Second Story
For more than eight decades, the traditional rooms of this 1939 Cape Cod remained largely unchanged. Only the second family to call it home, our clients recognized a familiar sense of place within its walls. Having grown up on the East Coast in houses with similar floor plans, they understood the quiet appeal of its intimate rooms and timeless architecture.
The renovation carefully preserved most of the original walls, while select areas were opened or reconfigured to accommodate modern life. Original picture-frame molding and millwork throughout the first floor were carefully maintained, while the interior was reconsidered for a family moving into its next phase of life. A new kitchen, family room, and powder room expanded the way the home could be used. Upstairs, a reconfigured floor plan created an entirely new primary bedroom and bath.
Traditional Cape Cod rooms were intimate, designed for conversation. Modern life, however, brings different requirements. Creating space for cooking, entertaining, and audiovisual technology without overwhelming the home's proportions became central to the design. The new kitchen and family room open directly to the pool and outdoor living area, giving the family a more relaxed place to gather with friends.
Pieces with a sense of history mix easily with new furniture. In the dining room, the past and present sit comfortably together. The original chandelier remained exactly where it had always hung. Its graceful shape and perfect scale felt as relevant today as it did when the house was built. Pale blue walls reflect the client's favorite color, while wallpaper across the ceiling introduces pattern from an unexpected direction. A clean-lined painted table and vintage chairs temper tradition with a more modern point of view. The result feels accumulated rather than installed—personal, thoughtful, and comfortably evolved.
The architecture retains its original voice, but the way the family lives has been completely renewed. Old and new. Familiar and fresh. A house prepared to tell its second story.
Collaborative Partners:
Andrew Welch Photo
SEA Design Build
