Tour this stunning shingle style beach house on the New Hampshire seacoast

Aerial view of the home's entry side, with arched garage doors, gravel drive, and ocean beyond

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TMS Architects, in collaboration with Tucker Builders, designed this classic shingle-style beach house on a narrow peninsula in Seacoast, New Hampshire. Set against the rugged coastline, this New Hampshire beach house blends timeless craftsmanship with coastal sophistication. From the turreted porch and arched mahogany doors to the sweeping staircase and double islands in the light-filled kitchen, every detail was thoughtfully designed and expertly built.

Stonework, bracketed eaves, and handcrafted millwork pay homage to New England architectural traditions while delivering modern comfort and elegance. This oceanfront home captures the spirit of classic coastal living—graceful, enduring, and deeply personal.

Design Details

ARCHITECT TMS Architects
BUILDER Tucker Builders
PHOTOGRAPHER Rob Karosis Photography

Front of the home with arched wood garage doors, round windows, and a stone base

New Hampshire Beach House Details: Size, Bedrooms, and Features

4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
First Floor: 2,840 square feet
Second Floor: 1,469 square feet
Designed to take full advantage of marsh and ocean views
Feel of casual elegance
Prep sink within kitchen island and farmhouse sink for main kitchen use
Quartz countertops
Built-in storage and bookcases, with an emphasis on millwork

Arched wood garage doors set in a fieldstone wall with white corbels and planters

Designing a Shingle Style Beach House on the New Hampshire Seacoast

The homeowners’ maritime background set the design process in motion. The property’s unique location provided an ideal setting for the beach house, with every window framing panoramic views of the ocean and marsh.

Upward view of shingled tower with tall windows, oval windows, and white trim

Building on the Coast: Setbacks, Flood Rules, and Height Limits

For the project team, those incredible views came at a high price. Wetland and tidal-buffer setbacks on three sides left little room to build. Flood regulations required the main floor to be elevated, while coastal zoning ordinances imposed a low maximum building height.

Shingled gable with green shutters, white brackets, and detailed trim

The restrictive lot called for a compact home. A stair tower and large, curved bay windows soften the exterior and break up the massing while staying within setback and height restrictions.

Side view of the shingled home with green shutters and a stone base with arched windows

Making Use of Sloped Ceilings With Built-In Storage

The upper floor is tucked beneath the roofline. Careful roof design was essential to preserve a classic New England shingle-style exterior without sacrificing livable space. Custom built-ins and alcoves maximize the sloped ceiling, provide access to the windows, and add storage.

Corner view of the shingled house with a rounded stone bay and pine trees in the foreground

Ocean and Marsh Views Shape the Layout

Smaller, more intimate spaces face the marsh’s warm hues, while the layout opens toward the ocean to frame the horizon. A double-height ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean create a striking contrast with the intimate marsh-facing rooms.

Entry foyer with curved staircase, arched wood door, and bronze sculpture

Mahogany Details Inside and Out

Sweeping mahogany accents offer a fresh take on the maritime theme. Used consistently inside and out, mahogany creates continuity between spaces.

Curved staircase with wood newel posts and white balusters beside the arched front door

Curved Staircase and Entry Foyer

The sweeping staircase has dark wood handrails, ball-topped newel posts, and white balusters. An oval window illuminates the landing.

Open staircase with dark wood handrail, white balusters, and tall windows

Close view of wood newel posts with ball finials and white turned balusters

What We Love About This Home

The mahogany used inside and out, from the arched doors to the sweeping staircase, ties the home to the owners’ maritime background. We also admire how the design makes the most of a tight lot, using a stair tower and curved bay windows to soften the shape while the double-height living room opens toward the ocean. In the kitchen, the dusty blue island and gold lantern pendants add color that feels fresh without competing with the water views.

Tell Us: Which detail in this shingle style beach house would you most like to bring into your own home? Let us know in the comments below!

Note: Have a look at a couple of other amazing home tours that we have highlighted here on One Kindesign in the state of New Hampshire: A storybook New England cottage with coastal charm in New Hampshire and A magnificent New Hampshire home nestled in the serene Rye countryside.

Looking up a stairwell with wood handrails, white balusters, and exposed beams

Staircase landing with wood handrail, white balusters, and oval window

Living Room With a Coffered Ceiling and Fireplace

The two-story living room has a coffered wood ceiling and sliding doors that face the sea. Arched built-ins sit beside the fireplace, and a nearby sitting nook features a plush green sofa and a grouping of framed botanical prints.

Two-story living room with coffered wood ceiling, fireplace, and sliding doors facing the sea

Living room with sunset painting above the fireplace and arched built-in shelf

Arched built-in niche with blue glass vases beside the fireplace

Arched alcove with a statue and side table beside the fireplace and sunset painting

Two arched doorways leading to a sitting nook with framed botanicals and a statue niche

Sitting nook with green velvet sofa, pink tufted ottoman, and framed pressed botanicals

Dining Area and Breakfast Nook With Ocean Views

A round dining table sits under a beaded chandelier in a curved window bay facing the ocean. A breakfast nook nearby looks toward the harbor.

Open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area with ocean views and counter stools

Dining area in a curved window bay, seen from the kitchen, with ocean views

Round dining table beneath a beaded chandelier, with curved windows overlooking the ocean

Round dining table and leather chairs under a beaded chandelier before ocean-facing windows

Breakfast nook with a round wood table, upholstered chairs, and a harbor view

Blue Double-Island Kitchen and Wet Bar

A dusty blue island sits beside a marble-topped seating island under gold lantern pendants. The wet bar has brass faucets, a mirrored backsplash, and a wine fridge.

Kitchen with blue island, marble-topped seating island, and gold lantern pendants

Kitchen island in dusty blue with gold lantern pendants and glass-front cabinets

White kitchen with farmhouse sink, patterned tile backsplash, and gold pendant lights

Kitchen corner with blue-and-white ginger jars, open corner shelves, and green-trimmed Roman shade

Kitchen corner with open glass cabinet showing blue-and-white dishes and a light blue backsplash

Kitchen corner with closed glass-front cabinet, green-trimmed Roman shades, and blue-and-white jars

Wet bar with glass-front cabinets, mirrored backsplash, brass faucets, and wine fridge

Covered Porch, Pergola, and Stone Entry Steps

A white pergola covers the porch above a stone wall with three arched green doors. Curved granite steps lead up beside the wall.

Porch with white wicker furniture and pergola overlooking the ocean

Covered porch with white pergola and wood-framed doors above a stone wall with three arched green doors

Curved granite staircase beside a stone wall and white pergola

Stone entry steps with lantern and pergola-covered porch above arched green doors

Curved stone-base bay and rounded second-floor balcony with white railing

Side view of the shingled home with round balcony, stone foundation, and arched green doors

Shingle-style coastal home with stone base, curved bay windows, and white pergola on a green lawn

Bedrooms, Baths, and Upstairs Details

A barrel-vaulted ceiling with curved wood beams and a gold chandelier tops the stair landing. The owner’s bedroom has a crystal flower chandelier and a curved window bay facing the ocean, and the owner’s bathroom has a clawfoot tub with a marsh view.

Stair landing under a barrel-vaulted ceiling with curved wood beams and a gold chandelier