On weekends, we sit in the courtyard with coffee in the morning or wine in the evening. We listen to the birds. We just breathe. It's peaceful in a way that's hard to describe.
Reprinted with permission from South Shore Home Life and Style, The Pinehills, 25 Years of Home
Written by Joey Macari
In a quiet cul-de-sac just beyond the bustle of everyday life, there's a home that trades noise for nuance. This is not just a house—it's a haven. A California Courtyard home designed by The Green Company, the property embodies both innovation and intimacy, where indoor and outdoor living blur together into something altogether rare for New England.
Steve and Andra Bolotin discovered The Pinehills the way many of us stumble into something life-changing: half by plan, half by luck. It was 2005. Both professionals—Steve an attorney, Andra in finance—were seeking an escape from their city lives. "Every time we tried to plan a vacation, one of us would get caught up with work," says Bolotin. "So we thought—why not find a place we could escape to every weekend instead?"
Their criteria were clear: somewhere close enough to Boston that the drive wasn't a chore, somewhere near golf (both are avid players), and most importantly, somewhere that truly felt like getting away. When they heard of The Pinehills, they took a drive to Plymouth, expecting to spend an afternoon. They ended up buying a home.
But not just any home. The Bolotin's were drawn to Five Lanterns—a striking example of the Green Company's unique vision for The Pinehills. "It was unlike anything else we had seen," he says. "It felt like California had come to Massachusetts."
That was no coincidence. Dominique Sampson, VP at The Green Company, was one of the minds behind the vision. "Around 2006 or 2007, we took a trip to California," Sampson says. "We wanted to push even further into this idea of indoor-outdoor living. Not just views from windows or a nice deck—but truly private, integrated outdoor spaces that are part of the home's living experience."
That initial exploration of courtyard living, expressed in beautiful detail at the Bolotin's home, resulted in what is now an iconic series of award-winning "Fresco" homes by The Green Company at The Pinehills that reimagine what attached living can be. In the Five Lanterns California Courtyard home that started it all, the outdoors isn't a backdrop—it's the heart. A secret courtyard—accessible only from the inside—welcomes you with a koi pond, a dining pergola and a loggia with an outdoor fireplace. It's as if the home wraps its arms around you, shielding you from the world while inviting you to linger outside a little longer, even as the seasons shift.
Privacy is foundational to The Green Company's design ethos. "We're a production builder," Sampson says, "but we pride ourselves on personalization and on building homes that feel like retreats—even in a neighborhood setting." Through thoughtful landscaping, angled decks and strategically placed windows, each home feels like its own world.
Within the Five Lanterns neighborhood, the sense of retreat is most apparent in the quiet luxuries. The sunny third-story tower—a personal sanctuary for the Bolotin's to read and reflect. The generous serene porch, complete with ceiling fans and enough space to dine alfresco in three seasons. The attached guest casita—ideal for visitors, aging parents, or a quiet home office. The home debuted as Boston Magazine's Design Home in 2008—a moment that cemented its place not just in The Pinehills, but in New England design history.
Yet for Steve and Andra, it's not the accolades that make the home meaningful. It's the way space gives them permission to slow down. "On weekends, we sit in the courtyard with coffee in the morning or wine in the evening. We listen to the birds. We just breathe," he says. "It's peaceful in a way that's hard to describe."
The couple became so invested in the community that Steve now serves as chair of the Plymouth Planning Board, helping guide the very place that gave him and Andra their much-needed escape. "Living here made me want to contribute to the future of Plymouth," he says.
Steve remembers one of those early walks through the neighborhood, when his sister-in-law, brother-in-law, and nephew were visiting. "We were walking along one of the trails near the road, and someone drove by and waved," he recalls. "I waved back, and my sister-in-law looked at me and said, 'Who was that?' I said, 'I don't know.' She said, 'Well then why did they wave?' And I told her, 'That's just what we do here.'"
It was a small moment—but one that said everything. This wasn't just a beautiful place. It was a deeply welcoming one.
That sense of connection—to the land, to the design, to the rhythm of life in The Pinehills—is what makes the Bolotin residence more than a home. It is a reflection of 25 years of thoughtful development, where architecture respects both nature and neighbor. Where every design tells a story of how people live and how they want to feel. It is a tribute not only to good design, but to the life that unfolds when intention meets inspiration.
And sometimes, when you bring a little bit of California home.
– Steve and Andra Bolotin
— Diane Shagoury
— Tammy
Welcome Center
The Summerhouse
33 Summerhouse Drive • Plymouth, MA 02360
Open by appointment Wednesday–Sunday, 10am–4pm
888.209.8880
Keep In Touch
Stay informed about all things Pinehills by joining our email list.