North Hampton, NH

About this project

This circa 1890 Victorian cottage style seaside residence had seen very little improvement until the early 1990’s when a garage and a modern kitchen was added to the existing home,…

This circa 1890 Victorian cottage style seaside residence had seen very little improvement until the early 1990’s when a garage and a modern kitchen was added to the existing home, but even that addition felt tired and disconnected from the main body of house after a short amount of time.  The older sections of the house required substantial work, including replacing sagging support beams and outdated utilities.  The home was almost entirely gutted from top to bottom and inside and out.  With tremendous faith and a grand vision, this home evolved from a tired coastal retreat into a coastal dream home of traditional details and modern features.

Capturing the views of the Ocean was the key design goal.  The home’s former interior layout located many of the secondary rooms, such as bathrooms and a butler’s pantry, along the ocean facing wall leaving only glancing views of the water from other major rooms through small windows.  To improve the view the use of a commonly connected corridor, highlighted by elliptical arches and wainscot paneling, was designed to run the full length of the 1st floor which freely opens into each of the major rooms along the way.  This feature dissolves the feeling of a designated hallway and feels more like an extension of each living space.  By breaking away the once visual barrier of the interior rooms and adding more windows, the house is now bathed in natural light from front to back, and there is more opportunity to take-in the scenic views of the ocean.

Design Features
• Large front foyer with a sweeping staircase and wainscoting
• Abundant views of the water
• Spacious modern kitchen with eat-in breakfast nook
• Built-in cabinets in the dining room
• Elliptical archways flank the entry to the basement staircase
• Victorian inspired fireplace and millwork in the living room
• Guest Suite with fireplace place and French doors facing the ocean views
• Private sitting room surrounded by 3-walls of windows to capture views, sunlight and ocean breezes
• Master Suite with a fireplace and a Master Bath that has a commanding view of the ocean and salt march
• Finished Attic with built-in beds and ¾ bath
• Traditional moulding and details on the interior and exterior
• Coffered ceilings
• Residential elevator that serves the three main floors
• Exterior deck with built-in outdoor grille station
• Pool, hot tub and patio integrated with native plantings and stone walls
• Cabana with built-in exterior TV

Project Details

• Location: North Hampton, NH
• Project Partners: CM Ragusa Builders, Seabrook, NH

This circa 1890 Victorian cottage style seaside residence had seen very little improvement until the early 1990’s when a garage and a modern kitchen was added to the existing home, but even that addition felt tired and disconnected from the main body of house after a short amount of time.  The older sections of the house required substantial work, including replacing sagging support beams and outdated utilities.  The home was almost entirely gutted from top to bottom and inside and out.  With tremendous faith and a grand vision, this home evolved from a tired coastal retreat into a coastal dream home of traditional details and modern features.

Capturing the views of the Ocean was the key design goal.  The home’s former interior layout located many of the secondary rooms, such as bathrooms and a butler’s pantry, along the ocean facing wall leaving only glancing views of the water from other major rooms through small windows.  To improve the view the use of a commonly connected corridor, highlighted by elliptical arches and wainscot paneling, was designed to run the full length of the 1st floor which freely opens into each of the major rooms along the way.  This feature dissolves the feeling of a designated hallway and feels more like an extension of each living space.  By breaking away the once visual barrier of the interior rooms and adding more windows, the house is now bathed in natural light from front to back, and there is more opportunity to take-in the scenic views of the ocean.

Design Features
• Large front foyer with a sweeping staircase and wainscoting
• Abundant views of the water
• Spacious modern kitchen with eat-in breakfast nook
• Built-in cabinets in the dining room
• Elliptical archways flank the entry to the basement staircase
• Victorian inspired fireplace and millwork in the living room
• Guest Suite with fireplace place and French doors facing the ocean views
• Private sitting room surrounded by 3-walls of windows to capture views, sunlight and ocean breezes
• Master Suite with a fireplace and a Master Bath that has a commanding view of the ocean and salt march
• Finished Attic with built-in beds and ¾ bath
• Traditional moulding and details on the interior and exterior
• Coffered ceilings
• Residential elevator that serves the three main floors
• Exterior deck with built-in outdoor grille station
• Pool, hot tub and patio integrated with native plantings and stone walls
• Cabana with built-in exterior TV