Houzz Tour: Martha’s Vineyard Renovation Preserves Memories
The granddaughter of the original owner enlists an architect to update a beloved Massachusetts island home
Becky Harris
23 June 2019
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
After making many fond memories with her late grandmother in this house on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, the owner was ready to turn it into a vacation retreat for her own growing family. Over the years, the home had undergone small renovations and one major one that had transformed the upper floor into a separate rental apartment. Now the granddaughter wanted to reclaim that space for bedrooms and asked LDa Architecture & Interiors for help.
Photos by Sean Litchfield Photography
Vacation Home at a Glance
Who lives here: A young Boston family when on vacation
Location: Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts
Size: 1,500 square feet (139 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors
The original exterior was charming, and the family wanted to preserve the look. The new exterior improvements included energy-efficient windows and doors, western red cedar shingle siding and an architectural shingle roof. The front door sports Naval paint by Sherwin-Williams, a detail that project architect Kyle Sheffield carried into the house in several key spots.
Inside, little charm remained due to past remodels, but Sheffield kept what he could during this down-to-the-studs renovation. Saving the original heart pine floors, two original interior windows and a corner cabinet that had sentimental value helped maintain the wonderful spirit of the house.
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Vacation Home at a Glance
Who lives here: A young Boston family when on vacation
Location: Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts
Size: 1,500 square feet (139 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors
The original exterior was charming, and the family wanted to preserve the look. The new exterior improvements included energy-efficient windows and doors, western red cedar shingle siding and an architectural shingle roof. The front door sports Naval paint by Sherwin-Williams, a detail that project architect Kyle Sheffield carried into the house in several key spots.
Inside, little charm remained due to past remodels, but Sheffield kept what he could during this down-to-the-studs renovation. Saving the original heart pine floors, two original interior windows and a corner cabinet that had sentimental value helped maintain the wonderful spirit of the house.
Hire a local architect on Houzz
Expanding the Living Space
The tight lot didn’t leave much opportunity to expand the house. To gain more headspace on the second floor, Sheffield designed four dormers (two are seen here, and two are on the other side). “The dormers capture more light and headroom upstairs, as well as add a bit more architectural character that the house was lacking,” he says.
Another way he expanded the space was by creating a new dining porch where an unsightly bulkhead to the cellar used to be. The deck has a trapdoor that replaced the bulkhead, allowing the homeowners to store kayaks down there. He also added an outdoor shower, an island must-have, just to the right of the porch.
Local company Wild Violets installed new landscaping, which seems as if it has been growing here all along. It has a quintessential Martha’s Vineyard look, complete with hydrangeas and otherwise mostly native plants. The step between the porch and the outdoor shower is a rock from the island.
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The tight lot didn’t leave much opportunity to expand the house. To gain more headspace on the second floor, Sheffield designed four dormers (two are seen here, and two are on the other side). “The dormers capture more light and headroom upstairs, as well as add a bit more architectural character that the house was lacking,” he says.
Another way he expanded the space was by creating a new dining porch where an unsightly bulkhead to the cellar used to be. The deck has a trapdoor that replaced the bulkhead, allowing the homeowners to store kayaks down there. He also added an outdoor shower, an island must-have, just to the right of the porch.
Local company Wild Violets installed new landscaping, which seems as if it has been growing here all along. It has a quintessential Martha’s Vineyard look, complete with hydrangeas and otherwise mostly native plants. The step between the porch and the outdoor shower is a rock from the island.
Find a landscape designer in your area
Entry Porch and Living Room
The original enclosed front porch also serves as a guest bedroom thanks to a versatile daybed. Sheffield insulated and heated the porch so that the Boston-based family could use it during year-round visits. And he removed the flat ceiling and vaulted it up to the roofline.
Because of previous renovations, the house had a hodgepodge of millwork that wasn’t worth preserving. For a more cohesive look, Sheffield used shiplap with quarter-inch reveals between planks in strategic spots around the house, including the ceiling and walls here. “The spaces in the house are small, so we avoided the use of layered materials, as that would have made the rooms feel confined,” he says. “However, the one layer of shiplap works well — when used strategically — to give certain key spaces a sense of identity, something that they didn’t have previously.”
