So Your Coastal Style Is: Cape Cod and the Islands
Whaling history, namesake architecture and nautical Yankee decor mark this beach-cottage look
Its settlement may have started with hardworking Puritans and daring whalers, but Massachusetts’ Cape Cod and the nearby islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are now known as relaxing summer vacation spots. With legendary light and a wild landscape that attract artists (Edward Hopper painted here), a whale population that attracts watchers, and a charming residential compound that attracts Kennedys, this place has a distinctive style that dates back to the earliest days of America. Here are 10 things that will bring the flavor of Cape Cod and the Islands to your home.
1. Cape Cod houses. The Cape Cod style has become so popular over the years that the houses are everywhere. This one is in Falmouth, Massachusetts, which includes the village of Woods Hole, home of the famous Oceanographic Institution, and is the place to catch the quickest ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. A period Cape Cod house is marked by a central chimney, a one- or 1½-story height and a shingled exterior. Later versions typically are more symmetrical and have dormers like the ones you see here. It’s easy to see why this style is so popular — its charm is undeniable.
2. Carved whales. In Moby-Dick, the Pequod ship’s fateful journey started at Nantucket, an island with a long history of whaling. Today, the sport of hunting whales in the area involves cameras, not harpoons. Those who have participated in a whale watch, a favorite Cape Cod pastime, have likely spied a minke, humpback or finback whale. Carved whales are a favorite piece of decor in vacation homes on Cape Cod and the Islands.
Browse nautical decor
Browse nautical decor
3. Cupolas topped with weather vanes. Whales make their way to the top of the house via weather vanes in this region, and they’re joined by fish, great blue herons, sailboats, mermaids and even Cape Cod’s ubiquitous horseshoe crabs.
4. Pink roses. Whether beach roses, climbing roses or other varieties, you can find lots of pink blooms all over Cape Cod. Trellises and arbors help the roses take over the architecture.
5. Hydrangeas. The popularity of hydrangeas gives pink roses a run for their money on Cape Cod and the Islands. These low-maintenance shrubs are common foundation plantings here.
6. Splatter-paint floors. Long before Jackson Pollock became known as Jack the Dripper, folks on Cape Cod decorated their floors with splattered paint. According to a recent New York Times article, the technique reached the height of its popularity during the Colonial Revival era and grew out of the tradition of stenciling floors.
7. Nautical charts and sailboat models. Cape Cod and the Islands are a great place to go deep-sea fishing and sailing. The summer kicks off every Memorial Day weekend with the Figawi Charity Race, where over 200 boats race across Nantucket Sound from Lewis Bay to Nantucket.
8. Vintage brass lanterns. On Cape Cod and the Islands, brass has never gone out of style. Whether covered with a patina or highly polished, these nautical pieces make their way to tabletops and shelves in many homes.
9. Wicker. In this part of the country, wicker is not just for the porch. These vintage woven pieces also find their way inside as armchairs in the family room, coffee tables in the living room, dressers and headboards in the bedroom, and more.
10. Midcentury modern. While almost everything else I showed you is quintessential traditional Cape Cod style, it’s important to note that the region is also known for great modern architecture. As you travel down U.S. Route 6 toward the funky shacks, captain’s houses and Cape Cod cottages that mark Provincetown, Massachusetts, you’ll pass through Wellfleet and Truro, where you’ll find a treasure-trove of midcentury modern houses. This began with Walter Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus school of architecture, who began gathering with friends here in 1937.
You can’t see most of these homes from the road, and many are hidden from the water as well. But if you want a peek inside, check out the Cape Cod Modern House Trust, which offers tours of a handful of them each summer. It looks as though the tours are selling out fast for 2017, so if you want a ticket, you need to hurry!
Share: Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard fans, what are some of your favorite elements of coastal style? What’s your favorite town? Do you prefer Colonial or midcentury modern design? Tell us in the Comments.
More
Capes Across America
American Architecture: The Elements of Cape Cod Style
You can’t see most of these homes from the road, and many are hidden from the water as well. But if you want a peek inside, check out the Cape Cod Modern House Trust, which offers tours of a handful of them each summer. It looks as though the tours are selling out fast for 2017, so if you want a ticket, you need to hurry!
Share: Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard fans, what are some of your favorite elements of coastal style? What’s your favorite town? Do you prefer Colonial or midcentury modern design? Tell us in the Comments.
More
Capes Across America
American Architecture: The Elements of Cape Cod Style
Sponsored
