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D E S I G N I N G H O M E S T H RO U G H O U T N E W E N G L A N D F O R OV E R 2 0 Y E A R S From the rocky coast of Maine, to the lakes and mountains of New Hampshire, to the sandy shores of the Cape, DeStefano Architects has been designing extraordinary homes that have enhanced the New England landscape since 1995. However, the wealth of our experience is not merely a measure of years, it is the culmination of these value-added benefits: ■
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Lighting the Way You Live SOPHISTICATED | CASUAL | MODERN | ECLECTIC | COASTAL Home is where we relax. Where we shed the suits, the heels, the uniform. Where we can put our feet up and be ourselves. Our in-showroom specialists can help you create this atmosphere by bringing casual living home.
437 SHATTUCK WAY, NEWINGTON, NH | 603-436-2310 MONDAY–SATURDAY 9:00AM–5:30PM | SUNDAY 10:00AM–4:00PM 221 WASHINGTON STREET, CLAREMONT, NH | 603-542-8711 MONDAY–FRIDAY 7:00AM-5:00PM | SATURDAY 9:00AM-3:00PM
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Whether your project is passive, net zero, or a home that uses elements of sustainable design, THE MARVIN FAMILY OF BRANDS brings your vision to life.
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Moose Mountain
Privacy, Proximity, Serenity
Contemporary Post & Beam Cape
Artistic beauty and smart engineering are the key ingredients of this green oasis. This sustainable residence has a dramatic open floor plan accentuated by walls of windows.
Few properties in America can match what this splendid country estate so generously affords: a turnkey home with privacy and breathtaking views, just 10 miles from an Ivy League College.
Be lulled to sleep by the sound of babbling waters from Churchill Brook which meanders through the 19 wooded acres and passes within a stone’s throw of the home.
HANOVER, NH | MLS#4452220 CELINA BARTON | 802.291.4106
LYME, NH | MLS#4450194 CELINA BARTON | 802.291.4106
BROOKFIELD, NH | $525,000 | MLS#4460959 STEVE PATRIQUIN | 603.387.2532
Renovated Three Bedroom Home
Stunning Post and Beam
Juniper Lane
Quality renovations with attention to detail featuring a formal living room with fireplace, hardwood floors, open kitchen, dining room and first floor master suite.
This Lake Winnipesaukee home has a classic, lake house design perfect for creating those lake memories you’ve been dreaming of.
Stunning three bedroom Deck house offering three levels of living, three fireplaces, three season porch sited on over 2 acres at the end of a private, winding driveway with seasonal views.
HANOVER, NH | $525,000 | MLS#4467345 JOANNE KENT | 802.345.8736
MEREDITH, NH | $1,395,000 | MLS#4451510 REBECCA WHITCHER | 603.393.7072
HANOVER, VT | $799,999 | MLS#4412393 JUDY CASHMAN | 603.998.9386
Distinctive Winery/Vineyard
Geothermal With Views
Stately Four Bedroom Tudor
A residential business with vineyard & winery ideal for owners who want to cultivate the land and have an elegant home with commanding views of the CT River Valley and Vermont.
This 4700 sq ft three bedroom, five bath expanded Cape has a first floor Master suite and great views.
Large custom eat-in kitchen with family room. Master suite includes den, his and hers walk in closets, tiled shower and wrapping station.
SUTTON, NH | $639,000 | MLS#4447629 MISSY OWEN | 603.731.9514
NEW LONDON, NH | $474,900 | MLS#4447762 MISSY OWEN | 603.731.9514
WALPOLE, NH LEILA TARANTELLI | 401.787.4288
MEREDITH 603.677.7012 | NEW LONDON 603.526.4050 | BEDFORD 603.413.7600 | HANOVER - LEBANON ST 603.643.6070
WEST LEBANON 603.298.5155 | HANOVER - MAIN ST 603.643.6400
FourSeasonsSIR.com
The Union House Tavern
Squam Lake
Grouse Point in Meredith
The Union House Tavern--meticulous historic preservation of the oldest existing house in Haverhill (1767). Original wide board flooring, bricks, trim, doors and historic barn.
This estate in Sandwich, NH sits on 254 acres with 75’ of sandy shorefront on Squam Lake with a u-shaped dock. Less than a mile away are three homes and a two car attached garage.
This is a pristine home with a new high end kitchen with all the bells and whistles. Lake Winnepesaukee access to three beaches and clubhouse with indoor pool.
HAVERHILL, NH | $449,000 | MLS#4242412 DICK DUMEZ | 603.359.6100
SANDWICH, NH | $1,750,000 | MLS#4423024 RUTH NEIDHARDT | 603.455.0176
MEREDITH, NH | $899,000 | MLS#4466251 RUTH NEIDHARDT | 603.455.0176
Quality and Charm in Hanover
Beautiful Post & Beam Home
New England Charm
Located in desirable Montview neighborhood, this five bedroom classic colonial is just minutes to downtown and Dartmouth.
Natural woodtones, Southern exposure and Mt. Sunapee views. Four bedrooms, including first floor master, large deck and screen porch, three bay garage, Central air. 64SurreyLane.com
Ideal family and vacation home blends best of antique and modern day features. In historic Waterloo district near town and I-89 with easy access to Sunapee Lake and ski areas.
NEW LONDON, NH | $649,000 | MLS#4397698 KAREN HOGLUND | 603.491.0978
WARNER, NH | $287,500 | MLS#4438458 KAREN HOGLUND | 603.491.0978
HANOVER, NH | $850,000 | MLS#4442806 MELISSA ROBINSON | 603.667.7761
Occom Ridge
Squam River Landing
Gorgeous Colonial
History of Professor Housing, this 1919 era home has much character. This exceptional piece of land has CT River frontage and views on the other side of Occom Pond.
Vintage inspired Adirondack in new Sustainable Living Community. A model of HERS efficiency principles with insulated concrete forms and geo-thermal heat. Squam Lake Access.
This six bedroom Colonial in a private yet convenient location in the very desirable town of Amherst. Situated on over 21 beautiful acres with long distance views.
HANOVER, NH | $2,290,000 | MLS#4463964 LINDA MAYO | 802.345.5202
ASHLAND, NH | $1,079,000 | MLS#4374987 PAULA HINCKLEY | 603.566.6608
AMHERST, NH | $1,750,000 | MLS#4465734 STEVEN MCDONOUGH | 603.582.8747
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contents
features 58 Outstanding in Their Fields
New H ampshire Home recognized a diverse group of architects, designers and builders from throughout the state at its third annual awards gala in January. By Andi Axman
68 A Spectacular House on a Dramatic Site
A landscape architect and her architect husband designed a dream home for her parents, dedicated skiers who loved the White Mountain National Forest. By Debbie Kane | Photography by Greg Premru
74 Living Lightly
This Lake Sunapee vacation home offers great views and comfortable surroundings—and the latest energy-saving technology that’s resulted in a net-zero house.
58
By Jenny Donelan | Photography by John W. Hession
24
20
departments 14 16 18 20
From the Editor Letters from Our Readers On the Town Favorite Finds
Locally Made
24 Home Cooking
Everything Has a Season By Mary Ann Esposito
32 Going Green
So Green, It’s Gold By Debbie Kane
40 Garden R x
Living the Good Life in Hancock By Robin Sweetser
74
50
Homework
The Magic of Carpets
80 M aster of His Craft Stone by Stone By Carrie Sherman
86 Architectural Icon
A Turn-of-the-Century Treasure By Larissa Mulkern
91 Special Advertising Section Hall of Fame New H ampshire Home Design Award Winners
100 Home Resources 102 M ark Your Calendar ! 104 At Home in New Hampshire An Old Tradition Made New Again
By Sally Hirsh-Dickinson Illustration by Carolyn Vibbert
By Kara Steere
On the cover: Andrew Dunbar, an architect, and his wife and business partner at the San Francisco-based INTERSTICE Architects, landscape architect Zoee Astrachan, designed this contemporary home for her parents. The home won both the award for Excellence in Architectural Design and an honorable mention for Home of the Year at New Hampshire Home’s 2016 Design Awards in January. Photography by Greg Premru Visit us online at www.nhhomeMagazine.com to read our digital edition, learn about events and use our resource guide. As part of our ongoing effort to support sound environmental practices and preserve our forests for future generations, New Hampshire Home is printed locally by Cummings Printing, a Forest Stewardship Council printer. 10 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
Rob Karosis Photography
re si de nt i al co mme r ci al i nt e ri o r de si g n
contributors
Ma rc h/a pr i l 2016 | Vol . 10, No. 2
www.nhhomemagazine.com
Nancy Belluscio is a photographer specializing in architectural and environmental images. Originally from the White Mountains, she and her family now live and work in the Monadnock Region. She may be reached at nancyonsite.com. Jenny Donelan is an editor and writer with a wide variety of interests, and has covered areas that include computer technology, best business practices, pets, skiing and home design. Her articles have appeared in the New York Times, the Boston Globe and numerous other publications. Mary Ann Esposito is the host of the public television series Ciao Italia, now in its twenty-sixth season, and the author of twelve cookbooks, including her most recent, Ciao Italia Family Classics. She lives in New Hampshire. Visit her website at www.ciaoitalia.com. Sally Hirsh-Dickinson is the author of Dirty Whites and Dark Secrets: Sex and Race in Peyton Place. She is an associate professor of English at Rivier University in Nashua and a fill-in host for New Hampshire Public Radio. She lives in Penacook with her husband and two children. Debbie Kane is a writer and editor based on the New Hampshire Seacoast. She writes about home, design, food, spirits and a variety of other subjects for regional publications and clients across New England. She may be reached at www.debbiekanewriter.com.
