$3,495,000 Taylors Pond Road, South Chatham SOLD $2,700,000 Quanset Road, Orleans
2023 TOP PRODUCER
Kinlin Grover Compass Chatham, sales volume.
Top Realtor 2023, 2024 TOP
PERCENT on Cape Cod over a
Catharine Rose Road, Harwich
Lori Jurkowski VICE PRESIDENT,
LDa Architecture | Read McKendree Photography
Credits: LDa Architecture and Read McKendree Photography
Chatham • Brewster • Orleans • Harwich • Dennis
Shane Masaschi
Realtor®,
shane.masaschi@compass.com
IG:
Tim Willoughby
Tim Willoughby
Elizabeth LaDuca
Kjeld Mahoney
Lindsay Hackney
Jamie Mercurio
THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE
Sperry Tents are the world’s most elegant rental tents.
sperrytents.com
LOCAL NOW
38 / Showcasing businesses in our community.
HOME + DESIGN
54 / Design No. Five is shaking up the world of home design with coastal chic fabrics and wallpapers.
60 / A creative renovation delivers a pool house that doubles as a spot for guests.
66 / Gade Masonry & Landscaping dreams up a Dennis state that is equally impressive inside and out.
74 / An inside look at the fine art photography of Ashley Bilodeau.
80 / A new book by Hutker Architects explores the interplay of narrative and home design.
LIFE + STYLE
86 / A Falmouth organization helps wounded women heal.
90 / Cutting-edge fashion takes Cape Cod by storm.
108 / Wellfleet’s annual OysterFest serves up a sensory smorgasbord.
Photograph by MARIANA COSTA AND DEREK BROWN OF DREAM HOMES & ESTATES, INC.
Fall Refresh
raditionally, January 1 is the day when we all take stock, reflect, and create a list of resolutions. For me, I always feel a sense of renewal when fall hits. The cooler temps, school supplies, and emerging foliage make me feel energized again, ready to tackle that home project or learn a new skill at work. My focus shifts from unwinding and relaxing to improving and growing, putting me a couple months ahead of the New Year renewal.
Like usual, it was a pleasure working on this Fall issue, which celebrates some of my favorite things, starting with Wellfleet oysters. We sent writer Lisa Cavanaugh and photographer Julia Cumes to last year’s Wellfleet OysterFest to capture all the briny goodness in person. If you like oysters, like me, then you’ll like this story. The 2024 OysterFest is happening October 18-19.
We also asked writer Jim Freeman to check out the Edward Gorey House in Yarmouth Port, where he learned all about the quirky eccentric and how he ended up living on Cape Cod. I grew up watching PBS Mystery! , and the intro of animated Gorey characters is a forever favorite of mine.
With cooling temps and the holidays approaching, fall is the perfect time to focus on home, which is why this issue centers on home design. Our features start off with a superstar five-bedroom, seven-bath contemporary farmhouse in South Dennis. The house delivers every amenity possible, but the star of the show is the landscape design. We also bring you inside a multifunctional cottage in Harwich that is one part pool house, one part guest house. It’s the perfect property accessory.
Another perk of fall are all the amazing community events—we included our favorites in the calendar. Each year, Cape Cod embraces the season with everything from Oktoberfests and block parties to sand sculpture contests and spooky tours. But perhaps our favorite event of all is the annual Witches On the Water Paddle in Chatham. Check out our story about this whimsical nonprofit and its mission to raise funds for local charities.
Entering the final quarter of 2024 means it’s time to get to work and start planning our 2025 issues. We can’t wait to share more authentic stories about the people who make Cape Cod hum. Luckily for us, it doesn’t feel like work at all.
Jennifer Sperry Editor
Pine Acres has been navigating the buying and selling of exceptional properties for over 75 years. We have helped Generations find their perfect place. We have been #1 in Chatham for 20 years. Still locally owned, Pine Acres has partnered with Compass to bring its vast resources to our clients. We are about long-term relationships. It’s about you.
“You’re from Sandwich?”
his question, posed with surprise, came from an attendee at a recent networking event at the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown. As we rode the inclined elevator, chatting with a friendly local couple, our mention of traveling from Sandwich seemed to shock them. Their reaction got me thinking: Am I the only one who regularly traverses the entirety of Cape Cod?
Living in Sandwich, I sometimes wish I were more centrally located, perhaps in Brewster. But the truth is, I love my town and the adventures that come with exploring all corners of the Cape. From muffins at Cottage Street Bakery in Orleans to enjoying dinner at Milano’s Italian Kitchen in Harwich, each destination offers its own unique charm.
My Cape Cod journey includes birdwatching at Fort Hill Trail in Eastham, strolling through Woods Hole and sipping coffee at Pie in the Sky, taking winter walks in Nickerson State Park in Brewster, and spending summer nights watching the Anglers’ play in Chatham. I love shopping in Provincetown, Mashpee Commons, and downtown Falmouth and kayaking at Bass Hole in Yarmouth and Bass River in Dennis. And, of course, I never tire of exploring my home town.
This love for the entire Cape is precisely why I started this magazine in 2020. I wanted to share meaningful stories about our community and showcase the beauty of the places we call home. Now, we’re taking an exciting new step by bringing these stories to life through television.
I’m thrilled to announce that Coastal Lifestyle TV is launching on a local network this October. Hosted by Sarah Lapsley Martin, the show offers viewers an authentic glimpse into life on Cape Cod. Behind the camera, Matt Gardner is an originative videographer whose unique visual style has given our show the edge it needed to stand out in a crowded media landscape. Stay updated on this exciting new venture by subscribing to our email list and following us on social media.
Cape Cod is not just a single destination—it’s a tapestry of diverse communities, each with its own flavor and appeal. So why stay in one spot when there’s so much to discover? Let’s celebrate and explore all that our beautiful region has to offer.
Eric Brust-Akdemir Publisher - Creative Director @capeandislandsmag @coastallifestyletv
LISA CAVANAUGH grew up in Massachusetts and Connecticut and spent most of her summers on Cape Cod. After graduating from Boston College and working in an off-Broadway production in NYC, she moved to LA, where she became a Hollywood story editor, producer, and writer. After moving back to the East Coast in 2010, Lisa met and married her husband, a commercial fisherman, and now resides in Yarmouth. One of her favorite local spots is Tern Island, a small bird sanctuary in Chatham. Read Lisa’s story on Wellfleet OysterFest.
Coming from a long lineage of Cape Codders, JAMES P. FREEMAN is a New England-based writer. He is a former columnist with the Cape Cod Times and New Boston Post. His work has also appeared in the Providence Journal and the Cape Codder. An avid history buff, Jim enjoys telling stories about unique people and places. He also hosts a segment called Target Ship Radio on WOMR 92.1 Provincetown and WFMR 91.3 Orleans. For generations, his family has called Nauset Beach in Orleans an extended home. For this issue, Jim wrote visited the Edward Gorey House in Yarmouth Port.
JANICE RANDALL ROHLF is a Boston- and Cape Cod-based writer and editor who specializes in architecture and design. Her work appears in numerous regional and national publications including Fine Homebuilding, Ocean Home, and New England Living. For this issue, she wrote about photographer Ashley Bilodeau and the wallpapers and fabrics of Design No. Five.
DERRICK ZELLMANN is an award-winning photographer whose work has been published both nationally and internationally. His specialties include everything from wedding photography and family portraiture to real estate and food photography. With almost 10 years of photographing professionally, he has had incredible opportunities to work with many amazing people. For this issue, Derrick photographed the local fashion designers.
The Cape Cod Theatre Company and Harwich Junior Theatre are bringing Bram Stoker’s gothic horror novel to life. This performance has designs inspired by Edward Gorey’s artwork, images used with permission from the Edward Gorey Trust, and an original score. The adaptation by Brian Lore Evans invites the audience to join professor and scientist Abraham Van Helsing as he delves into the story of the infamous count. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. $1828. 105 Division St., W. Harwich. capecodtheatrecompany.org
So much to see, so much to do.
OCTOBER 4-5 FALL OPEN HOUSE
Head to the Chatham Boat Company (CBC) for its annual open house. Find some keepers at the pumpkin patch—a percentage of all sales will benefit Boy Scouts Troop 71. Browse fall gifts and décor and indulge in raffles, snacks, and CBC logo gear. Leave enough time to sample craft beers at the Hog Island beer garden tent. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 174 Crowell Rd., Chatham. chathamboatcompany.com
OCTOBER 5
MASHPEE OKTOBERFEST
Head to the Mashpee Commons Green across from Mashpee Library for a fun day of entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, and a traditional “bier garten.” Highlights include a keg toss, children’s games and crafts, face painting, live performances, and indulgent “fair style” food. It’s the perfect way to kick-off fall properly. Rain date is Sunday, October 6. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. mashpeecommons.com
OCTOBER 5
WITCHES ON THE WATER PADDLE
Grab your best witch costume and head to Oyster Pond in Chatham for the annual Witches On the Water (WOW) Paddle. Watching a throng of witches and other mystical creatures stand-up paddleboarding is only part of the fun. The afternoon block party continues with live music, food trucks, costume contests, photo ops, and raffles. The paddle parade begins at 3 p.m. Free to the public. Proceeds benefit Dream Day on Cape Cod. 80 Stage Harbor Rd., Chatham. witchesonthewater.org
— Anne B.