The original enclosed front porch also serves as a guest bedroom thanks to a versatile daybed. Sheffield insulated and heated the porch so that the Boston-based family could use it during year-round visits. And he removed the flat ceiling and vaulted it up to the roofline.
Because of previous renovations, the house had a hodgepodge of millwork that wasn’t worth preserving. For a more cohesive look, Sheffield used shiplap with quarter-inch reveals between planks in strategic spots around the house, including the ceiling and walls here. “The spaces in the house are small, so we avoided the use of layered materials, as that would have made the rooms feel confined,” he says. “However, the one layer of shiplap works well — when used strategically — to give certain key spaces a sense of identity, something that they didn’t have previously.”
Throughout the main level are the home’s original heart pine floors. Some had been covered up with linoleum, and the porch floor had been covered with AstroTurf.
“My client had a childhood memory of a floor painted baby blue out here,” Sheffield says. When the team ripped up the AstroTurf, dark green floorboards were revealed, except for one corner where the original baby blue paint peeked through. He was able to match it to bring that memory back to life.
Where needed, Geoff Kontje of 41 Degrees North Construction wove in pieces of heart pine salvaged from the second floor. Then he replaced the flooring on that level with fir.
“My client had a childhood memory of a floor painted baby blue out here,” Sheffield says. When the team ripped up the AstroTurf, dark green floorboards were revealed, except for one corner where the original baby blue paint peeked through. He was able to match it to bring that memory back to life.
Where needed, Geoff Kontje of 41 Degrees North Construction wove in pieces of heart pine salvaged from the second floor. Then he replaced the flooring on that level with fir.
Sheffield had these two original interior windows that open to the entry porch restored on the island. “They have that great old wavy glass we were glad to be able to save,” he says.
Kitchen
In the kitchen, the architect repeated the front door’s Naval color on the island, adding a subtle nautical touch. The rosewood-topped island contains a wine fridge and a microwave. The cabinetry is crisp and classic Shaker-style, and the perimeter counters are leathered Jet Mist granite that resembles indigenous stone found on the island. Clear light fixtures maintain a visually uncluttered space, while the matchstick blinds and counter stools add beachy textures.
“The homeowner had wonderful memories of baking with her grandmother,” Sheffield says. “She allowed us to remove a large walk-in pantry that brought back memories of this to allow for a larger kitchen, so we created a baking station in the cabinetry where she could continue that tradition with her own children.”
Cabinetry: Crown Point Cabinetry
In the kitchen, the architect repeated the front door’s Naval color on the island, adding a subtle nautical touch. The rosewood-topped island contains a wine fridge and a microwave. The cabinetry is crisp and classic Shaker-style, and the perimeter counters are leathered Jet Mist granite that resembles indigenous stone found on the island. Clear light fixtures maintain a visually uncluttered space, while the matchstick blinds and counter stools add beachy textures.
“The homeowner had wonderful memories of baking with her grandmother,” Sheffield says. “She allowed us to remove a large walk-in pantry that brought back memories of this to allow for a larger kitchen, so we created a baking station in the cabinetry where she could continue that tradition with her own children.”
Cabinetry: Crown Point Cabinetry
Shiplap reappears in the kitchen as a backdrop for pot rails. “The shiplap is not a one-trick pony. Not only does it create an identity of the space itself, [but also] the material plays a role in stitching a sense of place as you move through the house,” Sheffield says.
Browse pot racks and rails in the Houzz Shop
Browse pot racks and rails in the Houzz Shop
Dining Porch and Dining Room
This photo shows the relationship between the kitchen and the new dining porch. The door on the left swings out for easy access, while the three doors on the right fold accordion-style to create a wide opening between indoors and out. Although the house now has air conditioning, Sheffield set up the windows and doors so that the family can cool the house with island breezes as often as possible. The opening has a screening system by Centor — it pulls open from side to side and slides into wall pockets when not in use.