Sharron R. McCarthy Andi Axman Art D irector John R. Goodwin Photo E ditor John W. Hession Asso c iate E ditor Kara Steere editorial Assistant Rose Zevos King photo Assistant Morgan Karanasios
PR ESI DENT/PU B LISH ER EDITOR
senior desi g ners
Jodie Hall, Wendy Wood contributors
Nancy Belluscio, Jenny Donelan, Mary Ann Esposito, Sally Hirsh-Dickinson, Debbie Kane, Larissa Mulkern, Greg Premru, Carrie Sherman, Robin Sweetser, Joe Valentine, Carolyn Vibbert regional sales m anag er
Jessica Schooley: (603) 413-5143 jschooley@mcleancommunications.com seacoast sales m anager
Tal Hauch: (617) 921-7033; (603) 413-5145 thauch@mcleancommunications.com Brook Holmberg Sherin Pierce BUSI N ESS M ANAGER Mista McDonnell Event & Mar keting m anager Erica Baglieri Business & Sales Coordinator Heather Rood D i gital Media S pe c ialist Morgen Connor VP/consumer m ar keting VP/retail SALES
Morgan Karanasios is New Hampshire Home’s photo assistant. She graduated in 2015 from the University of New Hampshire. Karanasios took photographs throughout Europe while a student in Dijon, France, and continues to develop her passion for photography. Rose Zevos King is New Hampshire Home’s editorial assistant. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in art history at the University of Glasgow. Larissa Mulkern writes news and feature articles for numerous publications and clients, including the New Hampshire Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News, Salmon Press as well as Seacoast Media Group. She lives in Wakefield with her husband, Michael, and two cats. She can be reached at lmulkern@roadrunner.com. Greg Premru has been photographing fine homes for more than twenty years. His work is widely published in both local and national magazines, and clients include New England’s top architects and designers. Carrie Sherman works as a freelance writer/editor. She also writes fiction, and her short stories have been published in the Saint Katherine Review and Yankee magazine. She lives in Kittery Point, Maine, with her husband, Terry, and their dog. She can be reached at carrie.sherman7@gmail.com.
Kara Steere has worked as a professional writer/editor since her first job at a small-town newspaper in 1996. Since then, she has focused her career on bringing clarity and consistency to magazines, books and corporate communications. She can be reached at steerekara@gmail.com. Robin Sweetser writes a gardening column for the Sunday Concord Monitor and is a contributor to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, among other publications. A former Seacoast resident, she now lives and gardens in Hillsborough. Joseph Valentine specializes in garden photography, and his work has been published in this country and abroad. When he’s not photographing or writing about other gardens, he’s tending his own at Juniper Hill in Francestown. Visit his website at www.josephvalentine.com. Carolyn Vibbert is a Portsmouth illustrator whose work also appears on packaging for food and wine brands such as Barbara’s, Stone Cellars and Williams Sonoma. She is represented by Freda Scott, and you can see more of her work at www.fredascottcreative.com.
e d i to r i a l Co r r e s p o n d e n c e
Andi Axman, editor
New Hampshire Home 150 Dow Street; Manchester, NH 03101 (603) 736-8056; editor@nhhomemagazine.com Subscriptions
Subscriptions, New Hampshire Home PO Box 433273; Palm Coast, FL 32143 or call (877) 494-2036 or subscribe online at www.nhhomemagazine.com or email NHHome@emailcustomerservice.com
© 2016 M c L ean C ommunications , I nc . New Hampshire Home is published bimonthly by McLean
Communications, Inc.; 150 Dow Street; Manchester, NH 03101; (603) 624-1442. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the publisher’s written permission is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any mistakes in advertisements or editorial. Statements and opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect or represent those of this publication or its officers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, McLean Communications, Inc.: New Hampshire Home disclaims all responsibility for omissions and errors.
USPS permit number 008-980. Periodical postage paid at Manchester 03103-9651. Postmaster, send address changes to: McLean Communications; PO Box 433273; Palm Coast, FL 32143
12 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
from the editor
Design That Works
A
s I said in this column last time, good design is the successful marriage of the beautiful and the functional—a space or structure must be pleasing to the eye
and work. Sacrificing one for the other leads to less than stellar results—
or worse. I’ve been in many buildings and outdoor spaces that could have been so much better if only… Time and money will nip at the heels of any project, and make the goal of achieving a good design more challenging. But working with experienced professionals can pay big dividends. Good designers are good communicators and creative problem solvers who can envision solutions that will work. They can turn dreams into reality. Recognizing design that works is one of the missions of New Hampshire Home, and
in case you didn’t make it to our design awards in January, you can see the crème de la crème of this year’s submissions on page 58. Our wonderful jury of three designers from western Massachusetts selected winners in twelve categories, along with fourteen
Good design is the
successful marriage
of the beautiful and the functional—
a space or structure must be pleasing to the eye and work.
honorable mentions. One project was so outstanding, it received awards in both categories it was submitted in: winner for Excellence in Architectural Design and honorable mention for 2016 Home of the Year. The home was built by developers Cynthia and Ed Astrachan, who asked their daughter, Zoee Astrachan, a landscape architect, and her husband and business partner, Andrew Dunbar, an architect, to design a contemporary dream home that blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings and is also energy efficient and comfortable (page 68). This being our green design issue, in honor of Earth Day on April 22, we have two homes fitting that description to share with you. Charlie and Marcia Ristagno’s home on the Seacoast (page 32) isn’t just beautiful—thanks to a great team of architects, builders and energy consultants, it’s LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Gold, a noteworthy certification from the U.S. Green Building Council that recognizes best practices. Maclay Architects in Waitsfield, Vermont, helped another couple build a Shingle-style house on the shores of Lake Sunapee (page 74) that uses its thirty-nine solar panels on the south-facing roof to collect more energy than the homeowners use, making the home net-zero. The only electric bills they’ve received are for the $13 monthly meter rental. There are no heating bills, as the house’s air source heat pump runs on electricity. No one is greener when it comes to building materials than Kevin Gardner of Hopkinton—he creates exquisite dry stone walls and foundations from the endless supply of rocks in the Granite State (page 80). As far as a green lifestyle, Bill and Eileen Elliott have lived off the grid in Hancock for thirty-five years, where they’ve created a paradise of beautiful gardens filled with ornamental trees, flowering shrubs, perennials, edible fruits and vegetables (page 40). Happy spring, happy Earth Day, happy Easter and happy Passover (page 104)!
Editor 14 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
Š2016 California Closet Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Each franchise independently owned and operated.
Every California Closets system is custom designed specifically for you and the way you live. Visit one of our showrooms or call today to arrange for a complimentary in-home design consultation.
800.225.6901 californiaclosets.com S ERV I C I N G N E W H A M P S H I R E
letters from our readers Hats off to designers!
I attended the 2016 New Hampshire Home Design Awards in January and it was wonderful. Kudos to the New Hampshire Home staff for a spectacular evening. Everything from the venue to the speaker [master of ceremonies James Aponovich] to the awards were so well done. I left with a big smile on my face and am looking forward to next year.
—Diane Dubberly of Artistic Tile in Nashua
March 12-13, 2016 9 am - 5 pm
Holiday gifts that make a difference
Center of NH Radisson Hotel Manchester Paradise for skiers
Over 100 Exhibitors, Demonstrations & Traditional Artists Education Topics include: Energy efficiency Decorative interiors Plaster repair Window restoration Barn repair Selecting paint colors Researching your house’s history Stonewall building and much more Present this at the door - one discount per admission Adults $10 Students & Seniors $7 Children under 12 free!
$1
off Admission
Visit www.nhpreservation.org or call 603-224-2281 for more information 16 | New Hampshire Home
Just wanted to say how pleased we all were with Jenny Donelan’s article [A Retreat for Skiers, by Skiers, January/ February 2016]. It was truly an honor to be on the cover of New Hampshire Home (!)— not to mention your fabulous story! Jenny did a fine job of seeking out the stories about the involvement by all parties. I hope there will be another opportunity to put the same team together for another project.
I wanted to thank New Hampshire Home for all your support for the Exeter Holiday House tour in December. We know for certain that your media sponsorship helped to make the tour an incredible success. We sold more than four hundred tickets and raised more than $20,000 for Womenade of Greater Squamscott. Our hearts are full, knowing those funds will help so many individuals and families in need in our community.
