“Design Home 2013”… Ready To Sea And Be Seen

On August 28^th, Dave and I were thrilled to be among the select few design bloggers and members of the press who were invited for a sneak peek at “Design Home 2013” in Swampscott, Massachusetts. 

The “Design Home,” sponsored by Boston Magazine, is opening to the public today, September 12^th and will be available to tour through October 7^th.  One hundred percent of the proceeds from ticket sales are benefiting Boston Children’s Hospital.  So if you want to view a gorgeous home in a beautiful seaside setting and get some wonderful design ideas and inspiration while contributing to a great cause, be sure to visit!  For more details, hours and directions, visit Boston Magazine.

Having just spent my summer (with planning and all other elements of execution beginning way back in January) doing Syrena’s Room at “Secret Cove,” the Museums Of Old York show house in Kittery Point, Maine, I was very interested to check out this installation.  Unlike a show house where each space is designed by a different designer, resulting in a lot of variety in the spaces, “Design Home 2013” was completed by a collaborating team with a unified approach.  So, unlike a show house in which each room is a surprise as it unfolds, the spaces of the “Design Home” flow consistently as they would if they were designed for a specific homeowner.  The con of this is that you generally don’t get as many unique design approaches or cutting edge ideas.  The pro is that as you walk through the home, you feel as though some lucky person (maybe you?) could live there exactly as it is shown.

The home itself is actually an expansive single-level oceanfront unit located in the sea-hugging Concordia, a stunning coastal condominium with views of the harbor, Nahant and even the Boston skyline off in the distance.  Interestingly though, the day that we visited, the skies over land were clear, but there was unusually heavy fog hugging the coast.  Although our views were not as expansive as they would be on a clear day, the fog created a beautiful, serene feeling in and around the home.

The Concordia was built on the original site of the three buildings that made up Cap’n Jack’s Waterfront Inn.  Situated on a beautiful stretch of land at 245 Humphrey Street in the midst of the seaside town of Swampscott (which features landscape and park systems designed by Frederick Law Olmstead), the developer and builder sought to create a residence that appeared as though it had been there for 100 years.  The quintessential New England Shingle Style architecture features requisite cedar shingles, a multi-gabled roofline, crisp white wood trim, as well as large windows and decks to take advantage of the setting.

For now, I will share some images of the exterior and setting, and in future posts will take you inside.  After that, of course, I hope that you visit and see it for yourself!