Recent Projects
Essex Connecticut
The small-scale of 19th century Greek Revival house is described as "highly detailed, yet unpretentious." The house suffered two complete renovations in the last six years, leaving no detail from it’s Greek Revival origins still intact. We took on the task of reviving it. Removing these renovation "details" essentially resulted in taking everything down to the structural framing.
Every single room was designed to reflect the building's 1845 beginnings. New millwork included: cornices, bases, wainscoting, floor to ceiling wood paneling, and three new fireplace mantels. Details were corrected to elegantly resemble the Greek proportions.
The result was a charming house reflecting the 19th century period yet seamlessly integrated into 21st century practicality.
Aspen Colorado
Our approach was to create a mythological origin for the house. We designed it to read as a group of buildings that evolved and grew slowly over the years. Consistent with this intent, we chose materials such as stone and antique heavy timbers which were carefully crafted using traditional methods. The result is an integrated ensemble of buildings, each possessing its own identity and charm. This enabled us to break down the scale of the project, and also to take advantage of the many spectacular views in all directions.
Inside the house we have borrowed freely from a variety of decorative sources, among them, Scandinavian, Russian, Biedermeier and English Victorian. Collecting and recombining these sources, and emphasizing the importance of fine craftsmanship in each of these traditions, we have expanded the palette of images and made them into a unified whole, enriching the experience of the place.
Seaside Florida
A new house and guest cottage that marries Charleston grace with Florida Cracker charm, and fun:
Simple in its construction and fanciful in its detail, the Natchez House is a 1,600SF house and 730SF guest house compound, coded by Seaside in the “Charleston” style. With 7 bedrooms (all with private entrances), 7 full baths, 2 fully equipped kitchens, 2 living/dining rooms, 2 interior staircases (plus one exterior), 2 laundry rooms and many miscellaneous sleeping areas and alcove spaces, the house is a case study in ultimate floor plan efficiency. Aiding this effort is the economical design technique of “shared space,” including 12 exterior porches whose added 1,800SF almost doubles the house’s size, especially since these porches expand interior rooms through 28 French doors. Sleeping a total of 18 in comfort and acoustic privacy makes this small house exemplary for its affordability — maximum housing per dollar spent.
What makes the house familiar and inviting is its anecdotal origins. Taking its cue from the city of Charleston’s great Georgian period, the “Georgian” style of the Natchez House is more accurately Seaside's own interpretation of the style.
Despite its small appearance, the guest house rises to almost fifty feet in three floors. At the western edge of Seaside, the house spikes the end of the footpath which threads all the way through town from east to west. At the edge of the “frontier,” the guest house takes its design cue from great American western traditions, both mythical and real. Its spindly shape, steep roof and “Snuffy Smith” proportions, shed the lugubrious Charleston character of the main house and adopt a buoyant “wild west” flavor.
As the two counter-balanced buildings face each other, they symmetrically frame an outdoor dining hall. In this cloistered courtyard a giant 5’x12’ table and 4’ wide commercial grill accommodate all 18 inhabitants from both houses for spectacular feasts in full air. Crisscrossing strings of used-car-lot lights overhead create a sparkling ceiling for romantic night time dining.