At the end of a private ocean road and perched on a narrow dune between the Atlantic Ocean and a series of freshwater ponds, this residence enjoys unobstructed views of water and fields in every direction, as well as expansive waterfront vistas across the 330 feet of direct ocean frontage. The owners, who had previously rented a 1980s, shingle-style house on the site, purchased the property for its pristine natural beauty, and asked AKA to renovate and transform the dated structure into a forever home for their extended family.
Its profound beauty aside, the 3.3-acre site hosts a series of challenging environmental conditions, including eroding dunes, proximity to the pond’s sensitive ecosystem, and sandy soils with poor load-bearing capacity, as well as a Federal Emergency Management Agency requirement to lift the original structure more than 10 feet above the existing grade to protect the building from increasingly violent storms and surges. At the same time, the site’s complex ecosystem, local zoning laws, and regulations from the Department of Environmental Conservation strictly forbade expanding the existing footprint in any direction. So, while technically a renovation, the two-story interior was stripped to the studs and lifted onto a steel-reinforced concrete substructure, and the exterior was completely reclad with reconstituted stone rainscreen panels, essentially turning the makeover into a new build with just over 10,000 square feet of living space. The site strategy also included revegetating and fortifying the dune with native shrubs and grasses to filter stormwater runoff and protect the site.
AKA looked to the site for design inspiration and guidance, and embraced and celebrated the natural beauty of the dune, its ruggedly elegant native vegetation, and the aesthetics of this pristine natural oceanfront landscape. The goal was to create a reality that would feel simple, natural, and, ultimately, luxurious, and that responds to the natural surroundings perfectly. AKA reimagined the cluttered and choppy interiors by opening them up into a flowing sequence of graciously proportioned spaces. As walls were brought down, the house’s focal point turned to its expansive oceanside vistas, emphasized by soaring ceilings and framed by wide windows. On the pond side, a triple-height atrium with a custom-designed, three-story Lasvit chandelier anchors the home’s vertical circulation. Interiors flow effortlessly out to generous outdoor terraces on every level for eating, drinking, and lounging poolside. A covered pergola, outdoor kitchen, and multiple outdoor fire pits complete a carefree ocean-front lifestyle.
Riveting as the views outside are, the simple and refined interiors designed in collaboration with McCann Design Group, have their own sense of peace, and achieve a stylish, low-maintenance home that balances the requirements of the client’s family with clean lines and comfortable, luxurious spaces that are organic, cozy and inviting. Chic but far from super-slick or ostentatious, it is a place where the family can gather and kick back. Most of the interior is wood – lightly-cerused, wire brushed, rift-sawn White Oak planks cover floors and ceilings. Walls and cabinets are in quiet off-white tones and lacquers, while hearths and bathrooms are clad with softly honed limestones and marbles. The Poliform chef’s kitchen, which has double islands and views in three directions,
is a true gathering place. The home also features an expansion collection of contemporary art, including paintings by Darius Yektai, Jimmy Gilroy, Claire Watson, and Susan Van Wagoner, a wood sculpture by multimedia artist Paul Morehouse, and ceramics by Ruth Douzinas.
While simple, functional, and down-to-earth, the residence is earthy and elegant, with a profound sense of peaceful permanence. There’s really no reason to ever leave the house, except to go down to the ocean for a swim.