An Orleans abode becomes a cheerful, easy getaway, thanks to Kennerknecht Design Group.

A custom console adds a pop of color in the dining room.

When Kennerknecht Design Group first laid eyes on their newest project on Cape Cod in November 2020, the clients hoped that the house would be usable for summer 2021. The turnaround was quick and the shipping delays were long, but Jayme Kennerknecht, owner and principal, and Jessica Rogers, senior interior designer, strived to make the house liveable for Memorial Day weekend. In a few short months, they turned the Orleans home into an understated coastal retreat that felt summery, bright and—most importantly—easy.The interior palette and coastal aesthetic seamlessly blend into the Cape Cod landscape.

“I believe all vacation homes should feel easy to be in, and this one is the perfect example of how a home can be comfortable and still chic,” Rogers says.

Styling shelves is one of the best ways for a vacation home to feel lived-in.

The duo spent the following weeks devising their master design plan in shades of pale blue, periwinkle, white and sand tones. Keeping a monochromatic palette throughout furthered their goal of easiness upon entering the home: “To me, a monochromatic palette really lets your eye and mind rest,” Rogers says.

Once the color palette was established, the floors were refinished throughout the home and millwork was added. Beaded lighting, grasscloth-covered furniture and rattan frames brought in textural elements to each space.
A painting by local artist Paul Schulenburg hangs in the family room.

The clients requested one of the children’s bedrooms be turned into a bunk room, so the team designed custom twin-over-full bunk beds to fit under the room’s eaves for the clients’ children and their friends.

“Designing custom bunk beds from scratch is always a challenge,” Rogers says. “You need to take so many factors into consideration, but mainly safety, scale and usability. We needed them to be safe for young kids to interact with, cozy for kids but also comfortable for adults, and to be timeless in a way that still feels appropriate when the kids grow older.”
The design team achieves a casual elegance in the kitchen, bathroom and living room by layering in woven and rattan frames.

Another custom piece of millwork made sense for the kids’ other hangout: the rec room. There, a built-in media center offers plenty of storage for games and puzzles, while still making room for displaying coastal accessories, framed photos and other objects d’art. “Providing for and styling shelves is one of the best ways for a vacation home to feel lived in,” Rogers adds.A largely monochromatic palette in the bedrooms is embellished with natural textures, gentle blues, aged wood and metal finishes.

Beyond the main living areas, the owners wanted an office nook for working remotely. Kennerknecht and Rogers transformed a sitting room off the primary bedroom into a workspace with stylish touches.

A quatrefoil chandelier and a fringed sofa from Lee Industries (leeindustries.com) add a feminine touch to the room, complementing its custom-built desk and storage.Custom bunk beds were made by JC Donald Company and the oversize pendant is by Palecek.

Throughout the summer of 2021 and into 2022, more updates were made. Beside the pool, a series of wicker chairs from Walter’s Wicker (walterswicker.com) padded with Perennials Fabrics (perennialsfabrics.com) form a seating area around the half-moon-shaped hot tub, while similar seating surrounds the outdoor dining table.

The outdoor furniture is by Walter’s Wicker.

“The clients were gracious and patient, and agreed wholeheartedly from the beginning that the project should be done right rather than just done quickly,” Rogers says. “Having that trust really gave us the space to deliver the best possible project for them.”

The design team achieved a coastal aesthetic without leaning too nautical.

DESIGN DETAILS

TYPE:
Single-family home

LOCATION:
Orleans

INTERIOR DESIGN:
Jayme Kennerknecht, owner and principal designer, and Jessica Rogers, senior interior designer, Kennerknecht Design Group
kennerknechtdesigngroup.com

CUSTOM MILLWORK
JC Donald Company
jcdonald.com

HIGHLAND HOUSE
Primary bedroom nighstands and chair; media room ottoman
highlandhousefurniture.com

LANDRY & ARCARI
Primary bedroom, bunk room, media room, living room and home office rugs
landryandarcari.com

LEE INDUSTRIES
Primary bedroom bench; media room chairs; home office sofa
leeindustries.com

MAINLY BASKETS HOME
Primary bedroom bedside lamps; dining room chairs; home office ottomans
mainlybaskets.com