Architect’s Retreat
Colrain, MA
Architect’s Retreat
The site was perfect. Protected by woods and a knoll to the north and open to a sloping meadow to the south, this Arts & Crafts–inspired home was designed to accommodate a blended family with four grown children and several grandchildren. Open living areas and a master suite were placed on the first floor where wood ceilings and a stone fireplace create warm, cozy areas for gatherings. Four additional bedrooms for guests are nestled into the second floor. The careful arrangement of spaces creates opportunities for interaction, while also respecting the need for privacy. From the house, large windows and glazed doors open to porches and decks, offering ever-changing views of the countryside.
As Bill and Joan tell it: “Unlike the old adage ‘build a house, lose a spouse,’ the process of designing this retreat strengthened our relationship as we brought our shared home into reality. Most of the time, we agreed on design decisions, but when we didn’t, it was fierce. We solved that problem by allowing each other to have total control over certain spaces. It was so important to get it right, and we did get it right, because this was intended to be our last home, the place where we would live out the rest of our lives together. (In the end, it wasn’t our last house after all, but it opened the door to us later building a forever home on ground sacred to Joan’s family.)”
We had several challenges, including a tight budget; designing a modern house that still met the covenants requiring a traditional home; being our own builders while working full time; assembling a support team of tradespeople; designing a home that gave us privacy, especially when children and grandchildren were visiting; and creating a supportive interior environment that could be adapted as we aged and our physical abilities waned. Fortunately, we were able to stay on time and on budget even with a three-week trip to Italy during construction. Everyone involved had a sense of ownership in the project, so construction proceeded smoothly.
We began by selecting the house location: at the toe of the protective wooded knoll to the north with a view to the hills beyond our southside meadow, thus providing us with abundant passive solar gain. We planned for single-level living with the master bedroom in its own private ell. Above the open plan kitchen, dining, and living area were four bedrooms, another living room, and a bathroom. This allowed visiting children and grandchildren a space of their own to retreat and provided sound separation so that we could sleep while they stayed up talking, playing games, and watching movies. The kitchen layout functioned well for either a single person or the whole family working together. Two porches—one open and one three-season room—as well as two decks provided for a variety of indoor/outdoor spaces. Eight-foot-high doors and windows provided great views out and an ample amount of light in. Wooden ceilings and the fieldstone fireplace provided cozy warmth and comfort. It was the kind of home that you never wanted to leave.