This plain-Jane contemporary beach house was completely transformed into a striking sea-side oasis. The low horizontal lines of the existing house…
…were dramatically offset with a vertical addition housing the garage, guest suite and…
…climate-controlled greenhouse.
A smaller, but no less dramatic transformation occurred at the front entry.
The original plain brick-and-concrete stairs were eliminated and in their place…
…a more dominant covered portico with battered fieldstone walls and bluestone treads. The scale of the large box columns and painted cedar truss help the new front entry become a focal point in the long lines of the original house.
At the opposite side of the house, there’s plenty of deck for every one. Custom handrails were designed to comply with a code-mandated railing height without blocking water-views from your deck chair.
Stairs offer access to the pool…
…and an outdoor shower.
Around the corner, a portion of open deck was converted to a screen porch. This outdoor room presents the owners with panoramic views of the river while keeping the bugs at bay.
While the framing was certainly complex, the extraordinary lines of the guest suite ceiling are the payoff. The abundance of natural light, including that from the cupola’s clerestory windows, makes this room even more inviting.
Here, a built-in bookcase is topped with a copper pan and decorative stone to prevent water damage from the plants above.
In the bathroom, a wall-to-wall mirror, large skylight and profusion of white more than make up for a diminutive window. The warm wood tones impart beautiful balance.
White “Subway” tiles bestow a classic look upon this new shower.
