I will never sell this house. Even if I don’t live here, I will keep it as a legacy — because I love it too much.”

Beth Moss

When a foundation crumbles, there is only one thing to do — tear it down and start over. And that’s just what Beth Moss and her husband, CJ, decided to do when they found their dream “space” for their dream home in Portsmouth. But there was one complication standing in their way, even after the existing home was demolished.

Not only did they have to rebuild the home in the exact same spot where it originally stood, but they also had to match its original size — 1,100 square feet. These lot size constraints and building limitations sparked creativity in the design team at Cedar House Design Collective, who partnered with Southcoast Building Concepts to bring their dream home to life within the confined space the property had to offer.

Both Beth and CJ were no strangers to house projects before they came across this property, as they own their own realtor company — Moss Home Solutions. That’s actually how they stumbled upon this house. When the owner of the property wanted to sell it, they came to see it, and as Beth said, “Something about it made me want to own it instead of sell it.”

Prior to the purchase of this property, Beth and CJ were renters who had never owned a home, so it was quite a remarkable endeavor to make a purchase of this home as their first home, considering it would need to be demolished prior to living in it — and yet, that’s what they did.

From vision board to real life

With just 1,100-square-feet to work with, Beth knew every detail had to count. “If it’s going to be this small, we want it to be really special,” she said. With that in mind, she and her husband CJ blended the elegance of Beth’s British heritage with CJ’s clean, modern style. Their vision first took shape on a Pinterest board. 

From that digital inspiration board, the couple partnered with the design team at Cedar House Design Collective and their builders to bring the dream to life in the small space provided — proving that luxury doesn’t require a large footprint. 

According to Erika Twohig of Cedar House Design Collective, the key was incorporating refined details and intentional design choices that maximized both function and style. “We focused on creating a sense of grandeur in a small space,” she said. Elements like a completely open floor plan, custom built-ins, and soaring 10-foot ceilings give the home an airy, elegant feel reminiscent of a grand British residence — just scaled down. 

Thoughtful, modern features elevate the everyday experience. A bathroom vanity wall showcases a custom LED mirror with a built-in defogger and magnifier, perfect for makeup and shaving. Throughout the home, motorized window treatments allow the owners to gently wake with the sunrise over the water. Even practical upgrades feel luxurious, like the Zip Water faucet, which delivers boiling, chilled, or sparkling water on demand. 

The home also boasts larger, standout features. A custom-built, two-person infrared sauna offers a spa-like escape. Vaulted ceilings, French doors, and a dramatic two-story staircase with three stacked windows create a striking vertical view and flood the space with natural light. Multiple-tiered outdoor living areas were designed for dining, gathering, and relaxing around a cozy fire pit — blurring the line between indoor and outdoor living. 

And anchoring it all is a stunning, 8-foot mahogany front door, a statement of timeless craftsmanship that sets the tone from the moment you arrive. “This home proves you don’t have to build big to live beautifully,” Twohig said. “I will never sell this house. Even if I don’t live here, I will keep it as a legacy — because I love it too much,” she said.