—Pam Oulundsen of Hillside Marketing in Exeter
—Tom Samyn, AIA of Samyn-D’Elia Architects, P.A. in Ashland
Growing support for community gardens
Thank you for mentioning the Bow Garden Club in the sidebar of Robin Sweetser’s excellent article Plots for Collaboration [January/February 2016]. The Bow Garden Club is proud to be one of many volunteer groups that plant and maintain community gardens all over the state, as a matter of both civic pride and their love of gardening. However, I would like to point out that the Bow Garden Club is just one of twenty garden clubs (currently) that, although they operate independently, choose to belong to the New Hampshire Federation of Garden Clubs and in turn National Garden Clubs, Inc. We salute community gardeners everywhere!
—Joyce Kimball, past president of the Bow Garden Club in Bow
A happy home-building tale
In her story [A Haven for the Long Haul, January/February 2016], writer Larissa Mulkern pulled the viewpoints from each member of the team perfectly. I wish everyone building a new home could have the same experience of happiness and satisfaction as I did.
—Anonymous homeowner in Pelham
We love hearing your thoughts about the stories we’ve published, and we’re always on the lookout for homes and gardens that might interest our readers. Write to us at Editor; New Hampshire Home; 150 Dow Street; Manchester, NH 03101; or e-mail editor@nhhomemagazine.com. We look forward to hearing from you! march/april 2016
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New Hampshire Home | 17
on the town 2016
DESIGN magazine
AWARDS
Celebrating excellence in residential design Awards were given in twelve categories at the 2016 New Hampshire Home Design Awards in January. The presentation took place at the Manchester Country Club—see page 58 for more about all the winners and honorable mentions.
Among the winners were, from left, William Soupcoff of TMS Architects in Portsmouth, accepting the firm’s award for Excellence in Interior Design; Greg Rusnica of Bonin Architects & Associates in New London, winner for Excellence in Landscape Design; Deb Foster of Crown Point Cabinetry in Claremont, for Excellence in Kitchen Design; Peter Wobber of Beam Construction Associates, Inc. in North Sandwich, winner of Excellence in Specialty Room Design; Chris Williams of Christopher P. Williams Architects, PLLC in Meredith, for Excellence in Historic Renovation; John and Mark Stephens of Stephens Landscaping Professionals LLC in Moultonborough, for Excellence in Outdoor Design; and Frank Morris Jr. of Granite State Cabinetry in Bedford, for Excellence in Bath Design.
Photography by Wendy Wood
New Hampshire Home editor Andi Axman (right) chats with master of ceremonies, painter James Aponovich, and his wife, Elizabeth Johansson.
From the left: Jackie Pzenny and Doug Dimes— both of D.R. Dimes & Company, Ltd in Northwood, the gold sponsor of the awards presentation— catch up with interior designer Cindy McLaughlin and her husband, Rick.
New Hampshire Home sales rep Jessica Schooley (left) thanks Sy (second from left) and Fouad (right) Mahfuz of PRG in Nashua and Jerry Arcari (second from right) of Landri & Arcari in Salem, Massachusetts, for their sponsorships.
Holiday Home Tours New Hampshire Home sponsored two holiday home tours in December. More than three hundred people took the Palace Theatre Holiday Home tour in Bedford and Manchester, according to Tammi Graff, director of development for the Palace Theatre, seen in bottom left photo with Tony Yakovakis, tour sponsor and owner of Ethan Allen in Bedford. More than four hundred people took the Exeter Holiday House tour (bottom right photo), which raised more than $20,000 for Womenade of Greater Squamscott. From the left: Renee Carman of Mandeville Canyon Design in Exeter; homeowner Jaye Carr; and New Hampshire Home editor Andi Axman and contributor Debbie Kane. Photography by John W. Hession
Holiday gifts From the left: Greg Bolton and Joel Sherburne of Calef’s Country Store in Barrington welcomed Ciao Italia host and New Hampshire Home contributor Mary Ann Esposito to a book signing in December, where she was joined by friends Dianne and Bob Mrak. Photography by John W. Hession
18 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
A design collaboration is a very special relationship.
It’s a pleasure when our passion for quality products becomes part of the creative process. As an addition to the wide assortment of brands that homeowners have come to enjoy in our showrooms, we’ve recently curated new collections to help architects and designers distinguish their work when transforming baths and kitchens. Product knowledge, detailed coordination and an accessible, friendly staff are added values we offer to ensure your project goes smoothly.
NASHUA 7 Redmond Street • 603-883-3130 MANCHESTER 34 Beech Street • 603-627-1590 DOVER 218 Knox Marsh Road • 603-842-6888 For other New Hampshire showrooms, visit frankwebb.com
Architects & designers are encouraged to visit frankwebb.com/professionals.
favorite finds
locally made
Use twig lettering to design a unique sign made from barn boards, which can be hung inside or outside your home.
Cottage Surroundings in Wolfeboro • (603) 569-0005 www.cottagesurroundings.com
Give your room an Arts-and-Crafts touch with an oak New World Casepiece—the inside can be customized as a secretary desk, or it can be built as a china cabinet, media cabinet or armoire.
Cold River Furniture in South Acworth • (603) 835-2969 www.coldriverfurniture.com
Photography courtesy of the League of NH
See which way the wind blows with this full-bodied copper horse (its head and ears are bronze) weathervane.
New England Weathervane Shop (978) 815-6189 • www.newengland weathervaneshop.com
Decorate your table with an elaborately hand-carved, lushly glazed ceramic platter by Sarah Heimann of Lebanon.
League of NH Craftsmen www.nhcrafts.org
Let your dish soap do all the work— this all-natural, plant-based cleanser doesn’t contains any harsh chemicals and is available in a variety of fragrances.
Sweet Grass Farm in Greenland (877) 540-3105 www.sweetgrass online.com
Light up any room with a Wave Chandelier. It has four elements (each with three segments of multi-colored art glass) hanging from an oiled bronze armature.
Derek Marshall Lighting in Sandwich • (800) 497-3891 • www.derekmarshall.com
20 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
Call today or go online to request a free in-home Consultation!
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favorite finds
locally made
Add some color to your tabletop with hand-blown glasses by Jordana Korsen, who is the head of the glassblowing department at Franklin Pierce College in Rindge.
Photography courtesy of the League of NH
League of NH Craftsmen • www.nhcrafts.org
Let the games begin on this table with a top made from two-inch squares of tiger maple and walnut.
D.R. Dimes & Company, Ltd in Northwood • (603) 942-8050 www.drdimes.com
Raise a pewter tankard for your next toast, and keep your favorite brew nice and cold.
Hampshire Pewter in Somersworth • (603) 569-4944 www.hampshirepewter.com
Store your treasures or just decorate with these colorful, solid-cherry oval boxes finished with a milk-based paint. Canterbury Shaker Village in Canterbury • (603) 783-9511
www.canterbury-shaker-village.myshopify.com
Keep your papers in place with this one-of-a-kind paperweight by glassblower Alex Kalish of Antrim.
League of NH Craftsmen • www.nhcrafts.org
Give a gift of relaxation that includes lavender aromatherapy massage oil and lavender botanical body soap. Badger Balms in Gilsum
Photography courtesy of the League of NH
(800) 603-6100 www.badgerbalm.com
22 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
St yle Design Trends...
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The Lighting Showroom Where Illumination Meets Inspiration Bedford Village Shoppes • Route 101 • 603-471-3299
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Home cooking with
mary ann esposito
Everything Has a Season Locally grown produce and meats make spring cuisine even tastier.
A
s Pete Seeger’s song so poignantly says, “To everything, turn, turn,
turn. There is a season.” Spring
is a season of great relief and anticipa-
tion. Weary of winter, dark days and nights, and a somber-looking landscape, we know better things are coming when the first crocuses and daffodils defy the lingering cold by poking their colorful heads through a still barren earth. Our attitude changes, too, when daylight saving time kicks in and more activity moves outdoors. For me, that means bringing out the grill, picking the first new herbs from my garden, and changing my cooking habits from heavy and hearty, to light and delicate. For a cook, each season is a temporal time to capture and enjoy the flavors of particular foods. In spring, those treats include ramps, spinach, lettuce, rhubarb, asparagus, mint, parsley, spring peas, artichokes and sorrel. I like to support my local farmers’ market as well as the many independent markets in the area that carry seasonal vegetables, fruits, meats, fish and dairy items. Locally sourced foods get my mind whirling with lots of ideas on how add the leaves raw to a mixed green
and an open-face galette. It usually gets
salad. Those bunches of beets conceal
the most attention as the understudy of
the chubby asparagus spears that I
gorgeous hues of wine red and orange
a strawberry rhubarb pie, but its flavor
spot—perhaps coating them in sesame
beneath their earthy-looking skin. I
shines on its own as a sauce for vanilla
seeds and roasting them for a new taste.
imagine a salad of them with juicy or-
ice cream or to accompany an otherwise
Or those Irish green spring peas look
ange segments and feta cheese, and add
ho-hum pork chop, transforming its
like they would be delicious as a delicate
that to my mental list of things to make.
taste into something extraordinary.
to utilize them. I might do something different with
soup flavored with fresh mint.
Rhubarb is so under-appreciated, in
Take advantage of what spring has to
my opinion. When I harvest it from
offer. Don’t let the season pass you by
herb whose leaves resemble spinach is
my garden, I already have it earmarked
without capturing its unique flavors—
used to make sorrel soup, but I love to
as an ingredient for muffins, tea breads
for everything has a season.
