Introducing our recently completed Contemporary Shingle home, a modern adaptation of the 19th century shingle-style. This stunning waterfront home dramatically manipulates scale and form in a timeless design.
The home’s eye-catching exterior features bold gestures of monolithic granite chimneys, sweeping overhangs – inspired by both shingle-style and pagoda roofs of the client’s heritage – and gable-end peaks that complement one another perfectly. The welcoming large portico draws in visitors.
There are many playful elements to this design, including the prominent three-floor stair tower at the façade.
At our Contemporary Shingle home’s rear, there are a variety of outdoor spaces, including a terrace, round porch, and uncovered and covered balconies. The backyard also features an infinity edge pool that visually flows into the sound.
Moving to the interior, the nautically-themed mudroom nods to the waterfront location of the home. The barrel-shaped ceiling with curved white oak beams and beadboard infill takes inspiration from the bottom of a wooden boat.
As people tend to spend most of their time in the kitchen and family room, our designs focus around an open floor plan that links these spaces, while also creating visual boundaries that make these rooms feel individual. The family room is a dramatic two-story space with clean and crisp detailing. The attic to basement staircase creates diagonal lines of circulation that allow it to be experienced from multiple floors.
Highlights of the kitchen include stained white oak ceiling, floor, and island with a natural tone contrasted by cooler tones on the custom soft blue painted cabinets and white stone tile backsplash and counters.
In the L-shaped breakfast banquette area, the white oak and upholstered built-in seating uses a neutral tone that compliments the coastal color palette.
Situated off of the kitchen is the elegant serving pantry featuring polished brass hardware, in-cabinet LED lighting and marble slab backsplash to match the countertops.
As we move upstairs via the three-story stair tower, the design is light and playful, with an open tread staircase floating off of three glazed walls.
In the primary bathroom, a rich variety of material and visual complexity balances the space. Eye-catching contrasting elements include warm white oak vanities against cool-toned bookmatched stone slabs, grey painted walls and white flower tile mosaic floors. The space features an inviting freestanding soaking tub and exposed freestanding shower plumbing.
Our Contemporary Shingle project features a dramatic mix of traditional and modern materials and styles that combine beautifully. We’re proud to have created this timeless design that we’re confident will endure for generations.
We’re pleased to share that VHA has been awarded a 2024 Alice Washburn Excellence Award from AIA Connecticut for our Seaside Shingle design. The Alice Washburn Awards are named for the distinguished, self-taught Connecticut designer and builder of the 1920s, whose work is known for her thoughtful, stylistic, and programmatic invention.
Focusing on style, this program acknowledges excellence in traditional house design through the thoughtful adaptation of tradition to address 21st-century needs.
Our Seaside Shingle home, awarded an Alice Washburn Excellence Award in the category of New Construction, is situated along the Greenwich harbor. While the interior is all modern conveniences and technologies, the exterior matches the classic styling of its neighboring 19th and early 20th century waterfront estates.
The goal was to design a waterfront summer home for our clients with generous entertaining space for family gatherings. An extensive program required efficient use of almost every square foot allowed on the site. The design optimizes water views while comfortably moderating a sloping site.
The flag lot driveway reveals the classic double-gable front elevation, while paired Tuscan columns add formality. Naturally weathered yellow cedar is displayed between cheerful sea-foam shuttered windows, following a traditional proportion of wall to window that contrasts the informal rear elevation.
Unique features like a four-story tower and breakfast room bay add on to the double-gable form for an approachable eclecticism.
Moving to the interior, the entry features a grand stair and open plan great room. Eyes are drawn up to the beam and beadboard ceiling, then to the four paired French doors with custom transom pattern flowing out to the upper terrace.
The open kitchen and family room feature subtle nautical styling with matching interior transoms over openings that continue the style of the great room doors. In the kitchen, V-groove board ceiling with smaller beams ties the cabinetry together with metallic accent panels.
Light floods in from the Palladian window and breakfast area bay windows to the Sound.
At the second floor, the primary bedroom has the best views, including from a sitting alcove in the tower element. The rest of the primary suite is a sophisticated getaway with a gracious study, paneled bathroom, and two private rooftop balconies tucked into the side porch roof above the breakfast room.
The lower level entertaining space is a comfortable gathering area for multiple generations. It features a nautical play space with a play ship and bunks for the children, and a wine walled billiards room, bar and lounge area for the adults.
We welcome you to take a full tour of the home’s impressive rec space here.
We’d like to thank AIA Connecticut and its esteemed judges for recognizing our work on this wonderful project. Learn more about the Alice Washburn Awards program here.
Welcome to a tour of our recently completed Greenwich Colonial Expansion project! This existing colonial house designed by architect H.L. Coggins had charming character our clients wanted to preserve, but the home desperately needed upgrades to the kitchen, family room, and primary suite for comfortable contemporary living. Careful additions to this historic Colonial grant more space for modern living while also maintaining the look of a timeless classic. Check out a look at the before and after of the home’s front elevation:
The three-bay main front section of the house was extended, using relocated original windows to make this section appear to have always been symmetrically five bays wide. The expansion of the central mass allows a new primary suite wing to the right and kitchen/family room and garage wings to the left, not to compete scale-wise with the main section.
The entry hall has a new portico and front door with leaded glass sidelights and transom.
New kitchen/family room and garage wings are carefully detailed to complement the existing house without competing with the main mass.
The generous variety of outdoor living spaces feature a new brick and bluestone patio nestled between the existing living room wing and two new porches off the new family room, one open and one screened.
Moving to the interior, the new layout for the main living spaces of the house creates a much more open space with connections from the kitchen to the mud room, family room, breakfast nook, and staircase to the recreation room.
In the kitchen, a custom elliptical banquette makes good use of the ample daylight provided from the corner windows.
The new adjacent large serving pantry features glossy deep blue lacquer and in-cabinet LED lighting that shines through glass shelves:
In the new family room, plenty of daylight is invited in via skylights and French doors. This space also grants a gracious open connection to the kitchen and breakfast room.
Moving onto the library, the mantel and paneled wall were preserved and reworked to allow the seamless insertion of new bookcases in matching cherry. A new hearth and plinth blocks let the natural wood hold center stage.
Check out this glimpse at the original space:
The renovation also includes an office featuring custom built-ins to maximize the efficiency of this small space and create a comfortable work space for household business.