Ronnie Mulligan
OCTOBER 5 PORCHFEST AT SANDWICHFEST
Celebrate all things Sandwich at this popular festival. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., you can enjoy free kayak rides on Shawme Pond, a classic car show, and a fall décor contest at participating local stores. The day’s lineup includes a disco dog parade at 11 a.m., fashion show outside Hoxie House from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m., dance performance at 2 p.m., and disco dance party at 3 p.m. Water Street will be lined with flea market, food, and libation vendors. Plus, the Sandwich Arts Alliance’s PorchFest has live bands playing all over the village between 1 and 4 p.m. sandwichchamber.com
OCTOBER 6 SOUTH SHORE TRAVEL SHOW
Join Susan Peavey Travel, recently awarded Best of the South Shore and Best of Cape Cod, for an exciting travel showcase. Meet 40 preferred travel partners who can help plan your next dream vacation. Enjoy live music, a cash bar, and passed appetizers while exploring exclusive booking specials. Don’t miss your chance to win free trips! This free event is open to all, so bring your friends and discover why SPT is the region’s top choice for vacation planning. Let their award-winning team create your perfect getaway! susanpeaveytravel.com
OCTOBER 6
VINEGRASS MUSIC FESTIVAL
It’s back! Don’t miss the 10th Annual Vinegrass Music Festival, with four nationally touring bands on the main stage and several regional musicians on the pavilion stage. Sip delicious wine while listening to an eclectic mix of music styles at bucolic Truro Vineyards. 11 Shore Rd., Truro. vinegrass.org
OCTOBER 12
FALL FEST BLOCK PARTY
Get your fall on by heading to Mashpee Commons for a party with live music, pumpkin painting, face painting, balloon twists, and plenty of other autumnal fun. And, of course, indulge in some sidewalk shopping. Activities take place along Steeple Street. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 22 Steeple St., Mashpee. mashpeecommons.com
Karen was absolutely amazing to work with! So patient and understanding and willing to work with all my needs as we searched for the perfect property for me. I’m a first time buyer and she was so nice to explain things to me and answer all my questions. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I would highly recommend her to anyone that is in search of buying a property on Cape Cod.
OCTOBER 12
PICK YOUR OWN PUMPKINS
The Cape Cottage Garden invites you to select your own pumpkins this season. Visit their courtyard to choose the perfect pumpkin for your autumn decorations or Halloween carvings. In the courtyard at 204 Sisson Rd, Harwich. thecapecottagegarden.com
OCTOBER 12-13 YARMOUTH SEASIDE FESTIVAL
Held on Columbus Day/Indigenous People’s Day weekend, this festival has something for everyone. In Joshua Sears Memorial Field, you’ll find a wide variety of artisan and food vendors, music, rides, games, and special shows and activities. There’s also a 5k road race along Bass River and a canoe and kayak race on the river. 28 Wood Rd., South Yarmouth. yarmouthseasidefestival.com
OCTOBER 12-13
OUTERMOST ROOTS & BLUES FESTIVAL
For two days, top-tier musical acts perform on two stages at scenic Nauset Beach. This year’s headliners are: Slightly Stoopid, G. Love and Special Sauce with Mihali, Donavon Frankenreiter, John Brown’s Body, Judith Hill, Iam Tongi, TAUK, and Ron Artis II. It’s an incredible lineup of roots and blues. Free parking available in several lots throughout Orleans with shuttle pickup. outermostfestival.com
OCTOBER 18-19 WELLFLEET OYSTERFEST
Oyster lovers unite at this annual festival in Wellfleet, one of the world’s most celebrated oyster capitals. The family-friendly fest includes beer and wine gardens, food, live music, and arts and crafts vendors. Oysters—harvested by local farmers and served up fresh on the half shell—are the main event. The festivities culminate in an exciting shucking contest, where masterful oyster athletes delight a cheering crowd. wellfleetoa.org
Experience the thrill of curling in a fun, friendly environment. No prior experience necessary!
SANDWICH
Head to the famed Dan’l Webster Inn for an evening of spooky fun with paranormal researcher Tim Weisberg. First, indulge in a delicious buffet dinner before setting out on a professionally led paranormal investigation of the inn, Town Hall, and the Town Hall Annex. Prepare to encounter some of Sandwich’s most spirited residents. $125 for dinner + investigation ticket. 5 p.m. to midnight. 149 Main St., Sandwich. sandwichchamber.com
As a consistent Top Producer with 19 years of experience, Kim is dedicated to delivering exceptional service from start to finish.
There are few people we would recommend without reservation, but Kim is at the top of that list. She knows Cape Cod intimately and comprehends the real estate market with sharp astuteness; she will apply that knowledge to your needs and situation which will give you the greatest opportunity to make a happy and successful purchase or sale.
—Dr. and Mrs. Gregory de Silva
The Boston to Cape Cod Connection
The Boston to Cape Cod Connection
Our
Our
OCTOBER
26 HALLOWEEN FUN AT MASHPEE COMMONS
The festivities kick-off with a party on the Mashpee Commons Village Green at 11 a.m., followed by a parade down to Central Square for pups and kids at 1 p.m. Then, participating shops open their doors for trick or treating from 1 to 5 p.m. This spectacularly spooky event includes live music, kids’ activities, and costume contests (for pups and people). 22 Steeple St., Mashpee. mashpeecommons.com
NOVEMBER 2
HEROES IN TRANSITION 15TH ANNUAL FALL GALA
Join us for a memorable evening at the Heroes in Transition 15th Annual Fall Gala. As an exciting addition to the evening, enter for a chance to win a romantic getaway for two to New Orleans. This prize includes a 3-night hotel stay, a steamboat jazz dinner cruise, fine dining, and a choice of small group tours. Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to experience the vibrant culture of the Big Easy while supporting a great cause. heroesintransition.ejoinme.org/tickets
NOVEMBER 14
SHOP SANDWICH FIRST HOLIDAY MARKET
Members of the Sandwich Chamber of Commerce will be showcasing their wares at the Sagamore Inn to jumpstart the holiday season. This is your chance to support community merchants while tackling your holiday shopping list. Food and libations will be available for purchase. Grab a glass of wine and browse the artwork, fashions, and other retail goodies. 3-8 p.m. 1131 Sandwich Rd., Sagamore. sandwichchamber.com
NOVEMBER 27 LIGHTING ON THE HILL
Due to popular demand, the annual lighting of the Pilgrim Monument will be held on Thanksgiving Eve once again. This year’s event will be one for the ages, with a DJ, cash bar, and festive fun for all ages. 2:30-5:30 p.m. High Pole Hill Rd., Provincetown. pilgrim-monument.org
Key West on Cape Cod
MARGARITAVILLE MAKES A SPLASH IN HYANNIS WITH UNIQUE TROPICAL PLANTINGS.
15 Jan Sebastian Drive, Sandwich @gademasonryandlandscaping
The transformation of the Cape Codder Resort into Margaritaville is almost complete. Set to open in October 2024, the renovated property is Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts’ first venture in New England.
New owner Linchris, a Plymouth, Mass.-based hotel management company, is behind the $30 million renovation project. The old Cape Codder was reduced to its studs, meaning that all 272 rooms and suites are completely refreshed. The 32,000-square-foot water park that so many families have enjoyed over the years remains the same, however, with the addition of more poolside food and beverage options. Other improvements include a new retail section, grab-and-go food items, coffee shop, spa, and the Landshark Bar and Grill.
I did some research and found that the windmill palm can survive colder temps with some proper care techniques: using blankets and thermal lights to keep the bases warm.
— LUIZ RIBEIRO
Margaritaville’s tropical vibe continues outside into the landscape, executed by Luiz Ribeiro of Gade Masonry & Landscaping. Working from the renovation’s architectural plans, Ribeiro strategized how to infuse the landscape with a Margaritaville feel. Palm trees came to mind first but getting them to last through the Cape’s harsh winters was a problem.
“I did some research and found that the windmill palm can survive colder temps with some proper care techniques: using blankets and thermal lights to keep the bases warm,” says Ribeiro. “We lined Route 132 with these particular palms, so as you approach the resort you immediately know you’ve arrived and switch into vacation mode.”
Under Ribeiro’s guidance, Gade Masonry & Landscaping refreshed every aspect of the landscape, from the plantings to the hardscaping. Seashell pathways with cobblestone borders contribute to the seaside feel.
In season, the property will be lush with palm and banana trees in containers, allowing them to be removed and stored come winter. Meanwhile, tropical plants mix with more traditional flora like hydrangeas and sea grass, symbolizing the resort’s mission to blend its signature tropical vibe with Cape Cod style.
AT LEESIDE PUB IN WOODS HOLE.
