6 min readOn summer mornings on Cape Cod, the rhythm of family life starts early. A French press is brewing in the kitchen, a constellation of grandchildren pad down the hall with dogs underfoot, and the harbor beyond the windows is catching the first shimmer of light on the crest of a wave.
The idyllic scene represents is a particular kind of joy that designer Ariel Okin knows well: the moment a house stops being just a structure and morphs into something more. And for one family home off the coast of Massachusetts, that meant a sprawling retreat designed to be deeply personal, wonderfully full, and almost deliriously happy.
“This is a multi-generational house, with grandparents, parents, and children ranging from little to tween,” Okin explains. “We wanted to make sure that the communal spaces had places for everyone to sit and relax, as well as the private ones.” Working alongside Cape Associates, Okin focused her attention on maximizing flow throughout the 10,000-square-foot layout, carefully choreographing movement and gathering to ensure that the home could absorb the beautiful chaos of summer life by the sea without ever feeling crowded.
Setting the scene for lifelong family memories wasn’t a task Okin took lightly, and she began the project where she often does: with a question of why. “To me, there's nothing more beautiful than investing in your home to help facilitate creating special memories with your family and friends," she says. That ethos shaped every decision she made, from the communal floor plan and painted white stairwell (a change Okin says reflects the harbor light throughout the home) to the dining room's custom shell-encrusted fireplace surround, crafted by artisan Christa's South Seashells as a wink to the nautical landscape just beyond the French doors.
The home is undeniably beautiful, a place that, at once, typifies coastal New England style and feels entirely unto itself. Still, it’s not the aesthetics that remain with Okin so much as it is the intention behind the project. “The fact that they all spend time there together, creating really special rituals and family memories together, is my favorite part of this home. That was the ‘why’ for us,” says Okin. A house, yes—but more importantly, a backdrop for summers that become a part of family lore for generations to come.
FAST FACTS
Designer: Ariel Okin
Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
The Space: A six-bedroom, six-and-a-half-bathroom house across 10,000 square feet.
LIVING ROOM
A turret-inspired ceiling brings a light, airy appeal to the communal space.
To help make sense of the massive living room, Okin sectioned off the space into different zones to ensure that each generation had something to do. “We made sure to cater to everyone, whether that meant watching TV on the sectional, playing a game at the table by the windows overlooking the harbor, or sitting in one of the cozy chairs to get lost in a good book on a rainy, foggy Cape Cod day,” she adds.
OFFICE
The moody space is equally geared towards productivity and relaxation.
Designed for the homeowner, this versatile office space makes room for a little bit of everything, from Zoom meetings to reading. “We really wanted it to feel like a handsome study that also reflected the color palette from outside the windows, evoking the views from the harbor and the Cape Cod landscape of the marshes, water, and nature outside,” adds Okin.
DINING ROOM
An enveloping mural and shell mantel pulls in maritime motifs.
There’s no shortage of beauty in the dining room, where an Iksel x Schumacher mural nods to the nearby harbor views and a shell-encrusted mantel by Christa's South Seashells stands proud as a sculptural piece of art. “The dining room is quite possibly my favorite room in the house,” explains Okin, who utilized a bevy of local antiques to help illustrate the design vernacular of Cape Cod. “It was important to me that the furniture we incorporated be deeply rooted in the site itself.”
KITCHEN
A cosmetic faclift breathed new life into the recently renovated cookspace.
While the homeowners had renovated the kitchen the first year they moved in, Okin still put her touch on the space, installing new hardware, lighting, paint, and furniture. “With a ton of kids in this house, we needed every surface to be durable and hardworking,” she adds. “The kitchen stools are fully wipeable, not foregoing function but still keeping a beautiful form.”
BREAKFAST ROOM
The custom table was inspired by furniture you’d see on a ship.
Adjacent to the kitchen lies a charming breakfast nook, with ample seating for summer guests looking for a spot to enjoy their daily bacon and eggs. “The custom upholstery for the chairs is performance and meant to be durable to stand up to sticky fingers, and the vintage chandelier made out of shells and coral evokes the seascape just steps away,” adds Okin.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Soft blue walls echo the sky and surf outside.
“The primary bedroom is for the owners, and we wanted it to feel like a peaceful escape from all the children, dogs, and general noise,” says Okin. While she had originally suggested a grasscloth wallcovering for the space, the wife suggested pivoting to paint, a change Okin is grateful for. “It’s very soft, and evokes the sea and sky from outside. The four-poster bamboo bed and coral chandelier, paired with patinated Swedish furniture and solid upholstery, create a layered, serene atmosphere to escape to at the end of a long day on the boat or at the beach.”
PRIMARY BATH
‘90s beige gave way to a tranquil and relaxing escape.
It may have once conveyed a “Laura Ashley vibe,” according to Okin, but now the renovated bathroom stands serene, with an ethereal blue and white palette that promotes serenity. “I love the café curtains that allow for privacy from the outside without blocking the view,” she adds.
BOYS’ ROOM
Red, white, and blue hues feel right at home in New England.
“We split the kids’ bedrooms by gender in the house, as requested by the owners, so that whichever cousins happened to be staying there could share a room,” explains Okin. The boys' room was heavily inspired by maritime influences, with fish motifs throughout and an appropriately patriotic color scheme.
GIRLS ROOM
Oversized headboards bring a sense of drama.
Another bedroom set aside for grandchildren, this sweet space boasts a textural Cowtan & Tout wallpaper paired with playful bedding from Serena & Lily and Etsy. “Pink and green is always a classic combo, especially when paired with pretty block prints,” says Okin.
BATHROOM
Green helps keep this jack-and-jill bath feeling gender neutral.
“This jack and jill bathroom connects one of the girls' rooms and one of the boys’ rooms, so we chose a gender neutral green with a fun, punchy print (which we also made a matching shower curtain out of!) to help it feel interesting, young, and fresh,” says Okin.
POOL HOUSE
Rich wood ceilings harken back to old coastal dock houses.
Designed to be a flexible entertaining space, the pool house makes the most of harbor views, with a seating arrangement that promotes conversation and connection. “With a bar and seating in here, it’s a great little spot to escape from the sun, towel off from some laps, and enjoy a sundowner,” adds Okin.
POOL & EXTERIOR
Water views abound from every window—and pool deck—of the home.
“The heart of this home is its harborside setting, with views from almost every room,” says Okin. The pool out back opens to an expansive lawn and boathouse, and Okin choose everything with easy al fresco entertaining in mind.
About the Designer
Ariel Okin is the founder of her eponymous New York–based firm, Ariel Okin Interiors, specializing in luxury projects across the country. Known for creating warm, livable, and elegant spaces with a thoughtful approach, Okin employs a deft use of color, an emphasis on clean lines, and a mix of bespoke and antique items. No two projects are alike; Ariel believes every home should reflect its owner. Her first book, The Happy Home: Layered Interiors for Joyful Living, wasvreleased earlier this year.
