A look back at a few of our favorite stairs - part 1

This week we have been working with our East Orleans homeowners, the builders, & Viewrail to review shop drawings for the main stair (and focal point of the first floor!).  A3 Architects is looking forward to signing off on the design soon and seeing the stair in the space this spring! 

Working on these drawings has us thinking back to other projects and all the stairs we’ve worked on (and are currently working on!).  We love designing a brand new modern stair, but the traditional stairs typical of a historic Cape Cod house hold a special place in our hearts. We especially enjoy the variety, from grand stairs centered directly off the front door all the way to the little tucked away ladder-like stairs hidden behind an inconspicuous door (or cabinet) that are so common in old Cape Cod houses!

For this post we’re going to look back and share a few antique stairs that we’ve worked on and share a few that we’re currently obsessed with — we have several fun renovations that are either under construction or are in development!

Be sure to check back in for our next post, where we’ll take a look at some of the more contemporary stairs that we’ve gotten to design!


Barnstable village historic renovation

The Barnstable Village Historic Renovation’s Main Stair is a real show stopper. Centered right when you walk into the antique Cape Cod house, the symmetrical main stair stops at a shared landing with a couple of steps up on the left and right to matching bedrooms.

The Barnstable Village Renovation’s Main Stair

The Barnstable Village Renovation’s bedrooms on either side of the antique stair.


New Project - Wellfleet Cape Renovation

We measured a beautiful Wes Andersen like historic cape in Wellfleet late this summer. The house reminded us of our Barnstable Village Renovation with a gorgeous ladder-like main stair centered on the front door with two second floor bedrooms flanking the top landing. We are loving the schematic design phase of this project. It is exciting to work on houses with such unique character and energy!

New Renovation Wellfleet Cape Cod - front hall

New Renovation Wellfleet Cape Cod - main stair

New Renovation Wellfleet Cape Cod - second floor bedrooms

New Renovation Wellfleet Cape Cod - Dining room (those built-ins & fireplace….) The back stair is off the dining room tucked behind a door - we almost missed it! Reminded us of our Harwichport Renovation (see below).

New Renovation Wellfleet Cape Cod - The tucked away, practically hidden back stair. (We love the wear on those treads.)


Historic Harwichport Cape Renovation

Historic Harwichport Cape Renovation - Love this little ladder-like stair tucked away behind a paneled door—it looks just like a built-in when closed!


New Project - Wellfleet Cape Renovation 2

This is another historic Cape Cod house we measured in Wellfleet this summer. It also follows the traditional floor plan of main stair centered on the front door with flanking bedrooms at the top of the stair — BUT take a look at this stair — double wide with a center railing! Same, but different! We’re also really enjoying the schematic design phase for this project.

Wellfleet Cape Renovation - Front Entry and the double wide stair AND we love a puppy cameo!

Wellfleet Cape Renovation - First time seeing a double-wide front entry stair! Anyone else?!

Wellfleet Cape Renovation - This Cape Cod house also has a tucked away back stair hidden behind a door (and love the rope railing! so simple and utilitarian… wonder if our Cape building inspectors would approve this…


Point of Rocks fishing shack

This project is a renovation of an existing 1930s fishing bungalow in Brewster, located directly on the Bay. The existing bungalow was so charming, with exposed framing and a small stair tucked beside the wood burning fireplace. We worked hard to keep the existing stair & treads (look on the wear on those steps!) in place and work around this special feature.

Point of Rocks Fishing Shack - Stair & Canvas railing (we love the nod to the history of the space)

Point of Rocks Fishing Shack - we love the wear on the treads.


New renovation & Addition in Dennis

We have been working with the homeowners of this gorgeous historic Dennis house, developing plans for a renovation & small addition at the rear of the house. The bones of this house are beautiful and one piece that is staying “as-is” is the central stair. Take a look at these details — just perfect.

Dennis Historic House to be renovated - construction to start this Fall

Dennis Historic House - Central Stair

Dennis Historic House - The newel post…..

Dennis Historic House - These low railing heights add such character to the space. They do not comply with modern building codes, but by keeping the stair as designed we can hold on to this beautiful historic feature. Love the balusters.

Dennis Historic House - The soft curve of the stair & main foyer

Dennis Historic House - View from the top of the stair. Love the way the railing curves and terminates into the wall.

Cape Cod & the Islands Summer 2025 - APCC

Thank you so much to Cape Cod & the Islands for featuring our APCC Barn renovation in their Summer 2025 issue! Check out the article on our publications page and pick up a copy of the magazine on newsstands (Or stop by our office - We have a few extra copies to share!)

Project Team:

Historic APCC Barn

Renovated Net Zero APCC Barn

All about Doors!

We love doors!   As architects working on Cape Cod, we are inspired by the antique utilitarian sliding barn doors we see in barns across the cape and simple pine panel doors on old Cape Cod houses.  We also love working with modern glazed doors with many exciting options to open up views.

Historic Dennis Village Cape - Antique Front Door & transom

There is so much to the architectural design of a new space – from what is your program(ie a new commercial space, accessory dwelling unit, a new home design? To  how many bedrooms, bathrooms, garage, ects) to your site, sun orientation, budget, schedule, regulatory boards (historic!)... the list goes on!  Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the those big picture items that we forget to take a minute to look at smaller details that can really make a space special. Today we’re choosing to focus on doors!  

A few years ago your options could be a little limited, but we’re finding more and more options on the market and more builders and installers that are familiar and comfortable with these products.    We love a classic reconstruction of a historic door type all the way to a modern profile bifold that fully opens up and connects the interior of a space to the exterior (or screen porch!).  We love the way these components can really change the overall feel and use of the spaces! 