By JENNIFER SPERRY
Tucked into a bend on Railroad Avenue, Quahog Republic Leeside Pub is a fixture of downtown Woods Hole. Here, the vibe is easygoing—unless you’re late for your ferry.
At this watering hole, three floors of dining space overlook the harbor, with Steamship Authority ferries regularly docking just across the street. Inside, the pub welcomes with rustic charm and a warm, friendly atmosphere. Regulars pony up to the modest bar, and both locals and visitors alike grab any available table; they all deliver water views.
A self-described gastropub, Leeside is picky about its ingredients, particularly its seafood, which is served in a variety of ways. A standout is the fish and chips—corn flakes add a delightful extra crunch to the golden-brown crust. Another crowd-pleaser is the Cubano sandwich, with slow-roasted pork and black forest ham served on a French roll. Burgers and lobster rolls are popular, too.
CRUNCHY COD FISH & CHIPS
LOBSTA ROLL
CUBANO
QUAHOG CHOWDER
For drinks, it’s hard to resist Leeside’s signature Mai Tai, served up in a kitschy glass and garnished with fresh fruit. Or, if you’re in the mood for something savory, the bloody Mary comes with all the fixings, including a delicious slice of bacon.
Some of its offerings are so popular that Leeside Pub’s parent company, Quahog Republic, decided to produce them for retail sale. Now, you can purchase the brand’s signature chowder, lobster bisque, barbeque sauce, bloody Mary mix, and other treats in person or online.
Quahog Republic co-owners Erik Bevans and Tom Hughes have a great meet cute story. They were both digging for quahogs one day in Popponesset Bay, and Bevans was impressed by Hughes’ full basket and digging prowess. They struck up a conversation and quickly became fast friends. Now, as business partners, they operate Dive Bar in Falmouth, Waterfront Eatery in Onset, and Whaler’s Tavern in New Bedford, in addition to Leeside.
Whether you’re moving on to Martha’s Vineyard or just touring the sights of Woods Hole, Quahog Republic Leeside Pub is the perfect stop for soaking in the village’s maritime atmosphere.
QUAHOG REPUBLIC LEESIDE PUB
29 Railroad Ave., Woods Hole
508-495-2984
quahogrepublic.com
See the full episode featuring Quahog Republic Leeside Pub @capeandislandsmag @coastallifestyletv
Andreas Keuhn Photography
THE ACRONYM SAYS IT ALL.
BY JENNIFER SPERRY
PHOTOS BY GEOFFREY BASSETT
Here we come paddling with fabulous, fun costumes and joyful attitudes. It lightens the air around topics that normally feel very heavy. There’s a lot going on in this world, and people need hope and to know they are not alone. We are here to remind them that there is always support out there.
— JO-ELLEN ERICKSON
It’s an arresting sight: witches in various garbs, laughing and stand-up paddleboarding together. This annual paddle—a fundraiser organized by Witches On the Water (WOW), held the first Saturday of every October—is the perfect start to the Halloween season, Cape Cod style.
The whole concept began in 2019 with a lighthearted paddle. “We had seen something on Facebook about a group of gals who went paddleboarding dressed as witches,” says WOW cofounder Jo-Ellen Erickson. “I absolutely love Halloween, and I thought it would be a fun thing to try.”
Erickson and her good friend, Susan Price, another avid stand-up paddleboarder, invited some friends to try the same concept on Cape Cod. Ultimately, 14 witches headed out onto Town Cove in Orleans. Not surprisingly, the gathering turned heads.
“We ended up on the front page of the Sunday Cape Cod Times,” Erickson adds with a laugh. Soon, their phones lit up with people asking about the paddle and how they could get involved. The duo went for their usual morning walk and discussed next steps. “We knew we had to do something—there was just too much energy to ignore,” says Erickson.
Inspired by all the buzz, they decided to form a nonprofit with the goal of raising awareness and funds for local charities. “Our first real fundraising event was held in October 2021,” recalls Price. “Family Pantry of Cape Cod was our recipient, and it was very appropriate as many were struggling with food insecurities post-pandemic. When we handed over the check and the director told us we had covered the cost of 84,000 meals for families in need, we were blown away,” she adds. “That was the moment when we knew we had tapped into something really special.”
This inaugural fundraiser was held on Chatham’s Oyster Pond, which is now the official home base for every October paddle. “The town of Chatham has been incredible to work with and the community has really
wrapped its arms around us,” notes Erickson, adding that a gaggle of witches kicks off the fundraising initiative by walking in Chatham’s July Fourth parade. While the paddling is the main draw, this event has expanded into a block party that includes live music by Mike Dumas Band, food trucks, auctions, raffles, and costume prizes. All the fun is free for attendees and spectators.
This year’s paddle will benefit Dream Day on Cape Cod, a family camp bordering Nickerson State Park in Brewster. Here, families with children suffering from serious or life-threatening illnesses stay a week to have fun, spend quality time together, and put their worries aside temporarily. In fact, Erickson, Price, and some friends visited the camp this summer in full witch dress, letting the family members try stand-up paddleboarding. Some of the children simply sat and grabbed a ride, enjoying the serenity of gliding along the kettle pond.
For those wanting to participate, the basics are simple: dress like a witch (or other mystical creature), bring a stand-up paddleboard or kayak, and try not to fall in! The event is limited to 75 participants and monitored for safety by the harbormaster. Each participant pays a registration fee of $50 and is tasked with raising $250. “No one has ever not managed that mark,” says Price.
To date, WOW has fulfilled its mission of stepping up and helping out, raising just over $80,000 for local charities to date, with more to come. The cofounders know that their recipient organizations deal with heavy topics, and they hope that the whimsical costumes and resulting smiles bring a little joy and levity to people’s lives.
“Here we come paddling with fabulous, fun costumes and joyful attitudes. It lightens the air around topics that normally feel very heavy,” explains Erickson. “There’s a lot going on in this world,” she adds, “and people need hope and to know they are not alone. We are here to remind them that there is always support out there.”
To learn more or donate, visit witchesonthewater.org.
Without Jeremy, it wouldn’t be Clarke.
Spend an hour at a Clarke Showroom and one thing is clear: your time with a Clarke Consultant is the most valuable part of your kitchen journey. While they’re not designers, these are the people designers call on when it comes to appliance recommendations. You won’t buy anything at Clarke, so there’s simply no pressure. What you can do is compare more Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove models than anywhere in New England. Explore a living portfolio of kitchens created by the region’s top designers. You will leave inspired with new knowledge to make your appliance selections with confidence.
What the knowledge your
Showroom Manager Jeremy McCulla has been recognized by the design industry as Boston’s top customer service professional. His product knowledge and ability to understand the goals of discerning homeowners and designers makes your kitchen design journey a pleasure. Boston & Milford, MA South Norwalk, CT 800-842-5275 clarkeliving.com
New England’s Official Showroom and Test Kitchen
SHOWCASE
49 / Hydrangea Gallery & Gifts
50 / Patrick Ahearn
50 / Polhemus Savery DaSilva
51 / Michelle Lee Designs
52 / Custom Closet Geeks
EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE
54 / Design No. Five
60 / BMW Builders
66 / Gade Masonry & Landscaping
74 / All Points Beautiful
80 / Hutker Architects
Curated Wonder
HYDRANGEA GALLERY & GIFTS
508-257-1499
@hydrangeagallerycapecod hydrangeagallery.com
More Than Just a Shop, It’s an Experience
Hydrangea Gallery & Gifts is not just another store; we’re a destination for the curious and the kind-hearted. Wander through our gallery and discover a vibrant collection of art from talented local and regional artists. We believe in fostering creative expression by supporting inspirational vision and encouraging unique artistic style.
A Treasure Trove for Every Taste
Whether you’re seeking a unique conversation starter or a heartfelt gift, Hydrangea Gallery & Gifts has something for everyone. Browse our shelves overflowing with captivating books, exquisite jewelry, and whimsical fused and hand-blown glass. Light a sparkling candle and let its fragrance fill your home with warmth. Marvel at the delicate details of our painted seashells, each a miniature work of art. Admire the artistry of our paintings, photographs and prints, waiting to grace your walls.
Design Books
THESE TWO NEW RELEASES ARE THE PERFECT ADDITIONS TO ANY LIBRARY.
HISTORY REINTERPRETED
Architect Patrick Ahearn’s second published book showcases the reimagination of the north wing of the 1871 Myles Standish Hotel in Duxbury, Mass. History Reinterpreted details the dramatic transformation of this grand dame seaside estate. The case study proves that historically motivated augmentation and renovation can be achieved without sacrificing modern conveniences. Included are hand drawings and before and after images. Available online and at specialty bookstores.
THE ART OF CREATING HOUSES
Published in late 2023, this new release by Polhemus Savery DaSilva (PSD) details recent work by the notable firm. Its 468 pages showcase PSD’s poetic architecture along the New England coast, with each home carefully crafted for its different site and client. It documents 27 projects and how they synthesize ideas from modernism, Shingle Style, and New England vernacular architecture. Available online and at specialty bookstores.
