Most of the interior charm of this spectacular Shingle Style “summer cottage” had been preserved, but when the prospective buyers asked us to evaluate its potential, the exterior style had been erased.

The house had been encased in white vinyl siding, the old porch enclosed with aluminum windows, and the sweeping eaves had been obscured.

The amazing views of Boston Light, the Atlantic Ocean, the Boston skyline and the Harbor Islands were barely visible.

The owners wanted to free the house, open it to the water views and restore its period charm.

New hip roof dormers repeat the existing dormers on the front of the house. A deck projects over the garage so that the doors are not a prominent feature from the street view.

Low maintenance materials will make the up-keep of this ocean-front house a breeze, yet they look as if they’ve been there a hundred years.

We opened the original front porch to cool summer breezes, emphasizing the arched openings with stone work and shingle columns, and a long stone stairway to the street.

The arched openings of the porch are echoed in the existing front parlor, stair hall and dining area, and the new family room and kitchen doors and windows.

The gentle arches are repeated again in casework around the fireplace and the fireplace opening. These details help to link the new and old structures

We added a spacious family room, kitchen and pantry, and expanded the dining room.

The arches are repeated again in the “eyebrow windows” that give an ocean view to the office and guest room on the third floor.

The house sits at the top of a hill and has views in every direction. A sheltered deck above the master bedroom provides sun and spectacular views, but is shielded from the wind.

With the renovation/additions completed the house is once more linked both to the sea and to it’s historic past.