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Cape Cod living room ideas |

Cape Cod living rooms have an enduring appeal, and no wonder – since the British settlers built them in the 17th Century, Cape Cod homes have been the crown jewel of American architecture. 

These residences have persisted in popularity, offering a home that’s both simple and resistant against inclement weather. But, just because Cape Cod house style is simple in form doesn’t mean it is boring. In fact, quite the opposite. There are plenty of ways to decorate a Cape Cod home and, if you’re in need for a great place to start, where better place to look than your living room? 

Cape Cod living room ideas: the fundamentals

For many, the living room is the heart of any home, offering a place to gather with guests, spend quality time with family, or unwind after a particularly long day. And, as the focal point of your home, the living room can lay the groundwork for the rest of your space.

We've spoken with interior designers for their Cape Cod living room ideas – and how to get the look in your own home. And for even more inspiration, our Living room ideas feature has even more ways to update your social space.

1. Make the most of the view

(Image credit: Rockport Building Partners / Photo by Sarah Szwajkos)

If you're fortunate enough to have a home with ocean or lakeside views, then reconfiguring the architecture can maximize the benefits. Open plan kitchen ideas can be a great place to start, as they incorporate living and dining areas at the heart of your home.

'The key to creating this living room was to make an incredibly inviting space that would feel cozy without detracting from those jaw-dropping ocean views.' explains Casey Leonard of Rockport Building Partners  in Maine. 

'We took the warmth of the wood to the floors and ceilings and then went floor-to-ceiling with windows. The contrast between the lighter-toned, warm woods and crisp white architectural details makes for a great balance between the traditional and modern cottage. '

(Image credit: Whittney Parkinson)

The centerpiece of this stunning room by Indianapolis-based designer Whittney Parkinson is the statement light fixture. Positioned at the apex of the room, the furniture pivots around this to create a beautifully ordered scheme that suits the simplicity of Cape Cod living room ideas and style.

'Positioning the vase, with its tall foliage display, beneath the light is very clever, as it creates a connection between the two and draws the room together visually,' says Andréa Childs, Editor of Country Homes & Interiors magazine. 'It's a great example of how living room lighting ideas can transform a space.'

3. Make it monochrome

(Image credit: King)

By picking out architectural features such as windows and fireplaces in black, then combining them with white walls and ceiling, you can create a chic monochromatic background to your Cape Cod living room ideas. 

Pared-back furniture pieces, such as these chic sofas and ottoman from King , keep the look sleek but still with an element of softness and easy comfort, which is key to the Cape Cod style.  Minimalist living room ideas like this are best achieved if you're the clutter-free type – or have great storage!

4.  Create a library-style living room

(Image credit: Maine Oceanfront Library / Sarah Szwajkos)

Dedicate a wall to library shelving and position a reading chair in front, to create a book nook area in your New England coastal style living room. It's just one way to bring to life your home library ideas.

This seaside home in New England has white wood walls with shiplap-style planks, trim and ceiling, along with the wood-burning fireplace. The built-in bookshelves beneath the stair create a beautifully tucked-in library.

5. Paint fitted cabinetry in shades of blue

(Image credit: Emma Sims-Hilditch)

This smart-casual sitting room created by British interior designer Emma Sims-Hilditch shows the benefits of built-in cabinetry and living room storage ideas for making the most of a space.

'The unit has been designed and measured to fit around the original ceiling beams and to accommodate the couch and artworks perfectly,' says Country Homes & Interiors Editor, Andréa Childs.

'Choosing a mid-blue tone introduces a classic Cape Cod color scheme to define the look.'

6. Add in antique pieces

(Image credit: Georgia Zikas Design / Jane Beiles)

New England coastal style is more of a feeling than an exact formula for design, which means you can interpret your Cape Cod living room ideas in a truly unique and personal way – such as decorating with antiques. 

'It's a mix of laidback luxury, historical charm and modern-day touches that create an overall calm and approachable environment, evocative of the way people live when near the beach or a body of water,' explains Georgia Zikas of Georgia Zikas Design .

