Inside Patrick Ahern’s New England-Inspired Martha’s Vineyard Home
Overview
Set on Martha’s Vineyard overlooking the Great Pond, the ocean, and a 210-acre farm, this coastal home by architect Patrick Ahearn brings together traditional New England architecture and a distinctly island-focused approach to living. This luxury home was designed around a series of courtyards, porches, gardens, and framed views. From its gambrel form and carriage house to its timber-lined interiors and extensive outdoor spaces, every detail embodies Ahearn’s interest in creating homes connected to their landscape and setting.
Brand
Patrick Ahearn Architect
Type
Luxury Home
Location
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Services
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Presented by
Patrick Ahearn
The Arrival
The approach unfolds through an allée of trees, low stone walls, an orchard, and illuminated granite pylons before reaching the motor court. Ahearn describes the entrance as a sequence of portals that gradually reveal the property. “The agrarian nature of the site is really important in that we are paying homage to the old farm buildings that were on this property at one time many years ago” he explains.
A Cottage-Scale Composition
The main house has an H-shaped plan with two projecting wings that create intimate outdoor spaces. Its gambrel form reaches 26 feet while maintaining a low-scale appearance. “Sometimes the spaces between the buildings become more important than the buildings themselves” says Ahearn, whose design brings the architecture, landscape, and hardscape together around the pace of island living.
A Carriage House for Classic Cars
Classic cars are central to Ahearn’s work and personal interests, and the carriage house gives the collection its own setting. Spar-varnished beadboard, brick flooring, arched carriage doors, and climate control recreate the character of a traditional carriage house. “That whole sequence is part of experience of getting and anticipating your classic car before you get into it” Ahearn says.
Poolside Living
At the rear, a long pool terrace stretches toward the Great Pond and ocean views. A cabana adds a stone fireplace, bar, changing area, and blue stone flooring, while fold-away doors allow it to open fully to the outdoors. Nautical details and a blue color palette highlight the coastal setting. “It’s really celebrating the best of luxury living” says Ahearn.
Porches Framed Around the View
A series of porches, including a screened porch and curved terrace, wraps around the rear of the house. French doors open the interiors toward the wetlands, Great Pond, dunes, and ocean, while blue stone continues across the exterior. Ahearn describes this quieter side of the property as offering “a wonderful sense of peace and relaxation and tranquility.”
Classic New England Interiors
Inside, Ahearn continues the idea of portals, creating transitions between rooms while keeping the interiors open and connected. Antique timber beams, beadboard ceilings, paneled walls, fieldstone, and antique flooring add character. There is no drywall or plaster. “It’s 100% millwork” Ahearn explains, giving the newly built home the vibe of a classic New England home.
A Living Room with New England Character
The living room brings together fieldstone, antique timbers, beaded board, and paneled walls, with French doors opening to the porch and views beyond.
A nearby library continues the material palette with antique wood paneling, a stone fireplace, bar, and television. “This is a room that Ralph Lauren could stay in” Ahearn says.
A Kitchen Designed for Gathering
The kitchen and breakfast area feature beadboard walls, a substantial central island, French doors, and a Lacanche range with brass detailing.
A butler’s pantry and full-height cabinets add practical support. “So, there’s a working kitchen, there’s a family kitchen, there’s a gathering kitchen” Ahearn explains, highlighting the home’s emphasis on everyday living and entertaining.
An Upper Gallery and Crow’s Nest
Upstairs, a two-story gallery connects the bedrooms and family spaces, while a crow’s nest leads to a spiral staircase and widow’s walk overlooking the farm, pond, and ocean. A roof terrace adds another indoor-outdoor setting, extending the experience of the landscape above the main house.
A Primary Suite Above the Water
The primary suite overlooks the Great Pond, with a bathroom featuring a soaking tub, thick stone slabs, and built-in millwork. In the bedroom, French doors open to a Juliet balcony and views on three sides. Ahearn describes the space as “like being in the bow of the boat on the Titanic but not sinking.”
Guest Spaces with Island Character
The guest wing includes private suites, gathering spaces, and an enclosed porch that was adapted during construction into heated and air-conditioned living space.
Upstairs, another guest suite features timber beams, beadboard, a cathedral-like ceiling, and access to a roof deck overlooking the pond.
A Signature of Martha’s Vineyard
From the tree-lined arrival and carriage house to the pool terrace, porches, galleries, and upper terraces, the home is designed to reveal the home piece by piece. Its architecture remains closely tied to the landscape, creating different ways to experience the water, gardens, farm, and changing seasons. As Ahearn puts it, the house offers “a magical experience” throughout the house and surrounding landscape.
Discover another of Patrick Ahearn’s distinctive residential projects in our feature, Read Patrick Ahearn’s Historic Wellesley Estate and Private Porsche Barn feature here.
Gallery
The Finer Details.
