A Shingle-Style Beach House Glimmers on the Coast

Photography by Raquel Langworthy

Milford was already home to Ellie and Dan Hurwitz when they decided to expand their presence there with this beach house. The couple reached out to Peter Cadoux of Peter Cadoux Architects to replace the existing structure. According to the architect, it was “an older home remodeled over its lifetime with many structural deficiencies that were unrepairable.”

Ultimately, the home’s new design was informed by its location. “The exterior elements have Shingle-style features, while the exterior amenities speak to enjoying the beach, the pool and include a covered lounge and rooftop deck,” says Cadoux. The homeowners are longtime clients of Erika Perez of Swank by Design, who notes that “the home’s overall aesthetic is transitional coastal with just a hint of modern.”

A versatile layout is at the heart of the 5,200-square-foot beach house. “The clients requested a bedroom on the first and second floor where either could be used as an owner’s suite, a bunk room and a third-floor office, which the owner calls the ‘Owl’s Nest,’” explains the architect. “The entire exterior is constructed to withstand the many forces of nature with coastal construction: All the exterior trim was made from cellular PVC and high-density urethane, and the siding was a factory-finished vinyl shingle.”

To help define spaces in the open floor plan, Perez worked with the general contractor to add ceiling beams and tongue-and-groove in the main living area. Plus, a tray ceiling over the kitchen island and a Sheetrock ceiling in the foyer were added.

A custom mobile by Unitfive Design passes through the dining-room ceiling. “The open space above the table reveals the second-floor deck and adds a great deal of natural light, height and transparency to the table and the kitchen,” says Cadoux. “The result is a stunning sculptural feature that spans the first and second floors of the home and can be seen from many different vantage points,” says Perez. “It’s a showstopper!”

Nautical details continue throughout the beach house. “We were particularly inspired by the living room mirrors as ‘portholes’ reflecting the views of the Sound,” says Perez. In the owner’s suite, a four-foot lighting fixture enhances the grand scale of the ceiling. “And it looks magnificent when seen from the beach,” says Perez. About the shiplap-lined barrel ceiling, Cadoux says: “It’s important to include visual drama from the owner’s suites in my work—to inspire and nurture your everyday experience.”

Photography by Raquel Langworthy

To create the whimsical bunk-room beds, a recessed platform was built underneath to anchor them for safety, while vertical knotted ropes create the illusion that they are floating. Maritime flags inspired the window treatments. The navy walls, brass lighting and vintage framed life preservers complete the nautical feel.

In the Owl’s Nest, tongue-and-groove in a serene blue-gray partners with grasscloth walls to complement the cupola, which is trimmed in a dark stained reclaimed wood. This third-floor perch serves many purposes: office, library and casual bar hangout. “Plus, the window seats are a cozy place to curl up with a good book on a rainy day,” notes Perez.

The print version of this article appears with the headline: Beachfront Bliss.
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