Sorrel anyone? This lemon-flavored
NHH
Text and food styling Mary Ann Esposito | Photography by John W. Hession 24 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
Imagine a kitchen...
Imagine a kitchen... Beet, Orange and Walnut Salad Ser v es 4
A nice change of pace from a green salad and just in time for spring, this beet and orange salad is refreshing. 3 large red beets with tops attached (about 1¼ pounds) ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon dry mustard 2 large cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon fine sea salt 2 tablespoons honey 2 oranges, peeled and segmented 1 cup shredded spinach ½ cup toasted walnut pieces 1. Wash the beets well to remove tough surface dirt. Cut the beet greens and stems off but leave about 3 inches of stem attached to each one. Place the beets in a large saucepan and cover them with cold water. Boil them until a knife is easily inserted all the way into them. Depending on the size of the beets, they will cook in about 30–35 minutes. Drain the beets and set them aside to cool. (An alternative is to cook them in the microwave.) 2. When the beets are cool enough to handle, remove the beet top stems and discard them. Peel the skin and discard it. Cut the beets into thick, round slices and cut each slice into 1/4-inch wide strips. 3. In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, dry mustard, garlic, salt and honey. Set aside. 4. Place the beet slices in a large rectangular dish. Add the orange segments, spinach and nuts. Gently mix the ingredients together, then pour the dressing over the beet mixture and toss gently to coat the ingredients well. 5. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and allow the salad to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. Recipe courtesy of Mary Ann Esposito www.nhhomemagazine.com
Vintage Kitchens W
hether you live in an old house with original features, or plan to create something entirely new, the goal is the same: a consistent aesthetic theme and a kitchen that works — beautifully.
Vintage Kitchens vintagekitchens.com
603.224.2854 24 South Street Concord, NH 03301
W
hether you live in an old house with original features, or plan to create something entirely new, the goal is the same: a consistent aesthetic theme and a kitchen that works — beautifully.
vintagekitchens.com Serving the 603.224.2854 24 South Street Concord, NH 03301 Seacoast, Southern Maine and the Northshore of Massachusetts ❖ 603-929-4628 Landwrightllc.com New Hampshire Home | 25
Home cooking
with mary ann esposito
Rhubarb Galette
Ser v es 6 – 8
A rhubarb galette to welcome spring? Why not? A galette is a free-form open pie that can be savory or sweet, and contain anything from spinach and eggs to mixed berries. Rhubarb is my go-to ingredient for this sweet confection that is perfect with a cup of tea to welcome spring.
2¼ cups unbleached, all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt, divided 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, divided ½ teaspoon baking soda 1½ sticks cold, unsalted butter, chopped in bits 4 tablespoons cold buttermilk Ice water, as needed 4 cups chopped rhubarb Juice of 1 lemon ½ teaspoon cinnamon 3 tablespoons cornstarch 1 egg, slightly beaten 1 tablespoon milk Vanilla ice cream and a sprig of fresh mint, for garnish
1. Combine the flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon of sugar and baking soda in a bowl or food processor, and mix to blend. Add the butter, and pulse in or use a fork to break butter up into pea-size pieces. Add the buttermilk, and pulse or blend in. Add enough ice water (a little at a time) until a ball of dough forms. Gather up the dough, form it into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. 2. I n a saucepan, combine the rhubarb, lemon juice, 1 cup of sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt, cinnamon and cornstarch. Cook slowly over medium heat until the rhubarb softens and thickens. Cool to room temperature. The filling can be made a day or two ahead. 3. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400°F. Unwrap the dough, and place it between two sheets of parchment paper. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out into a 14-inch circle. Remove top sheet of parchment paper, and place the dough and the bottom sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet. 4. Spread the rhubarb filling to within 2 inches of the edges of the dough. Use your hands to overlap and bring the dough edges over the filling, toward the middle of the dough but not covering the filling. 5. Mix the egg and milk, and brush the exposed dough with the egg wash. 6. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the galette is nicely browned and the filling is bubbly. 7. Cool until the galette is warm, and cut into wedges to serve. Recipe courtesy of Mary Ann Esposito
26 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
LindaCloutier
Kitchens &Baths 603-964-2959 Linda Clough–Cloutier, CKD
611 Breakfast Hill Road • Greenland, New Hampshire • www.lindacloutier.com
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www.nhhomemagazine.com
New Hampshire Home | 27
Remodeling?
Let us inspire you!
Home cooking
with mary ann esposito
Herbed Rice
Ser v es 4
Fresh herbs are just the ticket to liven up boiled rice. Cooking in broth instead of water gives the rice a richer and more flavorful taste. I like to snip a variety of herbs from my garden and add them just before the rice is served. 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth 1 cup Basmati rice 4 tablespoons butter, divided Salt, to taste Grinding black pepper 1 tablespoon each of minced fresh parsley, tarragon, mint and thyme
Amazing Quality • Incredible Selection • Completely Customizable.
1. Pour the broth into a saucepan and stir in the rice. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to simmer. Add 1 tablespoon of butter, cover the pot and simmer until all the liquid is absorbed. 2. Stir in the salt, pepper, herbs and remaining butter. Serve hot. Recipe courtesy of Mary Ann Esposito
Where to Buy Locally Grown Produce
Visit our showroom: 311 Route 27, Raymond, NH 03077 603-895-4118 • (800) 439-4118 countrywoodsnh.com
Eating fruits and vegetables that are grown a stone’s throw away is getting easier every day, every season. Among the options are farmers’ markets held year-round throughout the state (www.nheatlocal.org, a page on the N.H. Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food website, www.agriculture.nh.gov). Local produce is also available in season through community supported agriculture (CSA) farms in New Hampshire (www.agriculture.nh.gov/publications), and at stores including the Concord Cooperative Market in Concord and New London; the Coop Food Stores in Hanover and Lebanon; Hannaford; Lull Farm in Hollis; Tendercrop Farm in Dover; The Fresh Market in Portsmouth and Bedford; and Whole Foods Market in Nashua, with locations soon to open in Bedford and Portsmouth.
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Tara Surette, produce manager at Tendercrop Farm in Dover, brings out chard just harvested at the farm. 28 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
NEW HAMPSHIRE CHIPPENDALE CHEST C. 1790
We carry a select inventory of investment quality New England antiques with a special interest in New Hampshire furniture.
OFFERING PROFESSIONAL CONSERVATION SERVICES
Gallery located at 280 South Street Concord, NH 03301 By appointment – (603) 228-4840 gfyeatonantiques@comcast.net www.GaryYeatonAntiques.com
This handsome four-drawer Chippendale chest in original surface features a beautifully molded top and a nicely designed bracket base with a carved fan center drop. The chest has a pleasing reddish brown patina and the Queen Anne rosette bails are original. Possible Walpole or Charlestown, NH origin. H. 34 ½ in.
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New Hampshire Home | 29
Home cooking
with mary ann esposito
Marinated Lamb Shoulder Chops with Fresh Mint Sauce
Ser v es 4
Lamb blade shoulder chops are far tastier than their more expensive center-cut cousins, because they have more marbling. Marinate the chops first, then broil or grill them, and serve with fresh mint sauce. 2 cups packed, whole, fresh mint leaves 1 cup water 3 tablespoons honey, divided Pinch salt 4 blade-cut lamb chops
1 large clove garlic, minced Juice of 2 large lemons 1 /3 cup fresh minced mint leaves 1 /4 teaspoon coarse black pepper 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1. Combine the whole mint leaves with the water and 2 tablespoons of honey in a small saucepan, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered until the liquid is reduced by half. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl. Add salt to taste. Set aside and keep warm, or make several days ahead and refrigerate. Reheat when ready to use. 2. In a shallow bowl large enough to hold the chops in a single layer, mix the garlic, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of honey, minced mint leaves, pepper and olive oil. Place the chops in the marinade, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Turn the chops over once or twice while they are marinating. 3. Prepare a gas grill or preheat the broiler. Drain the chops from the marinade, and grill or broil them. Use an instant-read thermometer for gauging when they are done: 145°F for rare, 160°F for medium and 170°F for well done. 4. Serve with some of the mint sauce.
Recipe from Ciao Italia Family Classics
Pea and Leek Soup
Ser v es 4
This elegant pea soup with a velvety texture can be made in minutes. 2 large leeks, washed and dark green leaves cut and discarded 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 16 ounces fresh (or frozen) peas 1 chicken bouillon cube
1 cup boiling water 2 cups evaporated milk Salt and pepper, to taste ½ cup vegetable oil
1. Dice one leek and set aside. Cut the other leek into thin rounds and set aside. 2. In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat; stir in the diced leeks and cook until wilted. Add the peas; cover the pan and cook for about 3 minutes over low heat. 3. Dissolve the bouillon cube in the hot water. Add to the peas and cook for about 3 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a food processor and purée the mixture until smooth (do this in batches if necessary). 4. Return the pea mixture to the saucepan, stir in the milk. Add salt and pepper to taste. 5. Heat the vegetable oil in a heavy-duty 1-quart pot or stovetop skillet. Add half the leek rounds and cook them in the oil until they begin to brown. Drain the leeks on paper towels and repeat with the remaining leek rounds. 6. Reheat the soup and ladle into soup bowls. Garnish with the fried leek rounds. Recipe courtesy of Mary Ann Esposito 30 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
Fred Varney Company
603-569-3565
KitChens and Baths 4 Grove Street Wolfeboro, NH
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REPAIRS
50 Daniel Street
ClEANING
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APPRAISAlS
603-334-6825
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New Hampshire Home | 31
going green
Charlie Ristagno is an avid gardener who grows flowering annuals and herbs in his conservatory, seen to the left, of his Rye Beach home. He works closely with landscape architect Terrence Parker, of Terra Firma Landscape Architecture in Portsmouth, to showcase the plants he grows and others in the front garden.
