This dramatic, nine-acre, private New England residence has 270 degree views of the Atlantic Ocean and is bordered to the North by one of the great ponds and to the South by conservation land.
We were asked to design a summer home and family retreat to accommodate a growing family. The property consists of a two story 7,460 square foot main house, a 900 square foot guest house, and a detached 3 car garage with a second floor exercise room. On the south side of the house is a large stone terrace with a swimming pool, spa and small formal garden. The buildings were designed in the American Shingle Style with stone water tables, weathered cedar shingles, charcoal gray wood trim, and numerous porches.
A primary goal of the project was to create a home with highly detailed interior spaces rich in texture and visual interest. One way this is accomplished is through the use of carefully crafted woodwork in every room. The public rooms of the house are fabricated in clear-finished Maple with herringbone panels, fluted pilasters, carved brackets, and large crown moldings. The detailing is reminiscent of important summer homes of the 20th century, while the Maple was selected to keep the spaces light, bright and airy. The guestrooms and other spaces are rendered with similar detailing, but in white painted woodwork. To mark it as a special room, the Library in the Main House is fabricated in American Black Walnut with small-scale box patterned panels and a delicately coffered ceiling. The Owner’s study is entirely covered in Teak and detailed like the interior of a boat.
The interior organization of the spaces is designed to facilitate family interaction, to provide visual connections from room to room, and to allow vistas to the water beyond. At the center of the Main House is a large central Great Room which literally and figuratively forms the hub of the house. The Great Room has a 25-foot high vaulted ceiling, wonderful views of the pond and ocean, and serves as both the Living Room and Dining Room. An open Kitchen is adjacent to the Great Room and connects to a large screen porch used for outdoor dining.
Another goal of the interior organization was to create a house that functioned equally well for either a couple or the entire extended family. To achieve this, the house divides into two wings. The Owner’s side of the house has a master suite, sunroom, and two studies and is separated from the guest wing by the Entry Hall on the ground floor and the Library on the second floor. The guest wing of the house has six bedrooms each with their own theme and private bath. One of these rooms has a series of built in bunk beds designed to resemble ships bunks. A pair of staircases, one for each wing, allows one to circulate without ever needing to backtrack. The basement is a large entertainment area with a full size two lane bowling alley, dedicated video projection room with terraced seating, and a darkroom.
