Step into the warm embrace of eclecticism and coziness with our upcoming feature on a Cape Cod style house interior. Rooted in American tradition, the Cape Cod style combines elements of antiquity with modern comfort, offering a unique charm that’s hard to resist. Whether you’re captivated by the quaint design of a small Cape Cod style house or enamored by the grandeur of a modern American style interior, this feature has something for everyone.
We’ll offer decorating ideas for various spaces, from inviting living rooms to tranquil bedrooms, reflecting the unique character of Cape Cod design. Stay tuned to explore this delightful blend of traditional charm and contemporary coziness.
Cool and sophisticated Cape Cod interior for a California family
After numerous trips to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a California couple approached interior designer Phil Norman with a request to recreate the mood of the residential buildings of that area in their own home. “No problem,” Norman told them without batting an eyelid. And what if they all live almost five thousand kilometers from the Atlantic coast, in Southern California?
According to the designer, the idea was not at all as crazy as it might seem at first glance. The home of his clients is located in Palos Verdes Estates, a town located on the Pacific coast, west of Los Angeles, so the atmosphere and lifestyle there are generally similar to those in Massachusetts. Norman quite easily decided on the aesthetic component of the future project. Both natural wood and stucco are very popular in California, and at the same time, they can be found in any traditional Cape Cod home.
The key to ensuring the elegance and freshness of the interior, according to the designer, was the desire to avoid an obvious seaside entourage (provoked by the presence of shells, for example), and to create an entourage subconscious, emotional. This was helped by the inclusion of unpretentious antiques and reclaimed wood elements that could fill the space of the house with a sense of near antiquity and rich history.
Object parameters
Owners : Married couple with 2 children
Location : Palos Verdes Estates, California
Dimensions : Approximately 380 sq. meters (four bedrooms, three bathrooms)
Clients wanted more of Cape Cod’s historical references, so Norman decided to incorporate flooring and ceiling beams from reclaimed wood brought in from Connecticut specifically for the project.
One of the wearers leaned towards warm Ralph Lauren-esque looks, but with a hint of Tommy Hilfiger’s casual style. To meet this desire, the designer chose white and blue as the main decor shades, but made them side by side with rough wood, vintage brick and raffia wallpaper. Wide stripes on the carpet and stucco stars on the fireplace portal are a tribute to the patriotism of the owners. There are also antique clocks from Sweden and old maps hanging on chains, which emphasize the historical character of the interior.
The kitchen not only looks amazing – it is incredibly functional and comfortable, which is very important for the hostess of the house, who calls herself an “inveterate cook”. Countertops are made of polished black granite. The only exception is the wine rack adjacent to the side of the island. It is crowned with a massive slab of Carrara marble, very convenient for rolling out dough. Its pattern echoes the decor of the tile, which is lined with part of the wall above the slab.
Small ventilation windows are located directly above the wall cabinets with glazed doors. They contribute to providing daylight to the space, while pendant lights from Restoration Hardware provide artificial light. The range hood and fridge are carefully disguised so as not to disturb the harmony of this vintage space.
Initially, the owners wanted three stools near the island, but Norman convinced them to opt for just two, but very comfortable chairs.
In the same space with the kitchen is only the dining room. 19th century Windsor chairs surround a dining table dating back to the turn of the last century. The custom bench in the background is brand new, as is the Visual Comfort chandelier.
Informality rules in the interior of this small living room. The coffee table has a spacious storage shelf and a soft surface on which to rest your feet. Some of the accessories were purchased on Cape Cod through online stores.
The games room can be used as an extra bedroom. When there are guests in the house, the table and chairs are pushed aside, and the front panel of the closet, which is actually a raised bed, drops down.
The décor of the washroom is based on alder panelling, combined with paisley-style wallpaper. The owners themselves purchased the old porthole in one of the antique shops. To match it, Norman installed a wrought-iron copper sink and bar doors, paying respect to the male half of the family.
Inlay in the form of a wind rose brings a marine mood to the interior of the entrance area.
It took at least six hours to decorate the mini-gallery that adorns the landing. There are photographs from different periods, a showcase with memorabilia (the so-called shadow box) and even a few souvenirs.
Norman tried to make the interior of the bedroom airy and light, for which he painted its walls in pale blue, and then complemented it with a mix of various fabrics and patterns to add ease. The focal elements of this space are a bedspread with floral ornaments and antique lanterns.
A series of reclaimed timber trusses visually reduces the height of the vaulted ceiling, making the interior more inviting.
This bathroom is more like a spa than a beach house. It’s all about marble floors and an exquisite chandelier from Currey & Company. The circular motif carved on the facade of the bath is repeated many times in different parts of the house.
A weather vane in the form of a whale crowns the roof of the house. Oval-shaped skylights, a stone chimney and rectangular bay windows create a nostalgic exterior. The retro-style covered veranda is perfect for spending evenings enjoying the refreshing breeze, no matter which ocean it blows from.
Can a better interpretation of the Cape Cod style be imagined? Created by Phil Norman, the design is completely unobtrusive, elegant and natural. The thing is that every element of this interior carries a piece of history, even if it was made specifically for this project.