So Green, It’s Gold A Seacoast
couple’s energyefficient home
is certified LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council.
W
hen Charlie and Marcia Ristagno
in Energy & Environmental Design) Gold, a
decided to make their dream
noteworthy certification from the U.S. Green
home a reality, they embraced
Building Council that recognizes best practic-
the adventure. Inspired by cozy cottages
es. The second is an Energy Star HERS (Home
they’d seen on trips through England’s
Energy Rating System) score of 39 (meaning
Cotswolds region, the couple built their own
that the home is 71 percent more energy ef-
version on a lot near the ocean in Rye Beach.
ficient than standard). Last year the Ristagnos
The Ristagnos’ home is 4,000 square feet; has two kitchens, two floors of living space and gardens containing plants grown
spent only $1,500 in heating and cooling bills and less than $500 for electricity. “Their home combines good design and
in Charlie’s conservatory. And the house
energy efficiency,” says Jon Moody of Rich-
is so energy efficient that it received two
ard Moody & Sons Construction of Wells,
designations: The first is LEED (Leadership
Maine, the Ristagnos’ contractor and builder.
By Debbie Kane | Photography by John W. Hession 32 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
“You don’t always see LEED homes as
building products and techniques,”
well-designed and built as this one.”
Moody says. “He talked to other build-
former home, the new house—made
Built on a lot near the Ristagnos’
Charlie drove the effort for green
ing professionals and toured Energy
of red brick and stone—is sited and
certification. A retired scientist who’s
Star homes. It was fun to work with
constructed to protect nearby wetlands
also an avid gardener and cook, he was
someone who wanted to do something
and take advantage of ocean views. The
intrigued with the LEED and Energy
different and do it right.”
home’s green features—such as the roof
Star programs. Homeowners earn points
slates made from recycled rubber tires
by meeting program requirements and
Good design, high efficiency
pursuing credits on their own in catego-
Before construction began, Alison
obvious. The landscape and water filtra-
ries such as materials and resources. The
Keay—a consultant at Concord-based
tion systems move water away from the
total number of points earned deter-
Resilient Buildings Group, Inc., a firm
foundation. All water on the site flows
mines the level of LEED certification:
specializing in energy efficiency and
into an underground filtration basin;
certified, silver, gold or platinum.
and water-permeable driveway—aren’t
LEED certification—hosted a design
the front garden sits over a cistern that
“It made sense to me,” Charlie says.
charrette with the Ristagnos’ design and
slowly absorbs runoff from the roof.
“I was fascinated with how to make the
construction team to review the details
A rainwater garden—which contains
home energy efficient.” He attended
of LEED and establish “green goals” for
native plants, such as summersweet and
seminars hosted by Energy Star, a U.S.
the project. She visited the site regularly
inkberry—naturally filters the water. A
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
throughout construction to ensure all
perimeter walk offers intimate views of
program, to learn the ins and outs of
goals and requirements were met.
the wetlands behind the house.
improving energy performance, and
“Part of the focus during this project
Rigid foam insulation under the
then enthusiastically shared his knowl-
was energy reduction and water con-
foundation; foam insulation in the attic
edge with the professionals working on
servation,” Keay says, “but Charlie and
and all exterior walls; and triple-paned
his home.
Marcia didn’t have to compromise their
windows on the front of the house
“Charlie was willing to learn and re-
home’s traditional design for the sake of
help make the building air-tight and
search as much as possible about green
energy efficiency or LEED certification.”
quiet. An energy recovery ventilation
The Ristagnos’ stone-fronted home combines energy efficiency with classical design, inspired by English cottage architecture. www.nhhomemagazine.com
New Hampshire Home | 33
going green
The Ristagnos have two kitchens. The sunny main kitchen (top) features custom cabinetry by Crown Point Cabinetry in Claremont and white oak flooring by Carlisle Wide Plank Floors in Stoddard. At the other end of the room (above), Charlie, a gourmet cook, has a restaurant-quality kitchen with stainless-steel, Energy Star appliances. All lights, including the chandeliers, are LEDs and from Lighting by the Sea in Hampton Falls. The wallpaper in the kitchen and dining area is from Wicked Awesome Wallpaper & Paint in Hampton. 34 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
ADVERTISEMENT
N I N A’ S T I P S F O R REMODELING YOUR KITCHEN
Marcia and Charlie Ristagno worked together to create a home that’s cozy and meets LEED certification standards.
system with built-in HEPA filtration improves indoor air quality, a benefit for Marcia’s allergies. Radiant floor heating throughout the house provides an even blanket of warmth without the noise of a radiator or heating vents. “Every single corner of the house is within 2 degrees of the thermostat,” says Kevin Hanlon, owner of Horizon Residential Energy Services NH of Concord, who worked with the Ristagnos and Moody to project their cost savings on energy-efficiency. “It’s virtually draft-free and very comfortable.” All appliances are designated energy efficient by Energy Star, and the heating system, hot water and kitchen stoves run on propane. Most of the interior and all the exterior lighting fixtures—from Lighting by the Sea in Hampton Falls—use highefficiency LEDs.
The living spaces, inside and out The late Thane Pearson of Pearson
Tip 1 Maximizing your storage is essential to having a great kitchen. I have seen many kitchens that have no place to put the frying pans, no real pantry and no counter space on either side of the cook top. These are not functioning kitchens. I maintain that all cabinets less than 12 inches wide are useless. What can you store in them? Not much. If you are going to spend the money to remodel your kitchen, let a designer help you maximize the storage space so you really can use it. No more trips to the basement to get that pan or roll of paper towels. At Dream Kitchens, I guarantee we will give you at least 30 percent more storage. Tip 2 Life has changed. The kitchen is the center of our lives. We cook, our children study, and we entertain in the kitchen. This makes the layout essential. How many times have you asked your child to “stop standing there so I can get to the fridge?” We should be able to easily chat with guests, put chips and dip out on a buffet, and watch TV. We want guests welcome in the kitchen, but on the fringes where they add to the fun but don’t get in the way. Tip 3 Get rid of the clutter. Most countertops are packed with the coffee maker, toaster, food processor, blender, knives, spices and pantry items. This makes it almost impossible to prepare food and makes the kitchen look messy. Have a place to store everything so you can see and use those beautiful countertops. At Dream Kitchens we will store everything away so you are ready for company at any time of day!
Traditional Design in York, Maine, designed the home’s footprint; Bob Cook of AdaptDESIGN in Portsmouth
Nina Hackel, President | Dream Kitchens | 139 Daniel Webster Highway Nashua NH | www.adreamkitchen.com | 603-891-2916
designed the interior floor plan. www.nhhomemagazine.com
New Hampshire Home | 35
going green
Top: Made of recycled materials, the second-floor deck off the guest suite overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Above: The upstairs guest suite features built-in cabinetry housing a small pantry, dry sink and refrigerator. Richard Moody & Sons Construction in Wells, Maine, built the cabinets, and the wallpaper is from Wicked Awesome Wallpaper & Paint in Hampton. 36 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
Radiant heat keeps the master bathroom floors warm. The vanity is by Crown Point Cabinetry in Claremont; all lighting is LED and from Lighting by the Sea in Hampton Falls; window treatments are by Larry’s Custom Interiors in Portsmouth.
Working closely with Marcia— “Charlie joked that he was in charge of the outside but the inside space was Marcia’s,” Cook says—Cook designed interior spaces to be experienced in different ways, depending on which entrance is used. The front entrance opens into the living room, with views into the kitchen and back yard; a short hall to the right leads to Marcia’s study, the garage and stairs (as well as an elevator) to the second floor. The Ristagnos wanted two kitchens: one for entertaining guests with an island and dining area (dubbed Marcia’s), and a restaurant-
Residential Design Construction Consultation Custom Building & Remodeling
quality kitchen with stainless-steel appliances for Charlie, who loves to cook. Upstairs is a workout room, Charlie’s office and the master bedroom suite, which overlooks a pretty marsh. At the opposite end of the house is a media room and guest suite that opens to a rooftop deck— made of recycled materials— overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. www.nhhomemagazine.com
DESIGN
•
BUILD Gold
•
REMODEL
Cornerstone awards 2015
Recognizing SOUTHERNExcellence In The Building Industry
603.472.4414 • www.libertyhillconstruction.com Bedford • New Hampshire
New Hampshire Home | 37
going green
Charlie Ristagno’s conservatory, on the east side of the house, takes advantage of natural sunlight, as well as fluorescent lighting, to grow herbs and flowering annuals.
