My Houzz: Saltbox Charm in a Heritage Fishing Community

Elizabeth and Ed Burry's second-generation saltbox home sits on a small hill in the historic fishing community of Trinity in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada — population 150 in the summer, as few as 38 in the winter. The waterfront town is as charming as it sounds, thanks to strict building codes that help preserve a townscape that dates back to the 16th century.

The home, based on a design by artist Frank Lapointe, capitalizes on coastal views and embodies the area's historic aesthetic. The couple lives here from May through October while focusing on creative endeavors — she's a registered nurse who's now an artist and jewelry designer; he's a writer. The rest of the year, they live in nearby St. John's.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Elizabeth and Ed Burry, plus their 12-year-old rescue dog, Molly
Location: Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Size: 1,400 square feet; 2 bedrooms plus a loft, 1½ baths
Year built: 2001

Three sides of the hilltop saltbox home enjoy spectacular views of the bay. Within the building code for the town, a roof's direction, pitch and arrangement must visually match the original character of the surrounding buildings. The siding must be 4-inch horizontal wood clapboard unless there is existing original masonry.

Originally the Burrys were going to choose a red siding for their home, but they decided on a muted green so the home would blend with the landscape.

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The Burrys painted the walls and baseboards white to give the space a light and airy feel. The floor is covered in spruce, while the stairs are pine, and both have been treated with a wood stain.

Because of limited storage space — the home doesn't have a basement — they added storage cabinets wherever possible, including under the stairs.

Wall paint: White Chocolate, Benjamin Moore; floor stain: Early American, Minwax


The couple brought some wood furnishings, like this light oak table, from their primary home in St. John's. "We wanted to create a light and casual feel in the home," Elizabeth says.

The pendant lights, however, are a recent splurge.


Pauline Bartlett designed the table settings with simple illustrations of Newfoundland saltbox homes. One of Elizabeth's original paintings hangs over the sideboard off the dining room.


This sunroom is a recent addition. "It opened the entire house and brought light to the space," Elizabeth says. It also happens to show the dust more. "We are on a hill in a windy area, so dust is a common occurrence," she says.

Wall paint: White Chocolate, Benjamin Moore; fish jug: Living Rooms; armchairs: Ashley Furniture


Elizabeth says her advice to homeowners building with a view is to make sure your windows are low enough so you can see out when sitting. "Plan, plan, plan. Did I say plan?" she says.

To maximize views of the harbor, she made sure the width between the two windows behind the woodstove was a small as possible.


Open pine stair treads and iron balusters add to the spacious and airy feeling. All of the wood walls were given a whitewash, and the couple left the wood ceiling and beams exposed to keep the space warm.

Wall paint: White Chocolate, Benjamin Moore


The upstairs main bedroom pulls in blues and sand colors and features another one of Elizabeth's paintings above the bed. She paints mostly Newfoundland landscapes.


The home's only full bathroom was kept simple, and the oak door was stained. The bathroom overlooks the water. While there currently isn't a washer-dryer unit, the couple plans to add one soon — as they now have to go into town to do laundry.


A second-floor bedroom doubles as an office. The ladder is the only way to access the loft space. The floors throughout the upper level are spruce.


Even though the ceilings are low, this attic loft makes great sleeping quarters for guests. The couple painted the wood-paneled walls in the same whitewash as in the main areas on the first floor to keep the space bright. Through the small window is a view of the marina.

Wall paint: White Chocolate, Benjamin Moore


A folding divider offers privacy for the two full beds on opposite sides of the space.


A back deck overlooks the bay and Elizabeth's studio (with red shutters). Each time a boat is brought down to the water for the first time, Ed and his friends have a party during which they launch the boat, then celebrate with beer and martinis at a local home.


Elizabeth's studio perches on stilts over the water and doubles as her seaside shop, Mirabella. Its design is reminiscent of the fishing stations original to the town.


A town library, a museum, restaurants and a marina serve the small population, and there's a local theater called the Rising Tide Theatre that's producing a play based on Ed's recent book, The Loop.


Twice weekly during the summer, The New Founde Lande Trinity Pageant takes place. For the past 20 years, the pageant takes people through the roads and historic sites, while professional actors and actresses from the Rising Tide Theatre act out stories from the past. One of the sites is next to Elizabeth's studio. The pageant brings thousands of tourists through each week.


This is the view of Trinity from the next town over, Port Rexton. The Burrys' home sits in the center on top of the hill; though blending in, it is still visible from across the bay.

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