Next up are peeks of the primary bathroom suite. Curved vanities, paneled walls, and a coved plaster ceiling give this bathroom a soothing atmosphere. Built in medicine cabinets are concealed in the wall paneling to preserve the clean aesthetic while providing ample storage.
Over the new garage wing lies an attic that has been transformed into a great recreation room with ample space and light.
The custom bunk bed design complements the aesthetic of the house and creates a comfortable space for sleepovers.
We welcome you to watch the below video tour to learn more about the design of this Colonial Revival renovation from Doug:
A careful renovation of this classic Colonial home brought new life while preserving its historic charm. Expansions to the Primary Suite, Kitchen, Family Room and new rear porches and patios allow for comfortable modern living on a peaceful secluded site.
Welcome back to another installment of our “Defining Characteristics” series, where we highlight the attributes of a particular architectural style. This time around, we’re focusing on the defining characteristics of Tudor architecture in America.
The original flourishing of Tudor residential architecture in America ran from the late 19th century to the depths of the Great Depression. There are plenty of pieces on why this came to be, but to quickly summarize most of them: Tudor architecture was seen by many as a respectable option for a better class of house, when the prevailing Victorian and Renaissance styles were thought to be garish or otherwise inappropriate.
The best examples were well-researched adaptations of Elizabethan architecture; the worst were little more than standard house designs of the era with brown boards applied to them – charming perhaps, but not the same. There was also a revival of sorts from the mid-60s through the late-80s, most of which made the lesser-quality homes of the original flourishing scholarly in comparison.
While it’s not our most frequently requested style, we have worked on a number of Tudor homes over the years and always make a point of studying the historical aesthetics of the style and how to blend them appropriately with the clients’ needs and modern living. Below we’ll discuss some of the areas where Tudor architecture has flexibility as well as some rules to not cross, lest you end up with a expensive knockdown.
7 Features of English Tudor Architecture
Characteristic #1: The Plan
Most architect-designed Tudor homes have forms that are in keeping with their Elizabethan forebears. In most cases, they were one room deep, and the principal portion was either a long and narrow rectangle, a variation of a cross, or in the shape of the letter “E” (it has been suggested that this was in honor of the reigning monarch). A typical spec house layout (which is to say, a deep box with an integrated garage) won’t really work for a Tudor.
While Tudor homes have a reputation for being heavily detailed, and they can be if that’s what you aim for, the surprising reality is that most of the detailing on a typical Tudor is very practical and quite simple when broken down. For instance, brackets were only added when an overhang needed extra support (and that overhang always served a necessary purpose) and eaves at stone were little more than the stone wall meeting the roof slates.
Simple yet attractive detailing
Characteristic #3: Timbers (usually)
There is an expectation that Tudor homes have timbering, and most do, but there are a few options. The first thing to consider: Is it structural (or meant to look like it is), or is it decorative? The second question is: What will the infill be? Both are a matter of preference in past and present American examples, and there wasn’t even always a definite answer in Elizabethan times.
Decorative timbering (“half-timbers”) can be highly stylized and creative, but it typically looks like an applique. In this case the infill should be stucco. Structural timbering will typically be tighter in layout and can accommodate stucco or brick infill. The brick patterns can be quite original. In one of our projects the brick infill became a outlet for creativity and the client and designers incorporated more than sixty distinct brick infill patterns! Up to four is usually a sufficient level of variety.
At our Mid Country Tudor, wire-brushed structural timbers with brick infill were used.
Then there is the question of timber finish: Flat-sawn boards, unless the work is very stylized, typically don’t give a design justice. Plain timbers will develop character over time, but adding a wire-brushed finish adds an extra dimension at relatively little cost. Adzed surfaces (a scooped hand hewn finish) give the most authentic finish of all. After texturing the timbers as desired, we typically apply a solid-body stain to preserve the appearance and material.
Characteristic #4: Other Building Materials
Like most other vernacular styles, Elizabethan homes typically employed materials that were readily available. Fast forward to current iterations and you’ll find that most homes have a base of brick or stone and (half-)timbering where it’s deemed appropriate. Beyond that, you can also find clay tiles at roofs and overhangs, stucco or rough-hewn clapboard siding as a secondary wall finish, slate as an option for roofs, etc.
Most of our Tudor designs have stone as the primary wall material. A creative way to stay budget conscious is to employ the use of stucco at the side wings or rear of the home.
Characteristic #5: Windows and Doors
As double-hung windows were basically unheard of until the 17th century, casements are the typical window type in Tudors by default. Wood and steel were both common in the early 20th century, and both are appropriate options for the northeastern US. Muntins can be wood or leaded, and panes should be smaller than what is common today with a consistent modularity throughout.
There are a number of appropriate options for entrance doors, and again, appropriate study is required. Given the typical color schemes of Tudor homes, window and door products that cannot be painted or stained should be avoided.
A typical roof pitch, used at our Hilltop English Country project
Characteristic #6: Steep Roofs
On a typical Tudor roof, anything with a pitch less than 13:12 is too shallow. How steep is appropriate depends on a number of design factors. Such steep roofs were likely employed for some combination of three reasons: First, steeper roofs shed water more easily, which was important in the days before flashings and waterproofing membranes were a universal concept. Second, they could allow for larger attics. Third, they make a shallow house look more substantial.
There are exceptions, of course. Sometimes, steep slopes simply won’t work and the additions and modifications to the original homes become part of the appropriate detailing. Pictured below, a shed dormer, entrance portico, and bay window were added to this Tudor by our team as appropriate additions that do not follow the pitch guidelines. Additionally, the starting points of roofs (“eaves”) may kick out at a shallower pitch, especially to provide shelter from the elements near entrances (as shown below) or simply where a nice design intervention is needed.
Quite literally the icing on the proverbial cake, Tudor chimneys can be quite elaborate and prominent – and even misleading. In the days of one fireplace for every room, chimneys were seen as a status symbol, and adding false chimneys to give the impression of having more rooms than actually existed was quite common!
One final thought related to this topic: A lot of people lump in French Norman styled buildings with Tudor work. Having done a few over the years, we can assure you that while the two styles have a fair number of similarities, they are not the same when done correctly and are architectural cousins at most. French Norman architecture, for a start, has much quirkier detailing.
Interested in reading more? Check out our additional articles in this series:
With four articles in this series, we have covered the styles that the majority of our designs fall under. That being said, we have undertaken many projects in other styles and can create your masterpiece in whatever tradition you prefer. Contact us for thoughtful residential design in the style of your choosing! Reach out to us at info@vanderhornarchitects.com or (203) 622-7000 to discuss your vision for your new home.