Home Refresh
MICHELLE LEE DESIGNS
401-954-2065
@mleedesigns
@michelleleedesigns
michelleleedesigns.com
Are you considering a small interior makeover in time for holiday entertaining or beginning to plan a larger project for 2025?
With so many options and new products on the market, upgrading an interior on your own can be daunting. Don’t find yourself wishing you had hired a professional. Make your next home project simple, exciting, and fun with Michelle Lee Designs
Michelle is known as the “Queen of Color.” Her designs are never boring and always aesthetically pleasing. She incorporates that elusive “WOW factor” into all her interiors. She visualizes your home’s possibilities through an artist’s eye, creating options that fit your lifestyle and budget.
With years of experience in space planning, project management, and contractor relations, Michelle listens to your ideas, makes suggestions, and offers an array of solutions. She will manage your project from concept to proposal to completion.
Why settle for a boring, non-functional living environment when you can make your home a warm, inviting, invigorating space to enjoy with family and friends for years to come? Contact Michelle Lee Designs today to achieve the home environment you’ve been dreaming of!
Custom Closet Geeks
CAPE COD’S SOURCE FOR CHIC CUSTOM STORAGE.
By NICHOLE CHARBONNEAU
A closet should look as good as it functions. Custom Closet Geeks expertly blends form and function with personalized consultations and the latest offerings.
“Over the last five years, the aesthetics have changed,” notes Frederick Miller, general manager and one of two designers alongside Dawn Morrell. Many customers are looking for modern storage updates, and Custom Closet Geeks delivers.
Consultations are complimentary with no-pressure quotes. “We are transparent,” says Miller, adding that their quotes tend to be far more economical than the bigger franchised national chains.
“My dad purchased the business 15 years ago. Privately owned is kind of rare in franchise businesses like Custom Closet Geeks,” adds the closet expert.
Storage solutions go beyond just closets—they can enhance bedrooms, pantries, garages, mudrooms, or home offices.
Walk-in closets feature details like tie racks, shoe cubbies, and jewelry cases. Miller even recalls an installation in Duxbury with special storage for hat boxes. Does the kitchen need updating? Consider open pantry units for optimal storage. Looking to organize the garage or mudroom? Custom Closet Geeks strategically installs tool shelves, wire baskets, storage bins, and more.
Miller fielded many home office inquiries during and after the pandemic—more people than ever are working from home. Improvements range from custom desks and builtin cabinets to space-saving strategies.
Custom Closet Geeks services Massachusetts—including all points Cape Cod—and Rhode Island. It features local manufacturing and showrooms in New Bedford and West Greenwich, Rhode Island. Besides competitive pricing, Custom Closet Geeks boasts a solid warrantee, tiered pricing, and volume discounts. Also, the speedy installation is impressive. “Most jobs take one or two days. It’s all made in the factory and installed onsite,” explains Miller.
“The quirk of Massachusetts,” he continues, “is that there are beautiful older homes but many did not prioritize closet space.” Custom Closet Geeks maximizes the efficiency of small closets in older Cape Cod homes while honoring the historic charm.
Whether the home was built last year or last century, Custom Closet Geeks helps owners make the most of every space.
DESIGN NO. FIVE IS SHAKING UP THE WORLD OF HOME
DESIGN WITH COASTAL CHIC FABRICS AND WALLPAPERS.
BY JANICE RANDALL ROHLF
“Go down to the beach and collect everything you find in the sand.” Beth Odence took this “rather primitive” (her words) approach with her business team six years ago when her interior design clients were looking for something coastal other than the ubiquitous starfish and lighthouses. As unprofessional as the scavenger-hunt tactic may seem, it worked!
Inspired by the flotsam and jetsam that came home in a basket that day—mermaid’s purses, seaweed, and horseshoe crabs—Odence launched her Cotuit-based textile and wallpaper company, Design No. Five, based on this trio of creatures.
“Most coastal patterns we were seeing looked like they were either from the tropics or Key West,” says Odence. “These were authentically New England.”
In subsequent years, other designs were added: oysters and painterly stripes, plus Under Sail, a loosely nautical pattern that “is always controversial in this household,” says the entrepreneur, “because my husband races Cotuit skiffs, which are gaff-rigged.” In the last six months, the collection has grown to include Fiddler Crab, Nautilus Shell, and Wavy Stripe.
“We live coastal, we know coastal,” says Odence, who has been coming to Cotuit ever since she married into her husband’s Cape Cod-loving family more than three decades ago. She runs her business out of her studio in the couple’s late-1700s sea captain’s house atop Cotuit Harbor. “Luckily, it is a lovely village,” she says.
Design No. Five’s repertoire now comprises nine unique patterns in 34 different colorways in the linen fabrics. Each pattern can be scaled to various sizes, offering even more options. The wallpaper has grown from four selects at the end of 2023 to a full line of 22 unique patterns and colorways, with more coming. Hailing from across the country and overseas, designers and their clients alike are attracted to the company’s refreshing, cliché-averse take on coastal patterns.
To keep up with the demand for textiles, which are digitally printed on Belgian linen, Odence recently contracted with surface designers and formed an in-house sales team. The surface designers, all veterans of Williams-Sonoma companies, have significantly streamlined the production process, and the sales team keeps relationships with customers on a personal level.
Our clients appreciate the inclusion of local pieces, and Design No. Five provides so many interesting options. They are authentic to what we find on Cape Cod and present such a fun and whimsical element to add to our designs.
— BETH ODENCE
“We do a lot of work internally to research designers who may be a match for us—those whose coastal design work involves pattern and wallpaper,” says Odence.
One such designer is Peyton Lambton, co-owner of Washashore Home, based in Dennis. “We try to collaborate with local artists and vendors as much as possible when the design allows,” says Lambton. “Our clients appreciate the inclusion of local pieces, and Design No. Five provides so many interesting options. They are authentic to what we find on Cape Cod and present such a fun and whimsical element to add to our designs.”
Increasingly, Design No. Five’s unwavering commitment to an eco-friendly world has become as important as their allegiance to coastal authenticity. Every design is printed on 100-percent Belgian linen sourced from Libeco, a leading European linen-weaving mill that uses the most sustainable methods available. The linen ground is then printed in the U.S. using an eco-friendly ink-jet technology. Moreover, the flax used to fabricate the linen is produced without the use of pesticides or the need for ground water.
Odence works with two American mills—one for printing fabric, the other for wallpaper—that are equally committed to sustainability. “What that means,” she explains, “is not only do they use ecofriendly inks, but they also treat their wastewater sustainably.”
With experience in sales as well as interior design, Odence has deliberately grown her business slowly; nevertheless, the popularity of Design No. Five gallops forward.
“Our repeat rate is really high,” she says, meaning the same designers come back again and again. Currently there’s a high demand for Oyster Shell in Cape Cod Grey on a white or flax background. “It gives a nice base to either window treatments or duvets and pillow shams,” says Odence. “Mermaid’s Purse in Mariner’s Blue and Nantucket Red are strong, and Horseshoe Crab in the bright, beautiful Sunny Gold sells really well, too.”
But the Fiddler Crab is giving all the frontrunners a run for their money. “It’s new this year and available in Waterloo Blue, Grey, and Flax in wallpaper as well as fabric,” explains Odence. “Its popularity has been fun to see.”
Design No. Five designnofive.com
@designnofive
ONE PART POOL HOUSE, ONE PART GUEST HOUSE, ALL PARTS CAPE COD STYLE.
BY JENNIFER SPERRY PHOTOS BY AMBER JANE PHOTOGRAPHY
Harwich-based B.M.W. Builders specializes in high-end builds and renovations across Cape Cod. Four years ago, it rebranded and expanded into a full-service design and build company, offering clients a more wholistic, soup-to-nuts journey from vision to reality.
At the heart of B.M.W. Builders is husband-and-wife team Tiffany and Ben Welsh. “Everything we do is centered on a mission of restoring the past and building the future,” says Tiffany of the company’s ethos.
The couple’s boutique, fully customized approach caught the attention of clients wanting to turn an existing garage into a more functional guest/pool house. They have a large family with lots of guests staying all summer long at the Harwich Port property.
To satisfy their need for overflow space, architect Paul Muldoon of Muldoon Architects and B.M.W. Builders delivered a modernized cottage that still retains a barn-like charm on the exterior. The renovation required a full gut to achieve a blank canvas. “We saved what we could,” notes Ben. “We rebuilt keeping the footprint and volume mostly the same and blended an existing crawl-space basement with a new poured concrete floor.”
The retreat is multifunctional and primed for handling pool parties, movie nights, and overnight stays. It easily accommodates guests with two chic, comfy bedrooms and three full baths, including a spa-like primary bathroom on the first floor and guest bath with pebbled floor on the second story.
In collaboration with their client, the interior design firm Washashore Home handled furnishings while B.M.W. managed cabinetry, countertops, tile, fixtures, and flooring. Together they delivered a bright, airy interior with Cape Cod style. “Our client wanted the interior to feel cohesive; she wanted everything to tie together visually,” describes Tiffany. “This cottage is meant to feel like an extension of the main house but with its own vibe.”
