchen includes an informal breakfast nook with banquette seating.

The cabinetry throughout the home is all custom dovetail, soft close with maple doors and brushed copper hardware. The home's exterior is clad in red cedar shake shingles, with copper gutters and downspouts. The once small summer cottage is now completely  transformed into a large residence that can be enjoyed in all seasons.