Cape Cod Home, Autumn 2017 | capecodlife.com

Vineyard Vibe

Cape Cod Home  /  Autumn 2017 / ,

Writer: Julie Craven Wagner / Photographer: Sean Litchfield 

Vineyard Vibe

Cape Cod Home, Autumn 2017 | capecodlife.com

Cape Cod Home  /  Autumn 2017 / ,

Writer: Julie Craven Wagner / Photographer: Sean Litchfield 

Vineyard Vibe

The homeowner grew up in this house with her grandmother and decided to reintroduce the blue floor color on the front porch. Photo by Sean Litchfield

A young family strikes a chord for the next generation of memories on Martha’s Vineyard

Online only: See more photos of this Vineyard home

Creating beautiful music is a thoughtful and personal process, be it a complex symphony or a stripped bare acoustical arrangement. It is no wonder, that a relationship started from a shared love of singing as enthusiastic members of an all-male a capella group, has found a comfortable and familiar rhythm, like that of the songs of summer. Such is the case with Kyle Sheffield, AIA, principal at LDa Architecture & Interiors of Osterville, and Clay Rives. The two met and sang together at Connecticut College and then re-connected on the Vineyard as alumni of the tight-knit and perennially popular Vineyard Sound one summer.

That’s how connections and friendships seem to evolve in a special place like Martha’s Vineyard in the summer. So it was only natural that, while on a beach one summer a few years ago, Emily, Clay’s wife, casually asked how Kyle might interpret and envision her childhood home in Vineyard Haven. As Emily explained she had recently acquired the house that was currently serving as an active year-round rental, Kyle began to sketch in the sand his vision that the waves threatened to erase forever. Thankfully, the conversation sparked enough interest and inspiration; the trio soon found themselves reviewing design plans.

Built around the end of the 19th century, the house is a modest structure and somehow, despite its 1,200 square feet, previous owners had carved out a second story apartment to capitalize on the busy rental market. Emily and Clay’s initial desire was to simply update the kitchen and baths so that they could enjoy the house themselves. What resulted was a full house renovation that honors and acknowledges the simple New England architecture from a very modest period in our history.

Julie Craven Wagner

Julie Craven Wagner began her experience with Cape Cod Life in 2010 when she joined the sales team after 10 years of working with local businesses on the Cape and Islands with WMVY. In addition to sales, she is the Associate Publisher/Editor of Cape Cod LIFE, Cape Cod HOME, and Cape Cod ART. Growing up on the Outer Cape has given her a unique perspective of life on Cape Cod, from tip to bridge, and that is reflected in her appreciation and presentation of stories found within the pages of our publications. Julie lives in North Falmouth with her husband, Eric, and their yellow lab, Enzo. When she finds free time, she enjoys her Cape Cod life sailing on Buzzards Bay, spending time on the beach in Wellfleet, or exploring Martha’s Vineyard.