Houzz Tour: A Polished Rustic Redesign for a Mountain Home
This timber-frame home has been gently expanded and reworked to bring in more light and maximise the spectacular views
In looking for a home in Vermont’s Green Mountains, these parents wanted plenty of space for their three children to hang out and relax and for their family to gather with friends and relatives. They were aware they’d probably need to renovate whatever they found, so brought in designer Milford Cushman of Cushman Design Group to assess a few houses they felt had potential. They landed on this timber-frame home with spectacular mountain views of the Worcester Range.
The home had room for expansion in a large space over the garage and in the unfinished lower level. In addition, Milford bumped out the footprint in a few key places. Other design priorities included bringing more light into the house and creating better connections to the outdoors. The finished home has a polished rustic look and is the perfect place for making lifelong memories.
The home had room for expansion in a large space over the garage and in the unfinished lower level. In addition, Milford bumped out the footprint in a few key places. Other design priorities included bringing more light into the house and creating better connections to the outdoors. The finished home has a polished rustic look and is the perfect place for making lifelong memories.
Milford added to the garage connector and included a cross gable dormer, the first-storey window seen here between the garage and the front porch. He also reworked the front entrance.
At ground level, he extended the porch, replacing its gabled roof with a shed roof. “Changing the porch roof made the house much more inviting and allowed for larger windows above it,” he says.
The original windows and doors in the home were 6ft 8in (203cm) high. Milford replaced them with 8ft- (244cm-) high windows to let in more light and provide more expansive views.
At ground level, he extended the porch, replacing its gabled roof with a shed roof. “Changing the porch roof made the house much more inviting and allowed for larger windows above it,” he says.
The original windows and doors in the home were 6ft 8in (203cm) high. Milford replaced them with 8ft- (244cm-) high windows to let in more light and provide more expansive views.
The home already had fantastic bones with its rustic timber-frame construction. But it was dark, and some elements were dated.
These are the stairs to the top floor, located off the entrance. Because the level below the ground floor was unfinished, the stairs down to it were closed off by walls and a door, seen on the left side of this photo.
These are the stairs to the top floor, located off the entrance. Because the level below the ground floor was unfinished, the stairs down to it were closed off by walls and a door, seen on the left side of this photo.
Here are the new stairs with the front door behind the camera. The main bedroom suite is located past the bench seen here. The kitchen and dining spaces are on the left side of the house.
Milford redesigned the staircase to give it a more modern feel. The risers are open, which lets light through. The black steel is modern, while the white oak on the treads and handrails lends warmth.
The living room fireplace, TV cabinet and steel firewood storage can be glimpsed at the left of the photo.
Milford redesigned the staircase to give it a more modern feel. The risers are open, which lets light through. The black steel is modern, while the white oak on the treads and handrails lends warmth.
The living room fireplace, TV cabinet and steel firewood storage can be glimpsed at the left of the photo.
One of the most dramatic changes occurred in the living room, where the house now opens up to bigger views of the mountains. Milford created a wall of windows that lets in the light. He replaced the home’s windows and glass doors with energy-efficient, triple-pane windows that keep out the cold.
The home’s flooring was dark and had orange tones in it. Milford replaced it with white oak to lighten things up. He also lightened up the ceiling and walls. The contractors pickled the existing boards, which washed out the redder tones in the wood. The new wall colour is Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White.
The home’s flooring was dark and had orange tones in it. Milford replaced it with white oak to lighten things up. He also lightened up the ceiling and walls. The contractors pickled the existing boards, which washed out the redder tones in the wood. The new wall colour is Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White.
The house originally had a fantastic wood-burning fireplace with a grand stone chimney. However, it needed some updates, including one that involved newer safety regulations.
New fireplace regulations required airtight glass doors. This set, as well as a set of fireplace screen doors inside, was fashioned by Brad Robertson of Ironart. “Brad is a specialty blacksmith who has worked with us on many projects and he is incredibly talented,” Milford says. Having a network of expert craftspeople he trusted made the project extra special.
The designer also replaced the mantel and filled in the area beneath the hearth for a cleaner look.
The designer also replaced the mantel and filled in the area beneath the hearth for a cleaner look.
Another expert local craftsman, Todd Sirak of Sirak Woodworking + Design, made the coffee table and a cabinet that hides the TV on the right side of the fireplace (seen in the earlier staircase photo). Hiding the TV promotes conversation, and shelves of books encourage reading in this spectacular room.
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The existing kitchen was dark and had a large cooker hood at its centre. The connector to the garage was off the kitchen, seen at the back left of the photo. Milford opened up some of the connector’s space and incorporated it into the kitchen’s design.
In completing the design, Milford upcycled and recycled as much as possible to prevent waste. For example, the kitchen cabinets seen here are now being enjoyed in another home.
In completing the design, Milford upcycled and recycled as much as possible to prevent waste. For example, the kitchen cabinets seen here are now being enjoyed in another home.
Milford created a two-island layout. “I find having two islands can be a great strategy when families like to cook together,” he says. The island on the left has a prep sink. The one on the right houses a gas range cooker, induction hob and oven. A cooker hood is mounted in the ceiling above the gas range (not visible in this photo). The white oak kitchen cabinets are Shaker-style.
The main sink sits under the window and looks out to the forested side garden. It’s a large workstation sink with two taps, and dishwashers flank either side of it. Three drawers beneath the sink are nice ergonomic alternatives to cabinet doors. The fridge, at the back left corner of the photo, is integrated.