We’re proud to announce that VHA is the recipient of two 2023 Alice Washburn Awards from The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Connecticut.
The Alice Washburn Award
The Alice Washburn Award is named for the distinguished Connecticut designer and builder of the 1920s, whose work is known for her thoughtful stylistic and programmatic invention. The program acknowledges excellence in traditional home design through the thoughtful adaptation of tradition to address 21st-century needs. Learn more about The Alice Washburn Award program here.
Mid-Country Manor Excellence Award
Our Mid-Country Manor has been selected for an Alice Washburn Excellence Award in the category of New Construction.
The architectural detailing and brickwork of this Greenwich CT English Arts & Crafts manor take center stage, highlighting its beautiful masonry with elegant proportion. The project began with a hundred-year old carriage house previously converted to a 3,600-square foot home. The clients happily raised their family there but always dreamed of expanding to a full estate, with room to entertain and welcome back now grown children and their families.
The manor now stands at over 12,000 square feet. Carefully detailed materials and forms merge seamlessly with the historic carriage house and stylistically follow the client’s favorite Edwin Lutyens designs and Edwardian English Arts and Crafts precedents.
The Alice Washburn Award jury comments for our Mid-Country Manor included, “Alice Washburn’s spirit raised to the nth power. Superb, beautiful, classic design with nice, and sometimes surprising, detailing.”
Interested in seeing more of our Mid-Country Manor? Check out a tour of the project here.
Connecticut River Shingle Merit Award
AIA Connecticut also awarded our Connecticut River Shingle project with a 2023 Alice Washburn Merit Award in the category of New Construction.
Just beyond one of the lower Connecticut River Valley’s most charming historic villages is this new 8,500 square feet shingle-style home, designed to take advantage of its challenging site and river views. The house is situated on a steep hillside, and between it and the river is an expanse of lowland with ponds.
The jury comments for this project included, “Faithful shingle-style creation, well executed inside and out.”
Just beyond one of the lower Connecticut River Valley’s most charming historic villages is this shingle-style home, designed to take advantage of its challenging site and panoramic river views. Let’s take a tour of this charming waterfront home.
Situated on a steep hillside along the Connecticut River, the rear of the property features a large expanse of lowland with an existing pond and fields leading to the shore. The 8,500 square feet home is spread gracefully across the site, anchored by a base of local fieldstone foundation walls and multi tiered living spaces. The lower level takes advantage of the sloping site with full height french doors opening to a lower green terrace and pool deck.
Unique steel blue trim, columns, and entablatures add a lively contrast to the sweeping shingle rooflines and walls below.
There are a number of special touches incorporated in the cedar shingle walls of the residence, including curved inset windows at the double gable, diamond patterns at the second floor, and fish scale coursing on the upper level of the octagonal stair tower.
From the interior, the octagonal tower impresses as a nautically-themed work of art. The detailing at the ceiling inspired the lighthouse design of the newel post in the foreground. The home features cohesive nautical detailing throughout.
The primary stair off the reception hall features a more formal stair with turned newel posts and paneled wainscoting. The entry hall features floor to ceiling paneling with herringbone oak floors and clean, yet elegant decor.
In the living room, the fireplace and mirrored paneling welcome guests during the evening, but the expansive water views steal the show during the day. Custom windows feature meeting rails that have been raised above eye level to not obstruct the view, while the upper sashes maintain some traditional visual interest and detail with curved diamond muntins.
The interiors are traditional but gently detailed with simple classic mouldings. The primary rooms are arranged along the rear of the house to access the river views.
An up-close look at the dining room
The bright, functional kitchen ties into the rest of the first floor seamlessly, taking advantage of some small repeated details. Glazed diamond upper cabinets compliment the first floor windows and bead board adds subtle texture to the ceiling, similarly to the covered porches. Book matched granite backsplash and countertops add even more elegance. The kitchen sink is located in the island, so again, the owners can enjoy the coastal views that make this property so attractive.
All of the bedrooms in the home are located on the waterfront side of the home with service spaces (secondary bathrooms and closets) facing the rear.
Moving to the primary bathroom, a spacious layout with soaking tub and walk-in shower afford a resort-like experience. Marble accents in the basketweave mosaic floor are carried up to the top band of the tile wainscoting.
Stand-alone bathroom vanities make cleaning and maintenance a dream, but as for storage? Don’t worry, we’ve covered those bases with adjacent built in cabinetry and open niche for all of the bath necessities.
The formal library features stain grade paneling throughout, serving as a great place to take a meeting, or to just enjoy a good book in a quiet corner of the home.
The primary bedroom balcony gets the best spot in the house with enough space for a few rocking chairs and more. If we could wake up with coffee here, we’re not sure that we’d ever want to leave! On a clear day, visibility stretches for miles down the river.
The rear of the house continues the theme of outdoor living with wrap around porches. The bay windows lightly separate larger spaces from smaller nooks to provide more intimate entertainment areas.
A backyard pergola and beautiful landscaping surround the ideally located pool. During the months when the pool cover is on, the lower level location keeps it out of the primary sight lines. The walk out basement, however, makes it extremely convenient to access during the summer months.
Perched on one of the highest points overlooking the Block Island Sound, this lighter iteration of the shingle style takes full advantage of its lofty position and broad exposure to the sea.
As an architecture firm based in coastal Greenwich, our clients often make nautical themes a priority in the creation of their dream homes. Whether the home is sited locally or further afield in expanding markets like NY, RI, or NJ, we never turn down the opportunity to borrow inspiration from the vast neighboring Atlantic and the vessels that sail her.
Overall styles can vary from French Eclectic to Shingle, but nautical gestures can be used across the spectrum to create a cohesive look. Shown below, clam shell built-ins provide a fresh and elegant way to bring the calm of the beach indoors.
Our Darien Colonial project’s living room fireplace is surrounded by honed absolute black granite and custom Federal-Style wood mantel. The paneled wall features cabinets, display shelves, and a curved niche with shell decoration made famous in the 1934 renovation of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Oval Office.
Three recently completed nautical projects of ours include:
The Rye Beach Shingle
Sited in Rye and recently featured in the hit Netflix show The Watcher, this idyllic home features diamond patterned windows and swept front bays that mimic the stern of a ship. The exterior invokes importance and elegance, without overwhelming formality.
