HOME PORTRAIT
Adding On in Aquinnah
A Gathering Place That Grew
Profile by Karla Araujo
When Dottie and Barry Sullivan of Rochester, NY, honeymooned at a historic inn in downtown Edgartown in 1981, they found themselves deeply in love with more than one another. “We fell in love with the Island,” Dottie explains. “And we’ve been on our honeymoon ever since,” she adds, chuckling.
The Sullivans, owners of a Rochester-based financial services firm, Sullivan and Associates Wealth Management, LLC, found it difficult to forget about their first visit to the Island. “We yearned to come back,” Dottie says.
Just two summers later, they began a decade-long tradition of staying at Mattakeesett in Edgartown, a family-friendly resort ideal for their young children. But as the kids grew older, the Sullivans began to search for a house to rent. In 1994, a friend suggested a property in Aquinnah on Moshup Trail and, while Dottie says that they never thought they’d leave Edgartown, they fell in love all over again – this time with the unspoiled beauty and wide-open spaces of Aquinnah.
In
1995, the Sullivans purchased a simple two-bedroom ranch house that had been built by a single woman in 1972. Though cramped for space, Barry and Dottie, along with Jackie, Patrick, Dan and Katie (12, 11, 9 and 6 years old respectively at the time), found that the proximity to the lighthouse and beach, as well as the nearly four-and-a-half acres of privacy suited their active family. But as the children matured and invited friends to visit, the house simply couldn’t stretch to fit. In 1996, they raised the roof and added a second floor comprised of a new master bedroom and bath, along with an office for Barry. And, while they renovated the kitchen, they still kept a futon in the living room for overflow guests.
Dubbing the house “Wit’s End,” Dottie explains its origins: “The name was inspired by Walter Cronkite’s boat. He said he called it ‘Assignment,’ so that he could honestly say, ‘I’m on Assignment.’ I’m at ‘Wit’s End’ just seemed perfect.”
By 2006, Wit’s End was again bursting at the seams. With frequent visits from family and friends, the Sullivans decided to add on a second time to accommodate guests. They retained the services of Vineyard Haven-based designer Heikki Soikkeli to plan and construct a major addition to one side of the existing house.
Soikkeli and Company has been designing and building homes on the Island since 1980. When the Sullivans asked the Town building inspector for a recomm-endation, he suggested Heikki. Known for his clean, classic designs, Heikki eagerly put pencil to paper to conceptualize the new space.
“The Sullivans needed to expand the existing house with an addition to the side,” he says. “They wanted to enlarge the living area and create a separate family area for the kids.”
Opening up the side of the house, Soikkeli and Compay added on a kitchen, dining area, living room and a large en suite bedroom on the second floor. The main challenge Heikki faced: The Sullivans wanted a large open living space with no walls dividing it. He achieved the look they sought with just one post to support the second floor.
Working in close collaboration with both Dottie and Barry, Heikki describes the process as both cooperative and “fairly straightforward.”
“There was only one way to add on. We changed the original living room/dining room/kitchen into a large family room with a TV. The main living area was put into the new space. The Sullivans were great clients and very involved throughout.”
The two-story addition also gave the family a new laundry space, a second floor deck, a basement “hangout room,” and a third floor deck they call the “Sullivan Skybox” with sweeping water views.
Dottie eagerly took the helm of the interior decorating function, creating a soft sea-inspired palette and relying on Island Home Furnishings of Vineyard Haven for much of the furniture. Her vision, as she describes it: “A beachy, relaxing, comfortable home, not standoffish, not ‘you can’t sit there.’” Pale greens, ocean blues and soft white trim create a serene feeling throughout, with ample space for the family’s collections of sea glass, wampum, old bricks, shells, driftwood and lucky rocks.
While Barry was involved in the overall design of the addition, he left the decorating to Dottie. “I admire all of the decorating Dottie accomplished,” he says. “I’m a big believer in delegating to more talented people than myself. Trusting Dottie and having Heikki’s experience and guidance was the right combination of talent.” As for his favorite features of the new space, Barry cites the “nearly 180-degree ocean view from the Sullivan Skybox on the third floor.”
“There’s very little outside lighting in Aquinnah,” he explains, “so we enjoy the stars, an occasional satellite passing overhead and the slivers of planes in the early evening as they head east to European cities.”
As the years passed the Sullivan’s needs evolved. By 2009, the children had become adults and friends and family continued to arrive throughout the summer to enjoy the expanded house. There were cars and kayaks, a lawn mower, and lots of leisure toys. When Wit’s End was full, Dottie and Barry fantasized about a quiet retreat from the hubbub. Once again they reached out to Heikki, this time retaining him for design services, relying on Aquinnah neighbor/contractor Jay Bodnar of Vinland Construction, LLC, for the actual building.
The result: A handsome three-bay garage with guest apartment above, tucked neatly to the side of the main
house. Nicknamed “The Little House” by the family, the garage / guest space enabled Heikki to establish what he calls “a new trim vocabulary” which can be utilized when
the main house needs updating.
