skip to main content

Home Decorating

Question for any of you that live in Cape Cod style homes

16 years ago

For those of you that have a Cape Cod style house: Can you share with me any photos you have of the 2nd floor bedrooms?

I'm looking for ideas on how to squeeze in closets and additional storage space with the challenges of the slanted roof lines.

Any photos/suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

chispa
16 years ago
Have you seen this book:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?r=1&ean=9781561584369

Lots of good ideas and pretty pictures!! We owned a Cape 2 houses ago. Full sloped roof on the front and a full shed dormer on the back. Most of the slanted roof on the front was part of vaulted living rm, foyer and family rm. House was about 3,700 sq.ft, but large footprint due to all the vaulted space. Master down, with 3 large bedrooms upstairs and a loft open to family rm.

We lived there for 4 years and after looking at several addition/remodel options we moved to a larger Colonial style house. Both DH and I didn't like Capes when we bought it ... living there didn't change our feelings. You lose so much space by just missing that one wall under the sloped roof!!
johnmari
16 years ago
I have lived in so many small Capes and other 1 1/2 story houses that it almost seems weird to me to have all full-height walls upstairs! I'm in a 1300sf "Victorian Lite" now and all three bedrooms (two nice-size, around 12x16, one little one at 10x12) have sloped ceilings, as does the hallway... seems totally normal to me.

One of the best inventions in the world for rooms with the slanted ceilings is something called knee wall drawers. Knee walls are the short walls under the slanted ceiling, and in most instances there is dead space behind that wall. Recessed drawer units, cabinets, and shelves can be installed in that wasted space, minimizing the freestanding furniture like dressers or bookshelves that must be used in the room and thus maximizing the room's usable space (so that should you have to steal some square footage for a closet, that's doable).

Here in the northeast they are so common that we can actually order them readymade from a company called Young Furniture (which actually does almost all cabinets now), but they're not terribly difficult for a skilled woodworker to build. Here are two examples: HGTV and Black & Decker.
Related Discussions
Decorating Help!! (Cape Cod/Craftsman Style)
Q
Comments (21)
Wow. I, for one, am sure salivating over those beautiful pictures. Probably not exactly what Matt and Trish were expecting or looking for, but they sure took my breath away. We also are building a Craftsman house. Since I couldn't afford a real architect, I have done my own extensive research. And believe it or not...as useful as the internet is, I found the old fashioned library to be the best resource. I basically designed our plan myself. I tried very hard to stick to some true Craftsman elements with the scale, trim, and openness of the floorplan. Of course I'm pretty sure that my very large kitchen, master bath and closet do not fit the true Craftsman style, I have tried to be authentic in other ways. As far as decorating I do not plan to emulate a true Craftsman because I have a lot of traditional, transitional, and semi-antique (handcrafted pieces from the 1920s-1940s) that I will not part with. I am instead trying to create a Craftsman "mood" by highlighting generous usage of stained woodwork and painted tiles. We also have a decent but small start of a collection of art glass that I will be highlighting. I am going to be using earthy and sort of dark colors to achieve that mood. I know that my house will probably be somewhat dark even though there are lots of windows. The deep overhangs and eaves will sort of shadow the natural light. That's perfectly OK with me. I am not a bright light type of person. I like warm woods and dark colors. For what it's worth, I'm also not a morning person. I hope that the house we are creating will be a work of art and live well with my family. It certainly has been well thought out. I know it is not going to be authentic by any means so I hope that it doesn't offend anyone. The house will be in a historical district. Oddly enough not one of the other houses in the area seem to be a real clear style even though they were all built between 1915-1930. ECLECTIC RULES! I guess we'll fit in....
...See More
Cape Cod Style House Attic/Crawl Space Insulation Help
Q
Comments (3)
I tried roof vents, I do know what you're talking about. I destroyed two or three of them trying to get one put in on top of the existing insulation. I ended up ripping out the insulation in the channels and replacing it with R-13, which leaves about 1-1/2" of air between the insulation and the bottom of the roof deck. Holy COW did that make a difference already. I'm used to the house being 77 degrees after a sunny day in the summer and the bedroom being so warm you cannot have even a sheet over you without sweating to death. I got home to find the house at 75 degrees and the bedroom was cool enough to take a nap with a sheet and bedspread on top of me. Here's a picture: http://www.ankylosaur.com/images/housetopfloor.jpg A) The triangular, unheated, space in front of the bedroom. B) the "channels" The top of the 2X6 is the roof decking and the bottom of the 2X6 is where the bedroom's ceiling is nailed. These channels are about 5' long from the storage space to the attic, proper. C) the standard attic (yes, the ceiling of the bedroom has a down slope in the back of the room) D) the bedroom, heated in winter, cooled in summer.
...See More
Is anyone else building a cape cod style home?
Q
Comments (30)
I try to avoid terms like "true" or "pure" and prefer "historic" instead. Often the name people use to describe houses comes from real estate listings. Realtors use a shorthand or lowest-common-denominator to simplify the issue and encourage as many responses as possible. The styles are generally Colonial, Victorian, Craftsman, Ranch, Cape, Contemporary, etc. My 1891 house was featured in the 1892 Architects and Builders Supplement to Scientific American magazine as an example of the new "Colonial Revival" style but it was advertised for sale in 1983 as a "Victorian". One of the most common house styles in America is rarely identified in realtor listings. There's nothing wrong with the realtor approach for their marketing purposes but when discussing the design of your own home with interested homeowners and design professionals, it greatly improves the discussion if you are more specific. A quick study of historic Capes might help you. A house style that evolved over hundreds of years can be an incredible resource whether you intend to make it historic or not. When I visit the Cape I take hundreds of photos. The houses are spectacular. For instance, the front facade is often taller so the cornice is higher than the second floor like this modern Cape in VT. The transom light above the door is one of the most characteristic features of a Cape. But these old houses were framed wth a version of post and beams with continuous wall framing so raising the cornice in a modern version can be more expensive. Here are some interesting Cape photos: historic Bow roof in Chatham
...See More
Midcentury (Cape Cod Style) Exterior Lighting
Q
Comments (3)
With the style you have described, it would seem to me that the first photo would coordinate best. The second image leans more towards modern, while the third image is just your standard light. I think the first image has the perfect balance of styles!
...See More
spy10021
Original Author
16 years ago
Chispa - I do own that book - thank you. I'll take another peak at it tonight.