The design also affords the opportunity for a bit of fun. Small nautical gestures reveal themselves as observers get to know the home, like the silhouette of a striped bass carved into the gable end as shown below. The adjacent platform with decorative wood railing and portlights also has nautical roots, as wives of whalers in 19th century Nantucket used the rooftop platforms to search for their spouses’ ships in the harbor. Unfortunately many ships did not return, and the platforms became aptly known as Widow’s Walks.
Moving to the interior, the lower level recreation space includes shiplap paneling with v-groove profile and barn doors that open to reveal a double bunk niche. Dock cleat handles and stain-grade cap rails further emphasize the theme and are a lot of fun for young guests and residents.
After a good night’s rest in the bunks, it’s time for some exercise in the sport court or liquid refreshment at the stain-grade cherry wet bar. The bead board paneling, mirrored backsplashes, brass lighting, and curved bar corners would look just as appropriate on a luxurious ocean liner as they do in this bright recreation space.
Of course, the interior furnishings and color pallet help support the cohesive nautical theme.
The home’s library includes American Cherry paneling, built-in bookcases, a hidden doorway, and mantel with the abstracted lapstrake hull of a wooden sailboat.
Our Rye Beach Shingle’s third floor office suite features the ‘ribs’ of a ship along the ceiling, with vaulted widow’s walk ceiling, portlights and shiplap wainscoting.
One of our newer projects that features lovely nautically-themed detailing is our Connecticut River Shingle. Just beyond one of the lower Connecticut River Valley’s most charming historic villages is this shingle-style home, designed to take advantage of its challenging site and river views.
The main staircase located in the octagonal tower is a work of art that reaches all floors in the home. The detailing at the ceiling inspired the design of the newel post in the foreground.
The library is paneled in white oak and finished with a light color palette to keep the space welcoming. River views and an abundance of natural light provide a nice contrast to the libraries of the past that were often more like cigar dens than functional high use spaces.
After traveling down a long winding driveway, this private dockside paradise welcomes guests with swept double gables and an elaborate entertainment focused backyard program.
Designed to maximize waterfront views and natural light, the spacious, open living areas feature some subtle and some overt nautical styling.
The watch tower and yacht club style entertainment spaces are revealed in the rear.
Perhaps the most impressive nautical space in the home is the lower level entertaining space – where broad openings separate activity zones for kids and adults. A custom-designed pool table in the recreation space mimics a tender on stands waiting to be launched. Red and green lighting reference navigation lights that guide ships back to harbor.
The rec room’s custom made nautical billiards table
The children’s play space features a mock tall ship with functional crows nest, wheel, and even cargo hold for young adventurers to explore. When the lights are dim, the curved ceiling reveals an LED fiber optic constellation map that twinkles and displays the occasional shooting star. Adjacent ‘harborside’ bunks complete an imaginative nautical dream world that will surely be a sleepover destination for multiple generations.
Four comfy bunk beds enclose the play area. The paneled bunks feature stained cherry rails and custom ship ladders.
Additional highlights of the recreation space include a 200-bottle wine cellar wall, teak wet bar and gaming space.
One of our most beloved projects has gotten quite a bit of attention lately. Our Rye Beach Shingle home has taken on a starring role in the new Netflix series The Watcher!
While the show is inspired by true events that took place in a home in Westfield, NJ, our shingle project is located in Rye, NY. The design combines classical influence and complexity of form with naturalistic informality and eclectic detailing. The exterior of this idyllic home features four gables that intersect a central hipped-roof, matching front and rear shed dormers at the attic level that culminate in a widow’s walk with Chippendale balustrade, and a handsome pair of brick chimneys.
Our design’s exterior plays the part of the infamous residence in The Watcher, and the show utilizes a set for its interior scenes.
As reported in Dirt, “Where the [real] property is rather traditional in style with clapboard siding and a mansard roofline, its television counterpart, which towers four stories, is fronted with Cedar shake, handsomely valenced windows and a stone staircase that spills out onto a generous grassy expanse below.”
House Beautifulalso points out some of the differences between the home that the story is based on and our shingle design, stating, “Like 657 Boulevard, it’s a shingle-style house, but the New York home is much grander than its real-life counterpart. It features six bedrooms and seven bathrooms that span 10,166 square feet, according to Zillow, whereas the New Jersey home has six bedrooms, four bathrooms, and spans 3,869 square feet.”
We’re happy to share that VHA has received a 2022 Alice Washburn Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Connecticut for our Hilltop English Country residence. The project was selected for a Merit Award in the category of New Construction.
The Alice Washburn Award is named for the distinguished Connecticut designer and builder of the 1920s, whose work is known for her thoughtful stylistic and programmatic invention. The program acknowledges excellence in traditional house design through the thoughtful adaptation of tradition to address 21st-century needs.
Our Hilltop English Country residence is a cottage style home atop a hill in Darien, CT, featuring generous glazing at bay windows, arch-top French Doors, porches and balconies – all capitalizing on an exceptional view of the Long Island Sound.
Characterful stone arches are included throughout the 6,300-square foot home’s design, including at the front door, garden wall and terrace.
Inside, spacious interiors include plenty of storage and function for a modern family while stylistically matching the antique English vernacular exterior.
The beautiful custom kitchen design combines rustic and refined finishes, from the metal range hood and painted cabinetry with stained character-grade hardwood floors, to its natural wood island and beamwork. A natural stained hutch featuring a bar sink and integrated refrigerator and freezer is fashioned like a piece of furniture against the painted white cabinetry.
Leaded glass casements with transoms beacon the morning light into the kitchen and peak at a heavy-timber wood porch beyond. Pendant lights over the island continue the leaded glass style.
The serving pantry is another interior highlight, featuring elegant high-gloss blue lacquer and starphire glass which shows off the American cherry shelving and leaded glass of the wine room beyond.
In the rear, the terrace and patio entertaining space features a built-in grill, dining area and firepit. Gables and peaks and multiple door and window combinations are decorated with shingled roofing, half-timber and stucco walls, and stone arches.
Introducing one of our newest completed projects, our Mid-Country Manor home! The architectural detailing and brickwork of this English Arts & Crafts residence take center stage, striking a beautiful balance between skilled masonry and elegant proportion. Let’s go for a tour!
The new home was built around an existing 100 year-old carriage house, so the brick had to match in terms of color, texture, coursing, et cetera.
A look at the original carriage house
While the general plan was rectilinear, volumes were pulled forward and pushed back to create rich, textured elevations as seen with this custom frontispiece. There are also terra-cotta accents throughout the exterior, including the soffits. The slate roof is a lively combination of green, maroon, and grey to match the existing carriage house.
