A Falmouth new build recalls the spirit of its beach cottage predecessor, thanks to Digs Design Company.In the entry hall Paul Schneider Canyon lamps are dappled in powder blue.

The Priority
The clients behind this Cape home have spent summers in Falmouth’s Chapoquoit neighborhood for generations. But over the years, their seasonal beach cottage seemed to grow smaller and smaller. Its tiny outdated bathrooms eventually felt claustrophobic, and the lack of closets in the bedrooms became tough to justify. Its floor plan, meanwhile, clearly lacked the flow needed for hosting guests.

The name of the home is Periwinkle and the hue features prominently in the design.

So, the clients decided to raze the aging cottage and build a new home that would suit not only their needs, but the needs of the friends and family members who visited each summer. They tasked the team at Newport-based Digs Design Company (digsdesignco.com) with creating a larger, more modernized home with serene colors and airy rooms—while still maintaining the charm and character of the former cottage.

High-gloss built-ins make a statement in the family room Photographed by Greg Premru

The Challenge
When building an all-new home, there’s a natural inclination to outfit it with shining new fixtures, finishes, furniture, and accents. But maintaining elements of the old house was high on the clients’ wish list, and Jocelyn Chiappone, Digs Design’s owner and head designer, rose to the challenge. She created a focal point in the living room that harkens back to the cottage; an original beam from the former house was salvaged to create the mantel over the fireplace. The cast-iron clawfoot tub in the powder-blue bathroom also comes from the previous cottage at the site, adding old-world charm to an otherwise luxuriously updated bathroom.

“The name of the house is Periwinkle, so it felt right to paint a bathroom in that hue,” Chiappone says. “We even painted the vintage tub to match.”

A stunning white La Cornue range sets the stage in the home’s kitchen and the cabinets are outfitted with complimentary warm, metallic hardware.

The home’s architecture, perfected by Halliday Builders (hallidaybuilders.com), exhibits traditional New England vernacular with stone and brick. That look is carried indoors with wainscoting, beadboard, coffered ceilings and more. To complement the home’s reclaimed elements, Chiappone opted for a breezy color palette that drew from its seaside location.

“We layered in colorful yet calming prints for a fresh coastal look, alongside vintage pieces and architectural elements from the original house,” Chiappone says. “This approach I refer to as the ‘Digs Mix’—the goal is to be fresh, current, and cohesive.”

The home’s architecture, perfected by Halliday Builders, exhibits traditional New England vernacular with wainscoting, beadboard and coffered ceilings.

The Details
Each room in the home strikes a balance between vintage charm and coastal freshness. In the living room, a vintage rattan chair with a palm-printed cushion—paired with a green bamboo lacquered coffee table—helps the room feel as if its contents have been collected over time. Several other armchairs and a loveseat all feature different green and blue prints, a palette that’s also represented in the abstract artwork by Kit Porter hanging over the mantle.

A clawfoot tub adds old-world charm to a luxurious modern bathroom.

The family room hits a similar note. High gloss built-ins make a statement, all painted the same color as the walls: Benjamin Moore Nickel, a soft bluish gray. This calming tone is punctuated by lively pops of yellow, from the vibrant porcelain collection lining the shelves to the National Geographic magazines piled in the tray atop the cheery striped ottoman. A yellow side table balances the brightness, while a comfy muted sectional displays a range of colorfully printed throw pillows.

A stunning white La Cornue range sets the stage in the home’s kitchen. Chiappone continued its white-and-brassy gold splendor into the cabinets and fittings, outfitting them with warm metallic hardware. Wicker counter stools at the white marble island bring more coastal charm into the space, while a nearby breakfast nook banquette incorporates the hallmark “Digs Mix” of pattern play with soft blues and pastels.

A window bench in the primary bedroom is accented with plush pillows and serves as one of the many cozy reading nooks in the home.

Another Digs Mix can be glimpsed in the primary bedroom, as a range of blue patterns are punched up with hints of raspberry. A window bench accented by plush pillows serves as one of many cozy reading nooks in the home, as the family loves books. Between the bed and that nook, a slipper chair offers yet another spot to read and lounge.

“I love a slipper chair for a bedroom,” Chiappone adds. “And with this one, we did it in a pleated skirt for a hint of coastal grandma.”

The Outcome
Digs Design carried out the clients’ vision so skillfully that they gave the firm the ultimate compliment: deciding to stay long-term. They sold their house in the Boston suburbs and made their new Chapoquoit residence their year-round home. While the house now serves as their primary residence, there’s still plenty of room—and flow—for guests throughout the year.

“We want the family to feel joy every time they enter their home,” Chiappone says. Mission accomplished.

The homeowners built a new house at the site of their aging summer home that still maintains the charm and character of the former cottage.

DESIGN DETAILS

TYPE
Single-Family

LOCATION
Falmouth

INTERIOR DESIGNER
Jocelyn Chiappone, Digs Design Co.
digsdesignco.com

BUILDER
Halliday Builders Inc.
hallidaybuilders.com

FURNITURE
Hibiscus House
shophibiscushouse.com

Highland House
highlandhousefurniture.com

Oomph Home
oomphhome.com

LIGHTING
Hudson Valley Lighting Group
hvlgroup.com

Robert Abbey
robertabbey.biz

RUG
Fibreworks
fibreworks.com

ARTWORK
Kit Porter
kitporterstudios.com