The main sink sits under the window and looks out to the forested side garden. It’s a large workstation sink with two taps, and dishwashers flank either side of it. Three drawers beneath the sink are nice ergonomic alternatives to cabinet doors. The fridge, at the back left corner of the photo, is integrated.
The connector to the garage is located off the angled wall of cabinets on the left. The area in the foreground on the left was originally a coat cupboard.
Milford relocated the coat cupboard, which allowed him to open up this area and add a banquette. The house is all about gathering, so maximising seating was important.
The garage connector includes a boot room with laundry.
The garage connector includes a boot room with laundry.
There had been a large structural post in the centre of the kitchen that didn’t work with Milford’s plans, so he removed it. This meant he had to find another way to hold up the house. He placed a steel structural beam over the islands, then boxed it in wood to make it look like part of the original timber frame.
This photo also shows the dining area in the right corner. Its placement gives it an eat-in kitchen feel, yet it also feels like a separate space during meals.
This photo also shows the dining area in the right corner. Its placement gives it an eat-in kitchen feel, yet it also feels like a separate space during meals.
A ‘mid-works’ photo of the dining area, showing how the exterior wall at the back of the space was flush with the exterior kitchen wall to its left.
Milford pushed the dining room footprint out by around 3.6m to make it feel special and separate from the kitchen. He custom-designed the table. The top is composed of two slabs of live-edge ash. Milford had the edges charred to match the black iron trestle base.
He also added a sleek cylindrical wood stove in the corner. “It’s very energy-efficient and EPA-certified,” Milford says. “There’s a magic to adding fire in a corner of a house on a cold winter’s day. I think of fireplaces as having an archetypal energy that pulls us in.”
Bari stove, Hase.
He also added a sleek cylindrical wood stove in the corner. “It’s very energy-efficient and EPA-certified,” Milford says. “There’s a magic to adding fire in a corner of a house on a cold winter’s day. I think of fireplaces as having an archetypal energy that pulls us in.”
Bari stove, Hase.
This photo shows how the kitchen connects to the rest of the home. The living room is to the left and the front door is to the right. The pendant lights emphasise a path from the front door straight to the living room. All the lighting in the house is LED.
The original main bedroom had 6ft 8in- (203cm-) high windows and doors. The doors led to a balcony.
Milford replaced the windows and doors with four 8ft- (244cm-) high windows. He removed the balcony as part of the renovation. The homeowners weren’t interested in it and they had plenty of outdoor spaces planned for the landscape phase of construction.
Milford clad the headboard wall in Eastern white pine with double nickel-gap spacing. This adds a cosy, polished rustic touch to the room.
Milford clad the headboard wall in Eastern white pine with double nickel-gap spacing. This adds a cosy, polished rustic touch to the room.
The main bathroom occupies the small addition on the right side of the house. “Their existing bathroom was much too small,” Milford says. The room includes a bespoke double vanity unit and a double shower with a rain shower head in the centre.
More: How to Plan for a Bathroom Renovation
More: How to Plan for a Bathroom Renovation
Finishing the lower level was a key part of the project. Because the house is on a slope, the lower level opens to the back garden. “The homeowners wanted lots of spaces where the kids could hang out and relax,” Milford says. They also wanted a space for overnight guests that would give them some privacy. There’s a bedroom with an en suite bathroom down here. This area is perfect for games and TV, with a gas fireplace Milford housed in a recess within the existing breeze block support for the living room chimney above it.
The lower level also includes an exercise room, a second laundry room and a second full bathroom, which has a steam shower and a sauna. An in-ground spa is just outside.
The lower level also includes an exercise room, a second laundry room and a second full bathroom, which has a steam shower and a sauna. An in-ground spa is just outside.
This loft area, seen here before works, is at the top of the main stairs. The arched window was above the front door.
Milford replaced the arched window with multiple windows, including three in the centre that are 8ft (244cm) high. He also added uplights that illuminate the pickled ceiling boards, creating a cosy glow. Removing the plasterboard half wall along the staircase made the room feel more open.
The iron ring chandelier is similar to the one in the living room, providing continuity between the levels.
The iron ring chandelier is similar to the one in the living room, providing continuity between the levels.
Just off the sitting room is the new connector to the space over the garage. This is the domain of the homeowners’ two sons, and these doors lead to their bedrooms. Their sister’s room is on the other side of this level. Each of these bedrooms has an en suite bathroom.
Milford clad the walls in Eastern white pine wainscoting to add interest and cosiness. He also clad the headboard walls in the wood, just like he did in the main bedroom.
The house allows the family to spend lots of quality time together, and it also gives them more opportunities to gather with extended family and friends. They intend to enjoy it for many years to come.
Tell us…
What do you like about this home renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Milford clad the walls in Eastern white pine wainscoting to add interest and cosiness. He also clad the headboard walls in the wood, just like he did in the main bedroom.
The house allows the family to spend lots of quality time together, and it also gives them more opportunities to gather with extended family and friends. They intend to enjoy it for many years to come.
Tell us…
What do you like about this home renovation? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Sponsored
Who lives here? This is the holiday home for a family of five
Location Warren, Vermont, USA
Size Five bedrooms and six bathrooms
Designers Milford Cushman and Terri Gregory of Cushman Design Group
Contractor Moore Design Builders
Photos by Ryan Bent
In this ‘before’ photo, the garage can be seen on the left. One of the goals was to make the most of the space above it and provide a connection to it from the top level of the home.
In addition to making the home lighter, brighter and more open to the outdoors, other goals revolved around family. The homeowners wanted lots of spaces for their kids to spread out and relax. They also wanted every bedroom to have an en suite bathroom. This would allow the house to serve as a comfortable gathering spot for everyone.
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