This 1870s shingle-style beach house in Rockport gets a stunning renovation

By One Kindesign | Published on September 16, 2026

Filed Under: Architecture

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Shingle-style beachfront home with stone foundation and turret entry

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Henley Design reimagined this incredibly stunning 1870s shingle-style summer house situated in Rockport, a seaside town in Essex County, Massachusetts. This beachfront vacation home drew inspiration from Skywalker Ranch in California: each bedroom is designed as a distinct space, tied together by whimsical details and layered patterns.

Subtle coastal vibes can be found throughout the interiors of this retreat with layers of pattern, patina, and personality. Continue below to see the rest of this beautifully inspiring home tour…

Entry Staircase Sets A Colorful Tone

Entryway staircase with green trim and woven stair runner

What We Love About This Home

We love how each bedroom in this Rockport house tells a story, from the bird-print guest room to the turret writer’s nook, each one marked by a hand-cast brass placard. The dining room’s hand-painted botanical millwork turns a dated built-in into a piece of art, while layers of pattern and color keep the whole house feeling collected. Most of all, we love how the ocean stays part of every room, framed by arched windows and sheer curtains that never let the view compete for attention.

Tell Us: Would this be your idea of the perfect summer retreat? Let us know why or why not in the Comments below!

Note: Be sure to check out a couple of other amazing home tours that we have featured here on One Kindesign in the state of Massachusetts: A Martha’s Vineyard colonial revival house with a stunning nautical twist and Dream House Tour: A New England shingle style home on Buzzards Bay.

Staircase landing with nautical gallery wall and windsor bench

Green staircase detail with dried hydrangea arrangement

Hallway view into blue wallpapered powder room

ABOVE: In the entry, a striped border frames the original millwork, setting the tone for the pattern-rich home beyond.

Powder room with blue wave-print wallpaper and wood mirror

Living Room Frames Ocean Views In Bold Pattern

Sunroom with green sectional sofa and botanical print wallpaper

ABOVE: A vintage Milo Baughman sectional, reupholstered in a playful two-tone mix, anchors the turreted living room and frames sweeping ocean views. The designer embraced the room’s quirky angles with a climbing patterned wallpaper.

Sitting area with patterned wallpaper and woven jute rug

Game Nook Invites Family Gatherings

Banquette dining nook with botanical wallpaper and whale photograph

ABOVE: A custom game nook built by a local millwork shop sits beneath a whale tail photograph—designed for a family that takes their game nights seriously.

Breakfast nook with leaf-print wallpaper and rust floral armchair

Hand-Painted Botanical Millwork Elevates Dining Room

Reading corner with striped chair and blue kilim rug

Hand-painted botanical cabinet detail with green taper candles

ABOVE: The designer commissioned Boston artist Pauline Curtiss to paint local flora directly onto the dining room millwork, bringing the outdoors in and giving new life to the 1990s built-ins.

Open Kitchen Frames Sweeping Ocean Views

Open kitchen with ocean-view windows and plaid dining chairs

Window seat nook with blue storage bench and kilim rug

Reading corner with striped chair and blue kilim rug

Owner’s Bedroom Offers a Calming Retreat

Primary bedroom with grasscloth walls and floral bed linens

Dresser vignette with tiled mirror and dahlia bouquet

Ocean-view sitting room with rust armchairs and sheer drapery

ABOVE: Wrapped in sandy grasscloth woven with blue-green threads, reminiscent of sea fog, the owner’s bedroom brings a calm counterpoint to the home’s bolder spaces. Sheer drapery softens the light and keeps focus on the horizon.

Primary bedroom sitting area with rust armchairs and sheer curtains

Sitting area detail with dahlia arrangement and floor lamp

Guest Bedroom with Playful Wallpaper

Hallway view into bird-print wallpapered guest bedroom

Guest bedroom with bird-print wallpaper and arched ocean-view window

ABOVE: Each bedroom is marked by a custom brass placard—a fish, sun, rabbit, flower, or book—guiding guests to their own colorful spaces.

Guest bedroom nightstand detail with bird-print wallpaper

Guest bedroom with red-trimmed windows and navy quilted bedding

Turret Writer’s Room is Cozy Ocean-View Workspace

Corner office nook with bay windows overlooking the ocean

Hallway view into ocean-view office with room number plaque

ABOVE: The Writer’s Room, tucked into the turret, pairs zigzag wallpaper borders with deep blue trim for a cozy workspace overlooking the sea.

Daybed nook with striped bedding and mixed throw pillows

Guest Bedrooms with Bold Wallpaper And Personality

Guest bedroom with clover print wallpaper and blue quilt

Nightstand detail with clover wallpaper and striped bolster pillow

Painted dresser with clover wallpaper and rattan sunburst mirror

Twin bedroom under eaves with arched window and leaf wallpaper

Twin bed detail with leaf wallpaper and floral throw pillow

Still life of dahlias and astilbe on patterned tray table

Detail of striped and floral throw pillows on bed

Distressed green dresser beneath leaf-print wallpaper

Painted vintage dresser with round dining table and rattan chairs

Sitting room with green sofa and turquoise arched door

ABOVE: The garden-level guest suite feels instantly welcoming with an informal game table, lounge, and arched doors opening to a shady perch by the water. Thrifted finds and bold color make it fun and unfussy.