T h o u g h th e ir re tire m e n t
o p tio n s w e re w id e o p en ,
A n ita and W o lf M e ile rt follow ed th eir hearts. T h e y decided
to settle in the fa m ily-frien d ly Connecticut beach to w n
w here th ey had vacationed w ith th eir three sons since th ey
w ere little boys. A stroll d ow n th eir favorite lane in 2004
brough t the M eilerts to this 2,0 0 0 -square-foot house, w h ich
th ey bought specifically because it could accom modate sons
Peter, C hris, and Jon, as w ell as th eir girlfriends, fiancées,
w ives, and n o w a granddaughter.
O n a b lu ff above the ocean, the 1932 sum m er cottage had
three bedroom s and a porch just 30 steps from the sea w all,
but it needed updating. T h e p rio rity d u rin g renovation was
to design com fy spaces fo r m ultiple guests w h ile
m aintaining the hom e’s cottage character w ith in the original
footprint. R em oving part o f a w a ll betw een the liv in g and
din in g room s and adding m ore doorw ays to the porch
created better flo w dow nstairs. A n e w support beam and
dorm ers m ade bedroom s upstairs m ore usable and allowed
fo r an extra bathroom .
To give the living and dining rooms a more open feel,
a half-wall replaces a solid wall that once divided
them,
top left.
Bookshelves face the living room.
Wolf Meilert,
top right,
and Anita Meilert in blue hat,
above,
welcome friends, sons, and sons’ friends. “It’s
not unusual for me to have eight people for dinner on
a Friday night, 12 people on Saturday night, and nine
people on Sunday,” says Anita.
T h e hom e’s coastal palette and calm decorating are a
quiet backdrop fo r the colorful people w h o use it. “One
group w ill be inside talking, another w ill be on the porch,
another on the low er seawall,” says W olf. “W e’ve got a towel
that says ‘I f you’ve got a beach house, th ey w ill come.’ A n d
th ey do. A n d it’s w onderful.”
Rebuilding the enclosed porch,
opposite,
provided
enough support for an upper deck with expansive
views of Long Island Sound; French doors from the
master bedroom and a guest room allow easy access.
1 2 4 JULY2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