Architecture in Portsmouth. “We had
well,” Moody says. “This project really
flowering annuals and herbs Charlie
a collaborative approach to planting
embodied that idea. Everyone had to
grows in his greenhouse, located just
that matches his skills with my sense of
communicate about the products and
off the garage. Other plantings include
vegetative balance and rhythm.”
techniques we were using, understand
The front garden showcases
roses, lavenders, blue star flowers,
what it meant to achieve LEED, and,
mums, dogwood and evergreens that
Successful teamwork
offer color most of the year. “Charlie
Everyone who worked on the Ristag-
home that Charlie and Marcia would be
has an exceptional ecological sensi-
nos’ home was enthusiastic about the
happy with for years to come.”
tivity and love for plants,” says Ter-
project. “Every successful project comes
rence Parker of Terra Firma Landscape
down to people working together
most important, deliver a high-quality NHH
Resources AdaptDESIGN (603) 205-2155 www.adaptdesignonline.com Carlisle Wide Plank Floors (603) 446-3937 www. wideplankflooring.com Crown Point Cabinetry (800) 999-4994 www.crown-point.com Horizon Residential Energy Services NH (603) 369-4833 • www.horizon-res.com Larry’s Custom Interiors (888) 397-5852 Lighting by the Sea (603) 601-7354 www.lightingbythesea.com Pearson Traditional Design (207) 351-2711 www.pearsontraditionaldesign.com Resilient Buildings Group (603) 226-1009 www.resilientbuildingsgroup.com Richard Moody & Sons Construction (207) 646-6194 www.rmoodyconstruction.com The team working on the Ristagno home included, from the left: Kevin Hanlon of Horizon Residential Energy Services NH in Concord; Holly Bowdoin and Art Feith of Pearson Traditional Design in York, Maine; Bob Cook of adaptDESIGN in Portsmouth; Alison Keay of Resilient Buildings Group, Inc. in Concord; Jon Moody of Richard Moody & Sons Construction in Wells, Maine; and Terrence Parker of Terra Firma Landscape Architecture in Portsmouth. 38 | New Hampshire Home
Terra Firma Landscape Architecture (603) 430-8388 www.terrafirmalandarch.com Wicked Awesome Wallpaper & Paint (603) 929-1717 www.wickedawesomepaint.com march/april 2016
Worth the trip to view our great selection of lighting, lamps and lampshades. Most items are in stock. Open Monday – Wednesday 9-5, Thursday 9-7, Friday – Saturday 9-5
www.lightingbythesea.com (603) 601-7354 Route 1, 87 Lafayette Road, Hampton Falls, NH Meredith & New London, NH 603.526.6200 boninarchitects.com
Residential, Commercial & Landscape Architecture www.nhhomemagazine.com
New Hampshire Home | 39
garden rx
The classic four-square, fenced-in herb garden with an armillary sundial is one of the first gardens the Elliotts created on their property. Within the boxwood-lined beds are purple-flowering stachys, oregano, thyme, variegated symphytum, poppies, alliums, marigolds, nasturtiums, tall white nicotiana and more.
Living the Good Life in Hancock A remarkable lifestyle and
extraordinary
gardens are the fruits of the
Elliotts’ simple existence.
B
ill and Eileen Elliott bought twenty-five
tained road, two miles from the nearest elec-
acres of wooded land at the end of a
tric pole. This made the land very affordable
dirt road in Hancock, and have spent
but also meant Bill and Eileen would have to
the past thirty-five years creating a home and
live off the grid. They didn’t have a mortgage,
lifestyle that is all about making the best use of
making improvements as they could afford
their property and the resources it has to offer.
them. One of the principles learned from the
Inspired by Helen and Scott Nearing—who wrote the book Living the Good Life, a bible
Nearings was “pay as you go.” Bill was a math teacher at Hawthorne
for the back-to-the-land movement of the
College and later at Keene State College. “We
1970s—the Elliotts were up to the challenges
had no building skills,” Bill says, “so we went
they faced. Their property was on an unmain-
to the Shelter Institute in Maine to learn how
By Robin Sweetser | Photography by Joseph Valentine 40 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
to build a house.” The couple started
pipes next to the large wood-burning
clearing the land by hand, pulling the
Waterford cook stove, which also heats
stumps with a come-along. The only
the house in the winter. “Bill loves
heavy equipment used was a backhoe
to do firewood,” Eileen says proudly,
to dig the cellar hole and shallow well.
pointing to the neatly stacked piles of
Bill and Eileen lived in a house down
split cordwood in the woodshed.
the road for the three years it took
In the summer, Bill and Eileen use a
them to clear the land and build an
propane camp stove for some cooking,
oak post-and-beam Cape, using wood
but still run the woodstove for a few
from the property. “When we moved
hours each day to heat the hot water
into the house, we described it as a
and do most of the cooking.
wooden tent,” Bill says. Bill and Eileen gradually finished
The cellar is their refrigerator, maintaining a cool 60 degrees in the
the house over the next ten years as
summer and 40 degrees in the winter.
time and money allowed. The house
Here, Bill and Eileen store all the food
is located about three hundred yards
they’ve grown and preserved. Glisten-
from the road, since it was important
ing jars of tomatoes, pickles, relishes,
to be close to a reliable source of water.
blueberries and dilly beans line the
The steep roof collects rainwater,
shelves, along with boxes and bins
which is directed into a cistern to be
of apples, potatoes, carrots, winter
used for laundry, bathing and watering
squashes, onions and garlic. Bill and
plants. Bill uses a hand pump in the
Eileen buy dried beans, flour, oats and
cellar to pump the rest of their day’s
other staples in bulk. Both are vegetar-
water into tanks upstairs that feed
ians, and they estimate that they grow
the sinks. “We pay close attention to
about half the food they eat.
water use since the well has gone dry
It is too shady around the house
before,” he explains. “We use about
for photovoltaics to be very effective
twenty gallons a day.” Hot water is
year-round. However, Bill and Eileen
heated and rises naturally through
have four 50-watt solar panels on the
A well-worn footpath winds from the garden through the trees to the small clearing where the house is nestled. The Elliotts choose not to increase their solar gain by cutting the large oaks around the house, instead enjoying the shade and natural air-conditioning the trees provide in summer. www.nhhomemagazine.com
New Hampshire Home | 41
garden rx
Top: A peastone path lined with perennials runs along one side of the vegetable garden. Above: Breadseed poppies are prolific self-sowers, popping up all around the vegetable and flower gardens. Far right: Homeowners and gardeners Bill and Eileen Elliott happily live a simple lifestyle off the grid. Right: Starry purple clematis is just one of many varieties of climbing vines growing around the property.
42 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
roof that can generate 200 watts of power in a few hours on a sunny day. Batteries located in the cellar store the power that is used to run a dozen low-voltage lights, a radio, CD and DVD players, and a laptop. “We live off the grid but still use plenty of resources,” Eileen says. “We have a car and a chainsaw, and we travel. This year we went to a Celtic music festival in Scotland, and traveled to Newfoundland and Cape Breton.”
Dark purple alliums complement silver-leaved lamb’s ears next to the rock wall made from stones removed from the gardens.
In the garden As visitors slip through the Elliotts’ Gothic arch gate made of twigs to enter the lush and lovely garden full of ornamental trees, flowering shrubs, perennials, edible fruits and vegeta-
Your dream kitchen, brought to life. We believe spaces are beautiful when they work. Contact us to find out how we can make your dream space a reality.
bles, it is hard to believe that this area was once totally wooded. During the growing season, the Elliotts work in their garden about five hours a day. After battling with deer for years, they finally fenced off two acres of their gardens; water for the vegetable garden is pumped from an open water hole to a three-
creating beautifully functional spaces
hundred-gallon tank above the garden using a gas-powered pump. It is evident from the scope of the landscaping that the Elliotts are plant
Lisa O’Brien Designer
7 Henniker St, Concord, NH info@3wdesigninc.com 603.226.3399 www.3wdesigninc.com
collectors. For years, Eileen worked www.nhhomemagazine.com
PMS 194 MAROON & BLACK
New Hampshire Home | 43
garden rx
Top: A shade garden behind the house has hostas, astilbe, blue lacecap hydrangeas and other flowering shrubs that blend into the surrounding landscape. Above: Sculptures, a birdbath and one-of-kind garden art add to the charm of the space around the Elliotts’ home.
for Our Town Landscaping in Hancock,
there. Now that space is devoted mainly
triple-fence their corn against maraud-
and she brought home many ideas—
to vegetables. The spring garden starts
ing raccoons and skunks.
and plants. “We had no real garden
with sorrel, rhubarb, asparagus, early
plan, so I spent many sleepless nights
spinach and lettuce.
wondering where I could put the things I just had to have,” she says. “We cut more and more trees, and
In summer, there are peppers,
Ornamentals are mixed in with the vegetables; there are day lilies and dahlias along the paths, and self-seeded
tomatoes, cabbages, squash, carrots
poppies, chives and red-leaved ama-
and chard along with a multitude of
ranths are allowed to grow. In fall, there are potatoes to dig,
made the gardens bigger and bigger,”
herbs. Eileen recommends ‘Rattlesnake’
Bill says. “But every time we go to plant
heirloom pole beans. “Even though
garlic to plant and winter squashes to
something, we find rocks!”
