Architecture and interior design firm, SV Design, took cues from Sea Ranch in Northern California to turn this Cape Cod home into a one-of-a-kind oasis.
SV Design’s Lindsay Goode and Sean Henry completed a full redesign of this Chatham home in the summer of 2023.
Nestled in the charming seaside town of Chatham, Massachusetts, SV Design’s Farther Reach project showcases the beautiful benefits of integrated teamwork when it comes to architecture and interior design. The finished product is an airy, open and functional design that merges modern and traditional Cape Cod styles—but that’s not how it started. When Interiors Associate Lindsay Goode and Architectural Senior Project Manager Sean Henry began this robust renovation, the existing house had already undergone several makeovers, leaving a less-than-desirable structure.
“Certain areas were just added on to and not fully integrated,” Henry says. “The existing space, especially the first floor, was very choppy and didn't flow well. The challenge was working with the existing structure, how it was arranged, and altering it in a way that created a seamless flow without completely tearing the house down.”
This is where SV Design’s integrated approach comes into play—the interior design team works in tandem with the architecture team from the very beginning. Goode and Henry said they did a lot of “designing on the fly” throughout this particular project as they uncovered unexpected existing structures and worked together to find creative solutions.
“We really had to work hand-in-hand,” Goode says. “Oftentimes, the architecture comes first and then the interior designer is brought in later when the roads have already been figured out. But we like to bring interiors in as early as we can so we never miss a beat.”
Farther Reach’s kitchen is now bright and airy with streams of natural light.
The Inspiration
Upon connecting with the client, Goode and Henry learned that the family of four (plus two furry friends) was looking for a home-away-from-home that could be used all year, while prioritizing functionality for their active lifestyle. The client had previously lived in California, and the wife was drawn to the modernist style, linear lines and angular silhouettes of many coastal California homes.
“That’s what inspired the vertical cedar, the exterior, and the angled windows circling back to the roof lines—it has a Sea Ranch vibe,” Goode says, referencing the utopian community of modern architecture in Northern California.
The home’s exterior was largely inspired by the client’s Californian style.
SV Design combined the client’s goals with design sensibilities that respond to the home’s picturesque surroundings, resulting in spaces that evoke a classic Cape Cod feel with a contemporary twist.
The First Floor
Farther Reach is an upside-down house, so the kitchen and living areas are on the second floor, leaving the first floor open to endless possibilities. For this client, the lower level was transformed into the husband’s oasis. As a health-conscious individual who also loves to entertain, SV Design created a space that allows for both of these passions.
The first floor features a sauna, along with many other health-forward characteristics.
“I call it ‘his space,’” Goode says. “There’s a guest bedroom, as well as a desk space for his office. There’s a sauna, a plunge pool and a really cool bathroom with a spa-like steam shower.”
The screen porch has features that allow it to be used all year long.
Also on the first floor is one of Goode’s favorite spaces: a cedar-clad screen porch. “I like the warmth of it,” she says. “The twin-size hanging beds are really fun, and they’re big enough that it’s a great nap spot. There are also heaters and the screens can be changed out for glass, so they can use this space year-round.”
The Second Floor
With the kitchen, living area, dining room and TV room on the second level, SV Design focused on creating a harmonious flow between spaces and capitalized on the home’s waterfront view. “We brought in modern line windows, which gave us a thinner profile on the frames,” Henry says. “Since the existing house was a bit choppy, we brought the living spaces together to create an open concept. And we added a lot of glass to the space, so even when the sun isn't shining, it still feels bright, airy and fresh.”
Flooded with natural light, the second level opens up to a spacious porch.
They also added a floor-to-ceiling folding glass wall to further the functionality of the second floor’s indoor-outdoor spaces. “Originally there were only two sliders on that back wall, which broke up the main entertaining space,” Goode says. “Now the full wall opens up to the balcony.” Mechanical screens can be lowered with the press of a button to enclose the space, allowing the sea breeze to be enjoyed sans mosquitos.
The Bedrooms
The primary bedroom features a gorgeous view of the water.
Since the family is so active, the bedrooms have a minimalist design to accommodate sleeping and sometimes working. “The rooms are cozy and spacious, but they're not obnoxiously large,” Goode says. “The primary bedroom contains a king-size bed, a window bench running along the wall where the dogs sleep, and a built-in desk. It’s also the only bedroom on the second floor, so it gets that view of the water and tons of natural light.”
The daughters’ rooms feature a large circle painted behind the bed.
A commonality throughout the house is spaces that look effortless but are packed with thoughtful details. The daughters’ bedrooms are a great example of this. Along with playful touches like a large circle painted behind the bed and visually interesting chandeliers, both rooms feature a sleek loft space above their beds. “It’s like a cozy little reading nook,” Goode says. “It looks so simple and clean, but a lot of detail went into that design, which is why I love it so much.”
Lofted nooks in the daughters’ rooms contribute to the home’s effortless design.
The Exterior
Knowing this waterfront vacation home’s outdoor spaces will see a lot of use, SV Design created multiple pockets on the property for entertaining, al fresco dining, and relaxing. There’s a pool with an outdoor bar on one side of the property, while the side that faces the ocean features a grill, dining area and fire pit, along with entrances to the plunge pool and spa.
“It's almost like you can have little different parties—the girls can be at the pool while the parents are in the spa,” Goode says. “You have separation, but you’re still on the same property.”
Facing the ocean, the back of the home has a fire pit, grill and dining area.
Another focus of the outdoor renovation was privacy. “There's a lot of landscaping,” Henry says. “We brought in some fairly mature trees to screen the surrounding neighbors, and the utilities and a shed were placed on the side that’s closest to a neighboring home.”
Executive Landscaping added landscaping around the property to create a more private space.
The Details
SV Design knows how to seamlessly integrate functionality with flair, and a few spaces at Farther Reach showcase this best, including an outdoor shower by the pool, one of the team’s favorite spaces. “It’s different from what you usually see on the Cape,” Goode says. “It’s not attached to the house, which is really unique, and the slatted wood creates so many different shadow lines that are visually interesting.”
The outdoor shower creates interesting shadows that complement the home’s linear exterior.
Another playful addition is the ring swing in the backyard. It looks quite simple, but it was not an easy build. “The owner fell in love with the swing from Jeff Soderbergh, and they bought it without having a tree to hang it from, thus we needed to build some sort of stand to hold it,” Henry says. “It’s almost like a sculpture piece. It’s very minimal, but there’s a lot of detailing and engineering behind the design.”
The SV Design team built a sculpture-like stand for the ring swing.
Builder: Monomoy Real Estate & Construction
Ring Chair: Jeff Soderbergh Sustainable Furnishings & Fine Art
Landscape: Executive Landscaping
Metal: BLUBLK
Concrete: Elements Concrete
Photographer: Ryan Maheu Photography
Learn more about SV Design here.
