The oculus on the second floor landing. All of the second floor bedrooms open up to this social gathering space. Photo by Michael J. Lee

Entering the home from the formal entrance, guests are greeted by a serene sunken foyer, which sets the casual tone with a blue-gray, sisal-wrapped console table beneath an ethereal print of blues and grays that showcase a dreamy, calm sea that bridges the gap between a white sandy beach and a fog-soaked horizon. Two steps up, the blue, simply textured living room rug anchors a blue couch and a comfortable pair of cushioned, white, spooled armchairs around an oversized wooden coffee table. Extra stools in the foyer and throughout the home, in pops of color, encourage relaxed gathering and the ability to easily accommodate several people. This grounded seating area is just that, because overhead, a balconied oculus soars through the first floor ceiling, framing a back-lit stained glass panel above on the second story. A triptych of custom-coordinated glass tiles by artist Connie Kolman is displayed over the centered fireplace and mantle, balanced on each side by three-quarter height built-in cabinetry, all drenched in the white paint that serves as the canvas backdrop throughout the house. Out of sight, behind the fireplace and cabinetry, is a modest, uncluttered, yet massively functional family room that gathers the family around another fireplace, for watching television, reading or early morning email for Mark at the built-in desk. Continuing the nautically familiar blue and white palette, Wilson centered a striking print of a close-up of the bow of a boat behind a dark blue couch accented by additional seating in whites, orange and neutrals, all pulled together with textural pillows, including an oversized blue Ikat print.

Being a busy family with four children under the age of 12, and older children from a previous marriage of Mark’s, a large, functional kitchen was essential and thankfully, Bereznicki had already obliged in his original design. A long granite-topped center island dissects a very traditional kitchen enveloped by classic white cabinetry with upper glass display doors and yards of counter space sporting traditional soapstone.

An eat-in kitchen nook offers a long pine table for family meals, surrounded by sun-filled windows and crowned by an exquisite chandelier that has just enough bling – taupe crystals that descend from a rectangular linen shade. A small mudroom in shades of celadon with a natural stone tile, punctuated by black square dots, connects the dining area to the side entrance, accessed via an exterior colonnaded walkway, yet another inspired and brilliant architectural element inherited from Bereznicki’s plan. The only major change in the house was the client’s notion to use the original dining room and butler’s pantry as a billiard room and bar. Assisted by the McCarthys’ indispensible caretaker, Peter Barattini of Homesitters, a property management company in Osterville, Claire and Mark decided to remove the upper cabinets of the former galley-style pantry and open up the space to the new billiard room. With fun and recreation being the prime motivators of this summer home, and dining options available outdoors on the terrace, a billiard room rather than a dining room made perfect sense. The new bar, created from the former pantry, has now become a convivial buffet and beverage center where guests may pause for conversation, indulge in hors d’oeuvres, and partake in good-natured harassment of the pool players.