Renovation of a Historic 1860 Carriage House

Completed in 2018, the Waterside project in Falmouth, MA was a full renovation of a historic 1860’s carriage house into a spectacular summer retreat for a family who spends nine months of the year overseas. What made this project spectacular is the care and detail that went into the repurposing of architectural design elements such as barn doors, rod-iron horse stall dividers, and even a copper water spigot from the original structure that was used to house the family’s horses.

Many Cape Cod historic structures were built on a small footprint, thus creating a design challenge for a modern family. Although Waterside is situated on a beautiful lot with ocean views from every room, the width of the original carriage house was roughly 40′ wide. This challenge presented our architectural designers with an opportunity for creative uses of available space. A dual-purpose pantry/passageway lined with Longfellow custom cabinetry from the kitchen to the main entry and a 10.6″ long kitchen island, sporting a curved dark walnut island top with a marine oil finish both add character and charm to the home

Working with our designers, homeowners chose beautiful natural materials and finishes that work well with the original rustic, brick and rod iron elements such as a copper range hood and pendant lamps while also maintaining a contemporary updated feel.

A guest suite is connected to the main house with a bookcase lined corridor reminiscent of a ship’s gangway. The guest kitchen island and bathroom vanity both provide a refreshing pop of color with Ralph Loren Club Navy – Riveling the blue of adjacent Vineyard Sound.

HISTORY

James Madison Beebe was a dry goods magnate from Boston and in 1866 Eben Jordan of the famed Jordan Marsh bought his business. James Beebe passed on in 1875 and his children created a hundred acre farm on Shore Street and built Waterside in 1876 overlooking vineyard sound. The farm was broken up for development in 1932. Beebe’s daughter Frances married George J. Fiske, a former business partner of her father, and had two children, of whom we know very little. Frances, a widow by 1868, inherited a summer home off Shore Street in Falmouth from her father’s estate. It is the large red shingle-style “cottage” (Waterside) that still fronts Vineyard Sound today. There is no record that she had much else to do with the Beebe family.