Historic Cape Cod Style Home Remodel

Puget Sound Bluff Home

Opening up a compartmentalized floor plan to take advantage of extensive, protected water views.

With sweeping views of Puget Sound, this home, poised atop a bluff, already had a good deal going in its favor. For the homeowners, despite the existing appeal of what they describe as their forever home, some changes were needed for this house to take them through retirement and beyond. The original character and quality of their historic home absolutely had to remain, but they also longed for some modern detailing that played harmoniously with the home’s traditional forms and embellishments.

First and foremost, these homeowners wanted to maximize their unobstructed water views. To that end, the north side of the house was transformed to capture Puget Sound views from almost every room. The numerous added windows draw ample light even on the dreariest days, and two sets of French doors open to the home’s sloping yard, patio, and upper and lower fire pits.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Effortless Flow

Previously compartmentalized, the floor plan was opened up to naturally direct guests through the common areas of the home, from the front door to the view. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Effortless Flow

Previously compartmentalized, the floor plan was opened up to naturally direct guests through the common areas of the home, from the front door to the view. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Brand New Views

Prior to renovations, the kitchen was tucked away and offered no view of Puget Sound. Now relocated to the view side of the home, abundant windows guarantee stellar views. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Brand New Views

Prior to renovations, the kitchen was tucked away and offered no view of Puget Sound. Now relocated to the view side of the home, abundant windows guarantee stellar views. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Timeless Island

The large island is central to the kitchen, serving multiple functions. Its size maximizes countertop space, while its color, trim, and overall design are a tribute to traditional Cape Cod style. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Timeless Island

The large island is central to the kitchen, serving multiple functions. Its size maximizes countertop space, while its color, trim, and overall design are a tribute to traditional Cape Cod style. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Seaside Inspiration

The interior color scheme was designed to complement the moody outside views using blue, soft grays, and cream to achieve a nautical yet refined look. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Seaside Inspiration

The interior color scheme was designed to complement the moody outside views using blue, soft grays, and cream to achieve a nautical yet refined look. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Once a series of compartmentalized spaces, the main floor now breathes freely with a more open floor plan. The two sitting rooms, situated just-so to take in the view, feel connected yet distinct, each offering a unique attitude and experience. The finishes of the rooms channel the home’s cliff-side location: soft greys and blues accented with navy and cream play through the space, with natural elements — like wood and wicker — grounding the plush textures of the rugs, chairs, and sofa.

Before the remodel, the kitchen was tucked away, with no access to the sweeping waterfront views. Now, able to be the heart of the home, it epitomizes the luxurious blend of traditional and contemporary styles, materials, and colors so attractive to the clients. Shaker cabinets pair with the gentle curves and trim details of traditional baluster-inspired legs on the island. Crisp shadow lines, and walls clad in narrow white subway tile pair with backlit crown molding above the gently arcing enclosure of the range hood with a medallion backsplash. Above, a vaulted ceiling — the only on this level of the home — adds to the feeling that this room is a special gathering place in the home.

The otherwise bright-white kitchen is anchored by a substantial kitchen island, painted in the deep grey-blue so characteristic of the Pacific Northwest sky and water. Additional storage and four considerable balusters support the island’s two seamless quartz slabs, adding counter and gathering space to take in the peaceful view of the Sound and islands beyond.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Height & Light

Backlit crown molding dramatically emphasizes the vaulted ceiling, making the kitchen feel grand and wide open. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Height & Light

Backlit crown molding dramatically emphasizes the vaulted ceiling, making the kitchen feel grand and wide open. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Stay-at-Home Barista

A small coffee and wet bar is nestled between the kitchen and dining room, bringing modern hosting efficiencies to this classic Cape Cod home. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Stay-at-Home Barista

A small coffee and wet bar is nestled between the kitchen and dining room, bringing modern hosting efficiencies to this classic Cape Cod home. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Every Tiny Detail

Down to the detail, every material, finish, and fixture fits precisely into place. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Every Tiny Detail

Down to the detail, every material, finish, and fixture fits precisely into place. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Bringing Outside, In

The living room color palette blurs the distinction between those expansive, outdoor views and the comforts of the room, creating a seamless, harmonious transition between one and the other. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Bringing Outside, In

The living room color palette blurs the distinction between those expansive, outdoor views and the comforts of the room, creating a seamless, harmonious transition between one and the other. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Beachy Textures

Textural details in blues and browns heighten the beachy feel of this home. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Beachy Textures

Textural details in blues and browns heighten the beachy feel of this home. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Picking Out Patterns

