by Maggie Daniel Caldwell The owners of one Aptos vacation getaway have always loved its proximity to the beach - stepping out the front door to sink their feet in the sand and enjoying brilliant sunsets from the living room. But years of salt and sea air had taken their toll on the home, which was in need of some serious maintenance. “We wanted to keep the charm and character of the ‘50’s contemporary style, but make it more fun and modernized,” says owner Bill Stonhaus. They set out to undertake a complete beach house makeover, removing 2 walls, completely remaking the kitchen to open it up to the living room, creating one large room looking out to the sea. They also wanted to freshen up the bedrooms and bathrooms as well as upgrade all the wiring, plumbing, windows, and finishes. The result is an elegant collaboration between Bill and Karen Stonhaus and the design-build team of Talmadge Construction. The stunning new kitchen is the focal point of the great room, where Bill and Karen enjoy the ocean view. Solid white oak cabinets were fashioned with a technique to give them a contemporary straight grain. A beach-glass inspired backsplash sets off richly colored honed granite countertops. Lighting, designed and made locally, captures the movement of the sea. The oversized butcher-block topped island provides an excellent place for family and friends to gather to prepare meals. Beach cottage charm is evident in the vertical wood plank interior siding on the staircase and second story walls; each board was laid individually to create a seemingly random pattern of wide and narrow panels. A private oasis out back adds some fun - complete with hot tub, custom copper fountain, and granite-topped bar featuring a sink, mini-fridge, wine storage, and icemaker. Building green Green building techniques were taken into account every step of the way, beginning with enhancements designed to increase the home’s energy efficiency. The house was fully insulated and the defunct electric radiant heating system replaced. A new, tankless water heater provides plenty of hot water instantly as needed - plus, it saves money for the owners by eliminating standby heat loss when they are not in residence. Custom crafted wooden windows replaced drafty aluminum originals. The extensive use of natural stone, chosen with care to echo all the shades of the sea and the sand is evident both inside and out. An antique travertine stone floor replaced worn blue carpeting. The fireplace sports an Old Spruce Mountain stone hearth replacing its original brick. The same stone was used outdoors as a patio wall, and as an accent on an exterior wall. Building relationships The owners of this home looked forward to being very involved in the design process, working closely as a team with architect Danielle Grenier for what became a nine-month collaboration. “They were really fun people,” recalls Danielle. “There were a lot of decisions to make and they are very visual people, so 3-D drawings were extremely helpful. We picked out nearly everything before construction started, right down to the doorknobs.” Building on their relationship, Danielle let the Stonhaus’ ideas and personality shine through in every detail. “When you can work with someone, narrate your thoughts and visions, and have it come out better than expected - that’s what Danielle, Jeff and their team is just great at,” explains Bill. “There’s not a week that goes by when Karen and I don’t talk about how much we absolutely love it.”
