Creative SPIRIT

Every room in this new build feels original and fresh thanks to a team effort by the designer and owner

- KARINE MONIÉ

Perched on a cliff overlooking the beach below, this charming cottage surrounded by nature offers spectacular views and the perfect escape. Located on the quiet Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard, the holiday refuge of a couple with two daughters is in a one-of-a-kind location.

The house (created by architectural designer Travis Ritchie from R+D Studio), which features simple forms and structures in cottage style and scale, is a new take on New England vernacular. The materials – which include cedar, metal and stone – were chosen to withstand the changing weather with humidity, salty air and cold winds, depending on the time of the year. ‘We have a diverse cycle of seasons on this island with lots of exposure to the elements,’ says interior designer Mika Durrell, founder of Able Moraine, based in the area.

From the discreet exterior of the barnstyle house that blends into the natural surroundings, it is hard to imagine that a vivid palette awaits in the interior spaces. ‘The owner had a desire to play with colour and pattern that intrigued me,’ says Mika. ‘She was willing to take risks and had very strong ideas of what she liked. An entire room could be based on a fabric she found somewhere.’