BEACH COTTAGE

Beach Cottage

Elizabeth Brosnan Hourihan was originally commissioned to improve the decor enough to make this beach house in Gloucester, Massachusetts, an appealing summer rental. The clients had innovative, if not eccentric ideas about the design and use of unique materials. Elizabeth met the challenge and embraced it with enthusiasm. Her ideas so engaged the owners that they decided to follow her comprehensive design for a casually elegant retreat. The results pleased them so much that they decided to keep the house for their own use. The clients wanted an interior with a modern, easy-going feel, and Elizabeth deftly interpreted their wishes with an eclectic blend of colorful contemporary and mid- century furniture against a background of pale, sand-colored walls. Among the distinctive touches are examples of Italian glass and a shimmering mesh screen that divides the dining area from the kitchen. The beach house, which has been in the family for generations, now has a fresh new life and serves as a great family gathering place. Architect, Robert MacNeille, AIA, Carpenter & MacNeille Architects and Builders, Inc. Photography, Cheryle St. Onge.