My husband and I were looking to build a vacation and eventual retirement home. The location we chose was the unique North Fork of Long Island, NY. The North Fork is home to beaches on the Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay and many other attractions including; family owned farms, quaint towns, vineyards, fishing, sailing and oyster/clam/scallop farms. The eventual site of our home is blocks from Long Island Sound beaches and is in a small community of vacation and year round residences. We were attracted to the site due to its close location to the beach and its natural landscaping. The one acre site had an array of mature trees and forest like grounds with a shomewhat steep slope upward from the street. Located on the site were three structures; a one bedroom cottage, a detached garage built into the slope, and a detached artist studio. The initial design was somewhat challenging due to the delicate nature of the area. The building code does not allow structures to be placed on the slope. Zoning regulations would also not allow the garage or artist studio to be replaced if they were taken down. The solution was to place the new home where the small cottage stood and refurnish the garage and artist studio. Instead of facing the house toward the street we turned it so that the living areas faced south. Not tied to any particular style and to fit into the neighborhood, we decided to use a mixture of farmhouse, cottage, and nautical details. We used natural long lasting materials such as; cedar siding, natural stone veneer, and hard woods to blend into the natural landscaping. The open floor plan has a cross axis, which in a traditional sense, the rooms, windows, stair and openings align. The empty parts of the cross were filled with three separate outdoor rooms that are great for entertainment, dining, or just observing the sunset and nature. Keeping the rooms centered on the axis lead to elevations that were pleasing.