Designing a custom home can be both exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Here is a helpful collection of home building design ideas and tips from custom homes built by our team.
Sophisticated Second Home
Custom craftsmanship defines this classic Cape Cod-style home with doghouse dormers and a wraparound porch. Elegant wainscoting, prominent window and door casings, and transoms above interior doors create a timeless sense of grandeur. Thoughtfully designed built-ins—such as window seats, bookshelves, and bedroom dressers—increase visual appeal and functionality. A statement-making stone veneer wall in the dining room and gas fireplaces in the living room and bedrooms further enhance the home’s traditional charm.
Home Building Design Ideas and Tips
Thoughtfully placed architectural features and millwork, such as custom built-ins, wainscoting and trim work can add character and functionality to a home.
Photos by Dan Cutrona Photography
Timber Frame on Skinequit Pond
This traditional timber frame home is perfectly suited to its serene pondside setting in Harwich. Soaring cathedral ceilings and expansive windows flood the interiors with natural light, creating an airy, open feel that blurs the line between indoors and out. Exposed wood beams, a tongue-and-groove ceiling, and a natural fieldstone fireplace add warmth and character, echoing the beauty of the surrounding landscape.
Home Building Ideas and Tips
Use natural materials like exposed wood beams and fieldstone to create a warm, organic feel that complements the surrounding landscape. Expansive windows and high ceilings enhance natural light and help establish a strong indoor-outdoor connection.
Photos by Dan Cutrona Photography
Charming Cape
Designed as a beachfront retreat, this home features expansive windows and glass doors along the rear facade to capture breathtaking ocean views. A soft, neutral palette, light-stained wide-plank flooring, and understated lighting allow the scenery to remain the focal point. Carefully designed outdoor spaces—including a second-floor balcony, screened porch, and patio—offer the perfect vantage points to take in the spectacular coastal landscape.
Home Building Ideas and Tips
For beach homes, highlight the waterfront views with expansive windows and a neutral color palette that complements, rather than competes with, the scenery.
Photos by Roe Osborn Photography
Coastal Comfort
A true slice of old Cape Cod, this remodel of a traditional New England coastal home honors its original character while seamlessly integrating modern comforts. Crisp white interiors provide a fresh, airy feel, perfectly complementing the warmth of the fir flooring without detracting from the breathtaking ocean views. Thoughtful details— such as custom built-ins, a screened porch fireplace crafted from reclaimed wood and fieldstone, and a kitchen island repurposed from old house boards—enhance the home’s timeless appeal. Overlooking the beach, a spacious sundeck invites relaxation, offering a comfortable spot for taking in a classic Cape Cod sunset.
Home Building Ideas and Tips
Incorporating elements like reclaimed wood, fieldstone, and repurposed house boards adds authenticity, sustainability, and a sense of history to a home.
Photos by Roe Osborn Photography
Nautical Retreat
Custom details and nautical touches bring this one-of-a-kind beachside gambrel in Harwich Port to life. A custom front door, arched windows, decorative widow’s walk, and handcrafted shutters with sailboat cutouts pay homage to the home’s coastal setting, while paneled ceilings reminiscent of a boat deck add to its maritime charm. The homeowners can take in stunning water views from the patio or one of the second- and third-floor decks. Inside, the living room features rustic custom-built hutches that frame a natural fieldstone fireplace, blending expert craftsmanship with coastal elegance.
Home Building Ideas and Tips
Employing architectural details inspired by the home’s surroundings, such as nautical elements and custom millwork, creates a cohesive design that enhances both character and sense of place.
Photos by Roe Osborn Photography
