Houzz Tour: Modern and Energy-Efficient on Cape Cod
A new vacation home nods to the architectural history of its Massachusetts coastal community
Site. “This location is a sweet spot because you can walk to the beach [about a mile away] in one direction and to town in the other,” Horowitz says. The house is located at the top of the hill, so its high perch provides privacy from neighbors.
The lot is three-quarters of an acre with a significant slope. “The slope allowed us to create a single-floor living space on the main level and add living space on the lower level that is walk-out and full of natural light,” Horowitz says. “We were able to make the most of the compact footprint by having these two levels.” At the highest part of the slope seen here, the main floor is at ground level, and on the opposite side of the house the lower level is walk-out.
Patio and deck. The south-facing front windows and the patio and deck receive lots of sunlight. The decking is composed of Forest Stewardship Council-certified tropical hardwoods. Horowitz used the same decking on the steps that lead to the front door. This location for the outdoor living space influenced the interior layout — just through the door off the deck is the dining and living area and the kitchen.
The lot is three-quarters of an acre with a significant slope. “The slope allowed us to create a single-floor living space on the main level and add living space on the lower level that is walk-out and full of natural light,” Horowitz says. “We were able to make the most of the compact footprint by having these two levels.” At the highest part of the slope seen here, the main floor is at ground level, and on the opposite side of the house the lower level is walk-out.
Patio and deck. The south-facing front windows and the patio and deck receive lots of sunlight. The decking is composed of Forest Stewardship Council-certified tropical hardwoods. Horowitz used the same decking on the steps that lead to the front door. This location for the outdoor living space influenced the interior layout — just through the door off the deck is the dining and living area and the kitchen.
Layout. An open-plan strategy makes the most of the home’s 1,100-square-foot footprint, with the kitchen, living room and dining room all open to one another in an L-shape. This also keeps the home light and bright, with large windows and doors looking out to the coastal pine trees. They used durable materials like rift cut and quartered white oak flooring with a matte finish to stand up to the wear and tear of renters.
Wall paint: Decorator White; flooring: Stonewood Products
Wall paint: Decorator White; flooring: Stonewood Products
Living room. “We placed the living room in the south corner to take in the nice warm light,” Horowitz says. (These are the same windows we saw on the front facade of the house to the right of the front door). As you can see, the location at the top of a hill provides a lovely view of the trees across the street.
Fireplace. The fireplace is a direct-vent gas fireplace. The bench along the fireplace wall is a piece of reclaimed wood that was sourced locally.
Reclaimed wood: Stonewood Products; fireplace: Montigo P Series, StovePlace II
Fireplace. The fireplace is a direct-vent gas fireplace. The bench along the fireplace wall is a piece of reclaimed wood that was sourced locally.
Reclaimed wood: Stonewood Products; fireplace: Montigo P Series, StovePlace II
Windows. The triple-pane windows provide wide views of the coastal pine forest and beyond, while maximizing passive solar gain. They are well-sealed to prevent heat loss. Horowitz chose a smart combination of fixed windows (available in larger sizes and less expensive than windows that open) and turn/tilt windows for cross ventilation.
Energy-efficient elements. The home is super-insulated and airtight thanks to cellulose and continuous rigid insulation, the triple pane windows and a continuous air barrier. Other energy-saving features:
Windows: European Architectural Supply
5 Steps to Improve Your Heating System Now
Energy-efficient elements. The home is super-insulated and airtight thanks to cellulose and continuous rigid insulation, the triple pane windows and a continuous air barrier. Other energy-saving features:
- Flexible, multipurpose spaces and the open floor plan allowed them to minimize the footprint.
- This insulation and air sealing, high-performance windows and passive solar gain work together to yield a small heating load.
- Because the envelope is so tight, the required heating equipment capacity was significantly reduced. An air-source heat pump properly sized for this provides efficient heating and cooling, and includes a carefully designed duct-distribution system to provide even comfort throughout the house. An energy recovery ventilation system (ERV) provides continuous fresh air from the outside.
- A heat pump hot water heater
- LED lighting
- High-efficiency appliances
- A design that allows for cross-ventilation from open windows.
Windows: European Architectural Supply
5 Steps to Improve Your Heating System Now
Kitchen. The kitchen has an efficient work triangle and the island divides the work area from the social area. Those sitting at the counter stools or washing dishes enjoy a wide view out the large north-facing windows to the woods. Horowitz planned the fridge/range wall around the depth of 2-foot-deep pantry cabinets, which are located to the right of the fridge, and ductwork overhead, which is concealed within the soffit. The recessed cabinet/appliance wall strategy gives the kitchen a streamlined, clean aesthetic.
A Heath Ceramics mosaic tile backsplash from the couple’s home state, California, brings in the colors of Cape Cod Bay. The countertops are quartz and the streamlined cabinet and hardware styles lend a modern look. The microwave drawer is tucked into the island.
Dining room. The dining room opens to the patio and to more views of the coastal pine trees.