Moving to the interior, the home’s millwork design draws on English architect Edwin Lutyens precedents. At the entryway, the oak Corinthian colonnades rest on a simulated brick base of the same species and the design themes flow into the adjacent living room and hallways.
The floor in the entryway is made up of an antiqued marble field with contrasting accents, while quarter-sawn white oak flooring is typically used elsewhere.
A few peeks at the elegant, entry stair, living room, office, and family room spaces are shown below.
For the design of the home’s kitchen and serving pantry, the owner requested a clean, modern look with honed marble backsplash and countertops. The kitchen is located in the original carriage house section, with original brick walls still exposed, but painted white.
The contemporary theme established in the kitchen continues into the master bath. Dramatic, highly figured marble adorn the walls surrounding the tub and sink alcove.
The rear of our Mid-Country Manor was designed to maximize light and visual interest, while tying in the existing carriage house to create a cohesive appearance.
The rear of the house blends seamlessly with the existing carriage house on the left and is complimented by a limestone balcony, brick brackets, beautiful roof lines and a triple archway leading to the covered loggia. The loggia offers a sheltered place to dine or relax while enjoying the outdoor fireplace.
As you can see below, it was quite a dramatic transformation to build our clients’ English Arts & Crafts dream home around the existing century-old original carriage house!
Not too long ago, we shared some defining characteristics of shingle style houses – currently our most requested style from clients. Today we’re back to share our second installment in this series, focusing on architectural characteristics of the Colonial style.
A perennial architectural favorite is the tried-and-true Colonial. But what is a Colonial, exactly? We’ve heard definitions as broad as “anything with more than one story.” From our professional perspective, the Colonial style can be broadly described as anything reasonably derived from American pre-revolutionary architecture, not bearing another description(i.e., Log Cabin, Cape Cod, Dutch Colonial, etc.). And, since we’re based in Connecticut, our focus will be on Colonial architecture that one can reasonably expect to see in our general area, including the “revival” varieties. What you may find beyond our home base will definitely vary.
Countless books have been published on the subject of colonial architecture, but what are the most predominant characteristics that well designed Colonials share? Here are six:
Historically in the New England area, the main box is the focal point and may have been the entire original home. The side wings may be original or may have been added over time on an as needed basis. The footprint of these homes can become rambling and quite charming as generations alter the main box and add side wings to suit their needs. With newer homes the shape, including side wings, is usually determined from the onset, but regardless should always be rational with a sense of hierarchy.
The form of our Colonial Manor is another example of additive colonial revival architecture.
Characteristic #2: Classical Detailing (almost)
The original Colonial builders understood the concepts of classical design courtesy of the numerous books published on the subject at the time. They were also a practical lot and knew how to work with what they had available. With less abundant resources, the detailing of Colonials is typically more muted than that found in “textbook” quality classical architecture, and has a lot more variety. Symmetry is also typically employed, but is not a driving force behind the style as variation of the side wings is common. Most Colonial Revival architecture hews closely to rules of proportion, and careful attention to appropriate detailing remains a must.
The same level of study applies to all of our projects, including ourNorth Country Colonial.
Characteristic #3: Feature Front Door
Even in the simplest of Colonial homes, it is always clear where the most important door is. Whether decorated with hand-cut nails, shutters, a classical surround, or an elaborate portico, the front door is always a statement piece. Today, virtually all clients want a covered portico at their front door, but the options for variety are virtually limitless.
One of countless portico options can be seen at our Darien Colonial.
Characteristic #4: Wood Siding and Shingles
Brick and/or stone Colonials do exist, but they’re quite rare. The rest have either wood clapboard siding or wood shingles, the choice back in the day probably being made based on locals customs and available skill sets. The old carpenters made their own siding and shingles from surrounding trees that weren’t already slated to be used for framing, but today we typically specify cedar (Western Red or Alaskan Yellow, depending on the application). Clapboards typically have an exposure of 3 to 6 inches depending on material available. Roof Shingles can have a huge variety of 4 to 12 inches of exposure, although most of our projects stay in the 5 to 7 inch range.
Characteristic #5: Windows with Shutters (and without)
On the original Colonials, windows panes were small, single-glazed, and full of imperfections due to the difficulties of early glass production. If you’re going for an authentic reproduction Colonial, that’s what you do. However, window panes have gotten bigger since 1775, and we now have energy efficient double-glazed windows to create a comfortable interior during long Northeastern winters. Almost all Colonial windows since 1700 have been double-hung, with casements being common before then. The windows should also be made from a durable wood species or appropriate substitute. Many people find that the original pine windows in their home out-last replacement windows because of the quality of the original material.
As for shutters, most people assume that Colonial houses must have them, and we agree that they look great when designed correctly. However, not all Colonial houses were originally built with shutters and they can look out of place if carelessly applied.
Nothing is more classic than black or dark green shutters, but no shutters, such as at our pictured Revived Colonial, is classic too.
Characteristic #6: Roofs
One thing you must get right on a Colonial house is the slope of the main roofs. Never do they go below 7:12 pitch and rarely do they go above 10:12 pitch (pre-18th century homes or reproductions thereof being the exception). There are a lot of options for roof shapes. Gables (shown below), hips, and gambrels, and variations therein, predominate – but should never be unnecessarily complicated. Most proper Colonial roofs are clad in wood shingles, typically cedar these days, but slate can be a good option as well.
Are you looking to build the Colonial home of your dreams? Contact us at (203) 622-7000 or reach out via email at info@vanderhornarchitects.com to schedule a consultation. And be sure to follow along with us on Instagram at @dvharchitects for project updates and our latest news!
Meet our ‘Classic Georgian Revived’ project- a recently completed home renovation in Greenwich, CT. From the updated backyard entertaining space and mudroom, to the new His and Her master bathroom and closet, the style is traditional but fresh to suit our clients’ classic Georgian brick home.
The renovation included an expansion of the backyard entertaining space, creating a larger patio with an improved connection to the existing recreation space via new wide arched French doors. The new curved brick fireplace with bluestone bench and painted wood pergola help define the space. Speakers and landscape lighting are built into the new masonry.
Pre-renovation, the home’s mudroom was an empty space used only for a pass through to the backyard and entrance to the garage and guest suite above. By adding all new cabinetry, lighting, heating/air conditioning and plumbing, it has become a useful room for dog crating, potting plants and storage.
