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Great room by the water by Sherman Associates
Posted Aug 30 at 2:34 PM in by Sandy Giardi
Labor Day is upon us, which means that vacation homes will soon be at capacity as owners and their houseguests come by car, plane and ferry to celebrate the best of the extended, if bittersweet, weekend. To honor this more-the-merrier outlook, we showcase eight gorgeous great rooms. The following come-hither open-plan living spaces are where the action is—at least, when revelers aren’t on the...
Posted Aug 27 at 4:55 PM in by Sandy Giardi
Landscape architecture firm The MacDowell Company took a cookie-cutter backyard in Lexington to a higher level, creating an alfresco living room and outdoor kitchen where family and friends can gather to barbecue and watch the game. The spacious grounds provided a ready canvas for a redesign, which began with the removal of the deck and stair off the kitchen for the upgrade to a multi-programmed...
Waterfront Deck
Posted Aug 24 at 9:48 PM in by Sandy Giardi
With just a few short weeks of summer left, we’re etching the joyful, if fleeting, days spent by the water in our minds. We know that, as sure as the evening air turns crisp, we’ll soon be in a “wish we were there” state of mind. Instead of feeling wistful, we’re bottling these feel-good scenes created by New England’s finest architects, builders and designers, and basking in snapshots of their...
BDG Winter Cover
Posted Aug 23 at 5:48 PM in by Sandy Giardi
Are you ready for inspiration and plenty of eye candy? BDG's 22nd edition has just been released and it is chock full of beautiful designs and bold visions for the home, as well as the work and talents of New England’s most sought-after tradespeople and industry pros. Get your home projects and wish lists handy, because when you’re ready to build, renovate, enhance or personalize your home or...
Gloucester home renovation
Posted Aug 20 at 6:16 PM in by Sandy Giardi
Cummings Architects, together with Clarke Associates, LLC, transformed a boxy, lackluster ’80s construction on Gloucester’s coveted Eastern Point into a beautiful vision in blue. Unlike its predecessor, the “new and improved” home is heavy on character, decidedly fresh, and yet very much in keeping with the architectural traditions of this envied North Shore locale. The design team channeled the...
Posted Aug 17 at 4:34 PM in by Sandy Giardi
Going into the weekend, we’ve got summer soirees and raw bars on our minds, and just had to share this genius addition to the bar of a Chatham vacation home. This freestanding ship’s wheel sink, designed by Judy Whalen of Roomscapes Cabinetry and Design Center and in collaboration with Kathleen Hay Design, is positioned between the dining room and L-shaped bar (with a walk up pass-through window...
Carefree coastal home
Posted Aug 16 at 2:35 PM in by Sandy Giardi
“The hardest challenge about creating this waterfront shingle style home was making it appear to be simple,” confesses Arthur Hanlon, AIA principal of Shope Reno Wharton (SRW), and the project architect for a refreshing yet serene summer getaway located on an incredible piece of property. The home, a new construction built by Kenneth Vona Construction, is accessed by a wooded road that meanders...
Nantucket Looms
Posted Aug 13 at 4:02 PM in by Sandy Giardi
True to its old-world craft and traditional artisan quality, yet delightfully of-the-moment, Nantucket Looms commemorates 50 years in business. And they have plenty of reason to celebrate! For starters, its weaving studio and retail shop, which was opened in 1968 under the ownership of Andy Oates and Bill Euler with the shared goal of supporting island craftspeople year-round and their exquisite...
The best landscape lighting
Posted Aug 9 at 4:13 PM in by Sandy Giardi
“Just like the rest of the home’s environment, the smart home has infiltrated the backyard,” shares Elite Media Solutions’ founder Brian Gibson. And, just as it’s commonplace to see outdoor TVs and music, outdoor lighting is now huge for the home integration specialist. “We’re putting it in like crazy,” says Gibson, and that includes the landscape outside their newly-revamped Wellesley Hills...
Cape Cod bar design
Posted Aug 6 at 12:12 PM in by Sandy Giardi
There’s an easy, feel-good rhythm to days spent on Cape Cod. We wake and make a beeline for the ocean. Next, we find a view and maybe a little shade and pull up a chaise or Adirondack chair closer to home. Before we know it, it’s cocktail hour, and time for spirited conversation and sunsets. Lastly, satiated and wonderfully weary from the sun, salt and surf, we’re ready for a well-deserved...

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