Home tour: A brutalist family home in Marblehead, Massachusetts with unobstructed views of the bay

Written by: Celine Dabao | Photography by: Jared Kuzia | Original Article

Nestled on the edge of a coastal New England Town, this family home in Massachusetts boasts unobstructed bay views. Sashya Thind, the interior designer behind the space, describes her style as “minimal, refined and timeless.” For this project, she wanted to immerse the home in its natural surroundings, grounding the dynamism of the outdoors in a seamless flow with the interiors. 

Leading up the driveway to the home, one is immediately captivated by the natural light filling the space. Exhibiting shades of charcoal grey in contrast with lush greenery, the home immediately establishes itself as a relaxing getaway from the bustling city. 

From the moment one enters the living room, they are immersed in “the interplay between, glass, concrete, wood and leather” that Thind explores in the space. The family wanted a home where they could easily lounge while allowing for large gatherings with relatives and friends. 

As such, Thind and her team used “materials which are not precious and were selected to stand the test of time.” The goal of the space was to allow each natural material to shine through, breathing life into textures like concrete. Thind balanced this sturdy material with various textures in the living room, from the plush Ligne Roset sofas to the ceilings clad in Douglas fir. 

A key fixture in the living room is the fireplace, which is open on either side to divide the room in half. This allows the family to use the expansive space in different ways. 

On the other side of the room, the family had the Extrasoft Sofa from Living Divani. Its burnt sienna shade adds a pop of colour to the space while the family gathers for a movie. The nearby lamp also ensures that they can cosy up with a book on a summer night, listening to the distinctive sounds of nature. 

Nearby is the kitchen area, which pairs elegant dark cabinetry with a dynamic stone backdrop. In the middle of the space is the kitchen island, around which family and friends can gather while delicious meals are being prepared. This open layout was essential for turning the home into an entertaining space while retaining elements of brutalism throughout the home. 

The outdoor patio features Rope Chairs from Sossego, allowing the family and guests to watch yachts and sailboats passing over Massachusetts Bay. These chairs echo the clean lines and symmetry echoing through the home, adding further cohesiveness between the interior and the exterior. 

Thind also pushes the boundaries of materiality in the bathrooms, each one spotlighting a different material. The first bathroom exhibits shades of greys and blues that flow into the water outside, complemented by a wooden table and tray by the bathtub. 

The other bathrooms alternate between exploring wood and concrete, enhancing the home’s design story by highlighting the unique properties of each material. 

The final bathroom, in contrast, is an explosion of colours and textures. One is immediately intrigued by the graphic wallpaper, which features glimpses of torn posters. This evokes images of city life and adds unexpected boldness to the space. Paired with a bright red faucet and concrete sink, the bathroom is surely a talking point for guests, immersing them in the homeowners’ unique taste. 

The bedrooms were a unique challenge for Sashya Thind, as they had to stay grounded in brutalist elements while being cosy spaces to unwind after a long day of entertaining. “The rooms needed a sense of warmth,” shared Thind, “so we introduced wool, linen and soft textiles.” 

One bedroom features wooden panelling that adds a touch of Japanese-inspired design to the space, paired with soothing tones of cream, teal, and grey in different textures. The room has a shelf built into the wall, featuring the homeowners’ unique selection of books along with trinkets from various travels. 

The children’s bedrooms are still anchored by the same colour scheme but with pops of the children’s personalities. Whether it be through unique wallpaper that echoes the undulating waves outside or a four-poster bed framing a quirky green collage, Thind thoughtfully integrated the homeowners’ traits in ways that will reflect their growth as time goes on.