A New England House Sitting
A New England House Sitting.
Sometimes you need to bring the mountain to Muhammad. With a picture-perfect, farmland site we had to make the grade for more than just aesthetics to get this new home to sit at its best. Blessed with a near-by pond, but cursed with a high-water table, a workable septic system and dry basement underscored the necessary requirements. The house sits properly now watching over its domain. It’s a modern farmhouse and it’s hyper-sensitive to precedent. It’s wearing its dress white clapboard siding with companion black sash windows, and is neatly framed by more than a couple sugar maple trees. Existing stone walls frame the front and rear to complete the scene.
The new raised perch for this home allows for a meandering driveway. It’s neither a stroll nor hike, but a pronounced walk to the street. Guest should prepare for a commitment to enter here, but the wide farmer’s porch with warm wood V-grooved ceiling will surely bring comfort, , so take a seat in the swing on this expansive front porch to witness the calm.
A cluster of utility spaces separates the living areas from the garage. For the homeowners, it’s refreshing to off-load baggage before being lifted. The changing seasons are amplified in this home. Generously tall, two over two double hung windows surround the open first floor and create a gallery of outdoor portraits. Views to the landscape are everywhere and with the aforementioned distance to the street privacy is met. The center “L-shaped’ staircase sequesters the foyer and provides just the right interruption of space to create nooks of privacy around it. The stair also provide access to the upper bedrooms and lower level recreation spaces.
To further engage the site the procession to the rear outdoor spaces is taken in stages. Two successive decks ease the path down ward. The park-like backyard is relatively flat and well defined by the surrounding woods while the home’s solar orientation broadcasts sparkling light off the pond to let you know just where you are and the time of the day.