Characterizing the property as “Post-Modern” in architectural style, Heikki modeled the garage and apartment more on traditional Cape-style design. “The finishes in the guest space are almost better than in the main house,” he explains. “Dottie wanted something very nice for her and Barry. The house can get rambunctious. They wanted a separate space to retreat to.”
The above-garage living space features a small entryway, an open living/dining area, generous kitchen, a full bath, a bedroom with built-in drawers and cubbies, and a laundry nook.
Jay, along with Vinland Construction partner Nick Bologna, was delighted to be chosen by the Sullivans for the project. “We knew Heikki’s work and think so highly of him,” he says. While Vinland usually serves as a contractor on other jobs, the partners worked as a subcontractor with Soikkeli and Company to create the garage/guest space at Wit’s End.
Describing “The Little House” as a “killer three-bay garage under what feels like a little home,” Jay says, “We’d never call it ‘the garage.’” He waxes eloquently about the architectural detail employed by Heikki in the design – crown molding, woven corners and Nantucket dormers. “It’s very classic, classy,” he concludes. “A real classic New England look.” As for the Sullivan’s reaction to the work: “They came from Rochester often during construction and their enthusiasm was rewarding. It was a great experience.”
With traditional touches including stone walls, classic roof lines, beadboard walls and a sprinkling of antiques, the Sullivan’s newly sprawling Aquinnah compound fits seamlessly into its natural environs. Heikki’s philosophy “I don’t like to do buildings that call too much attention to themselves” – is evident in the thoughtful siting of the garage/guest house. He explains: “It’s well settled into the landscape. You don’t notice how much building volume there is when you enter the property. The garage is sited to the side of the house, shoehorned in between a grove of trees that we deliberately saved, wetland setback and the existing house. It’s a fairly large structure but the mass is not apparent. It fits in really well.”
Finally, with the Sullivan’s daughter Jackie planning an Island wedding this summer, Heikki designed a freestanding pergola for the rear of the main house. Built of meranti, a sustainably harvested tropical hardwood, Dottie envisions the new garden structure as a focal point for gatherings.
“The pergola reflects a trend in Vineyard living,” Heikki explains. “People are looking for enhanced outdoor living spaces. The whole front of the Sullivan’s house is deck. The pergola creates another outdoor living area.”
Today, at 29, 28, 26 and 22 years of age, the four Sullivan “kids” are no longer hauling shovels and pails to nearby Philbin Beach. But, along with Barry and Dottie, they can welcome their friends and extended family to enjoy the long summer days at the house that grew up alongside them, with Aquinnah Light casting a warm beam on the love that built Wit’s End.
The Sullivans, owners of a Rochester-based financial services firm, Sullivan and Associates Wealth Management, LLC, found it difficult to forget about their first visit to the Island. “We yearned to come back,” Dottie says.
Just two summers later, they began a decade-long tradition of staying at Mattakeesett in Edgartown, a family-friendly resort ideal for their young children. But as the kids grew older, the Sullivans began to search for a house to rent. In 1994, a friend suggested a property in Aquinnah on Moshup Trail and, while Dottie says that they never thought they’d leave Edgartown, they fell in love all over again – this time with the unspoiled beauty and wide-open spaces of Aquinnah.
In
1995, the Sullivans purchased a simple two-bedroom ranch house that had been built by a single woman in 1972. Though cramped for space, Barry and Dottie, along with Jackie, Patrick, Dan and Katie (12, 11, 9 and 6 years old respectively at the time), found that the proximity to the lighthouse and beach, as well as the nearly four-and-a-half acres of privacy suited their active family. But as the children matured and invited friends to visit, the house simply couldn’t stretch to fit. In 1996, they raised the roof and added a second floor comprised of a new master bedroom and bath, along with an office for Barry. And, while they renovated the kitchen, they still kept a futon in the living room for overflow guests.
Dubbing the house “Wit’s End,” Dottie explains its origins: “The name was inspired by Walter Cronkite’s boat. He said he called it ‘Assignment,’ so that he could honestly say, ‘I’m on Assignment.’ I’m at ‘Wit’s End’ just seemed perfect.”
By 2006, Wit’s End was again bursting at the seams. With frequent visits from family and friends, the Sullivans decided to add on a second time to accommodate guests. They retained the services of Vineyard Haven-based designer Heikki Soikkeli to plan and construct a major addition to one side of the existing house.
Soikkeli and Company has been designing and building homes on the Island since 1980. When the Sullivans asked the Town building inspector for a recomm-endation, he suggested Heikki. Known for his clean, classic designs, Heikki eagerly put pencil to paper to conceptualize the new space.
“The Sullivans needed to expand the existing house with an addition to the side,” he says. “They wanted to enlarge the living area and create a separate family area for the kids.”