'There is an overall easiness to the design; no fuss and an emphasis on liveable fabrics, furnishings, and color palettes. This, alongside the incorporation of antiques or any pieces that connect to the history of New England, creates a truly unique and inviting design.'

7. Surprise with a playful element

(Image credit: Kirsten Conner Interior Design)

'Classic architectural features like built-in shelves and a mullioned window create an inviting space that resonates with our need for familiarity and calm in changing and chaotic times,' says Kirsten Conner, Founder of Kirsten Conner Interior Design in Seattle.

'In this room, I brought in a classic traditional Chesterfield sofa in an enveloping sapphire velvet and paired it with fawn leather armchairs that beckon you to sit. 

'Modern Traditional elements such as strong primary colors, abstracted Persian rug motifs and punchy crimson Currey & Company lamps modernize the feeling. 

An unexpected element – a faux mohair upholstered bench in front of the fireplace – also adds an electric synergy to the mix.'

8. Pull in an accent color

(Image credit: Georgia Zikas Design / Jane Beiles)

In this elegant Cape Cod living room designed by Georgia Zikas, small touches of blue lift the softly tonal scheme.

Just a few blue touches – the  base of the coffee table, a single throw cushion, and some subtle stripes – are all it takes to introduce a New England vibe to the room.

9. Include ample seating 

Photography/Eric Roth

(Image credit: Liz Caan)

Since the living room is the epicenter of many homes, it’s important to have ample space for the entire family – plus a few guests.  

This space doubles down on seating, thanks to a set of couches and a few stools. With a palette of subtle neutral hues – plus the occasional woven materials – this living room strikes a nice balance between practical and coastal. 

The throw pillows and rug also introduce warm, cozy living room ideas to make this a comfy and inviting space.

10. Remember the details

Photography/Dawn Yiannoullou

(Image credit: Havenly)

As the adage goes, the devil lies in the details — and your living room décor is no different.

This light and bright room is a perfect example of white living room ideas , but Havenly designer Lisa Marie Driscoll infuses this space with subtle touches like caned cabinets, a light wood coffee table, and a chevron-tiled hearth for extra interest. 

The result? A cozy and comfortable living space that emulates the traditional Cape Cod-inspired aesthetic.

11. Make it symmetrical

Photography/Eric Roth

(Image credit: Liz Caan)

Tap into the architecture style’s rich, traditional history with some textbook design rules. This space is anchored with a wicker couch, plus symmetrical armchairs, side tables, lamps, and geometrical stools. 

Although this seating set-up is part of a larger open-concept space, it's actually a great example of small living room decor ideas as it takes up just a small area of the larger room.

12. Source wicker furniture

Photography/Tria Giovan

(Image credit: Amanda Lindroth)

Another way to bring the coastal spirit to your Cape Cod living room? Wicker furniture. 

Though this material dates back to the Victorian Era, it does have a beachy reputation which makes it ideal when you're considering coastal living room ideas. Plus, wicker woven is incredibly popular nowadays, making this living room décor idea equal parts traditional and trendy.

13. Add in contemporary accents

Photography/ Kylie Fitts

(Image credit: Havenly)

Just because Cape Cod homes date back to the 17th Century doesn’t mean they can’t look and feel contemporary.  

Shelby Girard, vice president of creative and design at Havenly, struck a nice balance with streamlined sofas and sleek, modern accents. 

It's the blue couch that forms the centerpiece of this scheme; a design classic that you can see more of in our blue couch living room ideas.

14. Use coastal blues

Photography/Michael J. Lee

(Image credit: Liz Caan)

Though Cape Cod homes can be found all across the United States of America, they’re most common along the sandy beaches of New England.

If you want your Cape Cod living room to pay homage to its beachy roots – without festooning the space in sailboat motifs and artificial seashells – stick with a coastal blue and white color palette. 

Decorating with blue and white is about finding the balance between the two colors, and deciding which will be the hero shade in your scheme.

