Contemporary Wood-Shingled Home Blends Seamlessly into Cotuit Landscape

Tim Luff, principal at Archi-Tech Associates, has spent over three decades with his team designing custom residential homes across Cape Cod. While many of the firm’s projects take cues from the coast, his own home—designed in collaboration with his wife, Italia—draws inspiration from something quieter: the woods.

Set within a private, wooded area of Cotuit, their new contemporary home was designed to blend into the landscape, not compete with it.

The result is a warm, minimalist structure wrapped in natural wood shingles. Designed and built from the ground up, the home uses a mix of rustic materials, open spaces and expansive glass to bring the outside in and create moments of connection with the surrounding woods.

Tim and Italia Luff selected Pella® Reserve™ — Contemporary casement windows and hinged patio doors to bring their architectural vision to life. The clean lines, minimal profiles and expansive glass helped support their goal of designing a home that invited the outside in, without overpowering the natural beauty around it.

With that principle in mind, our team at Pella Southern New England worked closely with the Luffs to fine-tune every detail. Window sizing, hardware and interior finishes were all carefully considered to preserve sightlines and maintain visual simplicity. The black-stained wood interiors provide crisp contrast against white walls and exposed natural wood, reinforcing the home’s modern aesthetic without feeling stark.

Outside, the windows feature Pella’s SeaCoast EnduraClad® exterior finish, a durable protective coating engineered for harsh coastal climates. This was a key factor in the decision-making process, as windows in this region need to withstand exposure to salt air, wind and moisture over time without compromising appearance or performance.

By working with Pella, the Luffs were able to achieve both form and function: a window and door package that delivers high performance in a coastal setting, while visually supporting their quiet, grounded approach to modern architecture.

The kitchen serves as a central gathering space in the Luff home—a warm, light-filled room that balances simplicity with comfort. Outfitted with natural wood cabinetry, modern lighting and clean-lined surfaces, the space reflects the same intentional design principles that guide the rest of the house.

To enhance both function and ambiance, the Luffs selected Pella® Reserve™ — Contemporary casement windows for this area. Hinged at the side and designed to swing outward, these windows are ideal for capturing cross-breezes and letting in morning sunlight, especially important in a space where airflow and natural light are key to comfort.

Beyond ventilation, the windows were chosen for their visual qualities. Their narrow sightlines and large, unobstructed glass panels align with the home's minimalist aesthetic, creating uninterrupted views of the wooded surroundings while allowing the kitchen to feel more expansive. Framed in black-stained wood, the windows also create a subtle contrast against the neutral palette, echoing the design language used throughout the rest of the home.

The result is a kitchen that feels integrated with the outdoors—open, breathable and in sync with the quiet rhythm of the landscape.

In a home designed to engage with its surroundings at every turn, the patio doors serve as a key point of connection. For Tim and Italia Luff, it wasn’t enough for their windows and doors to look good—they needed to feel purposeful, extending living spaces outward and drawing the landscape in. The Pella® Reserve™ — Contemporary hinged patio doors do just that, anchoring the home in its wooded setting while enhancing day-to-day movement and comfort.

The Luffs chose hinged patio doors that felt as natural to use as they looked. Positioned between the main living areas and the wooded backyard, the doors make it easy to step outside with a cup of coffee or let in a breeze on a warm day. The full-glass panels flood the interior with light and keep the outdoors in view—whether it’s snow falling in winter or leaves turning in the fall.

They’re not just nice to look at, though. Built to handle the shifting coastal weather of Cape Cod, these doors keep the home protected without sacrificing the connection to its surroundings. For Tim and Italia, they’re not just doors—they’re part of how the house lives and breathes with the landscape.

The black wood frames tie in with the rest of the windows, keeping the look consistent and clean. From the outside, the doors add a bit of modern contrast to the wood shingles. Inside, they stand out just enough—adding definition to the white walls and playing off the warmth of the wood finishes throughout the home.

This wasn’t just a design project—it was personal. Tim and Italia approached the process as partners, shaping every detail with care. From the layout to the materials to the placement of each window, the home was designed to feel intentional, comfortable and deeply connected to its wooded surroundings.

Nestled into its Cotuit site, the home reflects a quiet confidence. Its clean lines, warm finishes and framed views work together to create a space that feels calm and cohesive—modern without being stark, and responsive to the landscape around it.

Throughout the process, the Luffs worked closely with the team at Pella Southern New England to bring their vision to life. It was a true collaboration—one built on trust, shared standards and a commitment to thoughtful design.