Worth Its Salt

Probably the most striking use of space in the home is the suspended master tub cubicle, distinguished from the rest of the exterior by its darker color. “We wanted that piece to stand out,” McNeill says. “We wanted it to be different because it was hanging off the side of the building. And we didn’t want to use stain because we wanted it to be natural.” To distinguish this element, the architects drew inspiration from a Japanese technique. They charred the exterior cedar boards using a blowtorch. Inside, with its beach stone floor and deep soaking tub, this suspended space offers sanctuary, and, if the shades are raised, a prime spot for viewing coming storms.

Photo by: Brian Vanden Brink

Maybe those old Cape Cod salts knew something. Their fishing shacks and small cottages stood up to the elements for centuries. Those long ago sailors used weather-worthy local materials, which they knew, like their stories, only got better with time. This modernized take on an old tale is ready for anything, and from its perch, it says the floods can come, the winds can blow, and the salt is welcome to shiver the timbers.

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Laurel Kornhiser is a frequent contributor to Cape Cod HOME.