When you drive up this house now speaks "detail". Here we added the arbor over the garage to give the exterior more depth, coach lights to provide ambient lighting, and striped awnings to reflect the character of an older house.

When people ask me about how to create a great home or a beautiful room, my response is pretty simple: It's all in the details. Of course, the basics have to be right, but it is the details that sets a home apart — whether it be that perfect accent pillow or that "just right" piece of molding. It doesn't mean you need a lot, because a little can go a long way, but it is what sets apart the ordinary from the "WOW".

When you open the front door, the feeling of this home is felt right away through the style of the furnishings which are a combination of new and old. Color and texture provide simple backdrops. Lots of trim detail was added, including the paneling on the staircase.

The palette is soft tones so that the spectacular views are the feature.

The dining room is both elegant and casual with slipcovered hostess chairs and green shuttered windows.

The office is done in light tones and dark contrasts, with a vintage desk anchored by a textured sisal rug.

Bead board and lots of custom cabinetry create clean lines and an element of casualness in the breakfast/family room.

We designed a "secret door" in the family room that opens to the dining porch. When the door is closed it creates symmetrical cabinetry. Mahogany banding was used in the flooring to create detail and delineate the open spaces. Note the diamond motif in the flooring.

The kitchen cabinetry is mahogany and the back splash is bead board .

We designed numerous built-ins to hide appliances. In this space (on the left) we removed a closet in order to create an additional work area off the kitchen.

We hid the washer and dryer behind doors. We chose to make all cabinetry consistent in style to create a cleaner look.

The staircase is very open. The ceiling detail adds character without becoming too busy. We added additional sconces, cushioned window seats, and dark accent walls to create definition and highlight details.

Here in the master bedroom, we used many sources of light to illuminate the different areas in the room. We worked with contrasts: new & old and dark & light.

In the guest bedroom the soft moss green fabric on the headboard and bolster mixes with neutrals to create a warm and welcoming space. The striped fabric was brought in to provide some punch. Using this fabric on the window seat as well as for a pillow on the bed unifies the look.

We used simple window treatments to allow the view to be the focal point.

In this bedroom we chose a soft blue to capture the essence of the seaside. Off white was used in the bedding and window treatments to create a relaxed mood.

For this bedroom, we chose a paint color that is youthful, bright and happy, but still works with the palette in the rest of the home.

We also used bead board in the gym for consistent style and casualness.

In the theater, paint, lighting and a carpet change went a long way. Here we enhanced the experience by creating a "movie theater-like environment" with illuminated steps, border aisle carpet and "soft" sconces. Using "midnight blue" paint on the ceiling and walls dramatically changed the space.In the theater, paint, lighting and a carpet change went a long way. Here we enhanced the experience by creating a "theater-like environment" with illuminated steps, bordered aisle carpet and "soft" sconces. Using "midnight blue" paint on the ceiling and walls dramatically changed the space.

We added the front side entry to create another access point. To accentuate the beautiful diamond patterned windows, we used gold paint to bring out their detail. Lush plantings and window boxes were added to warm the entry.

For the entrance to the dining porch, we incorporated lattice and arched frames.

We added many outside spaces to take full advantage of the beautiful setting. This outdoor porch allows you to dine outside without concern for the elements, yet it is totally integrated into the rest of the house.

The old porch was extremely narrow. The new porch is expansive and takes advantage of the view. The changes are seamless, leaving no trace of where the old structure ended and the new porch began.

The outdoor environment was enlarged to include a small pool and cabana area. With the addition of four new decks and porches, the back of the house was totally transformed. This classic New England cedar shake now has both increased functionality and timeless character.