Keeping It Cottage-Sized
This 2000-sq.-ft. home takes full advantage of its steep site with a contemporary design that blends seamlessly into the neighborhood.
Wanting to preserve their neighborhood’s small-cottage character, the owners of this 2000-sq.-ft. four-bedroom house designed it to match the scale and proportions of the older homes nearby. While the house is clearly contemporary in style, the simple pitched roof and board siding make it sit comfortably with its more traditional neighbors.
On the outside, these boards are rot-resistant Accoya (a treated radiata pine), which is both low-maintenance and long lasting. On the inside, plain untreated radiata pine is used with a paint finish. Clerestory windows along the street side of the house let in light while maintaining privacy. This light also floods the stairway and the lower bedroom hall.
The site’s steep slope lent itself to bedrooms on the lower level with a large open living space and one bedroom and one bath on the entry level. The living area features floor-to-ceiling glazing and an attached deck 12 ft. above grade, which appears to float in the trees.
The main entry level works as a 1000-sq.-ft. residence for the owners most of the time. During the summer and on busy weekends, the downstairs—which has three bedrooms, a separate entry, and an outdoor sitting area—accommodates guests and family. The HVAC system has multiple zones, so the two areas can function independently.
| Architect: Estes Twombly + Titrington Architects | Location: Cape Cod, Mass. …………… |
| Builder: Highland Builders | Photos: Warren Jagger …………… |
| Landscape Architect: Martha Moore |
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