PROJECT NAME: Rock Ledge Farm

PROJECT TYPE: New Single Family Residence with Outbuildings.

PROJECT CONTEXT:  4 acres, subdivided from a larger farm in Bethany CT. The land was in need of attention, but contained beautiful rock fences, mature boundary trees and rolling meadows hidden in the undergrowth. Our clients set to work clearing and restoring the land with the intention of surrounding their new home with pastures for their horses.  

PROJECT LOCATION: Bethany, CT

PROJECT COMPLETION:  Fall 2008

PROJECT PROGRAM:  A couple with grown children came to us having purchased pasture land near their current home. They brought a vision of a comfortable, energy efficient home, barn and pasture with the look of a farmhouse built over generations of additions. They envisioned a comfortable open one story plan for their daily needs with addition bedrooms upstairs for visits from family and guests. They brought a long term vision which suggested prudent investment in energy efficient features and durable materials.

DESIGN SOLUTION:  We placed the house in the south west corner of the lot to open up the land for the pastures. The major interior uses were broken into unique volumes expressed on the exterior, giving the look of an evolving farmhouse. The project included a 2 stall barn and fenced paddocks for the owner’s horses. We positioned the barn beyond an existing stone fence creating wonderful views from the house. Shifts in materials, textures and roof lines give the group of buildings the feel of a century old New England farmhouse.

Inside, we used built up trim details reminiscent of a historic federal, however the layout opened up to allow bright and open spaces. The house centers around a central hearth and sitting area with the kitchen on the east side and dining on the west. Ample storage in the large kitchen island allowed for large corner windows looking down to the barn and patio. A cherry breakfast nook was positioned to be flooded with morning light and pasture views. A central fireplace mass formed a separation from the family room to the south. The gas fireplace afforded room in the custom paneled mass for a small bar, audio closet and a media center with a large TV for the family room beyond. The family room is flanked by east and west windows and doors which flow out onto twin patios. The western patio was conceived for dining and the eastern patio for grilling and more casual gatherings. The master suite is located beyond the family room and is buffered by the master closets, feeling remote, yet accessible. A rear entry collects traffic from the garage and barn and brings it through a generous mudroom with access to a pantry and half bath. Upstairs we tucked 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths into the roof dormers. These spaces are a separate heating zone to be brought up to temperature only when in use.

The home is heated and cooled by a closed loop geothermal system with energy recovery ventilator which maintains a comfortable, healthy indoor environment. In the meadow we placed two ground mounted photovoltaic arrays creating on site renewable energy. The panels are adjusted to the optimal seasonal angle to maximize production. Our clients have seen a high return from this combination of systems with a monthly energy bills never in excess of $30 to heat cool and light their home to date.

MATERIALS: We used a variety of textures and materials on the exterior of the building to help to shape the feeling that the home had developed over time, keeping durability in mind. Hardi cement plank siding was used for the clapboard areas, with varying exposures. The board and batten look was created with Hardi Panels with cellular PVC battens. Cellular PVC was used for all of the trim and column boxes and FSC certified white cedar shingle add depth to the protected gable eaves. The porches received Galvalume metal roofing and gutters as an accent, with 40 year asphalt architectural shingles on the majority of the roof for cost control. Energy Star vinyl clad wood windows complete the low maintenance exterior of the main house. The barn received traditional red cedar vertical board siding with a solid body stain finish. With the materials used, the home should see a 10 year painting cycle, which will coincide with necessary caulking and maintenance we recommend on a home.

Inside we created the details from stock trim and site built and painted cabinets. The kitchen and banquette was custom produced allowing it to integrate into the trim and finishes. Random width white oak with a light stain was used as flooring throughout the home, with porcelain tile in the baths and mudroom area.