A Haven in the Harbors

In a quaint coastal enclave where the marsh meets the sea, a newly constructed custom home stands as a symbol of new beginnings for the tenured team at Bayside Building. With an eye on the future, Bayside’s trio of leaders—Brian Dacey, Jim Bowes, and Steve Richardson—celebrate the culmination of their efforts with one of their final large-scale projects. 

Set on undulating terrain with sensitive wetland surroundings, the project began with a pragmatic decision: to rebuild rather than renovate. The existing house, constrained by size and regulatory limits, demanded a fresh start. 

Drawing from a repertoire of designs, Bowes collaborated with architect Jim Golden of James Phillip Golden Architect to design a distinctive gambrel-style home. “When I met with the clients, we went through a few existing home designs we had previously done,” says Bowes. “They fell in love with a particular one, and we took that house and enhanced it in every way, shape, and form.” 

Clad in white cedar sidewall shingles and crowned with a red cedar roof on a steep gambrel roofline, the exterior features custom columns, railings, and front doors, with shutters painted in Benjamin Moore’s Athabasca Blue. “The attention to detail on the outside of the house was equal to the attention to detail on the inside, which is rare,” Bowes notes. “Every single column on the house is architecturally correct, and built specifically for that house.”

Inside, precision and craftsmanship define each room. Interior elevations were meticulously planned for paneling, complemented by coffered ceilings, nickel gap shiplap details, and expansive doors and windows. The kitchen glistens with countertops and matching backsplashes sourced from Cape Cod Marble & Granite. Carefully selected furnishings, light fixtures, and hardware mingle beneath meticulously executed interior architecture.

The final design reflects a close collaboration between Bowes and the homeowners, who worked in tandem to curate the home with elegant furnishings, fixtures, tile and hardware. “I worked diligently with the homeowners to choose everything in a timely manner so that the project would be a success,” Bowes recalls. 

The third floor showcases a bunk room reminiscent of a ship's quarters, offering a playful retreat for guests and grandchildren. With Teak and Holly floors anchoring a blend of mahogany and shiplap surfaces, the bunk room accommodates six beds, charging stations, and porthole windows for late-night conversations.

Ample deck and patio space serve as a natural extension of the interiors, accompanied by a pool, cabana, fire pit, grilling area, and lounge seating. “Our goal was to place the home within a comfortable green setting,” says Dave Hawk, President of Hawk Design, who optimized the available landscape with a functional yet lush design, which was later installed by Joyce Landscaping. “We knew we could expand the landscape through the use of native materials in a natural setting,” says Hawk. 

Following the organic contours of the coastline, an abundance of native hollies and grasses lead to manicured areas featuring blue hydrangeas and ornamental plantings. “The plantings complement the house really nicely,” says Chris Joyce, President of Joyce Landscaping. “It really looks like it flows right from the natural setting into the landscape.”

Despite seasonal building restrictions, groundwork laid in December 2021 swiftly culminated in a structurally sound framework by mid-2022. A summer of finalizing specifications and sourcing materials culminated in a breathtaking finish—a sprawling 10,000 square feet of living space, complete with a pool, cabana, boat house, and dock—all delivered on schedule by June 2023.

The home was the final project for Steve Richardson, who concluded his career with Bayside onsite as project manager. “I truly enjoyed working on my final home with Brian and Jimmy, as well as the clients, so much so that I currently serve as the caretaker of this beautiful home,” Richardson reflects.

Architect: James P. Golden Architect

Builder: Bayside Building, Inc.

Landscape Architect: Hawk Design

Landscape: Joyce Landscaping

Shutters: New England Shutter Mills

Counters & Backsplash: Cape Cod Marble & Granite

Pool: Quality Pools of Cape Cod

Photography: Jana Cevolo (exteriors), Nat Rea (interiors)