ALL IN THE Family

A tradition of enjoying each other's company falls to the next generation, in a comfortable new house with good bones and a kind heart.

- JANICE RANDALL ROHLF

Nestled on an idyllic site with sweeping views of the ocean and two iconic lighthouses, this Shingle-Style retreat on Nantucket is within a stone's throw of three other houses, each belonging to people dear to the client's heart-her parents, her brother, and her sister. Spatially, the residences are connected by footpaths; emotionally, they are tied together by a deep family bond that grows stronger with each generation.

"Our appreciation for Nantucket comes from my parents," says the homeowner. "Nothing is taken for granted." Calling the spot "a quiet and beautiful slice of heaven," she had an overriding concern when selecting who would design and build a year-round second home for her, her husband, their two young daughters, and a pair of dogs: "We wanted a special team to understand that the land is the gift," she says, grateful that her parents snapped up a few acres in the 1980s and added on to the parcel a bit at a time.

Shope, Reno, Wharton architect Michael McClung understood this sentimental attachment, and he clicked right away with the homeowners. So did the rest of a group that came to be referred to as the "dream team": KVC Builders' Brian Vona (also instrumental in assembling the team), Michael Coutu of Sudbury Design Group, and interior designer Corinne Acampora of Acampora Interiors. The foursome worked seamlessly together to deliver the simple but graceful island home the homeowners envisioned, one whose exterior design was inspired by the couple's love of gambrel rooflines, and whose open floor plan and generous rooms invite gatherings of family and friends.