Snow’s Point

Once a dilapidated, no-frills fishing-camp building without a foundation, this 815-square-foot home on Chappaquiddick, the island off the Vineyard’s east coast, now offers spectacular views, ocean breezes, and surprising spaciousness. It captures the charming 1920s spirit of its past as part of a “Chappy Camp,” as these sites are known locally.

The goal was to maximize the space allowed by zoning laws while keeping the renovation and expansion true to its origins. To start, the building was carefully moved back from the water, then put atop new foundations, with each wall surgically reinforced. This allowed the creation of a new lower level.

On the ground floor, three cramped rooms were opened into one primary living space, whose cathedral ceiling increases the sense of volume. A west-facing wall of mullioned windows and a French door preserve the Chappy Camp look while also letting in views of the sunset and Edgartown across the bay. A single bedroom sits above.

Additional space comes from two small, setback, one-story additions; a screened porch and master bath; and two outbuildings. A renovated garage now looks like a gatehouse and serves as an occasional home office, while a small new structure—modeled on the historic building—houses a guest suite.