Millstone Manor, named for the more than 60 antique millstones that were scattered across the property, is a spectacular ocean-front residence loaded with history. Built around 1890, the original shingle and stone cottage was extensively renovated and expanded by the architect-owner in the 1930s, and when the new owners bought it in 2020, it was still largely untouched from this period.
After spending some time in the house, the new owners quickly realized the potential to turn the dark and inward-looking house and overgrown property into a unique extended family compound. The original brief for a new screened-in porch and some cosmetic changes, was expanded to include a complete rebuild of the existing house and construction of a new Pool House and Carriage House Apartment to complement the other existing outbuildings and cottages on the property.
A new entry wing was built where the original cottage stood, with much of the original wood beams, posts and paneling reused throughout the house. This helped to establish a clear entry sequence into the house, eliminating the quaint but confusing labyrinth of tight spaces and low ceilings.
Many of the unique features of the house have been retained, including stained-glass interior panels, decorative windows and the tight and winding staircase up to the nautical-themed tower lookout with its own ship’s wheel!
Windows and doors were enlarged and walls were opened up to bring light into every corner of the house, and to capitalize on the ever-changing scenes over the Atlantic. High-efficiency heat-pump and ventilation systems were introduced and the entire house was skinned with rigid insulation to help create a much-improved thermal envelope.