15. Keep it cozy

Photography/Tria Giovan

(Image credit: Amanda Lindroth)

Cape Cod-style homes aren’t all about looks; in the colonial era, they were designed to fend off harsh, winter weather.  

If you’re looking to create an inviting, cozy retreat during a rough snowstorm, consider experimenting with different materials. With a tactile sofa, wooden accents, and a plush rug, this room is no match for a whirling blizzard.

For more cozy and chic rooms, this time with a rustic twist, our country living room ideas is a packed gallery of design inspiration.

16. Mix and match

Photography/Don Freeman

(Image credit: Kevin Isbell)

Cape Cod homes are known for their simplicity, making them the perfect blank canvas to display your design style. If you don’t want to settle for a single look, take a cue from Kevin Isbell .  

Here, the designer deftly mixes a wicker couch with a rustic table, living room paneling ideas, and rich, upholstered armchairs. In order to keep the room cohesive, Isbell sticks with a subdued palette.

17. Try a preppy palette 

Photography/Allie Weinstein

(Image credit: Havenly)

From polo shirts to monogrammed-mania, New England is known for its preppy flair. So, why not bring that spirit into your Cape Cod living room? 

This space blends preppy patterns, a playful navy and coral palette, and traditional forms for a fresh take on coastal design.

Living room paint ideas has more stylish ways with paint, and will answer your questions about the best paint designs for your living space.

18. Keep it neutral

Photography/Morgan Levy

(Image credit: Havenly)

As this Cape Cod living room proves, you can never go wrong with an all-neutral palette. Versatile and easy to switch up with seasonal accessories should you choose, neutral living room ideas are the ultimate in no-fuss styling.

The undeniably classic scheme, timeless silhouettes, and cheery detailing makes for a relaxed, yet refined, living room that pays homage to life along the coast.

Cape Cod style dates back to New England in the 17th century, when Puritan settlers first arrived on US shores. They based the homes they built on those back in Britain, so Cape Cod homes tend to have a single story, with a steep roof, shingled exterior, symmetrical façade, and large chimney in the middle.  

How do you style a Cape Cod house?

Cape Cod house interior style is informed by its New England setting, it's historical ancestry, and a nod to nautical colors and themes. The look tends to neutral schemes, with white, cream, taupe and shades of blue, from sky blue to navy, coming into the palette.

Furniture is simple and comfortable but elegant, with a mix of upholstery and wood.

Transitional Cape Cod Style Home

 

This house is located in a well established neighborhood in Atlanta with mature trees and shrubs. The former house was a dark, dated ranch and this couple wanted an updated, bright Cape Cod style home with open concept interiors with great entertaining spaces that centered around the pool and gardens. They also wanted the house to seem like it had always been there. The shingles and stone work are classic architectural features that stand the test of time.

Interiors by Courtney Dickey. Architecture by T.S. Adam Studio.

 

Transitional Cape Cod Style Home

The exterior of this home feature a mix of grey shingles and stone siding. Door stain is Provential with 20% brown tint added.

The Heart of the Home

This kitchen feels clean, bright and crisp! The perimeter counter is Caesarstone Raven while the island is Caesastone Calacatta Nuvo with a mitered 2.25” edge. The clients wanted to use a quartz for counter tops- it looks great and is easy to maintain!

Backsplash is a small scale mosaic.

Hardware

The kitchen features Ashley Norton cabinet hardware.

Appliances are Wolf / Subzero.

Kitchen Details

Kitchen cabinets are a simple shaker panel painted in Benjamin Moore White Dove. Notice the stunning tongue and groove walls and ceiling.

Kitchen counterstools are upholstered in a white faux leather (for easy clean up) from Lee Industries.

Lighting over the island is from Urban Electric.

Island Paint Color

Island is painted Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal.

Paint Color

The designer painted the entire kitchen area Benjamin Moore White Dove. With all of the wood walls and ceiling, they thought it best to let the architectural elements shine through.

