With a rambling landscape dotted with rustic cottages and weathered bungalows built in the early 1900s, Annisquam, a small waterfront neighborhood in Gloucester, is an enclave shrouded in time.

“The owners fell in love with the house,’’ says interior designer Jennifer Palumbo, of the antique house the family purchased as a summer getaway. “It was in disrepair, but the charm and patina of the old fishing cottage was really appealing to them.’’ Palumbo was charged with maintaining the character of the older structure while making it more suitable for modern living with a fresh, summery feel.

The color palette centers on white, punctuated by cooler coastal themed hues: shades of green and varying degrees of blue. Throughout the house, exposed ceiling beams are original and while they contributed a great deal of charm to the house, they were a bit tricky to work with, says Palumbo. “There was no place to conceal the mechanicals. In a few areas new beadboard-clad ceilings that match the home’s existing paneling were installed to mask wiring.’’

In the kitchen, track lighting was surface-mounted to one of the beams. “The fixtures are aesthetically appropriate to the open framing of the house,’’ says Palumbo. “They have a lofty industrial appeal but it blends with the original architecture in the least unobtrusive way.’’

Palumbo collaborated with Venegas and Company on the design of the kitchen, where white cabinets are complemented by dual islands made of pickled oak that evokes the look of driftwood. Since the kitchen was overhauled, new flooring was installed, refinished, and feathered to match the original wide fir planks in the rest of the house.

A cozy seating nook inside the front door is an ideal place to curl up with a book on one of the century-old benches. Palumbo had the drawers underneath repaired, the seats were reupholstered, and lively throw pillows were incorporated. A vibrant mosaic style painting by artist Jill Ricci that hangs above the fireplace draws one into the space.

“Since the house is so washed with white we relied on textiles to introduce color and character,’’ says Palumbo. “But you can only do so much with throw pillows, so art was another critical component. The piece really fits with the bright, happy vibe of the house.’’

Jaci Conry can be reached at jaci@jaciconry.com