Captain’s Chair

The owner of this Martha’s Vineyard weekend cottage wanted the interior to feel like a boat, so architect Doug Breer chose built-ins and floor-to-ceiling clear grain Douglas fir to execute the look. A window seat with a flip-up top provides a convenient spot to take off and store dusty shoes, which is essential to maintain the oil-rubbed wood floors. “We wanted the bench to be a continuation of the walls,” says Breer. Because flourishes were used sparingly in the house, the curved armrest adds more than the usual touch of drama to the entry. Square-edge, 1×6 tongue-and-groove boards run horizontally across the seat and walls. “We didn’t want the boards to line up perfectly,” adds Breer. The random alignment and variegated grain add interest to the homogenous fir cladding. Builder: John Early Contractor & Builder, West Tisbury, Mass.; Architect: Doug Breer, Stephen Blatt Architects, Portland, Maine; Photographer: Brian Vanden Brink.