Kitchen Nook

I love how bright the kitchen nook feels. The breakfast room table is from Bungalow Classic and the chairs are Verellen.

Lighting over the breakfast room table is from Restoration Hardware.

Flooring is White Oak with a custom stain.

Living Room

The designer kept the living room mostly in grays and whites which gives the home a relaxed feel.

Doors

 

The best part of the living room is how it opens up to the outdoor area with custom folding doors. By opening the family room to the outdoors, it creates a great entertaining space with a lovely view of the pool.

Furniture & Decor

Lee Sofas are covered in gray Romo fabric and the Mitchell Gold chairs are covered in a Duralee fabric.

Coffee table is Four Hands and the console table is from Uttermost.

Fireplace

The fireplace uses the same stone as used on the exterior of the house with a limestone surround.

Lighting

Light fixtures in the living room are from Circa Lighting.

Master Bedroom

The homeowners wanted a tranquil master bedroom where they could totally relax. The designer chose a palette of warm grays and beiges to keep everything clam and tranquil.

Console table is a custom piece from Tritter Feefer.

Neutral Paint Color

The walls are painted Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige.

Design

Draperies are custom by Home Accents. The designer chose a Square Feather bench for the alcove for looking out onto the backyard. Pillows by Square Feathers as well.

The bed is a Mitchell Gold bed covered in a natural linen with Anne Selke bedding. Light fixture by Circa Lighting. Bedside tables and Starburst mirror are from Worlds Away and the lamps are from RH.

Master Bathroom

The master bathroom is serene and bright, just like every other space in this home. Countertops are calacutta.

Tub is Escale by Kohler.

Bathroom Flooring

The master bathroom has Bianco Venato marble on the floor and shower walls. The designer created a rug for the floor by turning the tile on the diagonal and adding 3 rows of 1×1 as a border.

Table is by Gabby. Light Fixture is Hudson Valley.

Window Treatments by Home Accents.

Mudroom

The mudroom features shiplap walls and a window seat. Cushion is in an indoor/ outdoor fabric and the pillow fabric is by Duralee.

Custom window treatments by Home Accents.

Powder Room

The designer decided to keep this powder room informal because of its close proximity to the pool. They used weathered wood for the console and leathered black pearl granite for the countertop and backsplash. Light fixture is RH. The brick in the herringbone pattern adds interest to the floor.

Paint Color

Benjamin Moore White Dove.

Pool

The backyard is very private. Pool measures 18×40.

Patio

The patio stone is Kentucky Bluestone.

Exterior Stone

The exterior stone is Tennessee Grey Orchard. Exterior trim paint color is Benjamin Moore White Dove.

 

Many thanks to the architect for sharing the details above!

Architects: T.S. Adam Studio.

Interior Designer: Courtney Dickey. Facebook.

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What is the architecture of Cape Cod? • Architecture Best

Cape Cod architecture is one of the most popular and easily recognizable styles of American architecture. Named after the Massachusetts coastal region where it is a signature style, Cape Cod architecture is ubiquitous in New England and can be found throughout the United States.

Admired for its simple, always crisp rectangular silhouette, steep roof and central door, Cape Cod Cottage is the house a child would draw if you asked them to draw a house. Homey and casually inviting, Cape Cod House style is the very definition of simple comfort food architecture that has stood the test of time.

The Origins of Cape Cod Architecture

Cape Cod architecture is considered a typical American style. Cape Cod houses originated when the style was introduced to the United States by English colonists in the 17th century, who adapted English half-timbered halls and living rooms to the harsh New England climate, creating a more boxy, lower-slung silhouette to be sustainable.

The history of Cape Cod architecture has continued as the initial wave of houses in this style was built from 1690 to 1850. The second wave, known as the Cape Cod Revival, was built from the 1920s to the 1950s and helped popularize the style, which spread around the world. United States.

