What Are the Features of Modern Coastal Homes?

Modern coastal homes of New England: How do these designs capture the essence of the region’s magnificent seaside and still include all the comfort and amenities today’s homeowners would expect? Let’s explore some features of the modern coastal home and what makes them such a sought-after retreat in New England. 

Modern Coastal Homes – Harmonizing with The Oceanside Environment

Modern coastal homes emphasize clean lines, simplicity, and blending indoor areas with a natural environment that deserves to be in focus. The design features of these homes purposely avoid excessive ornamentation, allowing the coast’s natural beauty to take center stage without distraction. Elements such as reclaimed wood, shiplap, exposed beams, and natural stone help round out the coastal motif without creating too much visual clutter. 

Natural light and an open-concept floor plan contribute to a modern coastal home’s bright and airy feel. Large windows, skylights, and sliding glass doors invite the outdoors inside, blending the interior with the coastal landscape. There are few greater backdrops than the seaside, and a coastal home is all about embracing everything it has to offer. 

Modern Coastal Homes – Working With the Outdoors

Expansive outdoor living areas are a cornerstone of modern coastal home design. Porches, decks, and patios provide spaces for relaxation, entertaining, and enjoying a cool coastal breeze on a hot summer afternoon. From quiet mornings sipping coffee to spirited gatherings with friends, living and entertaining outdoors capture coastal life wonderfully.

Sticking With the Tried and True

Ask any lifelong New Englander, and they’ll tell you that our drastic seasonal weather swings create challenges and opportunities for regional architects, especially at oceanfront properties; this is why you’ll see features that were first used hundreds of years ago still used in modern designs, such as:

Gambrel roofs, with their two slopes on each side, are a hallmark of coastal architecture. With origins dating back to colonial days and featured on modern coastal homes, gambrel roofs evoke a sense of tradition while accommodating contemporary design elements.

Fireplaces: While historically used to warm the chill of blustery winters near the sea, today, fireplaces add coziness and an all-year-round aesthetic to today’s modern coastal homes. 

Wood Cladding: Coastal homes frequently use wood cladding, particularly cedar shingles. This material weathers beautifully and eventually is grayed by sea spray, achieving an unmistakably coastal look.

With its open and light interior and often stunning ocean views, the modern coastal home strikes a unique balance between breezy and contemporary, an impressive design, styled for today’s families.
If you’re considering a seaside location and are looking for a trusted Boston architectural firm to help get your project underway, please contact us to start the conversation.