A new build by SV Design takes full advantage of a Cape Cod lakeside hillside property.
Perched atop a wooded hill overlooking a lake is a deep brown shingled home that, while distinctive, appears to blend into the landscape. Drawing on both the coastal aesthetic of the Cape and the lakeside setting, the team at SV Design, an architecture and interiors firm with offices in Greater Boston, the North Shore, and Cape Cod, helped the homeowners build a “party house” that truly brings the outdoors inside.
However, the design process was certainly not without challenges: tragedy struck when a fire broke out after the home was completed, just weeks before the homeowners moved in. The new build was damaged beyond repair, and the team quickly began redesigning the property, now affectionately known as “Treasure Cove.”
Build number two brought fresh inspiration for the design team, determined to achieve the dream home that the clients – a family with four daughters – had initially envisioned. In the final result, the lake is the star of the show: “The front entry was carefully placed to create a ‘see-through’ effect, where you walk in and immediately see the lake through the living room’s cathedral polygon windows,” architect Katelyn Manfredo explains. “The large deck that runs the whole length of the house connects all the rooms to the outside visually and physically. It’s a quick walk down the asymmetrical and naturally placed stone steps to the private beach for swimming and kayaking, making the water feel very accessible.”
Inside, large bronze framed windows and cathedral ceilings add a touch of modernity that complements the laid-back vibe of the airy living room and loft. The latter, which doubles as a flop space and a bedroom, “makes you feel like you are in the trees and [is] a space to zen out,” Manfredo says. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room deliver ample natural light, framing the deck and water views beyond.
Dark, Jamaican pepper-stained Maibec cedar shingles help create cohesion with the natural environment (“The Maibec cedar shingles are durable and resistant to the coastal elements, aging gracefully near the water,” adds Manfredo), and the natural mahogany deck and cable railings nod to the coastal setting. Off the deck, Manfredo says, “It’s an expansive outdoor living area perfect for gatherings, leading right to the private beach for seamless access to the lake.”
The final touch was landscaping with native plants, which helped to create a flow throughout the property, adds Manfredo, maximizing the use of outdoor space for entertaining, relaxing, and enjoying their hilltop waterfront abode.