In the 1930s, the Depression and the Colonial Revival combined to make Cape Cod style homes once again popular as an economical building style. In the 1940s and 1950s, Cape Cod houses were a widespread response to the post-war housing boom. Even in vast 21st century America, Cape Cod style homes remain nostalgic in popularity with new builds of all sizes today, from sprawling homes to tiny homes inspired by the original Cape Cod architectural style.

Key elements of the Cape Cod architecture

Although their sizes vary, different types of Cape Cod are known for having several common characteristics:

Cape Cod architecture is one of the most recognizable home styles in the US. At its core, the original Cape Cod house is a small, unadorned, rectangular cottage, one to one and a half stories high, with side gables and a steep slope. roof to prevent snow from accumulating. A large central chimney and low ceilings helped keep the house warm. A central door with simple edging is surrounded by tiered timber windows with shutters.

The original interior design of the Cape Cod house consisted of two rooms, a living room and a master bedroom, like the English "hall and living room" rooms on which they were based. The original design concept has survived, but Cape Cod's architecture has evolved over the past few centuries. The massive central chimneys characteristic of the New England headlands often shrank in size as heating technology became more advanced and chimneys moved inward in homes built in warmer climates outside the region, such as in the South. Contemporary Cape Cod interior design is often achieved by opening walls to maximize space.

About this term: master bedroom

Many real estate associations, as well as the Real Estate Standards Organization, have classified the term "master bedroom" as potentially discriminatory. “Master Bedroom” is a name that is now widely used among real estate professionals and better reflects the purpose of the room.

Learn more about our promise of diversity and inclusion to make The Spruce a place where everyone feels welcome.

To meet the need for more space, the original plan is often doubled by adding wings at the back or sides. Cape Cod houses come in three basic varieties: half, three-quarter, and full capes, depending on the size of their floor area, the placement of the chimney, and the size, location, and number of windows. The full promontory is considered the perfect example of the form, a symmetrical rectangular house with a massive central chimney and front door flanked by double windows on each side.

In the 1920s, people began to insert dormer windows into rooftops to increase light and ventilation and create additional bedrooms. Cape Cod revival homes from the mid-20th century are often a little more ornate than austere early models, but simplicity remains the visual hallmark of this somewhat minimalist but undeniably cozy home style.

Materials used in Cape Cod architecture

Cape Cod houses have traditionally been built using durable local materials that can withstand the harsh New England winters, such as:

Tips

Not sure if it's a Cape Cod house or a colonial house? American Colonial Architecture is a general term covering Cape Cod houses. The type of American Colonial style most familiar to us today retains some of the key features of Cape Cod (rectangular shape, steeply pitched roof, and central door), but has a full second floor and a front-to-back central hallway.

Interesting facts about the architecture of Cape Cod

Hariri & Hariri: Architect Sisters and a Villa at Cape Cod

The Hariri sisters know the entire design world. Founded in 1986, Hariri & Hariri Architecture is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Gisyu and Moygan Hariri are few of the women architects, such as Zaha Hadid, Odile Dekk, Farshid Moussavi, who have won world recognition for themselves. This is not surprising, because the buildings of the Hariri sisters stand out among millions of others with their individuality, they always look fresh and bold. Hariri's international projects have proven that modernism, to which they remain true, in the right proportions with "understanding the meaning of the modern world and its frantic rhythm" is the key to creative success in design and architecture.

The sisters arrived in the US from Iran in the 1970s to study architecture at Cornell University. Their joint firm was focused on high-level projects from the very beginning. The villa, built by Hariri & Hariri in 2004 on Long Island, has become part of the star-studded "park" Sagaponac House - 34 private houses created by the most famous architects. In 2008, the sisters designed the luxurious Sternbrauerei quarter in Salzburg - villas with 80 apartments. The complex includes artists' studios, exhibition halls, a restaurant, a spa center and a park area. The houses are surrounded by a mountain landscape and an artificial canal with waterfalls.


Among the duo's successes is the Loft building, which has become part of the new Two Arts Plaza structural formation in Dallas (USA). The sisters are a little, but always noticeable in product design. They have been cooperating with Swarovski for a long time and, like many stars of great architecture, they tried their hand at plumbing.

