To address the FEMA issues, Longfellow used a raised pier
and beam foundation. Concrete piers were set deep, with the
piers elevating the home’s foundation about 18 inches above
the ground. Given the home’s exposure to the ocean, they used
materials made to tolerate or repel the corrosive effects of saltwater,
salt air, strong winds, UV rays and moisture. Double-coated,
pre-stained shingles provide UV protection, plus they are water
repellant and mildew resistant. Additionally, the builders used
vinyl windows and composite decking. Longfellow also used a new
structural “zip” wall panel system, providing a built-in energyefficient
AT HOME ON CAPE COD • SPRING/SUMMER 2019 37
barrier to keep moisture out.
With three levels, Foster says the new 3,241-square-foot
house provides enough room for him and his wife, plus his two
daughters and their families to all stay at the house simultaneously.
It has four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms.
The first thing you notice when looking at the house is its
many balconies—five in all, each with wire cable railings that give
them a nautical feel. The main deck off the home’s middle level is
right outside the kitchen and living area. It looks out to provide
clear views of the beach and Vineyard Sound. A spiral staircase
winds from the front yard up to the main deck. The attractive
staircase was kind of a happy accident. It wasn’t in the original
plans, but local officials required Foster to have stairs leading from
the deck down to the yard.
“It really fits in very well with the design,” says Foster.
From the main deck, you can enter the house through large
sliding doors that lead into the living room and kitchen. On warm
days, the sliders stay open to invite a refreshing breeze and the
smell of salt air into the house.
The outdoor elements don’t end there. To decorate the interior,
Foster chose a palette of Cape colors, with pastel blues, yellows
and sea-mist greens. Coffered ceilings in the kitchen and living
area have their inserts painted blue. “It’s like bringing the sky
inside the house,” says Foster.
(Left) One of the bathrooms features his and her sinks above the countertop. (Right) Interior sliding doors feature gleaming silver hardware.