Step into this charming Martha's Vineyard beach house: Flip Flop Beach Cottage

Step into this charming Martha’s Vineyard beach house: Flip Flop Beach Cottage

Gravel driveway with wooden gate, blue-shuttered shed, and lush coastal plantings at a Massachusetts beach house

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This charming beach house and guest cottage were completely renovated by Patrick Ahearn Architect and are situated in Aquinnah, a town on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. Known as “Flip Flop Beach Cottage,” this is the architect’s personal retreat, a passion project that he and his wife purchased and transformed into a multigenerational gathering place for family and friends.

The 2.8-acre property had long held two modest beach shacks set among its dunes. A restoration and renovation turned the larger of the shacks into a main house, while the smaller became the guest quarters. The joint goals were to maintain the buildings’ original character, update them with the comforts of contemporary living, and preserve the dunes.

ACCOLADES: Winner of the BRICC Awards — Excellence in Remodeling a Single-Family Home Under $250,000 (Gold); This restoration project was featured on Beach Cottage Chronicles on Magnolia Network and is also available for streaming on HBO Max.

DESIGN DETAILS

ARCHITECT Patrick Ahearn Architect
INTERIOR STYLING Marsha Ahearn (homeowner)
BUILDER Colonial Reproductions, Inc.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Donaroma’s Nursery and Landscape Services

Cedar shingle beach cottage with white pergola, blue shutters, and flower-filled window boxes

Both structures were gutted to their shells and rebuilt as quintessential New England coastal cottages, complete with new roofs, siding, doors, cedar shingles, mullion windows, and horizontal V-groove, beadboard, and wainscoted interior walls. The insulation, wiring, plumbing, and appliances were also updated. Internally, the interiors were redesigned to blend seamlessly with the pristine natural setting, fostering a harmonious connection between the buildings and their waterfront surroundings.

White pergola and cedar shingle cottages connected by gravel driveway with cottage gardens

Working within strict Conservation Commission guidelines, including a 2,000-square-foot footprint restriction and a requirement for native-only landscaping with no irrigation, the team added a new deck, hot tub, enlarged bedroom, and bathroom to the main house, a pergola on the guest cottage, and two-story glass windows and skylights to frame the spectacular ocean views.

View through white pergola toward cedar shingle cottage with blue shutters and flower-filled window boxes

The shutters and doors are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Essex Green HC-188, with trim in Benjamin Moore’s Abalone 2108-60, both of which are signature colors of the firm. Interiors were styled by Marsha Ahearn herself, with wicker, florals, natural fibers, and distressed furnishings throughout.

Cedar shingle beach cottage with blue shutters and window boxes framed by white pergola columns

The landscaping, by Donaroma’s Nursery and Landscape Services, was planted entirely with native coastal species.

Green Land Rover with surfboard parked in front of cedar shingle cottage with blue shutters

The main house features expansive glass walls that blur the boundary between indoor and outdoor living.

Cedar shingle beach cottage with blue shutters, stone chimney, and paddleboards on gravel drive

What We Love About This House

What makes this renovation so special is that it belongs to the architect himself, and you can feel it in every detail. Rather than showcasing grand gestures, the owners stripped things back to the essentials of a good beach life: bifolding doors that blur the indoor-outdoor boundary, a river rock fireplace gathered from the shore, and the most charming interiors by the homeowner herself. The stacked-stone chimney, the rolling library ladder, the mermaid weathervane above the kitchen shelves, this is a home built around creating lasting memories with family and friends.

Tell Us…

What is your favorite space in this Martha’s Vineyard beach house? We would love to hear your thoughts in the Comments below!

Note: Be sure to check out a couple of other amazing home tours that we have highlighted here on One Kindesign in the state of Massachusetts: House tour: light and airy beach house on beautiful Martha’s Vineyard and This inviting seaside cottage in Massachusetts exudes charm and ambiance.