they get quite large, they remain sweet
harvest. Bill and Eileen have several
Their original garden was at the top
and tasty,” she says. Lemon cucumbers
large cold frames that can be placed
of the hill, and it has grown out from
are her grandson’s favorite. The Elliotts
right over some of the raised beds to
44 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
倀氀愀渀渀椀渀最 愀 䰀愀渀搀猀挀愀瀀攀 倀爀漀樀攀挀琀 吀栀椀猀 夀攀愀爀 㼀
匀琀愀爀琀 瀀氀愀渀渀椀渀最 渀漀眀℀
䐀漀渀✀琀 氀攀琀 琀栀攀 瀀攀爀洀椀琀琀椀渀最 漀爀 搀攀猀椀最渀 瀀爀漀挀攀猀猀 栀漀氀搀 甀瀀 礀漀甀爀 氀愀渀搀猀挀愀瀀攀 瀀爀漀樀攀挀琀 琀栀椀猀 礀攀愀爀⸀ 䌀漀渀琀愀挀琀 漀甀爀 琀攀愀洀 漀昀 栀椀最栀氀礀 焀甀愀氀椀昀椀攀搀 瀀爀漀昀攀猀猀椀漀渀愀氀猀 眀栀漀 眀椀氀氀 椀渀琀攀最爀愀琀攀 琀栀攀 搀攀猀椀最渀Ⰰ 瀀攀爀洀椀琀琀椀渀最 愀渀搀 挀漀渀猀琀爀甀挀琀椀漀渀 瀀爀漀挀攀猀猀 琀漀 攀渀猀甀爀攀 琀栀愀琀
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ᰠ䈀甀椀氀搀椀渀最 刀攀氀愀琀椀漀渀猀栀椀瀀猀 昀漀爀 伀瘀攀爀 ㈀㔀 夀攀愀爀猀 ᴠ
䜀䤀䰀䘀伀刀䐀Ⰰ 一䠀
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New Hampshire Home | 45
garden rx
Top: The Elliotts’ vegetable garden has many raised beds. Brassicas—including Brussels sprouts, and red and green cabbage—grow in the bed on the right. Carrots grow in the center bed and a variegated kiwi vine climbs a trellis at left. Above, left: Within an already double-fenced vegetable garden, corn gets an extra fence of its own to thwart marauding raccoons. Winter squash and tomatoes grow in the foreground with dahlias along the path at right. Above, right: Eileen Elliott grows and cans lots of tomatoes and other produce in season to get her and Bill through the winter. 46 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
extend the growing season, and the couple has recently finished building a garden shed at the top of the hill for tools. “It was thirty years in the making!” Eileen says.
Feast for the eyes, too Edibles appear alongside the perennials and shrubs in the rest of the garden as well. Many fruit trees, highbush blueberries and a fence covered with Concord grapes provide fruit for
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Carrots and other root crops are good keepers, lasting most of the winter in the Elliotts’ cold cellar.
the larder. Winding pathways lead past a well-positioned bench looking down on the formal garden below. Eileen points to a larch draping over the front of the fence. “We got that idea from Rocky Dale Gardens in Vermont (one of the many places where they buy plants) so we call this ‘Mocky Dale,’” she laughs. Eileen has a collection of more than twenty magnolias that start to bloom in late April. The Elliotts also have lots of heathers, enough day lilies that they used to sell them at the local farmers’ market, and eightyplus dahlias that the couple digs up and stores each winter. Eileen calls her collection of twenty Itoh peonies her latest obsession. The Elliotts have created a new area of shrubs, including four varieties of physocarpus, a larch and an umbrella pine. Trees are one of Bill and Eileen’s www.nhhomemagazine.com
behindclothesdoors.org Call 603-589-8042 for a FREE consultation! New Hampshire Home | 47
garden rx
Mackinac by Lloyd Flanders
A colorful mix of shrubs and small trees, which look great in any season, flows down the hillside toward a well-placed, weathered bench overlooking the “Mocky Dale” garden. The larch growing over the entry fence is an idea borrowed from Rocky Dale Gardens in Vermont, a favorite plant source for the Elliotts. Concord grapes on right provide plenty of fruit for jelly and juice.
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passions, and the couple recently added a new gingko, a dawn redR160917
wood, Kentucky coffee tree, tupelo and whitebeam (Sorbus aria) that they saw in Scotland. “We cut three free trees and replaced them with one
Congratulations to The 2016 NEW HAMPSHIRE HOME’s Excellence in Design Awards Winners: Granite State Cabinetry Christopher P. Williams Architects Crown Point Cabinetry TMS Architects BEAM Construction Associates Recreama Development
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Created from Earth. Crafted by Artisans
$100 tree,” Bill joked. Many of the trees tell a story. A weeping Congratulations crab apple was planted
to
twenty-seven years ago on their
The 2014
twenty-fifth wedding anniversary,
NEW HAMPSHIRE HOME’s and Bill and Eileen have planted trees forExcellence each of their sixin grandDesign children. “We are still planting trees,”
Awards Winners:
Eileen says.
A few years ago, a houseInteriors was built Alice Williams
at the end of their road and electricPatty Kennedy Interiors ity was brought in. “Our friends all Patty Cooke of Wentworth Style thought we would finally hook up BEAM Construction to it, but we see no reason to. We enjoy our life as it is,” Bill says. They planted a camperdown elm and six new magnolias to screen out the sight of the new wires.
A simple, seasonal life The Elliotts’ driveway was once an Created from Earth. Crafted old logging road. “We can driveby to Artisans.
the house if necessary, but rarely do,” R E M“We A R Bprefer L E A NtoDwalk G R A through NITE.COM Bill says. 48 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
Beautiful
SUSTAINABLE homES
the gardens and woods, using a wheelbarrow or sled to carry stuff in and out.” In the winter, they snowshoe out to their car, which is parked near the road. Their driveway has never been plowed. “It is seasonal living, so every couple of weeks it is different,” Eileen says. “We wake up to sunrise over Crotched Mountain. It is not just a good life but also a great life. It shows what two, kind of obsessive people can do on their own.”
NHH
Resources Cady’s Fall Nursery
(802) 888-5559 • www.cadysfallsnursery.com
Edgewater Farm
(603) 298-5764 • www.edgewaterfarm.com
Fedco (207) 426-0090 • www.fedcoseeds.com Inspired Gardener
(603) 399-4354 • www.inspiredgardener.com Johnny’s Selected Seeds
(877) 564-6697 • www.johnnyseeds.com Our Town Landscaping
General Contractor • Custom Homes
Ridgeview ConstRuCtion is an awaRd-winning Building & Remodeling Company loCated in deeRfield, nH
(603) 525-3794 • www.ourtownlandscaping.com Rocky Dale Gardens
(802) 453-2782 • www.rockydalegardens.com
Shelter Institute
(207) 442-7938 • www.shelterinstitute.com
Uncanoonuc Mountain Perennials (603) 497-3975
www.uncanoonucmt.com
Walker Farm (802) 254-2051
we Have CReative solutions foR a sustainaBle and HigH-peRfoRmanCe Home.
Call us (603) 303-7206 • greenbuildernh.com
www.walkerfarm.com
www.nhhomemagazine.com
New Hampshire Home | 49
homework
The Magic of Carpets Anything goes when it comes to styles of rugs.
N
ew Englanders are known to go their own way. And when it comes to what we walk on, it’s
no different. “When I talk to others in my in-
dustry, they’re always amazed at what we’re selling,” says Jeff Arcari, buyer/ owner of Landry & Arcari Rugs and Carpeting, which has 14,000 rugs in stock at their Framingham, Boston, and Salem, Massachusetts, showrooms. Andrew Tagavi, founder and owner of Seacoast Rug and Home in North Hampton, agrees. “When I talk to my peers on the West Coast, what’s being bought here in New England isn’t what’s being bought there.” “Whenever I think we have rugs in stock that are in the ‘right’ trend,” says Fouad Mahfuz, owner and vice president of PRG (formerly Persian Rug Gallery) in Nashua, “they are the ones that may be the hardest to sell. Our customers are looking for what they want—not what they are told to want.” This reality makes being in the rug business all the more enjoyable. “I love that we can work with traditional, contemporary, Arts and Crafts, and tribal designs; every trend, every style; every Photography by Morgan Karanasios
size, texture and color,” Mahfuz says. Because so many options are available and so many design tastes can be accommodated, putting a finger on the “trends” is challenging. “While the rug industry in general is very trendy,” Mahfuz says, “New England marches to the beat of our own drum.” Tagavi agrees, and although it’s not easy to identify exactly why New
With 14,000 rugs in stock in their Massachusetts showrooms, Jeff Arcari, buyer/owner of Landry & Arcari Rugs and Carpeting, encourages customers to bring in pictures of the rooms the rug will be in. That helps identify the right rug for the space.