Our clients also wanted the luxury of separate His and Her bathrooms. To help make that happen, our team dove into the design to reconfigure the master suite and create separate bath spaces. A small extra bedroom was absorbed and re-planned to accommodate new His and Her baths along with generous custom closets.
Pictured above is the custom vanity for His bath, featuring rift-sawn white oak body stained in an ebony finish with Pietra Grey marble top. Both new baths feature luxurious upgrades, including radiant heat under the tile floor, steam showers, and hidden automated roll shades over the existing windows and balcony doors.
Pictured above is the new tranquil, watery blue Her bath. It features a custom vanity that stands on turned wooden feet, basket-weave thassos marble floor, and a freestanding tub centered in a window alcove. Next to the marble tiled shower is a custom make-up station that features an adjustable mirror and a table with divided drawers for peak organization. After washing up, one can cross the hall to the custom closets with LED surround lighting and divided drawers to complete an unparalleled morning routine.
A modern adaptation of the 19th century shingle style, this stunning waterfront home uses the dramatic manipulation of scale and form to create a timeless design that will endure for generations.
Our firm designs homes in a wide variety of architectural styles, from Colonial and Contemporary, to French Country and Tudor. However, Shingle Style is by far the top requested home style at our firm. After all, nothing says “New England Charm” quite like a Shingle Style residence.
Originally dating from the late 19th to early 20th century, in an “anything goes” era in architecture, the Shingle Style has many unique features. So what are the defining characteristics of Shingle Style homes? Today we’ll explain the top five:
5 Features of Shingle Style Architecture
The wall and roof shingles at our Seaside Shingle home gracefully flow together and wrap into accent window openings.
#1: Wood Shingles
While other materials are used in Shingle Style homes (such as brick or stone on the first floor and slate or tile on the roof), the material that tends to predominate are wood shingles. Nothing gives a façade or roof more depth and character than 5/8″ thick wood shingle shakes, especially when formed into special shapes. After all, there are some things that just can’t be replicated in plastic or fiber cement.
A simpler roof would diminish the charismatic charm of our New England Shingle project.
#2: An Attention to Roofs
Some architectural styles emphasize roofs, while others strive to make them blend in. Shingle Style homes exemplify the former, as the roof lines are a dominating feature. When designed properly, the myriad of roof shapes combined with complex plan forms create a level of interest and beauty that is hard to beat.
Most of the original Shingle Style homes were located in seaside or mountain towns and served as weekend or vacation homes, designed to take advantage of views and prevailing breezes. In the days before air conditioning, porches not only provided outdoor entertainment spaces, but also as a more comfortable place to sleep in the summer months. Adjoining rooms could also be kept cool by opening large French doors onto porches, connecting the home to the outdoors. Other than perhaps certain farmhouse and Victorian-era styles, porches predominate Shingle Style homes more than any other.
Heavily studied when designed, the melding of window types at our Classical Revival form an exciting and complimentary group.
#4: An Abundance of Varied Windows and Doors
Shingle Style homes tend to have windows and doors with a lot of variety. Unlike the formality of other styles, it’s common to see several different window sizes and shapes in the same Shingle Style home. As available glass pane sizes became larger and more affordable in the late 19th century, architects took advantage by making windows and doors larger, more numerous, and more varied. Starting with Colonial precedent and reworking elements and shapes, the windows and doors in Shingle Style homes add another unique element of interest.
Sometimes you want to take in a lot of sun, and that’s okay with the Shingle Style, too. The backyard of our Seaside Shingle is one of our favorite outdoor spaces.
#5: Exceptions… and Plenty of Them!
The expression, “Rules are meant to be broken” is particularly true with the Shingle Style. There are many exceptions to every characteristic above, with both interiors and exteriors, and that is what makes the style so unique to work with.
No matter what your requirements, if the Shingle Style is for you, we can make it your one-of-a-kind dream home! Check out more of our Shingle Style designs here, and schedule a consultation by calling us at (203)622-7000 or emailing us at info@vanderhornarchitects.com.
With sprawling outdoor living spaces and water views from nearly every room, this double gable shingle style combines traditional geometry with a crisp and contemporary attitude.
2020 has been a year full of the unexpected. Given the challenging circumstances of mandatory quarantines, telecommuting, and keeping our our kids busy at home amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we can all agree that a recreation room would be a beneficial home feature to have through it all.
A great entertainment space is stocked with amenities that each person in the family can appreciate, as the lower level space in our Seaside Shingle Cottage boasts. From a nautical-themed play ship area for the kids and a tech savvy wine cellar for the adults, to a game room for the whole family to enjoy, this rec room is undoubtedly a stay-at-home haven. Let’s take a tour!
Featuring interior design by Cindy Rinfret, a playful nautical theme resonates throughout the space as broad openings separate inspired activity zones.
The living area features a teak wet bar complete with glass upper cabinets, open shelving, and a grouping of pendant fixtures that echo naval lighting.
Broad French doors open to the pool terrace and prime views of the Long Island Sound. Above, bowed beams and v-groove board wainscoting define the lengthy entertainment area with its stone mantel, large television and curved sofa seating.
Next up is the impressive kids’ play haven, which features a play ship complete with a fiber optic constellation ceiling. When the lights are dimmed, it reveals a twinkling night sky and even the occasional shooting star.
The ship fabricator, Sono Skunk, used a number of 3D modeling techniques to create the intricate structural design of the ship’s hull, decks and ceiling vault.
Wood and rope pilings topped with salvaged navigational lights mark the ship area entrance. The play area also includes four paneled bunk beds that feature tapered seat backs, reading lights, stained mahogany rails, and custom ship ladders to the top bunks.
The bunk beds frame the open space that beckons a view of the play ship on one side, and the real water view through French doors at the other. The kids’ area is an amazing place for young adventurers to cultivate an imaginative nautical dream world!
Another fun aspect of this entertainment space is the collection of games that it houses – from antique pinball and baseball arcade games, to table tennis and the below pictured custom nautical billiards table.
A modern wine cellar is the focal point in the table tennis table area of the entertainment space. Holding 200 bottles on slender brackets, the wine wall features special illumination to show off its impressive display of bottles.
Additionally, the wine cellar is programmed to open only with the owner’s thumbprint.
All in all, we had a lot of fun designing this wonderful, one-of-a-kind lower level retreat.
While bunk beds are sometimes thought of simply as a space-efficient way to organize a kid’s room, they can also be designed to be both a beautiful and functional element of a space.
