October 29, 2013
Ahearn on Architecture: Eel Pond
Sitting on a peninsula that juts out into Eel Pond, with Atlantic views beyond, this rambling family home takes aesthetic inspiration from the 1920s fishing getaway it once was. Its design satisfies the clients’ need for a contemporary summer residence and simultaneously reflects the century-old spirit of the original building.
The scheme imagines the expanded property as a collection of structures from the old fishing retreat. Although new, the main house’s wings—as well as its carriage house, boathouse, and breezeway—look like an original cottage and outbuildings that were repurposed and then connected to each other.
The renovation preserved the house’s best features, including fir floors and embellished ceilings, as well as its impressive views of the water. These views are enjoyed from large-paned windows and new outdoor-living areas that include flower gardens, patios with stone fireplaces, a four-season porch, and decks off all three bedrooms.
