Don’t be fooled by the term beach house—it’s not representative of the truly beautiful homes that can be found in Falmouth. Weathered wood shingles, charming outdoor showers, and paneled walls all feel very reminiscent of the glamourous 1950’s era Cape Cod, and this beach cottage was no exception. The homeowner came to us looking to reconnect with her hometown roots after buying an outdated vacation home for her family to sneak away to from the hustle and bustle of the city. A short distance from the beach, the scenic rocky coastline, and complete with a charming one room guest cottage in the back, it’s a truly special place with so much to offer.
Our big job was to turn the empty cottage into a house that could feel like a home away from home by updating two of the major rooms: the living room and dining area. Step one was updating the wood paneled walls—many older homes in New England come with stained or natural wood paneling. To make it feel bright and welcoming we used a stunning true white paint on the walls, trim, and ceilings. We also installed new hardware, like modern sconces over the mantel, while still keeping original fixtures like a stunning nautical-style glass pendant light. With not one, but two fireplaces, there’s a focal point in each of the main rooms that we were thrilled to design around.
We filled the living room with plenty of comfortable and stylish seating, ideal for family game nights or entertaining guests. A deep sofa is topped with plush patterned pillows that feel durable, yet decorative. Always thinking of function, we chose a plush indoor/outdoor style rug that holds up better to pets paws and sandy feet back from the beach. Woven poufs, two statement arm chairs, and a woven bench all feel delightfully mixed and matched and stand at the ready to be moved around as needed. Over the sofa, we hung two charming watercolor landscapes from local artist Carrie Megan.
The dining room is wonderful because it opens into an open concept sitting area with another fireplace. In order to add a little structure to the room, we used rugs and furniture to create separate zones. A plush rug and matching rattan chairs sit right in front of the hearth, while a rough wood sideboard against the wall behind it offers plenty of storage for glasses and serveware. Above the bar is a stunning photograph from Lauren Marttila Photography. The dining room table feels almost like weathered wood and is sizable, perfect for big dinners and the white wishbone-style chairs complement it perfectly. It sits in front of truly stunning built-in shelves that we filled with vintage books, plants, glassware, and nautical antiques.
After the big reveal, the homeowner couldn’t have been happier with the design. "Angela and her team were a pleasure to work with, particularly during the stressful time of the pandemic. Throughout the design process including idea generation and understanding our goals, Angela met our expectations and created the look and feel we were looking for,” she says. “All of Angela's suggestions were thoughtful and the pieces high-quality and unique. We couldn't be happier with the finished product! We highly recommend Angela and her team."