This turn-of-the-20th-century home sits as close to Provincetown Harbor as you can get without actually being in the water. At high tide, says Eastham architect Peter McDonald, who was called in to renovate the home in 2010, the water comes right up to the lower-level deck. “It’s pretty special.” The interior of the house, however, was cramped and choppy, offering little opportunity to appreciate the spectacular setting. So McDonald drafted plans for the modest three-level summer residence that involved adding 10 feet of interior space to the harbor-facing side of the house on each floor, reconfiguring the layout, and expanding two existing decks while creating a third. Now the home is open and oriented toward its lovely locale.
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1 > WALLS SHEATHED with tongue-and-groove paneling emulate the look of bead board used in antique beach cottages.
2 > ACCESS TO THE VIEW was a prime goal. Walls separating the kitchen, living room, and dining room were taken down to open up the main level’s sightlines.
3 > THE ORIGINAL CEILING was oppressively low, so McDonald had the floor above reframed with narrower joists, which allowed the main floor’s ceiling to be raised 6 inches. A system of heavier beams creates a coffered look. “Not only did we get the extra height,” the architect says, “the ceiling became a beautiful design feature.”
4 > NEW FLOORS throughout are knotty hickory planks — another nod to houses of yesteryear.
5 > A NEW BALCONY off the master bedroom provides an additional outdoor vantage point on the third floor.
6 > ALL DECKS are made out of Zuri, a durable composite material that has the look of exotic wood.
7 > WIRE RAILINGS ensure that views of the harbor remain unimpeded.