Perched along Gloucester’s Back Shore, Hubbell Cottage looks to the Atlantic and Twin Lights for both its setting and its design inspiration. Built in 1905, the home was thoughtfully renewed to preserve its coastal character while strengthening its connection to the water and adapting it for year-round comfort.

Expanding the main living area allowed for a bowed window that subtly reaches toward the ocean, creating a composed frame of the horizon. A new fireplace and tailored built-ins form an architectural anchor, with materials and detailing chosen to echo the cottage’s historic rhythm. Circulation and sightlines were reworked to support the rituals of summer living—gathering, cooking, returning from the water—while remaining equally suited to quiet off-season days.

Upstairs, the reimagined primary suite spans the front of the home, positioned to capture the full arc of the coastline. Additional guest rooms and baths continue a consistent language of understated, coastal classicism.

The result is a refined yet relaxed retreat—rooted in tradition, shaped by light and views, and ready for another century by the sea.

Collaborators: Ascent Building Solutions, Marina Porl Photography