3 Cape Cods Built To Survive Harsh New England Winters: How Much House

ACROSS AMERICA — New England states could get walloped by winter weather, with long-range forecasts pointing to more snow and cold this year than in previous winters.

That’s not unusual, and one of New England’s most iconic architectural styles, the classic Cape Cod, is built to withstand heavy snowfalls. The high-pitched gable roofs provide excellent drainage, and rain and snow slide off easily.

The simple, thatched cottages the Puritans left behind in Britain were the inspiration for the homes built they built in the 1600s as armor against harsh New England winters. Besides their distinctive pitched roofs, Cape Cods that are true to the period are designed with low, heat-capturing ceilings and finished with window shutters to block out the wind.

This week in How Much House, we look at Cape Cod homes in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

Massachusetts | $1,199,900

45 Main St., Sandwich
Listed by: Greg Donahue | Laer Realty Partners
Square feet: 1,804
Acreage: 1.93 acres
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2 (both full)
Year built: 1986

This south-facing bowed roof on this Cape Cod is reminiscent of some of the first houses built by the Puritans in the 1600s. The cathedral ceilings with skylights drench the kitchen and mud/pantry room in sunlight. The bright living room with a wood stove also gets all-day sun. The dining room overlooks the lush back yard and a sliding door leads to an expanded deck.

Upgrades are too numerous to count, according to the real estate listing. The interior trim, doors and floors are in great shape. The home has mostly new vinyl windows. Full bathrooms are found both upstairs and down.

Detached buildings on the property include a new 30-foot-by-50-foot steel building with bays for three vehicles and space for recreational toys. Another mixed-use building has an office and more living space. The building has utility upgrades, new cedar face shingles, fresh trim paint, and new windows, doors and sliders. Peek inside for more photos.

New Hampshire | $899,000

1028 Broad Cove Road, Hopkinton
Listed by: Hannah Zona | RE/MAX Synergy LLC
Square feet: 2,786
Acreage: 8.50 acres
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3 (2 full)
Year built: 1980

This contemporary take on a classic Cape Cod has hand-hewn beams in the ceiling of the large living room, a large brick fireplace and an open eat-in kitchen with butcher block counters and a wet bar. The family room and office has a wall of bookshelves, counters and cabinets.

The kitchen, living room and family room open to an expansive atrium with a vaulted ceiling and wall of windows overlooking a well-maintained in-ground pool and the landscaped acreage The dining room has a stunning brick fireplace with a substantial mantle.

The primary bedroom is located on the first floor and includes an ensuite bath and a generous walk-in closet. A hexagon-shaped, three-season room with walls of windows and a high ceiling and is a perfect place for a soak in the hot tub. Two more large bedrooms and a full bath are upstairs.

Recent additions include wide plank flooring. Another plus as armor against a harsh New England winter: the home has a generator. Utilities are underground, another plus. Peek inside for more photos.

Rhode Island | $2,995,000

128 Thayer Drive, Portsmouth
Listed by: Alexandra Thursby | Lila Delman Compass
Square feet: 3,610
Acreage: 0.99 acre
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 5 (4 full)
Year built: 1998

This thoughtfully renovated waterfront Cape Cod offers incredible sunset views. All rooms face the west toward the water: a first-floor primary bedroom suite, a second-floor primary bedroom suite, a third bedroom with a designated bathroom, and the office, great room, family room, dining room, kitchen, and finished patio level space, which includes an office and bathroom.

The great room has cathedral ceilings, a wall of glass facing the water and access to a wraparound deck that is ideal for entertaining a large group, but is also a quiet space for morning coffee or simply relaxing. A floor-to-ceiling fireplace off the kitsch is an inviting place to relax before and after dinner. The kitchen has an island that seats five and windows facing the bay. Peek inside for more photos.

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