When the owners of this three-acre site on Nantucket Sound decided to take down the original home here and build anew, they looked to Boston architect Thomas P. Catalano to create the ultimate seaside escape. The client’s goal was an uncomplicated one: to create a home that takes full advantage of the stunning views and ultimately comes together in a style that blends grand architectural moments with comfortable, casual space. It was to be a home that would serve as a summer retreat for the businessman, his wife, and two daughters and be a place that could accommodate large gatherings.
With a sweeping, direct southern exposure on the Sound and expansive grounds, Catalano succeeded in building a signature Shingle-style home that looks as though it’s been here for generations. Located at the end of a long drive, bordered by magnificent rhododendrons, it presents at the very end as a traditional island home that honors the architectural legacy of the island. The double-height windowed entry that frames sea and sky fulfills the owners’ desire for a grand, catch-your-breath space.
As Catalano explains, “This is a living hall, a social space with furniture meant to recall the entries you would find in original Shingle-style homes.”
The entry also serves as the axis from which all other rooms branch east and west. One wing houses the owners’ office suite; the other is devoted to the dining and living rooms and the open kitchen, breakfast, and family room.
The second floor houses the master bedroom and bath, and the third floor is devoted to the girls’ bedrooms, which are separated by a shared sitting room. The lower level bears an entertainment room with a bar, billiard room, and bowling alley. A guest suite above the garage has a private staircase leading to the pool house and patio below. The unique layout allows all rooms to take full advantage of the light and views.
“I would term this a lightened-up version Colonial Revival,” Catalano says. “Wherever possible, we implemented details of the period.”
Interior design by Boston’s Bierly Drake dovetailed perfectly with Catalano’s work in catching the spirit of casual elegance. Supporting design details include white oak floors stained chocolate, bathroom floors and walls of mosaic marble, and kitchen countertops of non-fussy slate.
Of the home’s neutral palette, Catalano says, “[It] allows the millwork detailing to shine through.”