Once the orientation was flipped, a full walkout lower level was possible. Integrating the lower level with pool and stacked, exterior covered entertaining spaces allows the house to host in all seasons, with both interior and yard-based entertaining.

The sweeps of the repeated gable rooflines lends the house a classic, traditional flavor, with high quality, low maintenance materials reinforcing the aesthetic. An ample front porch organizes the exterior forms and helps provide cover for guests and deliveries. A second floor bonus space above a centralized, higher-ceiling Family Room below allows for the kids to host friends at the house, without the less-desirable need to split off to individual bedrooms.

Time with family, and spaces that would reflect the unique character of the kids, were conveyed by the client as primary goals. The octagonal shapes, along with hidden nooks, window benches, and other unique character-laden details began to influence not only the plan, but also, the eventual inspiration for the exterior.

Porches, turrets, natural stone, shake siding and standing seam roof accents pushed the house towards a classic aesthetic, but the homeowners playful and eclectic personalities pushed inclusion of more Modern details such as black windows, large expanses of mulled window combinations, and an angled rotation of some of the living space to embrace the pool and exterior living areas.

The desired styles that inspired the exterior were an appreciation for simpler, Modern lines combined with the classic proportion and materials of Hampton-inspired homes. The front façade, while presenting a timeless and quiet appeal, still offers hints of massive amounts of glass and dynamic, active forms at the rear of the house. Integrating the existing pool, along with terrain change as the property dropped from front to the back of house, was critical to creating a walk-out lower level that engages the users as much as any above-grade level in the house.

Z+ Interiors integrated closely, along with the client input, feedback and inspiration images, early in the design process. This helped visually integrate all spaces, and allow for ingenuity and atypical solutions in multiple locations throughout the home. The use of glass at the interior, from a Primary Suite wall, to enclosure of the secondary stair to amplify the “floating” nature of the landing, to the wine wall at the dining room, helped unify the copious amounts of glass at the exterior facades with the vibe of the clean, minimal interiors.

The house benefits from 9’ ceilings, and a central stair that circulates between walk out basement, all the way up to the finished attic level. Field stone foundations on the existing house were cues to add natural field stone veneer accents to the new concrete foundations. Shake siding, and short fractional window mullions add charm and period-appropriate detail.

Circulation was shifted from the front façade to the drive-side of the house, as a new mudroom, foyer, laundry, scullery and closets were added to update the outdated layout to more closely reflect Modern-day life. A kitchen addition with ample windows facing the rear yard and nature preserve beyond affords ample morning natural light. The addition also frames the pool and hardscape additions, between the main house and carriage house that was previously renovated by the owners.

Architecture: Z+ Architects

Category: Commercial

Photographer: CineGraph Studios

Builder: Craig Roper

Influence: Industrial , Rustic, Farm

Architecture: Z+ Architects

Interiors: Z+ Interiors

Photography: Cara FitzPatrick Polizzi

Builder: DiPeri Construction

Influence: Tuscan Modern

Category: Residential

Architecture: Z+ Architects

Category: Special Needs

Photographer: Cara FitzPatrick Polizzi

Builder: Nelson Contracting Inc.

Influence: Traditional, Cottage

Architecture: Z+ Architects

Interior Design: Z+ Interiors

Photography: Cara FitzPatrick Polizzi

Category: Commercial

Builder: Cornerstone Builders

Influence: Transitional

Architecture: Z+ Architects

Interiors: Z+ Interiors

Photography: Cara FitzPatrick Polizzi

Category: Residential

Builder: Signature Home Builders

Influence: Modern