The cottage’s open-concept main living area accommodates the needs of guests and pool goers.
They are loving it. They had a lot of company this summer, and everyone fought over who got to stay in the cottage. It’s everyone’s favorite hangout spot.
— TIFFANY WELSH
Skylights bring natural light into the upstairs bedroom, where blue and white furnishings nod to seaside style.
In the kitchen, a full wall of cabinets maximizes storage possibilities, and the fridge, sink, and dishwasher make entertaining easy. Durable porcelain floor tiles line the areas prone to wet foot traffic while engineered oak floors in the main living area and bedrooms contrast the light grey walls with a warm wood tone.
A set of old windows—original to the garage and refreshed by B.M.W.—open upwards to create a generous outdoor bar. Here, guests can pony up to the counter for drinks and the hosts can serve up meals and snacks for swimmers and sun bathers.
With the windows open, anyone sitting with their back to the pool can see the flatscreen TV in the living room beyond the bar. “This was a specific request of the owners,” says Ben, adding that it required the removal of a wall and inclusion of laminated support beams.
B.M.W. also successfully integrated smart technology into the cottage, giving the owners immediate command over security cameras, heat, AC, music, lights, and fire alarms.
Now that the cottage is complete, the owners finally have the backyard oasis they desired. “They are loving it,” reveals Tiffany of the lifestyle upgrade. “They had a lot of company this summer, and everyone fought over who got to stay in the cottage. It’s everyone’s favorite hangout spot.”
508-594-9247, washashorehome.com peyton@washashorehome.com WATCH COASTAL LIFESTYLE TV THIS FALL
See the full episode featuring This house from B.M.W. Builders @capeandislandsmag @coastallifestyletv
Photos by
MARIANA COSTA AND DEREK BROWN OF DREAM HOMES & ESTATES, INC.
THIS DENNIS ESTATE IMPRESSES INSIDE AND OUT.
By JENNIFER SPERRY
Designer Rafael Ribeiro packed a lot into this one-acre lot, including a contemporary farmhouse with garage, pool house, outdoor kitchen, saltwater pool and spa, and pickleball court.
Home Design NEW CONSTRUCTION
Since arriving on Cape Cod from Brazil 20 years ago, Rafael Ribeiro worked on high-end landscapes as a skilled installer with untapped design prowess. After gaining experience working for a few different companies, he decided to be his own boss and launched Gade Masonry & Landscaping in 2012. He expanded yet again in 2021 with Living Waters Gunite Pools & Spas, adding even more functionality to his offerings.
Eager to flex his creativity, the entrepreneur purchased a one-acre lot in South Dennis with the goal of building an estate on spec. Without having to adhere to a predetermined plan or client wishes, he used the land as a blank slate, flexing his skills with abandon.
“I did it for two reasons,” says Ribeiro. “One was to show off what Gade Masonry & Landscaping and Living Waters are capable of, and two was to build something that was entirely my own vision.”
The result is a contemporary farmhouse with over 6,000 square feet of living space, including five bedrooms and seven bathrooms. It boasts every wish-list feature possible: a fully outfitted kitchen with generous island, great room with soaring cathedral ceiling, and bedroom suites on every level. Classic materials and finishes contribute to the timeless, sun-filled interior.
Ribeiro finished the walkout basement with a plush movie room and ample wine cellar lined with rustic stone and floating shelves. In between, a wet bar with refrigerator and microwave is the perfect spot for making popcorn for a movie or lingering for a wine tasting with guests.
But the home’s show-stopping feature is its magazine cover-worthy landscape, an outdoor living dream. “I grouped every idea I had in my mind into this landscape,” says Ribeiro. At the heart of the design is a saltwater swimming pool, elevated by a sun shelf and swim-up bar. From the nearby pavilion, a waterfall streams down into the crystal-clear pool water.
For an extra level of difficulty, Ribeiro incorporated an acrylic panel into the side of the pool abutting the sunken fire pit. “That way, the parents can be entertaining around the fire and watching the kids swimming right alongside,” he explains.
I did it for two reasons. One was to show off what Gade Masonry & Landscaping and Living Waters are capable of, and two was to build something that was entirely my own vision.
— RAFAEL RIBEIRO
Ribeiro rounded out the poolscape with a saltwater spa, protected from the elements by a pavilion off the pool house. Lined with sleek glass tiles, this spa boasts built-in benches and programmable lighting. Water spills over all four sides of the infinity design.
Constructed along the pool’s length is an outdoor kitchen with grill, ice maker, and under-counter refrigerators. A flatscreen TV on the back wall is perfect for outdoor movie nights. The sunken arrangement allows for food and beverage prep on one side and easy service to the swim-up bar on the other.
Other resort-like amenities include a steam room inside the pool house, pickleball court, and plenty of lawn for games. All pool and spa amenities are illuminated by a lighting scheme and controllable via smart devices. The waterfall intensity is adjustable as well. Plus, an incorporated sound system makes backyard parties a breeze.
Moving forward, Ribeiro plans to execute one or two highend spec projects a year on top of his companies’ regular landscape and pool projects. He is eager to enliven more Cape Cod properties with his visionary designs.
15 Jan Sebastian Drive, Sandwich @gademasonryandlandscaping
Selling + Staging
MARIANA COSTA, the listing agent for this Dennis estate, is the CEO of her own firm: DREAM Homes & Estates, Inc. Her approach when selling a property is to help the seller net the most money in the shortest amount of time. By sharing timely market data & trends with her clients, she can show the seller whether they are leaving money on the table before it’s too late. She and her DREAM Team are willing to go the distance with a fully customized approach, including product selection, project management, and custom staging services.
Born in Brazil, Costa battled with debilitating asthma as a child, using singing as a natural coping mechanism. The singer, songwriter, and performer landed on Cape Cod in 2001, where she pushed herself to learn English and embrace a new culture. She was determined to realize her entrepreneurial dreams.
After studying at Cape Cod Community College and working as an agent for various agencies, she founded DREAM Homes & Estates in 2014. Since this leap, she has applied her tenacity to develop essential business relationships, achieving more than $10 million a year in volume by word of mouth alone.
As a complement to her real estate services, she branched out into home staging. With over a million dollars invested in furnishings and accessories, she is known to generate thousands of dollars more in profit for her sellers. “Staging used to be an extra but now it’s an essential,” asserts the broker/owner.
Since many of her clients have needs that push the boundaries of typical real estate services, Costa and her DREAM Team work together to produce high-end photography, videography, and a website for each of her listings. She is always game to roll up her sleeves and give it her all. She is passionate about helping clients live their dream. Learn more at dreamhomesestates.com.
AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY OF ASHLEY BILODEAU.
BY JANICE RANDALL ROHLF
shley Bilodeau is a self-taught, naturallight photographer whose gallery, All Points Beautiful, has been a fixture on Main Street in Chatham for 10 years. An artist at heart ever since she can remember, Bilodeau cycled through poetry, songwriting, and even yoga before becoming smitten with photography. In curating the perfect backdrops for her yoga clients, she quickly realized she was most drawn to organic landscapes, and she is grateful to live on Cape Cod where such settings abound. Currently, she lives in Orleans with her husband and their nine-month-old daughter.
When did you first get into photography?
I remember sitting next to a friend who was incredible at everything he did in our middle school art class. I wanted to be an artist so badly, but I hadn’t found anything I was actually good at. I started writing songs when I was 12 years old, wrote poetry throughout the years, and even studied interdisciplinary art, but it wasn’t until I was in college in Vermont that I actually picked up a camera. It was a friend’s camera. As soon as I looked through the viewfinder, I knew this was it. I started by taking photographs of people and eventually that led to food compositions, action sports, and yoga portraiture…I even did some wedding photography at one point until I realized my true calling.
How would you describe your photography style now?
I do more environmental portraits—the dance of nature. I take photos of the ocean, surfers at the National Seashore, the waves, and more meditative walking themes, some still life. Really whatever crosses my path that inspires me.
My goal is to create a more peaceful environment in people’s homes. Just stepping out into nature helps us take a huge, deep breath. If my artwork can be a backdrop to complement the lives that everyone has in front of them— that is a pretty big gift—and that is what I do.
— ASHLEY BILODEAU
I’m a realist. I don’t Photoshop my work or modify it aside from a little exposure now and then. For me as an artist, I’m witnessing the world as it is, in its perfect timing. I also grew up here on the Cape, and my hope is to inspire younger people to live here year-round.
And when you’re not shooting for your gallery?
Right now, I focus on private collections. For example, clients on the Vineyard invited me to come over and spend a few days shooting their property and favorite places on-island. From the collections I made, they chose which photos they wanted, and I helped place them in their home. They even got to name them! Another service I offer is home-visit consultation. I’ll take measurements and snapshots of specific places where they want to hang my artwork and advise them on what will look best. I’ll even do a deep dive into my archives to see if anything that I haven’t released might work well in their space—just like an interior decorator would do. I do this virtually as well as in person.
What are your favorite locations to shoot?