Mori Gourd pendant light, Rich Brilliant Willing; browse white pendant lights
Mori Gourd pendant light, Rich Brilliant Willing; browse white pendant lights
Master bedroom. The master bedroom is located on the western corner of the main level, which is the most private corner of the house. The room perches above the walk-out portion of the lower level; this elevated spot provides canopy views that give the room a cozy treehouse-like feel.
Creating multifunctional rooms helped Horowitz keep to the tight footprint. For example, the bedroom also has a built-in study alcove that lets it double as an office. Setting the supports for the quartz desktop back about 1½ inches from the edge gives it a minimalist floating appearance.
Creating multifunctional rooms helped Horowitz keep to the tight footprint. For example, the bedroom also has a built-in study alcove that lets it double as an office. Setting the supports for the quartz desktop back about 1½ inches from the edge gives it a minimalist floating appearance.
Master bathroom. Watery blue glass tiles reference nearby Cape Cod Bay. The style of the vanity nods to the aluminum channels on the exterior of the house. A large mirror bounces the light around and makes the room feel more expansive.
Tile: Porcelanosa; Check out more blue glass tile
Tile: Porcelanosa; Check out more blue glass tile
Outdoor shower/beach entrance. This is the entrance to the lower level, which the homeowners know as the “after-the-beach entrance.” A canopy extends from the outdoor shower over the door, creating continuity and offering protection from the elements. The cedar cladding and canopy echo the look of the main entry.
Lower level. “This could have been a long, dark hallway,” Horowitz says. Instead, the open staircase to the lower level helps keep the space light and open — it receives light from the upper floor, from the long, narrow windows (see first photo), from the guest room windows and from the glass beach entry door.
Next to the staircase there are double sliding barn doors that lead to one of two guest bedrooms down here. This room is multifunctional as a guest room and a study, and the wide door allows it to have a more open feeling when being used as the latter.
The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom and laundry. The part that is underground contains the mechanical equipment and a home gym.
The lower level has two guest bedrooms, a second full bathroom and laundry. The part that is underground contains the mechanical equipment and a home gym.
Guest bedroom. The homeowners use this space as their office, but it doubles as one of the two guest bedrooms. This helps them accommodate extra guests and ups the bed count for the home’s use as a rental property. Thanks to the way Horowitz made the most of the slope, the windows are much larger than you’d expect in a basement and provide nice views for whomever is working at the desk.
Floor plan. Here’s a floor plan to give you a clear idea of the layout. On the lower level portion, the more utilitarian spaces on the east side of the house are tucked into the underground portion while the bedrooms and bathrooms are located on the above-ground, walk-out side.
Takeaways
Contractor: A.F. Hultin & Co.
Landscape design and masonry: Pamet Valley Landscape Design
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Takeaways
- Take advantage of a slope to bring light and walk-out capability to a basement.
- Maximize solar heat gain with energy-efficient windows to cut down on heating bills in the winter.
- Fixed windows are less expensive than windows that open. Find a good combination that fits your budget and still provides cross ventilation.
- When you’re planning to rent out a home, choose durable materials and surfaces that can stand up to wear and tear.
- Create multifunctioning rooms to make the most of a home with a compact footprint.
- Use an open staircase to a basement to maximize natural light.
- At a beach house, think about where those with sandy feet will be entering and plan a faucet or outdoor shower in that area for rinsing off.
Contractor: A.F. Hultin & Co.
Landscape design and masonry: Pamet Valley Landscape Design
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
House at a Glance
Who lives here: This is a California couple’s vacation home
Location: Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Size: 1800 square feet (167 square meters); three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Designer: ZeroEnergy Design
This San Francisco family wanted a vacation home on Massachusetts’ Cape Cod that met their high standards of sustainability, but they could not find a green home on the market. So they decided to build new. On a footprint of 1,100 square feet, their new home uses 70 percent less energy than a new home of the same size built to code requirements would typically use, according to the home’s architect, ZeroEnergy Design. The house in Wellfleet provides a place for the homeowners to have extended visits with East Coast-based family members, and when they aren’t there it brings in income as a rental property.
Style. The family wanted to honor the rich history of modernism that the Outer Cape has been known for since the 1930s. Marcel Breuer, Walter Gropius, the Saarinen family and Florence and Hans Knoll hobnobbed here with other architects, writers, artists and students, and their architectural influence is apparent on many of the modern gems seen in the area, which includes the towns of Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown.
Architect Stephanie Horowitz used a palette of simple rectilinear forms crafted from uncomplicated materials and finishes. The exterior is composed of fiber cement panels with aluminum channels at the edges. And on a bump-out portion to the right, cedar clapboard wraps all the way around three sides. “The facade creates a juxtaposition between the modern panels and the warmer recognizable vernacular — cedar clapboards are typical to the Cape,” says Horowitz. The lower roofline of the bump-out extends to create an entry porch, giving it a simple form.