A professional couple had purchased a one-story beach shack, set over a basement garage built of concrete foundations, but on the bay side of Plum Island. They hoped to end up with a full-sized second home and gain enough height that they would be able to look over the adjacent houses and acquire an ocean view, in addition to the bay view. Zoning and planning restrictions in essence prevented building a new house. I followed the spirit of the zoning provisions to maintain the current footprint and limit the height to two occupied stories above grade. The foundations were evaluated structurally and deemed suitable for a new, multi-story addition. The garage became a beach bungalow, guest apartment. The sloped roof—as seen from the side elevations—was kept flat to provide a third-story deck with splendid ocean views. The tear-down beach shack had been transformed into a three and a half story house.

The clients were the easiest to get along with, I’ve ever experienced. Yet, get two people in a room on a design project and you will get three opinions—somebody will vote twice. They both wanted an Italian villa look, but she specifically wanted at least one Palladian window, hence the anomalous window in the kitchen. They both loved to cook and host elaborate dinner parties, but they emphasized that they could not work together in one kitchen. What the floor plans don’t show is, at the last minute the dining room was sacrificed and a mirror image second kitchen was put in its place.

From my Italian connections, I had learned of the availability of the famous Rosada, Douglas fir windows, complete with ocher-colored roll-down shutters—in Italy to allow for the afternoon sosta; here they proved to be the perfect solution for security and to provide protection from winter storms; and let’s face it, they look really cool, and set the house apart from the too-many others on Plum Island.

Evans Beach Villa

Plum Island, Massachusetts

1986

The house as seen from 28th Street. Keeping the stairwell outside the main block of the house makes this modest sized house more roomy and adds a maritime feeling.

Although the original vertical siding has been covered with weathered shingles, the house retains its simple elegance 40 years later.

The house as seen from across the bay. Keeping the stairwell outside the main block of the house, saved precious indoor space, and adds a sense of grandeur.

Photo: William McQueen

The house nearing completion in 1986, showing the east elevation with Rosada windows and the ochre, Italian shades and with the original vertical siding.

The house under construction in 1986.