Today we’re sharing four of our clients’ homes that include bunk beds in their lower level entertaining areas. Whether they’re the centerpiece of a children’s play room or part of an elegant adult loft, bunk beds can infuse a playful, cozy element into any space.
Bunk Bed Design #1 at Our Seaside Shingle Cottage
At our Seaside Shingle Cottage, the owners requested a lower level entertainment space where their growing family could gather. Featuring fun activities for children and adults alike, the area includes table tennis, game machines, a wine cellar, wet bar, and a kids’ play space.
The children’s play area is nautically themed – complete with a play ship, ‘harborside’ storage cabinets, and ‘officers’ quarters that create an imaginative nautical dream world for young adventurers. Complementing the nautical theme are the pictured four comfy bunk beds.
The paneled bunks feature tapered seat backs, reading lights, stained mahogany rails, and custom ship ladders to the top bunk. The bunk beds beckon a view of the play ship on one side, and the real water view of the Long Island Sound through French doors at the other.
Bunk Bed Design #2 at Our French Eclectic Project
In the basement rec room at our Waterfront French Eclectic home, our clients’ grandchildren have the perfect sleepover nook. Four twin-size bunks and two trundle beds hideaway behind a pair of paneled doors. Each archtop bunk alcove features scroll brackets, reading lights and a ship ladder.
The area features practical durable carpeting, while paneled wainscoting and hand-hewn timber and oak plank ceiling really dress up the space.
Bunk Bed Design #3 at Our Mead Point Shingle Style Home
At our Greenwich Waterfront Shingle home, the basement was developed into a functional kids’ space for the family’s teenage children. The wood-clad lower level recreational space provides a casual chic departure from the upper levels, complete with built-in bunk beds, table tennis, and a banquette and bar for snacking.
The hidden bunk beds continue the home’s waterfront aesthetic and make sleepover parties a breeze. Ship-lap walls and sliding barn doors add a rustic flair to this kid-friendly space.
Bunk Bed Design #4 at Our Rye Beach Shingle
At our Rye Beach Shingle home, the bright nautically themed basement recreation room features shiplap paneling with v-groove board accents, richly stained hardwood flooring, millwork pieces and moulded accents.
The area’s barn doors reveal a double bunk-bed niche with shelf space and trundle – making for a great relaxation area after practicing table tennis skills or playing basketball or lacrosse in the space’s sport court.
While winter weather can sometimes be a hindrance to construction in our profession, the DVHA team has been very fortunate to have seen a lot of progress on many of our projects over the last few months. Today we’re sharing some peeks at both our recently completed homes and projects under construction.
A couple of our marquee projects, including our Oceanfront Shingle and Greenwich Mid-Country Manor, are now complete and occupied!
Our newly completed Oceanfront Shingle
Our Mid-Country Manor project
As soon as Spring is in all its glory, we’ll be taking plenty of photos of these projects to share with you!
Additionally, our Colonial Manor home here in Greenwich (pictured below) is near completion.
Both our Suburban Shingle in Ridgewood, NJ, and Rye Colonial projects are well underway and literally beginning to take shape. In just a couple of weeks at our Rye Colonial home, framing progressed from this…
…to this:
It’s always exciting to see the shape of the building take form, and we look forward to sharing more updates on these projects with you later this year.
We also have a number of new projects on the boards, as always. Two in particular are quite special: a new shingle style home in Old Greenwich, and a sprawling estate in the Catskills.
A peek at our plans for the Old Greenwich shingle home
You’ll be hearing a lot more about these new projects in the coming months. Stay tuned for updates!
We recently completed our Colonial Pool Cottage renovation project. Let’s take a deeper look at this modest, charming home.
An interesting part of this renovation is that we built the original pool house back in 1995. The new owners wanted the space to function as a primary residence, so the renovation included major additions.
Restrained details and symmetrical massing define the front façade of our revisited Colonial Pool Cottage.
Without disrupting the rear of the home, a new second floor over the central mass and two new side wings were added to provide the extra space needed. Projecting rear wings with curved corners remain largely intact, serving their original purpose of enclosing the outdoor entertainment space.
Moving to the interior of the home, an efficient floor plan provides sightlines from the front entry to the pool and from the kitchen into the living spaces.
The scale of the home remains unassuming and charming, while not sacrificing any of the functionality that one would expect in a larger home.
The architectural detailing and brickwork of this English Arts & Crafts residence take center stage, striking a beautiful balance between skilled masonry with elegant proportion.
Stained cedar shingle siding coupled with crisp details give this colonial revival house a formal and friendly presence in its neighborhood. A spacious but cozy backyard makes the home ideal for family living.
One of our favorite types of projects to take on is transforming an outdated home into the magical space of our clients’ dreams. Let’s take a peek at one of our recently completed renovation projects – the restoration of a classic Georgian home here in Greenwich.
Our work on this home included repointing brick, refinishing – and in some cases rebuilding – windows, doors, shutters, trim and the columns of the stately double height Ionic portico. Additions to the iconic brick Georgian residence bring modern mechanical systems and home automation to a more open floor plan while preserving the original slate and brick architecture.
Here are a few looks at the exterior pre-renovation:
The new pool house echoes the arches and hipped roof of the main façade, while a shady pergola provides a casual backyard atmosphere:
The new garage is a masonry load bearing building with slate roof to match both the construction quality and design aesthetic of the existing home.
Moving to the interior, the new kitchen design pays homage to the original era of the house while seamlessly integrating modern appliances and storage solutions. A custom farm table steals the spotlight:
Here’s a before look at the kitchen:
Inside the main foyer, the original stair was restored to dramatic effect, and the space was revamped to have a bright, contemporary look.
Contemporary furnishings and the clean lines of new crown mouldings and cornices refresh the historic living spaces, while the cozy sunroom reveals the expanse of the landscaped property as well as the arches and brick of the classical architecture:
White wash over the brick gives the room a light and relaxing feel.
This classic Georgian home demanded a significant undertaking in renovation and restoration, and we took great care to preserve some of its historic aspects while simultaneously bringing modern comforts and amenities into the home.
Originally designed by our team in 1995 this colonial pool
cottage received major additions and renovations, allowing it to function as a
charming primary residence.
Regional luxury lifestyle publisher athome Magazine celebrates the best in home design with its annual competition, the A-List Awards. We’re excited to have been honored with three awards at this year’s A-List Awards!
