Cape Cod Times, August 9, 2019

WEST YARMOUTH — The gated community known as Great Island has been referred to as the hidden gem of the Cape, and for good reason. Only three dozen or so homes sit on this 500-acre “island,” lined with miles of white sandy Nantucket Sound beaches and private marinas with deep water docks. Exclusive as it is, this woodsy, sandy community has a pretty relaxed vibe, and the simple Scandinavian design of this week’s House Hunt makes this home fit right in.

This is what Scandinavian architecture is known for — fitting in with the natural surroundings. It’s characterized by its simplicity of design, and integration of natural light and angles. Take, for example, the pitch of the roof: from the top, straight down to the side of the two-car garage is one continuous slope. In between the garage and the living space, we see large angular windows designed to bring in the light. The yard is simple and private, surrounded by pine trees and abundant plantings of rhodies in the front — nothing too fancy, yet just enough.

Photo Gallery: Take a look inside this home

Entering the home, the stairs bring you up to the kitchen and living room, for Scandinavian design is not only about simplicity and natural beauty, it’s also largely about the inverted floor plan — kitchen and living room upstairs, bedrooms down. The idea is to maximize views and natural light. In this case, with three sliding glass doors out to a large wraparound deck, those pleasant ocean breezes are maximized as well. You’ll delight in the sounds of the birds chirping while you sit out here with your morning coffee and paper. “It’s geared toward summer living, outdoor living,” says Realtor Rick Shechtman. It could, however, be lived in year-round, he adds.

An open floor plan, the chef’s kitchen is contemporary, with granite countertops and a hidden fridge that matches the cabinetry. Recessed lighting gives the kitchen the modern flair and pendant lights over the island give it individuality. In the back, a spacious master suite also opens up to the wraparound deck.

The downstairs, too, has an open floor plan, with a central living space and three bedrooms off of that, one with its own private deck. An outdoor shower waits for you in the backyard. And with beaches and association dock just minutes walking distance, this is the perfect getaway: exclusive, but not too fancy. It’s just right.

Cape Cod Times, Sunday July 28, 2019

BREWSTER — Though this home was built in 1990, it seems to spring straight from the Colonial era of the late 17th century, when Puritan colonists built wide, rectangular homes with large chimneys and exposed beams. Indeed, the façade’s clapboard siding and modest windows are reminiscent of a simpler time. And this makes sense, given the home’s serene setting in the heart of Brewster, set way back from the nearest neighbor and surrounded by woods and ponds. A lifestyle. The home features a two-car garage and manicured yards with a stately brick walkway leading to the front door, and there are definitely some unique twists going on in this house.

Let’s start with the floor plan. Sources say open floor plans started to gain popularity in the early ’90s. If that’s true, then this house — albeit a Colonial — was an innovator, with kitchen and living room connected by open space and wide, exposed support beams standing as decorative elements. The ceiling follows suit, done in natural shiplap and wide beams. A large brick fireplace brings people together in the living room, and the oversize chimney even has a built-in storage space for wood. And you’re going to need it, as the other side of the chimney, out on the back deck, is outfitted with — a pizza oven! Enjoy homemade brick oven pizza from the comfort of your own back deck, which is the perfect size for entertaining. The open kitchen also makes entertaining easy — it’s open and bright, with recessed lighting, and the designer of this kitchen made excellent use of space by adding an angled counter/bar.

Other unique features include wide floor boards of varying size; a unique den with built-in shelves and cabinets; and a huge laundry room and pantry. The stairs leading to the second level are open, and you can really get away from it all in the master suite, with its own little balcony looking out to the woods; and ceiling beams and skylights complete the look. Two other second-level bedrooms also give awesome views of the woods. Along with the tranquility of this home, you will also enjoy private association access to Long Pond.

Cape Cod Times, Sunday, July 21, 2019

COTUIT — You have to experience this home for yourself to fully appreciate the unique layout. Enter through the main front door, or through the secondary door off to the side — the more “everyday” entrance. It brings you to an open, sun-filled room with hardwood floors and French doors out to a back deck. This space makes a perfect overflow room or even a lovely sitting room. The kitchen beckons from here — spacious and all white, accented by Brazilian-mined granite countertops. The kitchen opens to the dining room area, which in turn, flows into a sunken living room. This space, from kitchen to living room, where a lovely bay window looks out to the back patio, flows perfectly and is an idea family space: grownups in the kitchen and dining room, kids in the living room. It’s open, but it’s also large enough to afford some privacy.

A brick chimney in the living room encloses a gas fireplace, finishing off and anchoring the living room. The space, from here, spills into the foyer, which is where you’d arrive from the main front door into that elegant space that’s reserved for the more formal occasions. A balustrade staircase leads upstairs, and a balcony overlooks the foyer. The foyer space then flows past the living room toward the master suite, but beforehand, opens into a bonus room with another gas fireplace — it’s a double fireplace on the backside of the one in the living room. This room is an office, a TV room or a sitting room. It’s a perfect little getaway room, yet still open to the rest of the house.

In the first-floor master suite, walk right through the walk-in closet and into the bathroom — talk about a getaway — you can escape from the world outside with a hot bubble bath and martini in the fabulous white corner jet tub. Ahhh. The other two bedrooms, upstairs, are joined in the center by a Jack-and-Jill bathroom.

Winding Old Post Road is known to be one of Cotuit’s most preferred streets. Not only is it pretty, with pockets and enclaves of unique properties (this property also boasts beach and boat access just across the street), but it’s a short walk to Lowell Park, one of the Cape’s most iconic baseball fields, for Kettleers games in the summer. Or take an early morning stroll down to Cotuit Fresh Market (“The Coop”) for your coffee, or to Ropes Beach, where endless beautiful boats rest on the waters of Cotuit Bay.

Cape Cod Times, Sunday, July 14, 2019

WAQUOIT — Not only is this home situated in a quiet residential neighborhood at the end of a cul de sac, but it abuts acres of conservation land, namely the Quashnet Woods State Reservation and the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge. That’s hundreds of acres of land which can never be built on, and an abundance of trails to wander and contemplate nature. Speaking of such, let’s narrow right in on the backyard of this home, as it is quite exquisite.

From the heated salt water pool to the gazebo to the gardens, this is your sanctuary. The gardens feature hardy hydrangeas and lush lilies among other must-have Cape Cod plantings, and are immaculately maintained. Spend the day out here in the sun with a good book and a cosmo, and from here, step up on the back deck and right in to the “wow” room …

Sliding oversize French doors lead you into this spacious, airy family room. Cathedral ceilings, skylights and a sparkling gas fireplace create the wow factor here. It opens into the gourmet country kitchen, boasting an elongated island with quartz countertops, and a breakfast nook with built-ins (the home does also feature a formal dining room).

Did we mention this is first floor living at its finest? The master suite, around the corner from the kitchen, features a slider out to the back yard and a perfectly styled bathroom with white subway tile and bead board, which opens to a huge walk-in closet.

Photo Gallery: See inside this home

The living room, with its cathedral ceiling, skylights and oversized windows is a pleasant, homey area to hang out. The mantle on the gas fireplace is outfitted with intricate stonework and flanked on either side by built-in shelves and cabinets with soft roll-out drawers — also present in the laundry room, for ease of access. The other two bedrooms, off the living room, feature high ceilings and oversized windows; the back bedroom opens right out to the pool. The shared bathroom, like its master suite counterpart, is adorned in white subway tile and beadboard. A finished basement, perfect for entertaining, completes the package.

This home was built by the Bayside Building Inc., as was the rest of this desirable neighborhood, known as Waquoit Meadows.