BRETELER-NELSON RESIDENCE

Cape Cod, MA

This one hundred year old Victorian cottage has endured numerous additions in the course of its life, many of them aggressively contemporary. These varied assaults resulted in a fractured house of conflicting styles and disjointed rooms.

To unify the house, JNA redesigned the interiors to connect one space with another both visually and spatially. All three floors of the house underwent complete renovation. The main floor now enjoys a spacious kitchen and living areas, as well as a new dining room. A series of children’s bedrooms and playrooms now occupy the second floor. The basement, formerly an uninhabitable work area, has been transformed into a bright, open master suite.

Several unique design elements distinguish the residence. To celebrate the entry, an exterior panel is ornamented with cedar shingles wrapped in copper. The sculptural bathroom at the core of the house is hung with custom designed wallpaper. Incorporating architectural sketches, renderings and construction drawings, the wallpaper serves as a permanent record of the design process.