Our Classical Revival project took home two awards: one for Traditional Architecture Greater Than 7,000 Square Feet, and the other in the Dining Room category.
This new shingle style home strikes a buoyant pose to capture the harbor views despite challenging grading and floodway constraints.
The home features an array of intriguing window shapes and patterns, white decorative railings, columns, casings, cornices, and modillions, delivering fluent styling. It also boasts an impressive promenade of lawn, gardens, terraces, pool, spa, cabana and sport court.
The third A-List award that we received was for our Seaside Shingle Cottage project, which won for Best Play Space. The nautical themed play room features a custom built ship that kids and adults alike can appreciate:
Thanks again to athome Magazine for the recognition on these two wonderful projects!
A waterfront English cottage style home features lots of
glazing at bay windows, arch-top paired French doors, porches and balconies all
facing an exceptional view of the Long Island Sound.
Many of our projects are home renovations, which sometimes means updating an entire home, and other times means revamping just a part of a house. We love creating a client’s dream kitchen, making a bathroom luxurious and new, or redoing a home in its entirety to give it an updated look and feel.
Here’s a look at three of our renovation projects that boast dramatic results.
1. French Manor Estate Complete Renovation:
Originally built in 1958 in a Neo-French style with a Mansard roof, the house was composed of a central portion flanked by matching wings. Over the years the Greenwich house was added to and so extensively modified that the original charm had all but disappeared.
The owner of the house wanted to improve its appearance by giving it a distinctly French look with fine detailing and a strong presence. The entire house was gutted, portions removed, and everything in the central block, above the second floor line, was demolished. From this arose the stately and elegant main body appropriate for a classic French manor estate. Here are some looks at before and after the renovation:
The front elevationThe kitchen The staircaseThe pool houseThe side elevation
2. Master Bath Transformation:
Inspired by the luxurious Claridge’s hotel in London, the architects set out to transform a large outdated bathroom into a sophisticated spa retreat. Stone tiled walls and an overpowering tub deck made way for a simple plan with timeless elements and generous storage. The main space features a soaking tub and vanity, while the sauna, shower and toilet rooms are arranged along one side of the room.
Classic detailing defines the spaces, with a marble chair rail extended from the vanity countertop and wood wainscoting below. The wood paneled vanity and tall glass fronted cabinets provide storage, along with a polished nickel medicine cabinet framed in black marble. Radiant heat flooring keeps the basket weave Carrera mosaic warm underfoot. The glass door on the red cedar sauna allows light to enter from the large picture window facing the Long Island Sound.
Here are a few peeks at the before:
And a look at the dramatic transformation after:
3. Shingle Style Home Renovation:
This project called for nothing short of a complete transformation. The home was once a gracious 1890s shingle style house but during the 1950s, the second floor of the home burned. Two subsequent renovations led to awful design results.
The goal here was not to enlarge the home, but to reclaim the stone first floor and its beautiful original interiors. As part of the process, all second floor facades have been re-arranged while keeping the floor plan in place. A steeply pitched slate roof and traditional cornice was added. A front porch and rear balcony were added to help connect the home to its landscape and capture the water view. A variety of shingle style window types and details are used to enliven the façade and bring more light to the interior. A finely detailed new chimney tops off the roof line. The final result is a gracious home that did not need to get bigger to get better.
Here’s a look at the before and after of the front of the home:
And here’s a look at the transformation from the rear of the home:
Visit our Renovations tab on our website to view more projects!
The new entrance and dormer designed for this classic Tudor blend seamlessly with the existing architecture and introduce a touch of formality to the front façade.
The VanderHorn Architects team lives to see our architectural creations come to life as we cater to our clients’ individual tastes and needs. While we’ve created homes in a wide variety of architectural styles and find that each project is unique, there are a few styles that have proven to be the most popular in our recent custom renovations and new home builds. Today, we’re sharing our 5 top requested architectural styles.
SHINGLE STYLE
Our most requested style over the past five years, the shingle style is known for its broad expanses of shingle and roof, generous porches, and creative use of design elements inside and out.
Our classic shingle style home in Rye playfully combines conservative classical adornment with whimsical contours.
Originally prevalent between 1880 and 1920, with earlier work being an offshoot of Queen Anne architecture, this style was increasingly influenced by early American and classical precedents. Our shingle style projects work particularly well with their settings, taking advantage of their topography, view aspects, and available sunlight.
COLONIAL/FEDERAL
A perennial favorite with many regional variations, the colonial style has an adaptable and elegant simplicity, ranging from rambling rustic cottages to symmetrically dignified homes in town that work well with today’s sensibilities.
The federal style is generally considered to be a more formal variation. This is a style that always has broad appeal and works with virtually any property.
CLASSICAL REVIVAL
A varied offshoot of classical styles such as Georgian and Neoclassical, and from a time when architectural styles were less compartmentalized than they are today, classical revival homes exude a dignified and elegant presence.
Some examples are textbook studies in classical design, while others are an amalgamation of styles generally considered colonial or even Victorian.
TRANSITIONAL/MODERN(ist)
These styles have made their presence known in the local market. Transitional can be most simply described as a blurring of traditional and modernist elements. While everything created today is modern by definition, the style of Modernism’s direct lineage can be traced to the likes of LeCorbusier and the Bauhaus.
We have used a transitional design palate to create updated classical homes, and have even been asked to design full-on modernist homes for clients.
ENGLISH VERNACULAR
Perhaps because we are known for specializing in this style, we have had the privilege to work on a number of English homes over the years.
Our Mid Country English Tudor project provides a rich palette of architectural features, including a graduated slate roof with octagonal brick chimney flues on the stone base, as well as brick infill laid in a variety of patterns.
Ranging from tudor to Arts and Crafts and numerous regional variations, this grouping of styles in America is known for its dramatic rooflines in tile or slate, generous use of masonry and timberwork, and layouts that afford surprising amounts of light and cross-ventilation.
Chic and orderly, a buoyant update to the brick Georgian archetype boasts unabashed classical proportion and a stark but authentic medley of fine material finishes.
The charismatic charm of a shingle style home is well-suited to maximize natural light and sublime views as it complements the natural features of a stunning waterfront property on the Long Island Sound.
Just beyond one of the lower Connecticut River Valley’s most charming historic villages is this shingle-style home, designed to take advantage of its challenging site and river views.
Akin to the historic mansions of the region, this Late Renaissance Italian villa inserts a grand foreign culture into the beautiful Hudson River Valley
