FORM & FUNCTION

Renovate, or Tear It Down

When Chris Orszulak and his wife, Gina Pantusco, purchased a 1950s-era home on a corner lot in Chatham in March 2018, they were faced with a familiar Cape Cod dilemma: renovate or start fresh.

While the home offered approximately 3,400 square feet, years of additions had compromised both functionality and flow. Views of the water were obstructed, circulation between rooms was awkward, and nearly a third of the home went unused.

“It wasn’t functional,” Orszulak recalls. “There was a good chunk of the house we literally didn’t use at all.”

After spending the summers of 2018 and 2019 planning and living in the home, the couple made the decision to rebuild from the ground up following Labor Day 2020. While renovation may have been more cost-effective, rebuilding allowed them to fully optimize the site, maximize views, and design a home that truly reflected how they live.

“We wanted to optimize the views and get exactly what we wanted,” Orszulak says. “That ultimately drove the decision to rebuild.”

A Bright, Functional Home Designed for Gathering

Completed in 2022, the new four-bedroom home was designed by Oak Hill Architects of Weston and built by Laplante Construction of Chatham. The result is a bright, airy summer retreat with water views from nearly every window.

The first floor serves as the heart of the home, featuring a kitchen with Vartanian Custom Cabinets, a living room with fireplace and built-in shelving, and a dining area oriented toward the sea. Upstairs, a spacious landing opens to a family area and deck overlooking the water.

“We wanted a very functional home with lots of natural light,” Orszulak says. “It’s everything we hoped it would be. It’s our happy place.”

Gathering the Right Team

Once committed to rebuilding, Pantusco was inspired by a project she had seen by Oak Hill Architects. The couple soon met with Andrew Reck, a registered architect and principal at Oak Hill, who happened to live nearby.

After establishing project goals, they brought in Bill Laplante, president of Laplante Construction. With a strong local reputation and previous work completed for the Pantusco family, Laplante was a trusted choice.

Early meetings took place at the couple’s Longmeadow home, followed by design reviews at Oak Hill and later at Laplante’s offices. Together, the team toured completed Laplante projects across the region, reinforcing the homeowners’ confidence in their architect and builder.

Drafting a Thoughtful Plan

The design process focused on maximizing water views, creating an open layout, and planning for the future. To improve sightlines, the team slightly raised the first-floor elevation and rotated the home on the site.

Window placement and orientation were carefully considered, resulting in abundant natural light and expansive water views throughout the home. The basement was designed with nine-foot ceilings to allow for potential future expansion.

The team also assisted the homeowners in selecting finishes and materials, from cabinetry and flooring to fixtures, lighting, and paint colors, creating a cohesive and timeless interior.

Built for Active Family Living

The home’s exterior spaces were designed with the family’s active lifestyle in mind. The front patio spans the width of the home and is surrounded by hydrangeas in shades of pink, blue, and purple. The backyard features a paved recreation area with a hockey training wall, basketball hoop, and open space for gathering.

When time allows, the family enjoys relaxing at the nearby beach, located less than a quarter mile away.

Collaboration That Lasts

Throughout construction, communication remained a top priority, especially since the home was built while the family lived 180 miles away. The close collaboration between Laplante Construction and Oak Hill Architects led to thoughtful refinements, including the addition of shiplap walls with a nickel-gap finish.

“Our goal was to make the process as smooth as possible for Chris and Gina,” Laplante says.

That collaboration didn’t end with the home’s completion. Orszulak and Laplante have since partnered on multiple coworking spaces across Massachusetts, marking the beginning of an ongoing professional relationship.

“The home was the start of something,” Orszulak reflects. “It’s been great.”

Click HERE to Read the full AT HOME Winter 2025 issue.

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