Delicate florals and thick-striped patterns are characteristic of Cape Cod homes, intended to inspire seaside sentiments. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Picking Out Patterns

Delicate florals and thick-striped patterns are characteristic of Cape Cod homes, intended to inspire seaside sentiments. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Upstairs, the homeowners hoped to gain height and square footage for a primary bedroom and bathroom. The ceiling slope and height within their existing roofline couldn’t accommodate their dreams, so they opted to add a dormer. While a wonderful way to create more headroom without completely altering the roofline, dormers can pose their own set of complications trying to align tricky slopes to meet at clean and even points. Here, overcoming those complications was well worth it. Using the existing form and style of the home as a springboard for the design, the dormer blends seamlessly into the existing home, almost as if it were original. The newly occupiable space houses a comfortable en suite bathroom, and closet of built-ins off the primary bedroom.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Seaside Dreams

The primary bedroom, tucked under the eaves, overlooks stunning views of Puget Sound. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Seaside Dreams

The primary bedroom, tucked under the eaves, overlooks stunning views of Puget Sound. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Colors of the Sea

Calming blues, grays, and neutrals maintain the nautical theme. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Colors of the Sea

Calming blues, grays, and neutrals maintain the nautical theme. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Closet Cut-Outs

Carefully crafted to to fit neatly within the tricky angles of the dormer, these built-ins create clothing storage where nothing else works. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Closet Cut-Outs

Carefully crafted to to fit neatly within the tricky angles of the dormer, these built-ins create clothing storage where nothing else works. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Room for All

Working beneath vaulted ceilings, a spacious primary bath fits into the dormer, featuring a walk-in shower and separate room for private amenities. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Room for All

Working beneath vaulted ceilings, a spacious primary bath fits into the dormer, featuring a walk-in shower and separate room for private amenities. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Soft Tones & Geometric Textures

Soft grays pair with geometric patterns to create a calm yet structured look & feel. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Soft Tones & Geometric Textures

Soft grays pair with geometric patterns to create a calm yet structured look & feel. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Every Line in Place

That perfect clean look where all the joints align “just so” takes not only precise design detailing, but time on-site during construction. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Every Line in Place

That perfect clean look where all the joints align “just so” takes not only precise design detailing, but time on-site during construction. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Got the Blues

The exterior color scheme is inspired by the immaculate Sound views that serve as a backdrop to this Cape Cod style home. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Got the Blues

The exterior color scheme is inspired by the immaculate Sound views that serve as a backdrop to this Cape Cod style home. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Real Shutters

True to its Cape Cod roots, authentic, operable window shutters are sized to precisely cover the glass of the windows. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Real Shutters

True to its Cape Cod roots, authentic, operable window shutters are sized to precisely cover the glass of the windows. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Walls with Character

Shingled siding gives the exterior a natural-but-polished texture. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Walls with Character

Shingled siding gives the exterior a natural-but-polished texture. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Rain Chain

A rain chain of acorn-shaped cups turns the mundane function of a gutter downspout into a unique accent. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Rain Chain

A rain chain of acorn-shaped cups turns the mundane function of a gutter downspout into a unique accent. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Dinner on the Deck

Double decks off the back of the home make the most of this home’s unobstructed Puget Sound views, ensuring there’s room for everyone to enjoy the sight. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Dinner on the Deck

Double decks off the back of the home make the most of this home’s unobstructed Puget Sound views, ensuring there’s room for everyone to enjoy the sight. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
Gather ‘Round

Watch the sun sink below Puget Sound while enjoying the warmth of an in-ground fire pit. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Gather ‘Round

Watch the sun sink below Puget Sound while enjoying the warmth of an in-ground fire pit. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Puget Sound Bluff Home – Cape Cod Style Remodel of a Historic Home with Water Views
A Private Overlook

With a small blaze and plush seating to keep you cozy, family and friends can enjoy these stunning views year-round. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

A Private Overlook

With a small blaze and plush seating to keep you cozy, family and friends can enjoy these stunning views year-round. Puget Sound Bluff Home | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Sometimes, it’s the little additions that make all the difference. The shutters, an essential accessory to the Cape Cod-style home, required a great deal of research and an eye for when less is more. Here, they are appropriately sized, so they can cover the whole window when closed — a small detail that adds a charming authenticity to the home’s exterior.

Notes & Credits
This project was built by Phoenix Construction.
Landscape design and installation by Lankford Associates and Ediscapes.
Photography by Tina Witherspoon.

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