We spend the first half of our lives acquiring things, the second half trying to give them away. At first it’s fun: we buy adult stuff like power tools and porcelain collectibles. Then one day we’re staring at four rechargeable drills and a collection of tacky knick-knacks.
As we log years and gain wisdom, our affinity for material goods ebbs as our longing for a new beginning flows. Our yearning for simplicity increases in proportion to our disinterest in housework and yard care. And once we rid ourselves of these earthly possessions we no longer need, or want, the square footage that housed them. Suddenly smaller is superior.
WLM caught up with Peter Cadoux, one of our favorite architects and expert in designing small(er) homes. He recently completed a sliver of a home - all of 20 feet wide - and guest cottage on a coveted lot between Sherwood Millpond and Compo Cove.
According to Peter, the biggest secret to a small home is a thoughtful floor plan. “We start with the land. Where are the sun angles? How is the property situated? Then we consider the people. How will they entertain? How will they get downstairs? Are they public or private people?”
Now, the best part of this particular lot is the two views (ocean and pond), not the simple thrill of a skinny home. For Peter, however, the size was a dream challenge. “A small house,” Peter smiles, “is an amazingly complicated puzzle.” They wanted to emphasize the waterscapes while making the “small spaces seem big.” To do this, no inch could be wasted and no fussy bits could interrupt the lines. Plus, it had to survive the salt, sun, hurricanes, and floods while looking like a beach house, not a bunker.
In the main house, he installed floor-to-ceiling glass doors in the living room overlooking Compo Cove. These can be easily opened should one wish to inhale the rarefied air of this locale. He did the same in the guest cottage, to gaze at the happy ducks in Millpond. “The biggest argument in this house is which view do we like better?” admits Peter.
The owner, Mary Morant, is a local artist who grew up on the Southeast coastline. Her goals for her new home were “simplicity and authenticity.” Peter used materials indigenous to the East Coast, or manmade materials that look indigenous but can withstand New England’s temperature tantrums. For instance, in a nod to Mary’s southern heritage, he coated the outside first floor and pillars with tabby, a mixture of oyster (an homage to Hummock Island) and mussel shells mixed with a lime slurry from North Carolina, where the stucco originated.
Most everything is built in, such as the outside shower whose base stone doubles as a drain and the kitchen island into which everything from trash bin to dishwasher is tucked. In the office, two perfectly appointed bunk beds pop out of the wall to create a guest room, then are easily pushed up and secured into the wall.
According to Peter, smaller homes like this are increasingly popular. Perhaps it’s a response to the noise in our lives and our interest in doing something other than home repair on weekends. Perhaps our parents unloaded their life of detritus upon us so we’re trying to limit the hoard we’ll try to pawn off on our own kids. Most likely, we simply want a fabulous home with enviable views and the coolest bunk beds in town.