Cape Cod Beach House
PS: What's the story behind it? AE: The house was built in 1830 by a sea captain that belonged to one of the founding families of our town. His son occupied the house after him and was killed on Nauset Beach, which is just down the road . . . No ghosts yet, though! The original settlement was called Snow Village and was mainly farmland with ancient trees and kettle ponds. When the wind blows in from the east, you can hear the ocean roar, and you really get the sense that you are in a historic and soulful place.
PS: How did you find this house? AE: We were working with a real estate broker, but my husband came across this house in his own search. It was the very last house we saw at the end of a long day of hunting. I got out of the car before we even came to a stop. It was love at first sight — there was no question in either of our minds that this was our house.
PS: Which original features do you love the most? AE: We absolutely love the cabinetry around the fireplaces, which are commonly found in primitive colonial farmhouses. Another element that we would never dream of changing, are the rippled and bubbled glass panes in the original windows — a few are cracked, but even the energy audit guys understood that we weren't going to touch them! An inspector informed us that the old pine floorboards are king boards, which means they were cut from the widest part of the trees. We just love their rich honey color and marks of time.
PS: Which room in the house do you enjoy being in the most? AE: I love to sit and relax in the the living room because you can see it all from there . . . the open kitchen, pond, landscape, and weather outside, even birds and the occasional rabbit, fox, or deer — all by the warmth of the ever-cranking wood stove.
PS: You had a previous career path that led you to interior design. Can you share some of the takeaways that continue to influence the way you live and decorate? AE: I had the honor of working with an incredibly talented interior designer in San Francisco for many years, and we eventually developed our own line of furniture and textiles for architects, designers, and retailers. One of the most valuable things I gained from that experience was understanding the importance of iconic styles and how timeless and versatile they are. We also loved to incorporate objects rich with natural texture like mohair, leather, shagreen, and bone. Treasures like this add depth and a tactile element.
PS: Walk me through the process of choosing paint colors — they're beautiful! AE: My initial inspiration was the artwork of Ann Packard of Provincetown, which depicts ethereal scenes of sea, sand, and sky. I never deviated from the Benjamin Moore historic colors, but that still made it a daunting task with so many rooms to consider. I brought the swatches everywhere with me so I could see them in all kinds of light. Eventually, I narrowed it down to 15 colors, but the hardest part was the trim. We wanted to avoid using bright white in such an old house but didn't want it to look dingy — very tricky.
PS: How would you describe your aesthetic? AE: How about ye olde modern organic? I grew up in a New England town, so I'm always drawn to early American antiques, but my years in San Francisco gave me an education in midcentury design as well as an affinity for flea market finds and handmade, artisanal accents. Traveling to places like Greece, Turkey, and Israel has also had major impact on my aesthetic. I like to be surrounded by things that have history . . . objects that tell a story or represent a memory. For me, that aspect of decor is what truly makes a house a home.
PS: What are your go-to decor staples that capture the look? AE: I like small-scale, classic silhouettes when it comes to furniture and prefer most of the color to be on the walls, leaving textiles soft and neutral. My interest in oriental rugs is borderline obsessive, and the more tattered and worn, the better. I recently ordered a plush, wool Beni Ourain rug from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and am so in love with it that my husband is worried! When it comes to artwork and accessories, I've always gone with my gut and am sometimes surprised by my own choices but somehow it all pulls together.
PS: Which features were you eager to renovate? AE: Nothing had happened decor-wise since the 1970s. We couldn't wait to peel back the layers of wallpaper, carpet, linoleum flooring, and plastic tile to reveal its original state. Most of the exciting discoveries were in the kitchen, like the rustic heart pine floor that was covered up by multiple layers over the years and the vaulted ceiling with raw-cut beams that was hidden by a sagging drop ceiling. We also added a large triple-pane window to the eat-in part of the kitchen — this really opened up the view of all the natural beauty outside.
PS: Tell me about these teacups. Are they family heirlooms? AE: I started to collect old Asian teacups when I lived in San Francisco. There was a tiny antique shop near my apartment on Fillmore Street that was chock-full of them. I knew which ones I wanted to buy and in what order, but my husband (who was my boyfriend at the time) quickly caught on and gave them to me as a gift.
PS: As the owner of a spa/apothecary, are there any home or bath products that you're particularly fond of at the moment? AE: My absolute favorite bath and body line is San Francsico-based In Fiore. Their wildcrafted body balms, body oils, etc. are so healing and luxurious, and the scents have become an integral part of my life. On the home front, I love everything by Brooklyn-based Coral and Tusk. Their embroidered textiles featuring woodland animals, whales, narwhals, and other creatures have an organic quirkiness that makes them totally irresistible.
PS: What inspired you to start your apothecary, Supple? AE: My husband is a musician, and I joined him on a world tour just around the time I was contemplating a new career. While in Europe, I was completely taken by all of the apothecaries and their amazing selection of natural skin care — so different from the American pharmacy or health-food store experience. I could barely wait to get home and get started. I became an esthetician and quickly opened my first location in Berkeley, CA, then my second on Cape Cod this past summer.
PS: I'm in awe of your claw-foot tub and double-spouted sink! Which did you find first? AE: I'm so glad because this means I've tricked you! The double-spouted sink was an Internet find — nothing fancy. It was actually from a large home retailer (ssshhh!). The slipper tub was also an Internet purchase. The entire thing came in a crate, and as the salesman said, all you'll need is the water!
POPSUGAR Home: I know you're a recent West Coast transplant. What brought you to Cape Cod? Alison Evans: Between the two of us, my husband and I have lots of family history here, and after years of making more frequent trips back and forth from the San Francisco Bay Area, we decided to find out what it would be like to make Cape Cod our home base. We knew we wanted to be somewhere in New England but could not imagine a suburban life, so we chose this beautiful, alternative, and sometimes challenging place.
Q