Opening up the side of the house, Soikkeli and Compay added on a kitchen, dining area, living room and a large en suite bedroom on the second floor. The main challenge Heikki faced: The Sullivans wanted a large open living space with no walls dividing it. He achieved the look they sought with just one post to support the second floor.
Working in close collaboration with both Dottie and Barry, Heikki describes the process as both cooperative and “fairly straightforward.”
“There was only one way to add on. We changed the original living room/dining room/kitchen into a large family room with a TV. The main living area was put into the new space. The Sullivans were great clients and very involved throughout.”
The two-story addition also gave the family a new laundry space, a second floor deck, a basement “hangout room,” and a third floor deck they call the “Sullivan Skybox” with sweeping water views.
Dottie eagerly took the helm of the interior decorating function, creating a soft sea-inspired palette and relying on Island Home Furnishings of Vineyard Haven for much of the furniture. Her vision, as she describes it: “A beachy, relaxing, comfortable home, not standoffish, not ‘you can’t sit there.’” Pale greens, ocean blues and soft white trim create a serene feeling throughout, with ample space for the family’s collections of sea glass, wampum, old bricks, shells, driftwood and lucky rocks.
While Barry was involved in the overall design of the addition, he left the decorating to Dottie. “I admire all of the decorating Dottie accomplished,” he says. “I’m a big believer in delegating to more talented people than myself. Trusting Dottie and having Heikki’s experience and guidance was the right combination of talent.” As for his favorite features of the new space, Barry cites the “nearly 180-degree ocean view from the Sullivan Skybox on the third floor.”
“There’s very little outside lighting in Aquinnah,” he explains, “so we enjoy the stars, an occasional satellite passing overhead and the slivers of planes in the early evening as they head east to European cities.”
As the years passed the Sullivan’s needs evolved. By 2009, the children had become adults and friends and family continued to arrive throughout the summer to enjoy the expanded house. There were cars and kayaks, a lawn mower, and lots of leisure toys. When Wit’s End was full, Dottie and Barry fantasized about a quiet retreat from the hubbub. Once again they reached out to Heikki, this time retaining him for design services, relying on Aquinnah neighbor/contractor Jay Bodnar of Vinland Construction, LLC, for the actual building.
The result: A handsome three-bay garage with guest apartment above, tucked neatly to the side of the main
house. Nicknamed “The Little House” by the family, the garage / guest space enabled Heikki to establish what he calls “a new trim vocabulary” which can be utilized when
the main house needs updating.
Characterizing the property as “Post-Modern” in architectural style, Heikki modeled the garage and apartment more on traditional Cape-style design. “The finishes in the guest space are almost better than in the main house,” he explains. “Dottie wanted something very nice for her and Barry. The house can get rambunctious. They wanted a separate space to retreat to.”
The above-garage living space features a small entryway, an open living/dining area, generous kitchen, a full bath, a bedroom with built-in drawers and cubbies, and a laundry nook.
Jay, along with Vinland Construction partner Nick Bologna, was delighted to be chosen by the Sullivans for the project. “We knew Heikki’s work and think so highly of him,” he says. While Vinland usually serves as a contractor on other jobs, the partners worked as a subcontractor with Soikkeli and Company to create the garage/guest space at Wit’s End.
Describing “The Little House” as a “killer three-bay garage under what feels like a little home,” Jay says, “We’d never call it ‘the garage.’” He waxes eloquently about the architectural detail employed by Heikki in the design – crown molding, woven corners and Nantucket dormers. “It’s very classic, classy,” he concludes. “A real classic New England look.” As for the Sullivan’s reaction to the work: “They came from Rochester often during construction and their enthusiasm was rewarding. It was a great experience.”
With traditional touches including stone walls, classic roof lines, beadboard walls and a sprinkling of antiques, the Sullivan’s newly sprawling Aquinnah compound fits seamlessly into its natural environs. Heikki’s philosophy “I don’t like to do buildings that call too much attention to themselves” – is evident in the thoughtful siting of the garage/guest house. He explains: “It’s well settled into the landscape. You don’t notice how much building volume there is when you enter the property. The garage is sited to the side of the house, shoehorned in between a grove of trees that we deliberately saved, wetland setback and the existing house. It’s a fairly large structure but the mass is not apparent. It fits in really well.”
Finally, with the Sullivan’s daughter Jackie planning an Island wedding this summer, Heikki designed a freestanding pergola for the rear of the main house. Built of meranti, a sustainably harvested tropical hardwood, Dottie envisions the new garden structure as a focal point for gatherings.
“The pergola reflects a trend in Vineyard living,” Heikki explains. “People are looking for enhanced outdoor living spaces. The whole front of the Sullivan’s house is deck. The pergola creates another outdoor living area.”
Today, at 29, 28, 26 and 22 years of age, the four Sullivan “kids” are no longer hauling shovels and pails to nearby Philbin Beach. But, along with Barry and Dottie, they can welcome their friends and extended family to enjoy the long summer days at the house that grew up alongside them, with Aquinnah Light casting a warm beam on the love that built Wit’s End.