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Turning a dated Cape Cod Home into the ultimate summer getaway-complete with a classic kitchen.

- BY KATHERINE GUSTAFSON

DESIGNER LIZ CAAN of Liz Caan & Co. in Newton, Massachusetts, knew it would be a gut job when she saw the house perched on a bluff in New Seabury on Cape Cod. Her clients wanted to turn a dated Shingle-style structure into a family summer home with memorable style and abundant guest accommodations.

Creating a comfortable and welcoming abode for lazy summer days would require an overhaul and a lot of creative design thinking. The sunken living room and faux marble columns were straight from another era. And the tropical colors were straight out of Florida.

“We wanted the new design to maximize the views and make it comfortable for them to have friends over with kids and, you know, bare feet and slamming screen doors and things like that,” says Caan.