I love the National Seashore, Nauset Outer Beach. The Vineyard is also incredible, from the lighthouses to the dunes. I am very grateful that I can walk out my front door most days and find something spectacular to capture that I might have never noticed before.
What is your favorite part about being a photographer?
My goal is to create a more peaceful environment in people’s homes. Just stepping out into nature helps us take a huge, deep breath. If my artwork can be a backdrop to complement the lives that everyone has in front of them, that is a pretty big gift. And that is what I do.
A NEW BOOK BY HUTKER ARCHITECTS EXPLORES THE INTERPLAY OF NARRATIVE AND HOME DESIGN.
BY JENNIFER SPERRY
MICHAEL J LEE
In our first book, we talk about a sense of place, but with this one, we take that concept to the next level. This time, sense of place is just one of the narratives informing our projects.
— MARK A. HUTKER
Designing someone’s home is a big responsibility. “It’s a huge stewardship proposition,” says architect Mark A. Hutker. “It’s a responsibility not just to the homeowners but their children, their children’s children, and also to the community.”
Hutker and his fellow principals at Hutker Architects live up to this tall order daily. Since the founder took ownership of the Martha’s Vineyard firm in 1987, he and his team have delivered their own interpretation of New England vernacular, one that nods to tradition with pared-down, landscape-hugging forms.
Recently, the firm released its third book, New England Coastal: Homes that Tell a Story. A followup to A Sense of Place: Houses on Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod, this coffee table hardcover features 13 projects ranging in locale from Greenwich, Connecticut, to Aquinnah, the southwestern tip of Martha’s Vineyard. Hutker shared the storytelling with his fellow principals, and the result is a comprehensive overview of the firm’s standout work to date, including several never-before-published residences.
“In our first book,” says Hutker, “we talk about a sense of place, but with this one, we take that concept to the next level. This time, sense of place is just one of the narratives informing our projects.”
Multiple inputs, or narratives, steer the fabrics of Hutker homes, which delicately dance the line between modern and tradition in evocative ways. The firm’s design process considers various histories:
the client’s family, the history of place and region, prevalent building materials. They also study the land itself and the particularities of topography, vegetation, and sun orientation.
“It takes time to try and understand a community, but it’s fun looking for foot holds, for the reasons why people do things a certain way,” elaborates Hutker. “When you can tie a design back to something valued by everyone in a community, it makes the result more powerful.”
Ultimately, clients, future clients, and architecture enthusiasts respond positively to Hutker designs because of psychology: because of the way they make them feel. The envelopes evoke positive emotions by playing with recognizable forms ingrained in our subconsciouses.
With four offices dotting Southern New England (Vineyard Haven, Falmouth, Plymouth, and Boston), Hutker Architects continues to forge ahead, expanding its clientele beyond the Cape and Islands to northern New England and the Mid-Atlantic. For Hutker, this book represents a launching point for the future of Hutker Architects: “By carefully understanding our past projects, we are assembling a vision of what we can accomplish next,” he says.
“Ultimately,” he continues, “we are looking for meaning. We are trying to make homes that mean something to the people who live in them and the communities in which they reside.”
BREACHING ROCK
Excerpted with permission
The story of this Martha’s Vineyard house sounds at first like a contradiction in terms, or maybe a Zen koan: How do you make something that’s actually not what it appears to be, but do so in an authentic way? And consider a second paradox: How does a project undertaken for a client who, at the beginning, is dubious about the power of narrative to shape a home, end up becoming entirely about narrative?
Sheltered deep in the woods of Chilmark and looking towards the island’s western end, the property is on hilly terrain, littered with boulders left by ancient glaciers as they departed not quite twenty thousand years ago, at the end of the last ice age. The hefty stones bring to mind the recumbent backs of sleeping cattle, while some of the largest hump up from the ground almost like breaching whales…
In the end, a Chilmark homestead that hadn’t existed a few years before came into being already trailing a long backstory behind it. It’s the kind of place, you feel, that must have belonged to a great-great-grandmother and stayed in the family ever since.
MICHAEL
LEE
BACK RIVER
Excerpted with permission
More often than not, the first question asked about a house’s design is “Traditional or contemporary?”—the tacit assumption being that every building will count as either one or the other…Creatively occupying the fertile borderland between past and present, however, has become a Hutker Architects specialty—to the degree that trying to analyze where traditional leaves off and modern begins in one of the firm’s projects risks missing the point entirely. An organic melding of yesterday and today is always there; what’s truly important is which specific style notes are struck and the beauty of the harmony that they make together. The imaginative evolution of local vernacular is what provides the key. It was precisely this kind of in-between quality that appealed greatly to one couple in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Both partners had long histories in the vicinity, and they had raised their three college-age sons in a neighborhood close to the town’s center that could almost serve as the dictionary definition of classic New England. With the boys now no longer in full-time residence, change beckoned…
Modern or not, they still preferred to make their anticipated home a politely reserved addition to its surroundings. The building therefore nestles into its hillside above the marsh, the main floor at street level. Loose clumps of rhododendron and similar understory growth screen it from the road, making it only sporadically visible—and never all at once—to car and foot traffic passing by. A second story underneath, plus a generous outdoor terrace and pool, are noticeable just from within the property itself—and largely unseen even from down along the shore.
NEW ENGLAND COASTAL
Available at local book sellers and online retailers.
A BRIDGE TO HEALING FOR WOUNDED WOMEN.
BY BILL HIGGINS
We’re a bridge for women coming out of acute levels of care, but we’re not a treatment center. We provide aftercare and resources. We’re here to create a safe place and build trust.
— BILL DOUGHERTY
Samantha “Sammy Jo” Franco was 24 years old and wounded when she moved back to her family home in Sandwich. A victim of sexual assault and physical and emotional abuse, she spiraled into a dark world, addicted to drugs and alcohol. She contemplated suicide.
Four years later, Franco achieved sobriety through a local Alcoholic Anonymous group. However, while outwardly feeling better, she suffered from lingering inner turmoil due to past mental health trauma.
“As a teenager, I got involved in the party scene,” she says. “Alcohol and drugs gave me the illusion of confidence when, really, I was coping with inadequacies. I was unsettled and bounced around to a lot of places, running away from pain, before I finally came home to ask for help.
“AA helped me tremendously,” continues Franco. “I got clean and physically felt better, but emotionally I was still a mess. I had so much anxiety. I was jumping out of my skin.”
Enter Bill Dougherty and Recovery Without Walls (RWW), an organization on a mission to help women like Franco whose lives have been interrupted by substance abuse and related trauma.
Founded by Dougherty in 2006, the Falmouth-based nonprofit offers holistic services, structure, safety, and stability. Its programs—acupuncture, meditation, group therapy, educational funding, mentoring, financial and legal assistance, feminine care management, help with job placement and housing—are free through its Women’s Recovery Network.
“We’re a bridge for women coming out of acute levels of care, but we’re not a treatment center,” says Dougherty, 83, RWW’s executive director and a recovering alcoholic who has been sober for 40 years. “We provide aftercare and resources. We’re here to create a safe place and build trust.
“For a person who has been abused, they’ve lost that and have no place to relax. We’re that place,” says Dougherty, who has studied addiction treatment and therapy at Harvard Medical School and worked in the field for 40 years.
Recovery Without Walls has an annual operating budget of $196,000 and is supported by grants and donations plus fundraising through the Falmouth Road Race, a tennis tournament, and summer beach concert.
The cornerstone of RWW’s work in recent years has been auricular acupuncture and meditation. Ear acupuncture is a thin needle treatment system. It focuses on five outer ear points to reduce cravings, withdrawal symptoms, anxiety, and stress, helping individuals maintain their sobriety and continue their recovery.
Franco, now 34, is a shining example of RWW’s many success stories. She was referred in 2019, and Dougherty connected her with a therapist. Diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, she was prescribed antidepressant medication and participated in weekly acupuncture and meditation sessions.
Today, Franco is Recovery Without Walls’ first salaried employee as assistant director of community wellness and development. (Dougherty is a full-time volunteer.) She is also studying to become a drug and alcohol counselor and therapist.
“Bill got me the help I needed,” says Franco. “When I first experienced the healing of acupuncture and meditation, it was a game changer. I felt immediate calmness and peace. I remember crying because I didn’t know I could feel that good. I began to learn how to retrain my brain and rebuild. This place gave me a sense of safety and stability I never had before.
“I always knew I wanted to work with women someday. I didn’t know how I would do it, but now I feel this is my calling,” adds Franco. “There is not a woman who can
come in here and tell me something that I don’t feel like I can relate to or that I haven’t experienced. They have walked through the darkness. They’re ready and have the desire to take the next step. That’s where I can be most helpful.”
Says Dougherty: “It’s not as simple as Sammy makes it sound. She doesn’t give herself enough credit for the hard work she’s done, but her story is who we are and what we can do.”
RWW sees upwards of 200 clients a month and has expanded its network to help women in Hyannis and Brewster. The Falmouth office includes comfortable studios where guided meditations are conducted and licensed acupuncturists administer 45-minute treatments to groups of about 10–15 several times a week. Measured results have shown the sessions are highly effective for reducing the emotional triggers behind relapses: anxiety, depression, racing thoughts, irritability, and restlessness.