Stone pathway leading to blue front door of cedar shingle beach cottage surrounded by lush plantings

Couple standing at blue front door of cedar shingle beach cottage with barn pendant light

The Entryway

Cottage entryway with blue Dutch door, arched mirror, wicker chair, and fishing rods

The Living Room

Bright living room with cathedral ceiling, wicker chairs, floral pillows, and ocean views through French doors

The main cottage now boasts three bedrooms, including a lofted space accessed by a ship’s ladder. The central gathering area features a vaulted ceiling and a fireplace crafted from beach stones sourced from the property’s own shoreline.

Living room with stacked river rock fireplace, wicker chairs, floral cushions, and ocean views

Open-plan living area with loft above, library ladder, white kitchen, and blue front door

Living room with rolling library ladder to loft, white shiplap walls, floral sofa, and blue front door

The Loft Bedroom

Cozy loft bedroom with sloped ceiling, ticking stripe bedding, floral pillows, and skylight

Loft bedroom with skylights, ticking stripe bedding, exposed beams, and vintage brass telescope

The Kitchen

Cottage kitchen corner with open white shelving, wood countertops, wicker baskets, and bar setup

Cottage kitchen with open shelving, wood countertops, wooden mermaid wall art, and vintage collectibles

Alfresco Dining

Covered porch dining area with round wood table, wicker chairs, black lantern pendant, and ocean views

Screened porch dining area with round pedestal table, wicker chairs, lantern pendant, and fish plate wall display

Sunroom dining area with vaulted ceiling, round wood table, wicker chairs, black lantern pendant, and sliding glass doors to deck

Beach cottage bedroom detail with vintage shutter headboard, floral pillow, blue glass lamp, and white dresser

Bright cottage bedroom with vintage shutter headboard, floral pillows, striped rug, and sliding glass door

Cottage bathroom with octagonal wood mirror, vessel sink, dark countertop, and glass globe vanity lights

Bright cottage bedroom with vaulted ceiling, carved wood headboard, turquoise dresser, and seagrass rug

Coastal bedroom with carved wood headboard, embroidered blue pillow, rope lamp, and distressed blue chair

Cottage bathroom with wood-framed mirror, farmhouse sink on open vanity, cage sconce, and framed botanical art

The Oceanfront Deck

Oceanfront deck with wood picnic table, hydrangea centerpiece, green glassware, and river rock chimney

Beach house deck with surfboard, paddle, and Dogfish Bar and Grille outdoor bar setup

Cedar shingle beach house rear facade with stone chimney, skylights, open deck, and dune plantings at dusk

Sandy dune path leading to cedar shingle beach house with stone chimney and modern glass addition

White Adirondack chairs and kayaks on sandy beach with cedar shingle cottage in background

The Guest Cottage

Cedar shingle guest cottage with white pergola, blue shutters, colorful window boxes, and gravel driveway

The smaller cottage provides a cozy retreat for guests, equipped with all the comforts of home while celebrating the beauty of the outdoors with a pergola-covered porch.

Cottage facade with white pergola, blue shutters, flower-filled window boxes, and white deck railing

Close-up of blue window shutter and overflowing flower box on cedar shingle cottage exterior

The Guest Cottage Kitchen

Cottage kitchen with white island, wood countertops, rush bar stools, open shelving, and breakfast nook

Cottage kitchen with white cabinets, wood countertops, open shelving, exposed beams, and bar island

Cottage breakfast nook with antique gate-leg table, linen banquette, rope drum pendant, and black-and-white architectural print

The Guest Cottage Living Room

Guest cottage living room with slipcovered sofa, seagrass ottomans, bamboo chairs, and vintage wood dresser

The Guest Cottage Bedroom

Cottage bedroom with wood four-poster bed, red plaid bedding, sailboat prints, and rope-knot nightstand lamps

Cottage bedroom detail with rope-knot lamp, carved nightstand, sailboat print, and red plaid bedding

The Guest Cottage Bathroom

Cottage bathroom with beadboard walls, black pendant light, round mirror, farmhouse sink, and whimsical local art

Cottage bathroom vanity with reclaimed wood dresser base, round black mirror, and barn sconce light

Sandy dune path through beach grass leading to open ocean on a clear summer day in Massachusetts

Cedar shingle beach cottage glowing at dusk with stone chimney, skylights, and open oceanfront deck

PHOTOGRAPHER Greg Premru