Browse more photos of porches
This photo shows the relationship between the kitchen and the new dining porch. The door on the left swings out for easy access, while the three doors on the right fold accordion-style to create a wide opening between indoors and out. Although the house now has air conditioning, Sheffield set up the windows and doors so that the family can cool the house with island breezes as often as possible. The opening has a screening system by Centor — it pulls open from side to side and slides into wall pockets when not in use.
Browse more photos of porches
A barn door on the dining porch slides over to enclose the outdoor shower.
“We wanted to create a special moment that gives the outdoor shower a bit of character, but also makes it easier to pile a bunch of sandy little kids in for a hose-off,” Sheffield says.
How to Add an Outdoor Shower
“We wanted to create a special moment that gives the outdoor shower a bit of character, but also makes it easier to pile a bunch of sandy little kids in for a hose-off,” Sheffield says.
How to Add an Outdoor Shower
In the indoor dining room, an existing corner cabinet had sentimental value to the homeowner. The back of the corner cabinet and a dining room bar cabinet (not shown) are two other places where Sheffield worked in the Naval paint.
The chandelier is a vintage find that nods to the home’s age.
The chandelier is a vintage find that nods to the home’s age.
First-Floor Bathroom
This full bath on the first floor serves as the powder room and guest bath. The team kept the finishes simple, with subway tile on the walls, dark gray hexagonal tile on the floor and Carrara marble, a homeowner favorite, on the vanity countertop. Shiplap turns up again as wainscoting.
Thomas Paul’s Moby shower curtain is a fun reference to the animals that swim around the island and were such a large part of its Native American and Colonial history.
Shop for a new shower curtain
This full bath on the first floor serves as the powder room and guest bath. The team kept the finishes simple, with subway tile on the walls, dark gray hexagonal tile on the floor and Carrara marble, a homeowner favorite, on the vanity countertop. Shiplap turns up again as wainscoting.
Thomas Paul’s Moby shower curtain is a fun reference to the animals that swim around the island and were such a large part of its Native American and Colonial history.
Shop for a new shower curtain
Staircase
The stairwell is covered in shiplap and contrasts with the drywall to the right. The reveal around the top of the newel post echoes the reveals in the shiplap.
The stairwell is covered in shiplap and contrasts with the drywall to the right. The reveal around the top of the newel post echoes the reveals in the shiplap.
A new oval window lets natural light into the stairwell.
The second floor had served as a separate apartment with its own entrance and kitchen. Now it contains three bedrooms and one bathroom. In the new floor plan, the architect also designated a spot for a ship’s ladder that could transform the attic into a sleeping loft should the family need it in the future.
The second floor had served as a separate apartment with its own entrance and kitchen. Now it contains three bedrooms and one bathroom. In the new floor plan, the architect also designated a spot for a ship’s ladder that could transform the attic into a sleeping loft should the family need it in the future.
Second-Floor Bathroom
“My clients wanted a ‘made on the island’ look for their vanity,” Sheffield says. It’s fir topped with Carrara marble. Shiplap serves as the backsplash. The floor tile is from Porcelanosa.
This photo also shows the additional headspace added by one of the new dormers.
Takeaways
Read about other vacation homes
Hire a design pro
Shop for beach-style living room products
“My clients wanted a ‘made on the island’ look for their vanity,” Sheffield says. It’s fir topped with Carrara marble. Shiplap serves as the backsplash. The floor tile is from Porcelanosa.
This photo also shows the additional headspace added by one of the new dormers.
Takeaways
- Gain space underneath a roofline with dormers.
- Look for clues that reveal original details about a home. They may be hidden underneath linoleum, AstroTurf or layers of paint.
- For a cohesive look, repeat details such as a color or texture throughout a house.
- Salvage original flooring from other floors. Attics often will have the same wood boards as the other floors.
Read about other vacation homes
Hire a design pro
Shop for beach-style living room products
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Absolutely love this home. You have “caught” the essence of MV. Not overdone,elegant and practical. Love the outdoor shower. My family has vacationed there for decades and you have done an incredible job. Bravo for you.
Love the white slip covers in the dining room- where can I find them!!!????
Not sure, but most people have them made or do the sewing themselves to fit their chairs. Nice tutorials on the web.