A new home in Old Saybrook puts the focus on coastal views

In Old Saybrook, a couple's fresh start brings superlative coastal views.

Living in Glastonbury for 18 years, Mike and Nancy Mendoza knew that once their two boys flew the nest, the couple would be down by the water. Frequently visiting friends in Old Saybrook, and as avid boaters, they were ready to move if something opened up in the town or somewhere else along the shoreline. And it did — a house about 250 yards away from their friends’ property across a salt marsh. The house was located at the end of a street with grand views of the marsh and distant Long Island Sound.

"We were visiting with good friends in town, and Nancy said, ‘I think I saw a house for sale on Zillow that's over there, pointing across the marsh.’ So we all jumped in the car and came over to find this ranch in a spectacular location, and quickly decided we had to jump on it," Mike says.

While hoping to buy and renovate the house, they realized it needed more work than anticipated after the inspection. But it wasn't a simple matter of renovating; if they improved the home by more than 50 percent of its value on a rolling 10-year cumulative total, it would need to comply with current FEMA regulations. And since the previous owners had already done some work, they could only commit a small amount toward renovations before triggering the requirement. So they had to decide: give up on the house or start from scratch.

In Old Saybrook, a couple's fresh start brings superlative coastal views.

"We paused, but we were so in love with this spot," says Nancy. "If we renovated, due to flood-zone restrictions, we wouldn't be able to do what we wanted: update bathrooms and kitchen — big-ticket items."

Mike continues, "A complete teardown and building new certainly wasn't in the budget or plan. It was a huge financial commitment, and not what we initially considered."

But they ultimately decided to start fresh. They sold their Glastonbury house, purchased the Old Saybrook property, and found a rental in Rocky Hill, all in the summer of 2020. At the same time, they quickly assembled a team, starting with Joe Wren, owner of a civil engineering design business, Indigo Land Design of Old Saybrook, which dealt with all site issues and town approvals for building in a flood zone; Denise VonDassel, architect/owner of KV Designs in Old Saybrook; and Nick Uccello, builder/owner of Rocky Hill-based Uccello Development.

The multi-level turret provides comfy seating areas and spectacular views of the salt marsh and the Sound in the distance.

"Denise does a great job on the front end, navigating the FEMA regulations, and getting the building design to meet all of the regulations and requirements," notes Uccello. "This is always the biggest challenge because there are so many little details that FEMA requires that it can become daunting and time consuming, but we can get it done."

All zoning and approvals came late in 2020, with town officials liking that the house was keeping its septic system, moving out of the flood zone, and shrinking its footprint. With VonDassel's design plans in hand, the teardown happened in March 2021. And while there were some delays due to COVID, the couple moved into their custom home in June 2022.

Due to being in a flood zone, the traditional, Shingle-style gambrel house with 2,900 square feet (not including the porch or basement) could not have living space on the first floor, so VonDassel tucked the garage into the first level. To gain more living space, the design called for two floors above the first level. The ranch was long, but the new home's footprint is smaller because it was built higher. And while not installed, it's elevator-ready should they need it.

The open living and dining rooms and kitchen were laid out to maximize coastal views, including sunsets and wildlife.

The interior plan placed the open living, dining and kitchen where they could maximize their coastal views, including sunsets and wildlife. And a screened porch and open deck off the living space make the house feel larger.

"This layout was a flip-flop of how Mike and Nancy pictured the design, since the ranch layout had the primary bedroom where the living area sat," says VonDassel, who's been designing homes along the shoreline for more than 30 years. "I told them, ‘No, we are starting from scratch, so let's put the rooms where they should be. Your entertaining space should have the best views."

Wanting a place where their boys would come home and host friends, they have four bedrooms, all with water views. The Mendozas’ primary bedroom is on the upper level. Another sits on the lower level, currently for guests but there for the family for future use. The home totals 3½ bathrooms.

The walls of the dining room and the rest of the first floor were painted Benjamin Moore Sea Salt, which changes in the light.

Mike's idea for something akin to a lighthouse made way for a turret, which VonDassel designed off the living room. The unique round space offers four comfortable swivel chairs to sit, relax and enjoy the views. It extends to the Mendozas’ primary bedroom, allowing for a sitting area in both chambers.

"I knew I wanted something that resembled a lighthouse but didn't know what that would be," says Mike. "But in a 20-second back-and-forth with Denise, she got it."

A nautical window at the stair landing leading to the upper level creates a feeling of being on a boat, as does warm wood flooring. Slight angles in the upstairs rooflines and built-in shelving lend character.

A screened-in deck offers even more great vistas, as well as added living space.

"Denise exactly knew the vibe we were going for and took off from there," says Mike. "This house is roughly the same size as our Glastonbury home, but it lives better."

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In keeping with the shore theme, a stair landing features a nautical-style window, and a turret extends up the side of the house, reminiscent of a lighthouse.

All four of the home's bedrooms have water views.

Like the rest of the home, the bedrooms and bathrooms show a coastal transitional look that mixes traditional elements with modern aesthetics.

This bedroom is located along the turret, offering plenty of natural light and, yes, more views.

VonDassel designed the kitchen layout, but the couple, alongside interior designer Lori Cottrell, chose details such as the backsplash, countertop and cabinetry, having learned much from renovating their last kitchen. Designer Stacey McKenna of Hartford's Universal Ceramic Tile Distributors helped with tile choices throughout the home. Lighting was mostly a mix of Connecticut Lighting Centers and some online finds. And since the furniture in their last house was 20 years old, they bought everything new from Eileen Smith at Madison Furniture Barn.

Although they treasure their time in Glastonbury, Mike and Nancy say they’ve fallen in love with Old Saybrook. And now they can wave to their friends across the marsh.

Each month Connecticut Magazine shares the story of a Connecticut home, including new builds, additions, renovations, restorations, plus interior designs. If you’d like to see your home featured, send a summary of what makes it special, along with 3–5 photos, to [email protected].

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