Modernizing a Traditional Cape Cod-Style Home

Table Of Content

• Modern Farmhouse Living Room Ideas That Are Effortlessly Cool & Completely Doable
• Cape Cod Architecture Elements
• Cape Cod living room ideas: the fundamentals
• Pros and cons of Cape Cod-style architecture
• 'A simple and direct plan': Celebrating and highlighting the Cape-style house
• Teal Board and Batten with White Trim

However, some modern Cape Cod homes no longer include the traditional cabinetry and have smooth-slab doors for a sleek and contemporary look. The interior color palette of a traditional Cape Cod home mirrors the exterior environment, often using pastel colors to mimic the sky, grass, water, and sun to add warmth and charm to the interior. Modern Cape Cod interior design opts for a white color palette to add light to the home and create a larger feel in the space. Cape Cod architecture was named for the Massachusetts coastal region where Puritan carpenters settled at Cape Cod Bay in the 1700s.

Modern Farmhouse Living Room Ideas That Are Effortlessly Cool & Completely Doable

"Before we bought the house, I would pass by it while walking my dogs, and I could just tell it had so much character," Wendy says. When your home starts to evoke the look of a typical beach house, you can transform the look inside your home by bringing in the perfect charming Cape Cod beach house decorating ideas. If you though that wood was only reserved for the exterior of a typical Cape Cod home and nowhere else, well, you’ve thought wrong.

Cape Cod Architecture Elements

To reintroduce character to the gutted interior, Garcia set to designing by imagining “what a traditional Cape Cod would look like if all its dreams came true,” she said. The smaller size can be a positive attribute for Cape Cod homes, making them affordable, practical, and efficient – yet cozy and charming. There’s less space to clean, heat, maintain, or furnish, and many rooms are multi-functional, with built-in shelving and storage features. The exterior commonly features a smaller yard, which means less mowing and shoveling. Overall, the Cape Cod-style house is an excellent choice for homebuyers searching for a modestly sized home, whether as a starter home or when it’s time to downsize. Cape Cod house design ideas often have a simplicity to them that creates a welcoming ambiance.

Cape Cod living room ideas: the fundamentals

As for a backsplash, wooden plank walls (instead of tile) keep the style of the room seamless and add old-fashioned charm. If you love the look of beadboard or shiplap, which are white-washed wooden panels, you might want to think of the best way to add them in your kitchen. White wooden paneling makes for a convincing take on Cape Cod home kitchen ideas that will let you add an idyllic sense of calm in your home.

Pros and cons of Cape Cod-style architecture

“It’s got either shingle siding or white clabbered siding, a single story in the front, a central front door, and a big roof sometimes with dormers,” Wright says. Often built around simple, rectangular floor plans, their shape is nearly identical to the silhouette a child might come up with if prompted to draw a house. “Every once in a while, there will be a house with lap, which is usually in a very narrow reveal of about 4 inches.

'A simple and direct plan': Celebrating and highlighting the Cape-style house

These hues often include muted blues and greens with soft neutrals such as fawn and white. And by adding natural materials, you can add organic sandy hues and rich textures that complement coastal colors. Many 20th century Cape cod homes opt for a different exterior paint color palette than those built earlier. Nowadays, Cape cod homes use exterior paint colors that lean conservative in style.

The wraparound porch on this home makes a big impression, as uniform white columns add measure and a linear quality to the beige lap exterior. House of Coco Interiors is a Cape Cod-based, full-service interior design firm that curates timeless designs inspired by organic, coastal living. According to McDonald, when in their native setting, there are little disadvantages to living in a Cape Cod house.

Cape Cod House Style – The Ultimate Guide To What It Is And How To Get The Look

As Americans migrated from east to west, the Cape Cod design and construction moved with them. This is why Cape Cod houses are more often found in colder, snowier climates throughout New England in cities like Manchester, NH, Boston, MA, Cranston, RI, and Stamford, CT. In other areas of the United States, the Cape Cod-style is often mixed with craftsman elements, ranch, or Tudor design.

Designer Lauren Nelson Recast This Cape Cod–Style Home for a Couple of Empty Nesters - House Beautiful

Designer Lauren Nelson Recast This Cape Cod–Style Home for a Couple of Empty Nesters.

Posted: Thu, 04 Aug 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Teal Board and Batten with White Trim

The fixed shutters add a nice touch, while the porch facade expresses subtle ornamentation with the banisters and shake to add flattering details to the exterior. When you think about fresh color, texture, and natural combinations, this home has it all! The Dutch-style gabled roof adds a whimsical effect to this home, while the soft blue color is right in line with the fresh, coastal flair found throughout Cape Cod. Breaking down the unique components of familiar designs can be tricky, because we’re often so familiar with the entire aesthetic that we tend to overlook the details. If you are renovating, it’s essential to identify all the elements that are available to work with. Whether you’re trying to extend Cape Cod house interior design ideas to the exterior, or you’re just getting started in selecting the right siding, knowing what to look for can be a game changer.

Versatile and easy to switch up with seasonal accessories should you choose, neutral living room ideas are the ultimate in no-fuss styling. If you’re looking to create an inviting, cozy retreat during a rough snowstorm, consider experimenting with different materials. With a tactile sofa, wooden accents, and a plush rug, this room is no match for a whirling blizzard. Decorating with blue and white is about finding the balance between the two colors, and deciding which will be the hero shade in your scheme. Since the living room is the epicenter of many homes, it’s important to have ample space for the entire family – plus a few guests.

Look for coffee tables with built-in drawers or side tables with ample cabinet space. In addition, rustic ottomans that open up offer a great storage solution for putting away items such as blankets and toys. Not only do neutral colors pair nicely with Cape Cod’s simple structure, but they can also act as a blank canvas, ready to evolve as your style does. On the other hand, anyone who wants to embrace the style’s coastal roots will find a lot to love about a palette of light blues and soothing, seafoam greens.