This Chatham retreat delivers stylish yet livable interiors with a seaside backdrop.
by Janice Randall Rohlf
Photographs by Dan Cutrona
It is no secret that a house on the water is (almost) every Cape Cod lover’s dream. Those fortunate enough to have such an abode—large or small, on the ocean or bay side—are privy to the myriad perks of life by the sea.
Interior designers often turn to the coast’s stretches of sun-dappled aquamarine or moody navy for inspiration. Such was the case for Peyton Lambton and Sarah Waldo of Washashore Home, a Dennis-based interior design firm, when a client with a home overlooking Chatham’s Mill Pond sought them out. While in great shape structurally, the five-bedroom, four-bathroom house was a prime candidate for a top-to-bottom refresh.
“It doesn’t get more beautiful than these picturesque views,” says Lambton of boat-dotted Mill Pond and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. “The views were our inspiration for the entire house.” New paint and furnishings, the designer knew, would bring a fresh, bright look to the interiors of this traditional Cape-style house with cedar shingles and white trim.
“We didn’t want the interior to take away from the landscape and the natural beauty outside,” Lambton elaborates. “Everything we did on the inside was to complement what is already there on the outside.”
First, all the interiors received a coat of “Classic Gray” from Benjamin Moore. “Painting all the walls this nice, neutral shade gives a cohesive look throughout the house,” says Lambton, adding that against this blank canvas of consistent color she and Waldo brought each room to life with individual pieces of furniture and curated accents. Additionally, all the dark wood floors were sanded down and lightened to create a more open, airy feel.
Washashore tapped into the concept of layers, using a mix of tones found in nature and a variety of organic materials to enliven the interior.
“Throughout the house, you’ll see we snuck in different levels of texture to elevate each space,” explains Lambton. For example, woven chairs around a game table and a natural fiber chandelier above bring warmth and character to a corner of the living room. Here, a drum-shaped wood coffee table with rattan accents on its rounded sides anchors the space.
The organic feel of natural wood comes into play in the dining room, where a table seating eight is lit by an elongated oval chandelier from Curry & Company that has a natural rope shade, a reflection of the ocean setting. “We tried to bring in a nautical feel without being too literal,” says Lambton, pointing out that her clients, a couple with two young sons, are “boating people.” With this in mind, an original piece by local photographer Ashley Bilodeau hangs on the dining room wall. “We tried to give a full nod to the artists we have right here on Cape Cod,” says the designer.
The clients appreciated Washashore’s attention to local sources, like in the powder room, where orange horseshoe crab wallpaper from Design No. 5, a Cotuit-based company, presents a bold and modern take on the sea creature. Similarly, just a few gestures in a nautical vein were all it took to refresh the boys’ bedrooms.
Meanwhile, in the primary bedroom, the full-on view of the water takes on the role of artwork. Grass cloth nightstands, says Lambton, “add some texture and a little bit of color to give the room dimension.”
Overall, the designers were careful not to make this home too precious or hands-off. To this end, they chose performance fabrics for their durability and accessibility. “We wanted this to be a place to come and plop down and be comfortable right away,” insists Lambton. “Our fabric choices are easy to clean and maintain and realistic for everyday life.”
Says Lambton of Washashore’s overall approach: “We like to provide our clients with livable, authentic spaces that speak to wherever their home is located.” For this house on Mill Pond, the design “lets you know you are on the Cape,” she continues, “one of the most beautiful places to enjoy on a daily basis.”
To view more projects, visit washashorehome.com or follow @washashorehome.
