Sleek, nautical home inspired by nearby life saving station from World War II

Architecture firm <a href="http://batesmasi.com"><strong>Bates Masi + Architects</strong></a> found local inspiration for the design of this contemporary home in Long Island.  A stone's throw from the house is an outpost that served as a lookout place during World War II and later was a life-saving station.  The house's exterior, a distinct mix of cedar, bronze and steel, is crafted to withstand fluctuations in weather.  Inside, overhead lighting, soft, earthy tones and hanging shelves lend a feeling of spaciousness and the calm to life by the sea.

The open and airy beachy home was designed with a nod to a local life-saving station.

The original station also had large, open rooms with boats and tools hanging from rafters, so the home features similar elements.

Mimicking this open-rafter concept, the stairs are hung from steel beams, a wood-burning stove sits on a suspended steel shelf and a chair and lamps are hung from the home's beams.

"By taking cues from the historic lifesaving station, the home responds to the environmental and historical context. In so doing, it honors the local heritage and enriches the present day experience."

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The home features cedar siding, much like the rescue station. "On the exterior, a system of bronze bars was developed to hang the thick cedar siding boards in place without fastening through the wood, allowing the boards to expand and contract naturally with changes of temperature and humidity."

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Across the street from the property sits a century-old life saving station that has been preserved. During WWII, the station was used to as rescue base for sailors and was once even instrumental in discovering Nazi invaders attempting to come to shore.

Overhead lighting, steel accents and neutral tones lend a calm feel to the home.