---
title: "Lilac Cottage by Keira Ritter Design Company"
url: https://stacklist.com/card/6c1de533-55da-4ec6-9a58-8a6d0e49bd13
source_url: "https://residentialdesignmagazine.com/2026-rdaa-residential-special-constraints-lilac-cottage-keira-ritter-design-company/"
stack: https://stacklist.com/stack/c26df325-ae74-427e-bb6c-4c962b9f01f3
summary: "Lilac Cottage is a 420-square-foot summer cottage in North Truro, Massachusetts that was renovated by architect Keira Ritter to accommodate year-round living while maintaining historic preservation guidelines. The renovation cleverly reconfigured the interior with a double-height beachside space and loft to sleep six guests, earning recognition in the 2026 RDAA Residential Design Special Constraints category."
tags: "residential-design, cottage-renovation, historic-preservation, cape-cod, interior-design, small-space, architecture"
key_entities: "Keira Ritter (person), Keira Ritter Design Company (organization), Swain Construction (organization), Boxco Studio (organization), North Truro, Massachusetts (location), Cape Cod Bay (location), Catskill, New York (location), historic-preservation-design-guidelines (concept), 2026 RDAA Residential Design Special Constraints (event)"
classification: "reference"
content_hash: "sha256:c8eb17caffdef076116140a94c1f168f69279c81e803dc0a7ac6a6c1324acf8b"
acp_version: "0.2"
token_counts_approximate: 703
visibility: public
agent_accessible: true
status: "final"
---

# Lilac Cottage by Keira Ritter Design Company

In a row of 22 cedar-clad summer cottages lining Cape Cod Bay that appear identical, at least one has been converted for comfortable, year-round living. Keira Ritter, AIA, maintained the visual continuity of the 1930s structures by upgrading Lilac Cottage’s envelope in accordance with the homeowners association historic preservation design guidelines but rebuilt the 420-square-foot interior from the stud plane inward. A former storage loft above the oceanfront windows “dropped the ceiling right where you want the [space] to get big,” Keira says. Following “tremendous reframing work,” the renovation flipped the floor plan to create a double-height space beachside and a loft inland to help fulfill the owner’s request to sleep six guests. The former kitchenette became a kitchen with modern appliances equipped to make a Thanksgiving meal. Aside from an architecturally upsized ladder to the loft that makes a quiet statement, Keira says, “we were mindful with our detailing to keep things proportionally scaled and to punctuate where we felt it was appropriate and with great restraint.” A palette of serene colors and natural materials further connects the cabin to the beach. Gazing out the insulated windows from the living area elevated above the sand, visitors feel like they are floating in the ocean. The jury was “enamored by the clever renovation of a teeny space that gave new life to an old structure.” Citation · Residential Special Constraints Lilac Cottage by Keira Ritter Design Company North Truro, Massachusetts Project Credits Architect: Keira Ritter, AIA, founding principal, Keira Ritter Design Company , Catskill, New York Builder: Jonah Swain, Swain Construction , North Truro, Massachusetts Interior designer: Keira Ritter, AIA, Keira Ritter Design Company Millwork: Boxco Studio , Greenfield, Massachusetts Project size: 554 square feet Site size: N/A (footprint is 459 square feet) Construction cost: $900 per square foot Photography: Lisa Vollmer Photography Key Products Appliances: Bosch (cooktop, dishwasher, ovens, refrigerator/freezer), Zephyr (vent hood), LG (washer/dryer) Bath accessories: Kohler Cabinetry: Boxco Studio Countertops: Cosentino, PentalQuartz Door hardware: Schlage, Emtek Faucets: Kohler Finish materials: Fireclay Tile, Concrete Collaborative, Natalie Myers Flooring: Sawyer Mason, Concrete Collaborative HVAC systems: Mitsubishi Electric Lighting, interior: Schoolhouse, Blu Dot, Modern Fan Company, WAC Lighting Paint: Benjamin Moore Radiant heating: Step Heat Roofing: Owens Corning Sinks: Kohler Toilets: Kohler Windows: Andersen Previous Article 2026 RDAA | Custom Period or Vernacular House | Farmhouse in a Meadow | Elliott Architects Next Article Pro-File Design: Jacobsen Architecture