2020 – Cottage on the Cape Idea House

Welcome to our Cottage on the Cape, a classic shingle-style home in Eastham, MA on scenic Cape Cod. Designed by award-winning Union Studio Architecture & Community Design, built by the region’s leading custom home builders at Cape Associates, and featuring the design-savvy of Denise Enright Interior Design, this home features a comfortable, company-friendly floor plan; welcoming front porch; an upstairs master with en suite bath; guest bed and bath; sleeping loft for four; a finished basement; generous outdoor entertaining spaces; a maker’s workshop; and an in-law apartment.

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Fine Hardwoods of the TOH 2020 Idea Houses

Get inspired by the beautiful doors, floors, and wood accents that elevated this year’s pair of TOH Idea Houses.

A Hardworking Cottage Roof | 2020 Cottage on the Cape

Watch how GAF’s proprietary LayerLock™ technology and Dura-Grip™ Sealant give each shingle the heightened wind uplift performance it needs to withstand harsh coastal New England weather.

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Everything You Need to know to Stage Your House to Sell

Prepare your place to land the best purchase price. These professional tips can help you DIY your home’s staging.

Healthy Home System for Clean Indoor Air

With Americans spending 30% more time indoors, indoor air quality is more important than ever. Here’s how the Cosmos Healthy Home System is clearing the air at the 2020 Cottage on the Cape.

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Shop the Idea House

Shop products and resources featured in our 2020 Ideas Houses, the Cottage on the Cape and the Farmhouse in Fairfield County.

Tour the Exterior | 2020 Cottage on the Cape

2020 Idea House builder Matt Cole introduces you to some of the great new building products used to create our Cottage on the Cape.

Tour the Interior | 2020 Cottage on the Cape

Join interior designer Denise Enright for a guided tour of our 2020 Cottage on the Cape.

Better Exterior Building Products | 2020 Cottage on the Cape

Here is a closer look at just a few of the innovative products that went into the building of the This Old House 2020 Cottage on the Cape.

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Win an Annie Selke Rug Sweepstakes

Enter for a chance to win the Kenitra Indigo Hand-Knotted Wool Rug, as featured in the 2020 Idea House: The Cottage on the Cape! Note: This contest is no longer active.

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Revealed! See Inside the 2020 Idea House: Cottage on the Cape

This Old House reveals this classic shingle-style home on scenic Cape Cod. Designed by award-winning Union Studio Architecture & Community Design, built by Cape Associates, with the design-savvy of Denise Enright Interior Design, this home features a comfortable floor plan, welcoming front porch, an upstairs master with en suite bath, a sleeping loft, maker’s workshop, and an in-law apartment.

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All About the ADU | 2020 Cottage on the Cape

Here’s a peek inside the smartly-designed rental unit of our TOH 2020 Cottage on the Cape.

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Around the Grounds | 2020 Cottage on the Cape

With plenty of charm and defined spaces, our 2020 Cottage on the Cape is ready for relaxing and entertaining.

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Creative Spaces | 2020 Cottage on the Cape

Here are some of the ways we incorporated usable living space into every nook and cranny of our 2020 Cottage on the Cape.

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Inviting Beds & Baths | 2020 Cottage on the Cape

Here’s a closer look at the beautiful bedrooms and bathrooms of the TOH 2020 Idea House: Cottage on the Cape.

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First Floor Tour | 2020 Cottage on the Cape

Take a tour of the open and inviting first floor of the TOH 2020 Cottage on the Cape.

Better Interior Building Products | 2020 Cottage on the Cape

We’ve packed a whole lot of innovation inside this small, but smartly designed footprint. Come on in.

Letting Natural Light In

Here’s how we let the sun in and flooded our coastal Idea House with an abundance of natural light and fresh air.

Redefining Exterior Wood Trim | 2020 Cottage on the Cape

Read on to find out what makes LIFESPAN® SOLID SELECT wood trim unique, and why we used it at the TOH 2020 Idea House on the Cape

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Pro Lighting Tips | 2020 Idea House: Cottage on the Cape

Discover interior designer Denise Enright's inspiration for her lighting selections throughout the TOH 2020 Idea House: Cottage on the Cape.

Adding Coastal Charm With Cedar Shingles

Learn the benefits and techniques of adding cedar shingles to your home for classic coastal curb appeal in our guide.

Trend Meets Tradition | 2020 Idea House: The Cottage on the Cape

Here’s how a selection of historically inspired colors became the palette for our coastal-chic Idea House.

Furnishing a Colorful Basement Workspace

Annie Selke decked out the basement of our 2020 Idea House: the Cottage on the Cape. Watch the full staging in this time-lapse video!

Race to the Finish: Cottage on the Cape Idea House

We’re coming down to the wire! Here’s what’s happening at the Cottage on the Cape.

Idea House Build: Gutters, Floors, and Doors | Cottage on the Cape (E6)

Working amid COVID-19 restrictions, Matt Cole’s team is still on track at the Cottage on the Cape. Today, gutters are installed, a nickelgap wall goes up in the ADU, and the downstairs hardwood floors go in. Upstairs, the interior doors get installed and trimmed out.