To create the feel of separate rooms in an open-concept space, PSD employed raised ceilings.
Many windows and a cathedral ceiling open up the kitchen, creating a bright, airy environment to cook and dine.
Imagine walking along the beach and seeing a magnificent mermaid weather vane in the distance. At first, it seems too large for the home it’s on, but then you realize it’s in perfect scale with the wide expanse of the Nantucket Sound. Here is just one of the brilliant elements that the Polhemus Savery DaSilva (PSD, psdab.com) team added while renovating Moon Shadow. Located on Cape Cod, the fantastical house had served as a summer residence for generations in the client’s family. Looking to finally rejuvenate their tired home, the family hired PSD to improve its functionality and grace. “Whimsical, playful, relaxed—that is what we sought to reflect in the renovations of this house,” says PSD design principal John R. DaSilva. From just a cursory look at the facade, you can already sense the imagination—charming starfish cutouts adorn the blue shutters, while the mermaid herself carries a large starfish in her hands. “The arch top window and the bellshaped trim around it are [another] fanciful element that gives the house a storybook character, which is very much how the family sees it—a sweet place for relaxation and fun,” he says. Inside, the team’s main goal was to open up the floor plan so that the same space could be imbued with a sense of expansiveness. “It’s a relatively small footprint, but they needed it to live large,” DaSilva says. This was achieved right from the front entry. “We added a very small amount of square footage, but it has a big impact spatially and characterwise," he notes. They added two little window seats with seafoam blue cushions to match the front door, along with a built-in hanging storage and cubby space.
Unlike the typical kitchen table, this house has a fun booth where the residents can casually share meals
An arch creates an implied separation between the entryway and living room.
Part of PSD’s design vision was to take the fanlight above the door, abstract it, enlarge it and engrave it back into the paneling of the storage space—a true design feat. Overhead, the silver and blue entry light designed by Urban Electric (urbanelectric.com) serves as another focal point. Continue forward and transition into the heart of the home—the dining and living spaces. By removing any walls that weren’t necessary for structural support, the team created a flowing floor plan to maintain panoramic views of the water from both the dining and living rooms while facilitating social interaction. In the dining room, an elegant wooden table and chairs by Restoration Hardware (rh.com) sit below a Ro Sham Beaux (ro-sham-beaux.com) chandelier. A blue grasscloth Thibaut (thibautdesign.com) wallpaper flows seamlessly into the ocean views as if there is no visual break. Adjacent is the game area featuring a raised ceiling and tables custom designed through The CEH (@theceh). The living room also boasts a playful fireplace with a subtle nod to classical architecture—an engraving of a fluted column with a floret at the top, placed under a contemporary mantel. Under the coffered ceiling, gather around this intricate detail and relax on the space’s neutral couches or striped ottomans from Lee Industries (leeindustries.com). Nearby, a light gray kitchen complements the ocean hues outside with a seaglass blue backsplash. Look up to see exposed wood beams adorning the cathedral ceiling before taking a seat at the kitchen table booth. A lively blue and gray zigzag fabric lines the booth, with a white linen chandelier overhead. Equally important to this detailed interior was stunning landscape design for the summer months. In order to have an exterior living space sheltered from the southwest breeze, the outdoor dining area was added to the front of the home, separated from the entrance by a small tree and bushes. At the back of the home, a fire pit faces the southwest and offers views of the Cape’s southern shore. Cobalt blue Adirondack chairs with striped pillows complete the space. At night, the home’s location offers surreal moonlight views, just one more aspect of its fairytale spirit.
When designing the exterior of the home, PSD carefully placed every detail to create an eccentric facade, like the off-center dormer.
