Cape Cod Cottage Classic

This 1880s Cape Cod cottage kitchen, located in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, shines after a complete remodel that brings together old-world charm, modern convenience and a distinct New England style.

Part of the joy of renovating historic homes is being able to incorporate the design elements of the region into a fresh iteration for the 21^st century.

Designer Chuck Hart, owner and builder at Lewis and Weldon Custom Cabinetry, LLC, has a passion for the architecture and artisanship of old New England homes. Based on Cape Cod, he and his team are well-versed in the traditions of the area, as well as the desires of the clients they work with.

“When people cross the bridge from the mainland, their mindset changes,” Chuck says. “They want ‘days of old’—a painted kitchen, all white trim; essentially, a classic New England look.”

In this kitchen remodel, which is part of a broader total home renovation, Chuck sought to preserve the essence of the coastal cottage while also allowing for modern amenities.

“I wanted to make it feel as if it has always been there, to recreate the original feeling with today’s conveniences,” he says.

Visual Balance. Chuck and the team at Lewis and Weldon worked to create a visually balanced design—which can be a challenge when introducing modern appliances into an older home. He also wanted to make sure the home was truly functional for the clients’ specific needs. “They wanted dual ovens, because they entertain, but they didn’t want wall ovens,” he says. “We introduced a 48-inch range that keeps everything low and isn’t wasting all that wall space, along with an oversized, 60-inch hood, to create balance.” When an empty pocket emerged between the cabinetry and the wall, he added in the bookshelves for further personalization of the design.

Interior Overhaul of the Cape Cod Cottage

Built in the 1880s, the three-story Victorian home was in need of a refresh to lovingly and respectfully bring it up to date. The homeowners had lived in the cottage for three years before deciding to make some changes.

“They became aware of the lack of convenience and modern appliances, as well as the super-low ceilings, but they still wanted to keep the feeling of the original home,” Chuck explains.

Achieving their goals meant a complete gut of the home and a rethinking of key entertaining spaces, especially the kitchen, to accommodate the clients’ love of hosting family and friends.

river view in Cape Cod cottage kitchen — Nestled along the Bass River, the home’s deck is only 10 feet from the water, giving it a true coastal vibe. Lewis and Weldon made sure their design took full advantage of the proximity to the water and the beautiful views. According to Chuck, “We had three distinctive designs for the kitchen and decided on the final one that had no upper cabinetry and a larger, 8-foot window,” he says. “We doubled the size of the windows and created a small door to the deck that wraps around the entire house. We wanted to bring the experience of the water into the kitchen space.”

“The whole goal was to put the home back together and to make sure it felt as if it had always been there when we were done,” he says.

The most substantial structural change was raising the ceilings by a foot and a half to allow for a more open feel on the first floor, where the kitchen is located.

“A majority of everything was reframed,” Chuck points out.

While he and his team at Lewis and Weldon kept much of the layout of the 400-square-foot kitchen the same, they removed some walls to give the space a more contemporary open and airy feel. They replaced the old and worn 1930s painted cabinets with new, in-house custom cabinetry.

Old-World Charm, Modern Practicality

Despite the complete renewal of the interior, Chuck was determined to honor the home’s heritage by keeping to a traditional New England coastal design. To get the details of the design, he collaborated closely with the clients to determine the look and feel they were aiming for, as well as practical elements.

Cape Cod cottage kitchen with blue backsplash tile — To keep the predominately white palette from feeling cold, Chuck made sure to include wood to add warmth and texture. “We matched the oak floor and made a custom, 3-inch V-groove, stained oak ceiling,” he says. “There was so much white throughout the house that we wanted to bring in some texture and a wood feeling we thought was missing.” The transom window is a simple, yet elegant, feature added for look but also for function. “We had that detail from the breakfast room going into the kitchen, as well as four other areas in the house, in order to accentuate height of ceilings but also to allow additional light into other spaces,” he points out.

To determine the style portion of his design, Chuck assigns his clients’ “homework” (“I have them collect a bunch of images that give them the feeling of what they are trying to create,” he says).

The homeowners’ inspiration pictures allowed him to put together the palette: predominately white walls and cabinetry with a soft pop of gray and warm wood accents. The cabinets take center stage visually, because their crisp, white finish and simple Shaker style give the space a truly authentic New England feel.

white shelves surrounding breakfast bar in Cape Cod cottage — This breakfast bar was another customization based on the clients’ requests. “On the other side of the walls is the dining room, so it wasn’t important to have an oversized island,” Chuck explains. To create a cohesive feel, he used the same palette and materials as in the rest of the kitchen. Glass-doored cabinets allow the homeowners to showcase pieces from their collection.

Along with style, functionality is a key player in determining design choices, especially in the kitchen.

“It’s really important to ask our clients how they entertain and use the space,” Chuck points out.

Features such as dual dishwashers, sufficient counter space, a breakfast bar and ample cabinets for storage ensure a kitchen that will not only look the part, but play it too.

Overall, Lewis and Weldon’s remodel took a once dark and cramped space and created a light, bright and distinctly New England cottage kitchen full of functional updates—complete with a gorgeous coastal view.

Cape Cod cottage kitchen — The Rohl apron sink adds to the kitchen’s old-world feel and is another feature inspired by the homeowners’ collection of images representing the look and feel they wanted. “We can design to anyone’s likes or dislikes, but it’s essential to listen to what’s important to the client and help design as much of their wants and needs into the space,” Chuck says.

decorative range hood in renovated Cape Cod cottage — Another clever cover-up Chuck’s team crafted is the decorative range hood; underneath it a stainless steel hood can be found. “Anytime we can we try to hide that detail in a woodworking mode, we do,” Chuck says. “Again, it’s that classic New England approach.”

kitchenette in historic Cape Cod cottage — This kitchenette is in the two-bedroom carriage house above the detached, four-car garage. It was an improvisation project Chuck completed that references many of the features of the kitchen in the main house. “We were trying to give it the function of a kitchen without making a full-blown kitchen,” he explains.

Renovation Tips:

Rethinking Your Kitchen

Starting your own kitchen remodel can be daunting, but builder and designer Chuck Hart says it doesn’t have to be. He’s developed a three-step guide about how to rethink renovation to make it a more manageable and enjoyable process:

Step 1: Focus on the layout. Chuck recommends starting with a “big picture” approach to determine the overall flow and design of your kitchen. “It comes down to how the client is going to use the space,” he says.

He suggests considering questions such as how many people are in your family, if you like to cook (or not) and how you entertain. “It becomes important if you have a larger family, because you need good egress ways for people to get in and out of the space without tripping over each other,” he says.

Step 2: Look at the functional details. Chuck says it’s now time to zoom in and look at all the ways you’ll use your kitchen on a daily basis—including where you store your pots and pans and cutlery and where you’ll store your alcoholic beverages. “I have the client take their space apart and put it back together again,” he says.
Step 3: Have fun with aesthetics. Setting the framework and knowing how the space will be structured frees you up to complete the last step: figuring out all the finishes and flourishes in your new kitchen.

Chuck recommends checking out Pinterest or looking at magazines to collect images of the look and feel you’re wanting to create. “You can dive into the fun part—the aesthetics—because you have all those other things off your mind,” he says. “When you break it down that way, you only have to focus on a few things at once and not be overwhelmed by decisions.”

For more Cape Cod cottage inspiration, read on for Carefree on Cape Cod. For another transformation of a historic yet bold home, read on about the Villas at Spanish Court. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get your daily dose of cottage inspiration!