The kitchen and living room are the primary spaces, open to each other but on two levels allowing for a taller kitchen space under the loft. The kitchen opens onto a generous partially-roofed deck with French doors and tall south facing windows. This affords a view of the verdant backyard and woods beyond, but not of the closest houses. The living room has smaller windows for privacy and energy efficiency, but light steel structural cables create an open airy space that takes full advantage of the natural light coming from the kitchen and loft. Built-in open library shelving in the loft creates storage space and privacy. A ship’s ladder on wheels fabricated from industrial steel rolls on an exposed steel beam to provide access to the loft area. Some interior elements such as concrete parging, 2×8 ceiling joists, steel ladder, stainless steel tie cables, and bamboo are left raw, visible or with a natural clear finish to reveal the material employed.

This cottage was conceived as a small unadorned jewel box, juxtaposing colorful materials and tall and open main spaces with an abundance of natural light. This modern aesthetic extends to the exterior, but with a subdued palette, compatible with the context of the vernacular and Federal era architecture of the Town.