Nestled in Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard, this Captain’s House proudly communicates historic character. Its two greatest surprises, however, are that it is all new construction and that a bright, open program for contemporary family living is contained within.
Clients had long owned a Vineyard property with an abutting buildable lot. Their request for a new home on the empty parcel was a structure that would respect the fabric of the neighborhood but live for modern day. The result is a custom residence in the classic vernacular with features that delight homeowners and guests alike.
The pleasing symmetry on what appears to be an 1800s Greek Revival massing features a large Palladian window centered beneath a front-facing gabled end. Details including white clapboard, Essex green shutters, window boxes and doors, copper lanterns, and a traditional Edgartown fence all but backdate the brand-new house. Stepped down to one side is a wing that could have been built after the main mass which features a charming porch swing and a secondary entrance. To the other side of the residence and set back on the lot, a freestanding multi-purpose carriage house holds space for automobiles, guests, and cabana functionality.
Inside, the home’s layout surprises at every turn. A concrete foundation with a 10’ pour allows for lower-level guest bedrooms and entertaining areas that feel anything but below grade. On the main level, two-story ceilings in the great room allow for volume not often experienced within older properties. A wall of windows along the back of the residence brings incredible natural light into the kitchen and dining area while a first-floor primary bedroom suite with vaulted ceilings grants homeowners a luxurious private retreat as they age in place. Thanks to a privet hedge and careful architecture, an inviting covered porch and rear aquatic program are completely hidden from street view.
