Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Glossy, Black-and-White Beachfront Style
Step inside a coastal New England home with a chic and tailored urban twist
Stunning ocean views and a strong black and white palette give New England coastal style a decidedly urban twist in this beachfront Massachusetts home. The owners are city transplants who wanted a home that felt distinctly local, but was still true to their sleek style. LDa Architecture & Interiors designed bold iron studded doors, a cozy ebony library, and a dramatic black and gray kitchen inside a more traditional exterior. By blending a classic structure with modern details, the firm successfully combined the couple's style with the state's classic coastal look.
The house is divided into two main levels with a walk-out basement underneath. The site is on a significant slope, so the LDa designed the home so that the full three stories are really only visible from the back, ocean-facing side.
Because of the site's slope, it was a significant challenge for the firm to reduce the height and length of the outdoor stairs from the main floor to the bottom pool level. To prevent these stairs from becoming too steep, the firm created a small sitting area with a hot tub two-thirds of the way down.
Because of the site's slope, it was a significant challenge for the firm to reduce the height and length of the outdoor stairs from the main floor to the bottom pool level. To prevent these stairs from becoming too steep, the firm created a small sitting area with a hot tub two-thirds of the way down.
"We were inspired by Boston's Back Bay and South End neighborhoods with their black trim and ornate cornice work, and the classic water-front shingle style," says LDa's principal architect Douglas Dick. "The goal was to create a more tailored and less casual overall effect."
Almost the entire back side of the home is covered in windows, the largest in the foyer. Most of the rooms in the house are oriented so that at least one side faces the ocean.
A cozy and dark library greets guests as they come through the front doors. Although a bold black-and-white palette can come across as harsh, principal interior designer John Day and associate interior designer Jayme Kennerknecht carefully mixed in warm accents to create a softer look.
"White is typically cold, and black overpowering," says Day. "But with added touches of rich, deep colors, plus careful changes in texture and pattern, we were able to warm it up and provide balance to the high-contrast theme."
Piece above mantle: Homeowners' collection
Rug: Niba Rugs
Side Table: Furniture Guild
"White is typically cold, and black overpowering," says Day. "But with added touches of rich, deep colors, plus careful changes in texture and pattern, we were able to warm it up and provide balance to the high-contrast theme."
Piece above mantle: Homeowners' collection
Rug: Niba Rugs
Side Table: Furniture Guild
The main level includes the kitchen, living room, dining room, library, guest room and garage. The living room opens up onto the home's stunning view. Full of light, the room embraces a soothing and beach-inspired palette.
Most rooms on this level remain fairly open to one another — giving the home a light and airy feel. The kitchen, living room, and dining room are all in close quarters, which makes it suited for both entertaining and casual meals in.
Brown couch: Homeowners' collection
Caned chair: Ralph Lauren
Tripod lamp: Restoration Hardware
Brown couch: Homeowners' collection
Caned chair: Ralph Lauren
Tripod lamp: Restoration Hardware
Dark and dramatic, the kitchen's bold black cabinetry and white countertops are balanced out with a more neutral stone island. "The moon-rock-like gray of the island plays very well off the rocky coast outside," says Day. "It helps keep the kitchen from becoming too dark and strong."
Stone on island: Argos marble
Kitchen counters: Caesarstone "Blizzard"
Cabinetry: Custom
Lighting: Benson Pendant
Stone on island: Argos marble
Kitchen counters: Caesarstone "Blizzard"
Cabinetry: Custom
Lighting: Benson Pendant
The floors are constructed of a baked white oak surface-treated with an ebony analine dye. The baked oak was chosen not just for its rich, dark-chocolate base, but also because the treatment ensures that no white will show through if the floors are scratched. "There's a depth of grain and color that is very striking," says Day. "It was the basis for the home's color scheme."
Table: Custom
Floor lamp: Aqua Creations
Table: Custom
Floor lamp: Aqua Creations
The master suite and two additional bedrooms are up the stairway on the third floor. The space is very narrow, so the firm chose to add multiple studded doors for depth as well as privacy. Stock doors were faux painted, scraped, antiqued, and then applied with iron nail heads in a traditional Mexican pattern.
Doors: Avatar East
Chair: Williams Sonoma
Doors: Avatar East
Chair: Williams Sonoma
Compared to the rest of the house, the master bathroom is a soothing blend of soft, neutral tones. The firm purposely designed this space with a more subtle palette so that it wouldn't compete with the room's view. An inviting freestanding tub sits on top of an island stone pebble insert. A custom double vanity made out of zebrawood sits against the far wall.
Chandelier: Serena Bowl Chandelier from Oly Studios
Chandelier: Serena Bowl Chandelier from Oly Studios
A small powder room plays into the more urban side of the couple's style. A glamorous mirror echoes bulbous glass sink fixtures, while a classic sconce adds a splash of tradition.
Vanity: Waterworks
Sconce: Circa Lighting
Vanity: Waterworks
Sconce: Circa Lighting
The basement level includes a lounge, workout area, and music room. One of the homeowners is a DJ on Sirius XM satellite radio and has an amazing album collection. This room was designed to store his equipment and display his love for music.
A soothing but dramatic ocean-facing infinity pool sits on the last level of the home's exterior.
More:
Houzz Tour: Coastal Chic Family Getaway
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Kitchen of the Week: Black and White Elegance for 7
More:
Houzz Tour: Coastal Chic Family Getaway
Houzz Tour: Sleek San Francisco Bachelor Pad
Kitchen of the Week: Black and White Elegance for 7
Doors: Custom, solid mahogany
Rug: Steven King
Side table: Furniture Guild