Armchair PINKJALK. Designed for the Pink Project 2012, a charity project for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation - breast cancer research.

Kryptonite jewelry collection for Swarovski. The shapes follow the outlines of the Sternbrauerei villas in Salzburg.

Kryptonite jewelry collection for Swarovski.

Crystalline bath and wash basin collection for Rapsel. The shapes follow the outlines of the Sternbrauerei villas in Salzburg.

Crystalline bath and wash basin collection for Rapsel.

Project for the Sternbrauerei quarter in Salzburg.

Project for the Sternbrauerei quarter in Salzburg.

Hariri & Hariri Architecture's recent work includes a villa on Cape Cod. What difficulties they had to overcome, they told the magazine "INTERIOR + DESIGN". “Cape Cod is known as a traditional summer destination for bohemian artists, writers, musicians and the gay community. Despite this, he is incredibly conservative. There is almost no modern architecture here. Our house, project 2400 SF, is rather an exception. We built it in the town of Princetown, literally a few steps from the monument - building 1959 years by Walter Gropius. Our customer, entrepreneur and collector Cliff Scherer, showed us a letter from Gropius, which he once wrote to the authorities of Cape Cod, defending the possibility of building a modernist house in Princetown. And he asked us to create a stunning beach house that would challenge the conservative appearance of the area, as Gropius did in his time. It must be said that it was not only the architectural code of the city that gave us problems, but also the complex soil of salt marshes, the restrictions arising from it (in particular, in height) and difficult construction conditions. Nevertheless, we carried out our plan and even applied an environmentally friendly geothermal heating and cooling system. We have created a comfortable home - simple, but not minimalistic. The customer got what he wanted: a revolutionary yet livable architecture. ”

The difficult soil of the salt marshes imposed restrictions on the project, in particular with regard to the height of the building.

"He asked us to create a stunning beach house that would challenge the conservative look of the area."

Master bedroom. The walls, floor and ceiling are finished with the same ipe wood as the façade. But on the street, due to the influence of the natural elements, it acquired a “lived” shade. The bed overlooks the salt flats.

The terrace overlooks the bay. Wood in combination with white plaster emphasizes the shades of sea water and the meager greenery of salt marshes.

Large glazing surfaces take full advantage of the location, offering views of the horizon.

One of the three bedrooms. The walls are painted by Benjamin Moore & Co.

“We connected the contours and curves of the local relief with the “urban” height of the volume: the two-height living room, together with the dining room and kitchen, forms an open space.”

Gray stucco, polished concrete, wood and white walls form the palette of the house.

“We have created a comfortable home that is simple but not minimalistic. The customer got what he wanted: a revolutionary yet livable architecture.”

CAPE COD. The easternmost point of Massachusetts, the Cape Cod Peninsula (translated as “Cape Cod”) is one of the most atmospheric places on the North American continent. Joseph Brodsky dedicated the poem "Lullaby of the Cod Cape" to him. Here, in New England, the history of the United States began. The peninsula goes deep into the Atlantic Ocean and has the outlines of a sharply bent hook. At its very tip, the town of Princetown stretched out in a thin strip of low old buildings. The line is completed by the house built by the Hariri sisters and the building by Walter Gropius. Further on, there are only salt marshes and a mile-long breakwater.

Facades clad in ipe wood. “This is a very reliable breed: it is even better resistant to the elements than teak,” the authors explain.

GROPIUS MANIFESTO. Walter Gropius (1883-1969) - one of the great architects of our time, the founder of the Bauhaus school. In 1934, after the attacks of the National Socialists on the Bauhaus, who called it the "church of Marxism", he emigrated to England, and then to the USA. He frequented Cape Cod and built a modernist villa for Clark University psychology professor Carl Markison after writing to the authorities in an open letter. “There is a perception that the ancient character of Cape Cod should be frozen, that new houses should recreate a historical shell taken from the past. Apparently, they confuse architecture with archeology.

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