Situated between the Atlantic Ocean and a salt-water inlet and bordered by Rexhame Beach and South River Marsh is the Susannah Kinicutt House in Marshfield, Massachusetts. The site, a two-lot parcel with incredible marsh views, had been in the family since the early 1900s with a small outdated cottage on the spot. In 2007 the homeowners of the Susannah Kinicutt House decided to design and build a house to take full advantage of the two-lot parcel and incredible setting.
Arriving at Connor Homes with catalog in hand, the homeowners started with the Azariah Canfield floor plan and worked with the Connor Homes design team to dramatically alter the exterior facade while staying close to the original and very efficient original floor plan.
The Azariah Canfield House is a saltbox found in the company's catalog originally built in Cornwall, Vermont. By changing the exterior facade to a full two-story colonial, additional space was created on the second floor, providing a bit more room for children and grandchildren. A fantastic space on the third floor was optimized by adding dormers to the roofline. Although just used as a storage space, the view from the third floor is well worth the trip up the stairs!
To take full advantage of the views and the salt air breezes, the homeowners added a covered porch along the front facade and a four-season glassed in porch on the side facade. Unusually, the front facade and formal entry door face the marsh and not the street. For the homeowners, the marsh is their front yard and they intended the entry to open to the wildlife and beyond. But for those visitors who come in from the driveway, a charming covered entrance on the rear facade is very welcoming.
Local flooding challenges for this house were quickly overcome. Because the marsh floods this area twice a year on average, the house had to be built on piers. The local code required the house to sit 18" above established grade which meant no basement and allowances had to be made for the water to flow under the house without risk to the structure or finish materials. Additionally, a one-car attached garage had to be accessible and so was raised the required amount on piers and then a wooden ramp was built for access. Off of the garage was the perfect place to tuck an outdoor shower for a quick rinse after a swim in the ocean.
Exterior finishes include natural eastern white cedar shingles on the facade and architectural asphalt shingles on the roof. The simulated divided lite windows by Green Mountain Window Company are provided in a 12/12 grille pattern and the porch railing is made of cedar.
The main living space is designed to feel open but still provide a few corners to create intimate gatherings. The kitchen / dining space is light and open and French doors invite occupants to experience the spacious 4-season porch with views of the bay. The 4-season porch, which runs the entire length of the side of the house, has plenty of room for enjoying a meal in the evening after conversing in comfortable chairs. While a paint finish has been applied to all interior woodwork, the porch trim was left natural.
In the living room, windows open to both the covered porch and the 4-season porch and the focal point is a gas fireplace with a beautiful Connor Homes pine mantel. A set of open balustrade stairs that lead to the second and third floor separate the living area from the more private first floor spaces of the study, bath, laundry and mudroom.
The second floor contains two wonderful guest bedrooms with a spacious shared bath. The master suite has a gas fireplace and its own bathroom retreat with wonderful views of the marsh on two sides.
For now the Susannah Kinicutt House serves as a summer and weekend retreat but may just eventually become the full time residence. We thank our homeowners for allowing us to play a part in their home and congratulate the contractor, Mark Stewart, for an excellent building job on his first of what we hope are many Connor Homes.
To view additional photos and floor plans of this home please visit our Susannah Kinicutt slide show on this page.