“I know everyone’s path is different,” says Franco. “I’m not naive, but I’m passionate about sharing our mission because I know it’s working.”
“We’ve been around for 18 years and it’s very gratifying to see that we’re helping so many,” says Dougherty. “I want to make sure we’re here for another 18 years and hopefully longer. We need to stay focused on who we are. We’re not going to change the whole world, but we’ll continue to work with women on Cape Cod and help them live healthy, positive lives.”
For more information or to donate: recoverywithoutwalls.org
CLOTHING PROVIDED BY JARRETT DANIELS KEN TAILOR FIVE FIVE ONE MODELS ELSA, HENRY, NATE, SHELBY FROM SIGNED MANAGEMENT
PHOTOS BY DERRICK ZELLMANN
MAKEUP BY ANDREA KOOHARIAN
Daniels takes commissions for bespoke jeans (starting at $300), jackets, bags, hats, and cyanotype shirts ($46).
Jarrett
Jarrett Daniels
Jarrett Daniels crafts distinctive garments using premium heavyweight materials. His designs blend classic denim construction (1870s-1970s) with inspiration from Star Wars and Fallout New Vegas. Offerings range from raw indigo jeans to intricately embroidered pieces, representing the full lifecycle of denim. All items come with a lifetime warranty and free repairs. The true value lies in the stories created by those who wear his pieces.
@madebyjarrettdaniels
Jarrett Daniels takes commissions for bespoke jeans (starting at $300), jackets, bags, hats, and cyanotype shirts ($46).
HENRY: This serene beach set is the ultimate choice for a seamless transition from sandy shores to elegant dinner tables. Crafted from lightweight linen, the grey and white pinstripe design exudes sophistication while ensuring comfort. A delightful surprise awaits with a contrasting pop of color at the waistband, adding a playful twist to this classic look. Set: $239
ELSA: Elevate your evening style with this classic linen collared white shirt, perfectly paired with a floral ruffle print layered skirt. The shirt contrasts beautifully with the playful, voluminous silhouette of the skirt, making this look both sheen and distinctive. Outfit: $489
KEN TAILOR
Kenard Smith Jr. is a passionate, self-taught designer who found his calling in fashion just a year ago. His distinctive garments showcase his commitment to sustainable fashion and innovative design. Known for his tireless work ethic, Kenard not only creates unique pieces but also mentors aspiring designers, sharing his expertise in sewing. He embodies the fusion of creativity and sustainability, proving that impactful contributions can emerge from newly discovered passions. kentlr.com @ken.tlr
SHELBY: Crafted from a stunning vine pattern fabric, it features exquisite lace accents that add a touch of sophistication. The open strap back not only enhances its allure but also ensures a flattering fit. Outfit: $475
HENRY: A bold exploration of texture and pattern, this ensemble features a tank top adorned with a captivating 3D ruffle design. Complementing the top are collage print pants, crafted from an eclectic mix of tapestry blankets, quilts, and lace.
Top: $115
Pants: $239
OPPOSITE:
ELSA: Embrace effortless elegance with this stunning ensemble featuring a pink off-the-shoulder draped top, expertly paired with a lightweight, textured white mini skirt. Crafted from repurposed materials, it embodies a commitment to sustainability without sacrificing style. Outfit: $358
NATE: The boxy yet tailored shirt, crafted from breathable peach linen, offers light comfort while effortlessly keeping you warm on a cool early fall evening. The matching pants feature a striking floral print on alternating legs, adding a playful twist to the classic look.
Top: $135
Pants: $169
LEFT:
NATE: Stand out with these pinstriped bottoms and crisp white shirt, with chest pocket echoing the pattern on the pants.
Top: $89
Pants: $238
Five Five One
FIVE FIVE ONE serves as a unique Cape Cod destination that embraces genuine creativity in all its forms, from abstract art and poetry to street fashion and beyond. We’re not just a gallery—we’re a vibrant community hub where people can connect, create, and celebrate authentic self-expression.
Jack Bachand (standing) - Manager
Tyler Bridges (not pictured) - Owner
Mike Strangfeld (sitting) - Owner
Jed Cormier (not pictured) - Lead Designer
fivefiveone.shop @fivefiveone_hp
551 MA-28, Harwich Port
HENRY
ELSA Lanvin Dress - $210
Ralph Lauren Dress - $200
Japanese Hooded Fur
Vest - $120
NSF Oil Spill Tank - $80
Vintage Corduroys (call)
Elsa Ralph Lauren Layered
Top - $85
Off-WhiteTM Denim
Skirt - $480
Vintage Flairs - $45
HENRY
SHELBY NSF Layered Tank - $85
Lamarque Blazer - $200
Christian Dior Skirt - $250 NATE
1960’s Vietnam Flak jacket (call)
1960’s Budweiser long sleeve (call)
Black Dickies Pants (call) 1983 Mash Tee - $100
SHELBY
Rick Owens Vest- $360
Helmut Lang Long Sleeve - $150
Oscar De La Renta Skirt - $180
NATE
Comme Des Garçons
Reversible Coat - (call)
Jed Custom Button-Up - (call)
Helmut Lang Denim - $200
ELSA
Maison Margiela Poncho Type Shirt - $450
Vintage Skirt (call)
WELLFLEET’S ANNUAL OYSTERFEST SERVES UP A SENSORY SMORGASBORD.
As soon as you approach the outskirts of the bustling Wellfleet OysterFest, you are immersed in a sea of sights, sounds, and smells. From minute one, you are swept into visual, aural, and olfactory heaven.
This popular festival is held each year in October on the weekend after Columbus Day/Indigenous People’s Day. It began in 2001 as a simple celebration of Wellfleet’s venerable oystering traditions and is now one of the premier autumn events on Cape Cod. The two-day spectacle of live music, arts and crafts, culinary delights, and oysters galore culminates in the thrilling “Shuck Off,” a high-energy contest that crowns the fastest, most skilled opener.
Cape Cod + The Islands Magazine dove straight into the delicious fun last year, and here is a roundup of the ways your senses—all five of them—will react to this iconic event.
HEARING
As you first approach Main Street on an OysterFest day, you begin to catch strains of upbeat music coming from the main stage. Local bands of all stripes take turns entertaining the crowds, who often make room to shimmy and shake amidst the bustling business of eating seafood.
Laughter and chatter, announcements and cheers, and the pleasing toll of bells from the nearby Congregational and Methodist churches are also audible. But arguably the best sound of all is the clacking sound of spent oyster shells being collected. All these noises combine into a cheerful cacophony that lures you into the heart of the action.
Autumnal air brings with it the perfume of brewing java from the ever-popular Cape Cod Coffee truck. Once you make your way to the larger food tents, your nose picks up on the fried scallops, clam chowder, and shrimp tacos before your eyes spot the menus.
SIGHT
There is so much to take in visually here. Some folks are dressed as giant lobsters, some are wearing half-shell hats, others opt for fisherman gear, and still others go for fantasy with mermaid tails and Poseidon tridents. Plenty of cheeky t-shirts with phrases like “Keep on Shuckin’ ” or “Mother Shucker” spark smiles across the grounds.
Peppered throughout the tents and stages are fall décor elements, reminding. everyone it’s October on Cape Cod. Bales of hay and pumpkins harmonize with nature’s changing leaves.
There are plenty of arts and crafts to browse: pottery, paintings, jewelry, and more. Much is oyster focused. The artist team behind Lucia Moon Designs—fisherwoman and master shell bead maker Martha Lucia Nunez and her daughter, Mercy Moon Reed—craft exquisite jewelry from sea treasures.
“Most of the shell is harvested and gathered on Cape Cod,” says Reed. “Everything I do in person is hand-turned,” adds Nunez, who has run a commercial quahog dragger in Nantucket Sound for over 40 years.
TOUCH
From the first press of the star admission stamp on your hand to the bolt of a briny oyster down your throat, the Wellfleet OysterFest is a tactile experience. Pause to enjoy the nubs of an oyster shell in your palm, the softness of a handwoven scarf, or the smoothness of a ceramic bowl. And don’t forget the happy handshakes and hugs when you meet friends, new and old. The OysterFest is all about community, and everyone is warmly welcomed.
TASTE
We end with the biggest and best reason to visit OysterFest: tasting local seafood! Wellfleet oysters are known and loved for their briny, seaweed flavor up front and crisp, clean finish. You can enjoy the bivalves naked or dressed with fresh lemon, Tabasco, or cocktail sauce. Everywhere you go in the main festival area, visitors are happily slurping the wares and washing them down with regional brews.
Numerous local farms, such as Old Wharf Oyster Sea Farm, Field Point Oyster Farm, Pirate Shellfish, and Holbrook Oyster, cheerfully and manically shuck and serve up thousands of oysters over the weekend. Each station brims with pride for their oysters.
