A New House With Old Charm

When most people think of new construction, they probably don’t picture weathered wood floors, 1950s-style appliances, and furniture with chipped paint. But when Sandy Gingras (here with her husband Victor) had the chance to build the home of her dreams on Long Beach Island, NJ, those are just the kinds of features she went for. “I never wanted a house that was elegant or formal,” says Sandy, a writer/illustrator and owner of two local gift shops called How to Live. “I’d much rather be in a place that reminds me of the simple beach cottages I grew up with.”