Here are a couple of door types we’ve used on recent projects that we just love and we have a few projects in design and under construction using some pretty exciting products!


Exterior Sliding Barn door

Association to Preserve Cape Cod - Barn Door

This project has been featured on our blog and Instagram recently.  We renovated a historic barn replacing an existing overhead garage door for new Marvin full light hinged doors and working sliding wood barn doors. 

Association to Preserve Cape Cod Barn - 3 panel Marvin Door with Sliding barn doors open

Association to Preserve Cape Cod Barn - 3 panel Marvin Door with Sliding barn doors open

A3 Architects Barn - Sliding Barn Door

A3 Architects Cape Cod Barn - sliding door open with Triple Glazed Mathews Brothers slider

A3 Architects Cape Cod Barn - sliding door open with Triple Glazed Mathews Brothers slider


Interior Sliding Barn doors

Barn doors really had a heyday a few years back and while the trend has faded some – we couldn’t help but see how this door type can be really functional in high traffic spaces that don’t need much privacy.  One of our favorite uses for this door type is in a hallway where a washer and dryer is located.  For clearance around a washer and dryer  you need a fairly large opening.  This normally calls for a double hinged door, but the swings of the door can be cumbersome opening up into a hallway – insert sliding barn door!  This keeps the hallway clear, provides a way to visually tuck away the laundry closet, and possibly add a pop of color & texture to your space.  

Brewster Renovation - Sliding Barn Door at hall laundry closet

Dennis Net Zero House - Sliding Barn Door at hall laundry closet

Another location that can be fun to use a sliding barn door is at a pantry – easy to slide open when your hands are full

Barnstable Village Historic Renovation - Sliding Barn Door at Pantry

Lincoln Net Zero House - Sliding Barn Door at Pantry


Bifolds

Bi-folding doors have really become more common in recent years.  Builders are more comfortable with the installation and the options and sizes available are really exciting! This door type opens to the exterior and stacks to either the left or the right. 

The pros: You get one large opening (which is amazing!) We have some truly gorgeous sites on Cape Cod and we love idea of truly connecting your interior spaces to the exterior!

Net Zero Dennis House Primary Bedroom1 & Roof Deck - Loewen Bifold Door open (with views of the Marsh)

The cons:  (we hesitate to say the cons of the door… more like the things to be aware of): The doors do open up to the exterior and take up some space that might impeded your deck furniture layout and/or traffic flow.  In high wind locations, these doors are not advised, and it is recommended that you provide an overhang/small roof to protect the door when opened.  

Dennis Village House Dining Room - Loewen Bifold Door (door closed)

Dennis Village House Dining Room - Loewen Bifold Door (view from interior)


Dennis Village House Dining Room - Loewen Bifold Door (view from exterior)

With all of this being said – our favorite application for these doors is onto a screen porch.  This truly connects the interior living space to your screen porch/three season’s room when open. 

Net Zero Truro Main Living Space & Screen Porch beyond. Bifold door fully open

Net Zero Truro Main Living Space & Screen Porch beyond. Bifold door fully open


Sliders 

Sliders are great on the Cape!  As mentioned above, bifolds are amazing for their ability fully open and connect the interior spaces to the exterior, but the doors opening up to the outside is something to consider (especially with Cape Cod’s tricky weather!)   When we have a site located in a high wind area, a slider is a great option!  These doors are well tested for our area and with a 4 panel slider – you get the light and visual connect with a 6’-0” to 8’-0” opening on a typical slider (there are also custom options where the open space can get even larger!). There are so many different types of sliders available from the standard style, to lift & slide, to a stacking option.

Eastham near Net Zero House - main living space with 4 panel Andersen slider onto screen porch

Point of Rocks Fishing Shack - renovation & addition / main living space with views of Cape Cod Bay

Historic Dennis Village Cape renovation and addition / view of main living space and 4 panel slider

& the Front Doors

From the classic Cape Cod style to something a little more modern. We love when the front entrance of the house makes a statement — welcoming both the homeowners & guests into the space.

Stage Harbor House - Front Door with covered entry

Brewster Flats House - Front Door & farmer’s porch

Lincoln Net Zero House - Front Door (view from interior)

Eastham near Net Zero House - Front Door (view from interior)

Truro Net Zero House - Front Door (view from inside)

Chatham Light near Net Zero House - Front Door

Chatham Light near Net Zero House - Front Door

A3 Barn Renovation

We are so excited to work with local photographers! Abby Grattan of Grattan Imaging photographed our favorite little Cape Cod barn on 6a (besides APCC!)  Below are some shots from behind the scenes. 

Newly renovated A3 Barn in Dennis Village - Photoshoot day with Abby of Grattan Image

We have been working on architectural design plans to rehabilitate this small barn (22’-0” x 24’-0”) on the back of our office property for the last couple of years.   It was in rough shape but had good bones.  We saved all the historic Cape Cod post and beam barn framing. The architectural plans depict reusing the top plate beams as decorative beams on the first floor ceiling. The existing small second floor loft was renovated to highlight the vaulted ceilings and the architectural design of a modern new skylight creates a space that feels a lot bigger than it actually is. The new loft space is a +/- 900 square foot additional studio office or future accessory dwelling unit or ADU.  We hope to have downloadable architectural plans featuring this Cape Cod barn available for purchase soon.  We hope this small barn could fit on many properties here and be a small but flexible option for many properties. Accessory dwelling units can hopefully be part of a solution to the housing crisis on Cape Cod.

A3 Dennis Barn - Existing Conditions

A3 Dennis Barn - Construction

Professional Photography: Grattan Image

Kitchen: IKEA

Floors: Rough Sawn Planks from Midcape

Windows: Mathews Brothers

Skylight: Velux

HERS: Home Energy Raters