“Our farm is located in a very special part of Wellfleet,” says Old Wharf’s Andrew Jacob. “It has a witch’s cauldron of the best phytoplanktons possible, which give our oysters the perfect balance of saltiness, brines, and a sweet melon aftertaste.”
But there is more than just shellfish to nibble. Local restaurants such as Wicked Oyster, Mac’s Seafood, Boat House Fish Market, and PJ’s Family Restaurant prepare clam chowder, lobster mac and cheese, and stuffed clams. For guests who don’t want seafood (what?!), Dancing Spoons offers pulled pork tacos, chicken burritos, and veggie chili. Similarly, Las Chidas serves up beef tacos and Mexican chocolate brownies. For plant-based options, The Optimal Kitchen is a must visit. Their Truro-grown oyster mushrooms are a clever twist on the festival’s star product.
ALL TOGETHER NOW
When the festival culminates in the celebrated shucking contest on Sunday afternoon, prepare for your senses to be engaged. As the speedy and energetic contestants compete to be crowned “Fastest Shucker on Cape Cod,” the crowd cheers, the music pumps, the oyster knives flash, and the excitement builds. You can almost taste the oyster meats as they are placed swiftly yet precisely back into their shells. It is the zenith of a uniquely Cape Cod spectacle.
The 2024 Wellfleet OysterFest is happening October 19-20. For tickets, visit wellfleetoa.org.
BY JAMES P. FREEMAN
What was the motivational genesis behind the madness of author, illustrator, collector, puppeteer, playwright, and costume designer Edward Gorey?
Sitting on the front porch of the Edward Gorey House in Yarmouth Port, Greg Hischak, curator at the museum celebrating the artist’s life and work, offers an explanation: “In a word, ‘surrealism.’ ”
Housed in the late artist’s home on Strawberry Lane, the museum is seeped in sui generis surrealism. A concept proof illustration by Gorey hilariously reads: “Innocence, on the Bicycle of Propriety, carrying the Urn of Reputation safely over the Abyss of Indiscretion.”
Surrealism began in the 1920s as a cultural and artistic movement. It’s a style that attempts to challenge reality by depicting a new warped, irrational universe with ludicrous features. Gorey savored surrealism throughout his career.
Today, the Gorey imprint is ubiquitous if not largely anonymous.
Edward Gorey’s Yarmouth Port house provides insight into the eccentric’s genius talent.
Illustration used in Cat CatalogThe Ultimate Cat Book (1976)
A precise accounting of Gorey’s multimedia portfolio is impossible to tally. Nevertheless, his known magazine submissions total at least 1,000. His own authored books number 116 (unless more are found). But his most iconic work may be the animated introduction to Boston’s public television Mystery! series, an international sensation.
Born in Chicago in 1925, Gorey started drawing at the age of 18 months and taught himself to read by age 3. He had family on Cape Cod and visited most summers. After graduating from Harvard University in 1950, he became an important figure in the New York design world.
In 1973, he designed a production of Dracula for a small theater on Nantucket Island. It attracted considerable interest and, in 1977, opened on Broadway as Edward Gorey’s Dracula. A huge commercial success with extraordinary reviews, it garnered two Tony Awards (“Best Revival” and “Best Costumes”) and ran for almost three years to global acclaim. Unheard of for a non-actor, Gorey negotiated a five percent commission on production revenues, earning him millions of dollars.
Those proceeds enabled him to buy “Elephant House” in 1979. He hadn’t stepped foot in the house before the purchase but quickly realized it had no heat and raccoons as residents. After extensive repairs, he became a full-time Cape resident from 1986 until 2000.
Gorey was a twice-daily fixture at Jack’s Outback restaurant. Yet, the approachable eccentric toiled relentlessly.
He was a prolific letter writer. Many of the envelopes of his correspondence were decorated with peculiar etchings and scribblings, a kind of personal postal graffiti. The museum was inspired by the concept, and more than a decade ago it created the “All Ages Envelope Art Contest.” This year, more than 500 enthusiasts from around the world are expected to submit their artistic homage to Gorey. Scrapbooks on a kitchen table in the house showcase the wildly imaginative winners of past contests.
The Gilded Bat
Illustration from Edward Gorey’s book
“It wrenched off the horn of the gramophone, And could not be persuaded to leave it alone.”
The New Yorker cover illustration Dec. 10, 2018
Illustration for Edward Gorey’s book The Doubtful Guest
Artwork from Edward Gorey’s book
profoundly unmarketable.
GREG HISCHAK, CURATOR AT THE EDWARD GOREY MUSEUM
The extent of Gorey’s prodigious work allows the museum to reveal niche anthologies.
For instance, the 2024 exhibition “Exquisite Corpse” explores Gorey’s creative experiments with the visual and narrative possibilities inherent in manipulating the physical design of a book. He revered books but, paradoxically, as Hischak explains, “Gorey tortured books,” too. He dismembered them, fused pieces back together, and reimagined the format, the idiom. It’s as if he were a literary punk rocker, shredding niceties and conventions for the sake of his craft. Consequently, many such endeavors were, Hischak says, “profoundly unmarketable.”
Still, Gorey’s quirky experimenting and tinkering were hugely significant to fans of unorthodox artistic expression and gleeful subversion. He was clearly a progenitor in the burgeoning field of graphic novels, flash fiction stories, and “zines,” now more mainstream than ever. In short, Gorey was a proto-influencer well before social media.
This may help explain the mystery behind Gorey’s broader allure. While his work is full of Victorian-era flourishes, it’s malleable, temporal, and ambiguous enough to appeal to modern sensibilities.
And since he was a lifelong lover of animals—cats in particular—the estate continues to fund the welfare of various creatures. And it’s only fitting that a “tuxie” named Embley lives upstairs.
In retrospect, the canon of Gorey’s work is a sensory blitzkrieg of the macabre tinged with humor. And the Edward Gorey House offers a curious, fascinating glimpse into his wide-angled psyche and enduring creative legacy.
Upon his death in 2000, some of Gorey’s ashes were placed on a small, flowered float off Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable. Somehow, this seemed entirely appropriate for an artist who described himself as “sinister cozy.”
He literally went out with the tide.
“B is for Basil assaulted by bears” Illustration for Edward Gorey’s book The Gashlycrumb Tinies
Edward Gorey House
8 Strawberry Lane, Yarmouth Port 508-362-3909 edwardgoreyhouse.org
April 4 – June 30 Th-Sat — 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.;
July 3 – October 13 Wed-Sat — 11 a.m. - 4
October 18 – December 29 Fri & Sat — 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sun — 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
From the Experts
THE NAR SETTLEMENT
BY JENNIFER SPERRY
In March, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reached an agreement with plaintiffs that ended litigation of claims brought on behalf of home sellers related to broker commissions.
“The position of these class action attorneys is that it wasn’t fair to the seller that they couldn’t negotiate or opt out of paying a buyer broker commission,” explains Colleen Barry, CEO of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty.
Ultimately, a buyer’s agent still gets a commission if the seller agrees. “The commission had always been negotiable. But now that is more clear to the consumer,” says Barry. “Now the seller feels as though they have more choice. This settlement is all about how transparency is a positive,” continues the real estate expert. “It’s a way for consumers to better understand what they’re getting for their money.”
With real estate agents adhering to the new guidelines since August 17, we sat down with Barry to find out what changes buyers and sellers will notice. Here is the full conversation:
Q: What is changing for buyers and sellers going forward?
If you want to go look at homes, in person or virtually, with a buyer’s agent, you will need a signed contract in place. This contract will stipulate what services you are asking the buyer agent to do and what you intend to pay for those services.
The second change is that, in the past, the MLS had a line item showing what percentage commission the listing agent was willing to share with the buyer agent. Now, post-settlement, this field is no longer allowed in most MLSs.
As a buyer, when you are interested in a property, you first ask if the seller is offering any buyer agent compensation. Then you make your offer based on the response. In most cases, the buyers will write their agent’s compensation into the offer so it can still be financed. The real difference now is that buyer commission is a negotiable term, like a deposit or home inspection.
Q: Do you foresee buyer commission rates changing?
One key component of the settlement is that all broker fees and commissions are fully negotiable and not set by law. Different marketplaces have always had different commission percentages. In fact, the national headlines concerning the settlement kept talking about how 6% is an industry norm; however, we see differences from marketplace to marketplace and from firm to firm. Ultimately, commission rates are determined by what people are willing to pay for services.
Q: Do you still recommend using a buyer agent?
The first step of any home buying process is selecting a good buyer agent. You should partner with someone with experience in your intended marketplace. For most, buying a home is the largest purchase of their lives. Guidance and advocacy by a real estate expert are always helpful.
Q: Will the settlement affect home prices?
No, I don’t think so. The reality is that home prices have always been the result of supply and demand, and we don’t see any reason that demand will lag. As far as supply goes, we have underbuilt for some time, and right now the cost of building is so high that listed prices aren’t in the ranges we need most. In short, we don’t anticipate any change in the direction of housing prices as they are decided by larger economic factors.
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Scargo Tower in Dennis
Late 1930’s
Courtesy of the Historical Society of old Yarmouth, Yarmouth Port, MA