JohnMari - Funny, I stumbled across that company a few years ago, although I agree with you that the knee walls drawers could be easily built.

My house is now on the market and EVERY prospective buyer complains about the lack of closet space on the upper floor. I'm finding it next to impossible to come up with a creative solution for additional closet space without a magic wand.

Thanks again for your help.

Spy
acountryfarm
16 years ago
I have a Cape Cod Shingled home. All our bedrooms have those wonderful sloped ceilings that I love. I will share some pics, but tomorrow I am going to go out and get more as all the cabinetry is now in. We have 6 boys in these blue rooms.

Room #1, I did built-in desks with bookshelves on the wall with the dormer and in between built in desks a nice window seat with big drawers.

Room #2 did wonderful built-in beds in L shape with bunk above, these beds have big drawers. They also have big window seat with large drawers.

Room #3, closet on wall with dormer (picture shows that) a built in bed on other wall next to dormer with book case, seat at end of bed with big drawers.

Daughter's bedroom has built in desk on sloped ceiling wall as well as window seat with large drawers.

My goal was to maximize storage and give the children space that was easy to take care of. Built-in furniture gives the home that classic style that I wanted and also fulfilled my design goals. I love the ceilings, we also put tung &groove on them and they really add to the wonderful cape feel.
As I said all the built-ins are in and its time for me to get pictures so I will post them soon if you would like.
The yellow room is the master bed sitting area, on the tall wall to the left of window is cabs with bookshelves.

I am so excited to move as we live in 2200 sq. ft. right now (9 children still at home). There are a total of 15 drawers in my current home, that includes 3 baths, kitchen etc. In my new home I have to order over 100 pulls for drawers, that doesn't count cupboards. All I can say is ...
....." Yippee, A place for everything and everything in its place ".

Related Stories

MODERN HOMES Houzz Tour: Cape Cod’s Midcentury Modern Tradition Comes to Life

By Becky Harris

A new home nestled in the Cape Cod National Seashore area balances architectural history and modern technology

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Cape Cod Style in California

By Dana Nichols

A family of four transforms their Pacific Coast home with warm, beachy accents and plenty of space to entertain

TRADITIONAL HOMES My Houzz: Heartfelt Traditional Style Warms a Cape Cod Retreat

By Design Fixation [Faith Provencher]

Family mementos, cool vintage finds and coastal-inspired touches add just the right amount of cozy to this New York couple’s vacation home

TRANSITIONAL HOMES Houzz Tour: Room for the Whole Gang in This Cape Cod Home

By Becky Harris

As homeowners transition to being empty nesters, they expand their summer house to serve extended family year-round

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Cozy and Playful in Cape Cod

By Vanessa Brunner

Casual comfort meets whimsical architectural features in this Massachusetts vacation home with eye-popping views

CAPE COD DESIGN American Architecture: The Elements of Cape Cod Style

By Steele Marcoux

This simple architecture style was born in New England but has stood the test of time around the United States

KITCHEN OF THE WEEK Kitchen of the Week: A Cape Cod Classic

Check out the ‘before’ and ‘after’ images to see how this remodeled kitchen reclaimed its traditional charm

TRADITIONAL HOMES Houzz Tour: Breezy and Fuss Free in Cape Cod

By Becky Harris

Kids, pets and countless guests needn’t fear messing up this relaxed but pulled-together vacation home

Design Dilemma: Creating Cape Cod Curb Appeal

By Annie Thornton

Help a Houzz User Update His Northeast-Style Cottage

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: New Life for a Dilapidated Cape Cod

By Design Fixation [Faith Provencher]

Neutral colors, classic furnishings and coastal touches outfit a floral designer and her husband’s Massachusetts home

Sponsored

More Discussions

Dining room update

22

Help with Studio Apt

11

Is a 10.5” x 35” triptych mirror small over a mantle that’s 51” wide.

5

Terrible family room design

17

Discontinued wallpaper help!

0