Anchored in Charm

A New York City couple's dream vacation cottage home in Provincetown gets a vibrant, custom refresh, blending history with bold color and pattern play.

- WRITTEN BY EMMA DORSEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY NAT REA

IF WALLS COULD TALK. From a timeworn 'Long Point Floater' to a dreamy Provincetown retreat. Every corner tells a story.

At the tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown offers a rare mix of quiet beauty, seafaring history, and artistic soul. For one New York City couple who vacationed there often, the dream of owning a home in this storied village finally came true with the purchase of a petite, timeworn cottage—possibly one of the area's iconic “Long Point Floaters,” historic homes relocated across the harbor from Long Point in the 1800s.

They turned to Emily Pinney of Pinney Designs to help reimagine the home. The couple wanted to preserve its history but also make it feel lively, tailored, and personal. “It was a total gut renovation,” Emily says, “but we were careful to keep what we could—like the original hardwood floors and working fireplaces, for example.”

SUNNY VIEWS. A vaulted ceiling and high windows flood the dining area with Cape Cod sunlight, while original hardwood floors and a working fireplace anchor the space in history. Custom furnishings keep the atmosphere light, functional, and refined.