Coastal Midcentury Kitchen in Brewster, MA

This renovation in Brewster, Massachusetts updates a small piece of design history. The home, built in 1964, was one of the Woman’s Day Vacation Cabins — a series of affordable, architect-designed homes published between 1958 and 1963. These cabins made modern living accessible to everyday families and reflected the optimism and practicality of midcentury design.

In that same spirit, this kitchen blends modern craftsmanship with simplicity. The design features inset plywood cabinetry built from Baltic birch boxes and maple-veneered doors, finished in Boxco’s custom Pistachio plant-based wood wax. The soft green finish feels fresh and timeless. It pairs easily with the home’s light wood floors and coastal palette. Exposed plywood edges highlight the construction and celebrate the material’s layers. Meanwhile, a quartz countertop and ceramic tile backsplash in shades of white and grey keep the palette clean and airy.

The client — an artist — chose every finish with care. Boxco refined the cabinetry layout to maximize storage while keeping the space open and functional. Cut-out finger pulls, floating maple shelves, and a continuous slab-front design create a simple and cohesive rhythm.

As a result, the space feels balanced and calm. It captures the essence of MCM kitchen design — functional, modern, and personal. The inset plywood cabinetry fits beautifully within a home that began as a national experiment in accessible design. More than sixty years later, the original vision of simple, well-crafted living continues to shine.