This 2,300 square foot house for a family of four rests atop a ledge knoll ringed by trees and overlooking a meadow. During intermittent camping stays on the land, the owners spent several years selectively thinning, shaping and uncovering the natural features of this varied and beautiful 7-acre property under the guidance of a local landscape architect. Their deep understanding of the site guided the siting and shape of the house.
The house design began with a target budget, which defined the overall size. The owners wanted a house with a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces that would comfortably accommodate family, guests and work and the evolving needs of a young family. The design incorporates this program into a compact, energy efficient footprint with multi-functional, flexible spaces and budget friendly finishes. A loft overlooking the living room borrows light and views and functions as an office and guest room. A walk-in pantry tucks away the kitchen clutter and refrigerator, leaving a fluid, open kitchen, living and dining space. The kids’ wing has compact bedrooms that benefit from large windows, a shared play area and loft that can grow and change along with them.
The house was designed to have a strong presence, without overwhelming the site. The property has so many distinctive natural features that instead of having a singular focus, the house was shaped by the landscape on all sides. Each space is unique, with its own special relationship with the land, views and trees. With the family’s strong connection to the landscape, outdoor rooms are an integral part of the house design, equally important and used almost as much as interior rooms.
The exterior is dark and textured, with a dark-stained eastern white cedar siding, milled for a pencil sized, corner-wrapped shadow line. With the outside corners removed, the house seems to undulate within the wooded landscape.
Inside, rooms are bright and smooth-surfaced and appear to unfold and slip, giving the illusion of much bigger spaces.
The house’s style was inspired by the owners’ Scandanavian roots and graphic sensibilities (professional photographer). Simple, honest materials, a mix of vernacular and contemporary forms, and contrasting neutrals all provide a backdrop for colorful living, furnishings and people.