By Kara Steere 50 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
Smart Shopping for Rugs When you’re looking for a new rug, here are a few tips from the experts. • Start early. “It’s a lot easier to fall in love with a rug and make the room fit that rug than it is to design a room and try to find a rug that you love that fits,” says Barry Featherston, the gallery manager of Peter Pap Oriental Rugs, Inc. showroom in Dublin. Once a room is finished and a customer’s vision for a rug is specific, it’s challenging to meet that vision. Beginning the rug-buying process earlier in the design development means there’s a wide variety of options.
Portsmouth Bath Company S a l e s
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• Bring pictures. Visual examples of fabrics or colors that are also used in the room offer a stronger view of the space. “Pictures really help me identify what it is that a customer is looking for,” says Jeff Arcari, buyer/owner of Landry & Arcari Rugs and Carpeting in Salem, Massachusetts. “Sometimes customers aren’t drawn to a particular color or design that they originally thought they were looking for, and seeing the room where the rug will be going helps me suggest other options.” • Know where the rug is going. “The biggest misconception we see,” says Fouad Mahfuz, owner and vice president of PRG in Nashua, “is that an inexpensive rug should go with a high-traffic area.” Instead, he suggests investing in a rug that can withstand daily use and still look good in fifteen years. • Be patient. Customers rarely benefit from buying a rug the first day they start shopping for one. With so many designs, available materials and differing levels of craftsmanship, it takes time to learn about the products. “If budget allows for a high-quality rug, you’re going to have it for a long time,” says Andrew Tagavi, founder and owner of Seacoast Rug and Home in North Hampton. “And if your budget is lower, that’s quite all right. My goal is education—I want my customers to make an informed choice.” www.nhhomemagazine.com
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New Hampshire Home | 51
Photography by John W. Hession
homework
Peter Pap Oriental Rugs focuses on antique rugs. “Our New Hampshire buyers are really into the types of rugs that would have been here in the nineteenth century,” says Barry Featherston, the gallery manager of Peter Pap’s Dublin showroom. “These rugs are ones that work well in antique homes and in today’s modern homes.”
Englanders have our own sense of style,
ter Pap Oriental Rugs, Inc. showroom in
that happens when a weaver is involved
there are some interesting hypotheses.
Dublin. “These rugs are ones that work
in the planning. The end result reflects
Perhaps we’re inspired by the vivid
well in antique homes and in today’s
the work of many artisans.”
colors of the seasons outside and want
modern homes.”
to bring those in. Perhaps it has to do
As the rug industry has changed,
Customer requests
with how the country was settled—with
Arcari says, fewer rugs are being
Even as New Englanders make up their
Europeans landing in New England. In
bought on spec. Instead, rug buyers
own minds and are looking for the rugs
any case, New Englanders are known
are involved in the whole process: the
that fit individual styles, there are some
for our own eclectic style.
selection of materials, the design. This
common themes.
And that style spans not only design
combines the traditional quality and
“We are seeing a strong shift toward
trends but the centuries that have cre-
stamp of the originating village with
a ‘contemporary’ style,” Arcari says.
ated New England’s history. “Our New
the ability for customization. “We work
“One that has a different feel, a differ-
Hampshire buyers are really into the
with a lot of designers to come up with
ent sense of balance. The trends for the
types of rugs that would have been here
unique designs,” Arcari says. “Instead of
classic dark colors in Persian rugs aren’t
in the nineteenth century,” says Barry
reacting to trends, we’re doing our own
as strong as they once were.”
Featherston, the gallery manager of Pe-
design work. There’s something special
52 | New Hampshire Home
Traditional Persian-style rugs often march/april 2016
NJK042_NHhome_hlfH.qxp 10/30/14 2:58 PM Page 1
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Five offices serving the White Mountains, Central and the Lakes Region of NH www.nhhomemagazine.com
New Hampshire Home | 53
Photography by Morgan Karanasios
homework
Because so many options are available, putting a finger on rug “trends” is challenging. “While the rug industry in general is very trendy,” says Fouad Mahfuz, owner and vice president of PRG in Nashua, “New England marches to the beat of our own drum.”
feature deeper colors—red, navy, jewel
elements but that brings in a cleaner,
tones—and are generally made of wool
repeating element.
Featherston sees similar mixing and matching at Peter Pap, which focuses
or silk. Contemporary rugs can also be
This transitional style is a bridge
on antique rugs. For example, Feath-
detailed in their design but give more
between the small designs and muted
erston says, well-woven Serapis rugs
focus to the color trends—for example,
colors of the last five or six years, and
from the second half of the nineteenth
with cooler colors such as silver, light
the incoming requests for strong, con-
century are considered great works of
blue and gray.
trasting colors.
art by superb, intuitive and creative
In the urban markets, paler palettes
Tagavi says, industry-wide, he’s see-
tend to dominate whether the customer
ing customers looking for “cheerful and
their mind’s eye. In contrast, the more
is buying a new rug or an antique rug,
happy” designs and colors.
flowery workshop rugs were being wo-
weavers who were weaving through
ven on a commercial basis.
Featherston says. Those colors could
Retailers are also seeing a mixing and
include pale pinks, pale oranges and
matching of styles andexpectations.“We
lots of natural ivory-toned wool often
are getting requests from clients who
home with a mid-twentieth-century
seen in antique rugs.
are mixing a rustic rug with a modern
aesthetic or are inclined to design
“And whether you’re designing a
décor,” Mahfuz says. “Or a contempo-
around early American antiques,”
of both traditional and contemporary
rary rug with traditional furniture. Our
Featherston says, “any antique rug from
are often drawn to the popular “tran-
clients aren’t connected so much to the
the nineteenth century would fit well
sitional” rug—one with traditional
styles as they are to the look.”
in a New Hampshire home—it’s just
Customers interested in the qualities
54 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
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New Hampshire Home | 55
Photography by John W. Hession
homework
The variety of available rugs can be overwhelming. Andrew Tagavi, the founder and owner of Seacoast Rug and Home in North Hampton, wants to help his customers better understand what they are buying—regardless of budget. “My goal is education,” he says. “I want my customers to make an informed choice.”
that Serapis are very popular today.”
the antique rugs from centuries ago
submerged in water to soak a stain out,
In addition, texture can be a factor.
beautiful and useable today. “Wool is
Tagavi says, and be better for it. That’s
Each homeowner should compare and
such a durable fiber—especially when
not the case with a lower-quality tufted
contrast a flat, woven rug without a pile
taken care of,” he says.
rug, which can start to break apart after
to a thick, plush carpet or a shaggy area
Taking care of a rug entails a profes-
wear.
rug. “Texture is as important as it’s ever
sional cleaning every two (for high-
been in our industry,” Mahfuz says.
traffic areas) to five (for low-traffic areas)
Mahfuz recommends using cold water
Caring for the product
years. “It’s all about getting the sand off
to dilute stains and a good shop vac to
the rug,” Featherston says. “Sand is what
extract the stain—not blotting.
Quality, handmade rugs can be consid-
destroys a rug—it’s like shards of glass in
ered one of the greenest home choices.
the wool, cutting the fibers.”
“When we visit the villages we work
During this process, rug owners can
In between professional cleanings,
Featherston remembers another technique that extended the life of rugs in past generations. “There used to be
with in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India
see the differences in the durability
winter rugs and summer rugs,” he says.
and Nepal, we see the villagers shearing
of rugs. For example, Tagavi points to
“Each were used half the year and then
their sheep and preparing the wool for
a style of rug that’s marketed as a
taken outside for a good cleaning.”
the dying process,” Arcari says. Gener-
“handmade” wool rug, sometimes
ally, the reds and blues in a Persian rug
called “tufted rugs.” These are different
use indigo; greens, yellows and ivory
than the higher-quality “hand-knotted”
are generally undyed sheep’s wool.
wool rug. A hand-knotted rug benefits
Once the rug has found its place in
from a vigorous cleaning, where the rug
your home, professionals advise regular
is removed from the home, flipped over
maintenance. Featherston credits
and beaten to get the dirt out.
craftsmanship and care with keeping 56 | New Hampshire Home
A hand-knotted rug can also be
NHH
Resources Landry &Arcari Rugs and Carpeting (978) 744-5909
www.landryandarcari.com
Peter Pap Oriental Rugs, Inc. (603) 563-8717
www.peterpap.com
PRG (603) 882-5604 • www.prgrugs.com Seacoast Rug and Home (603) 964-1510
www.seacoastrugandhome.com
march/april 2016
T.R. Russell Builders Inc. Custom Homes
and
Remodeling
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www.nhhomemagazine.com
New Hampshire Home | 57
Outstanding in Their Fields New Hampshire Home recognized a diverse group of designers from throughout the state at its awards gala in January. 2016
DESIGN magazine
AWARDS
our judges
Although small geographically, New Hampshire is fertile ground for the architects, designers and builders working here. The success and longevity of this magazine attests to that, and I will be always grateful for all the great stories homeowners have shared with our readers. Another way we recognize our talented design community is through our annual design awards. This year, we received seventy-five submissions for our third annual event. What a pleasure it is to view
Architect Bill Austin of Austin Design Inc., with offices in Colrain, Massachusetts, and Brattleboro, Vermont
all the submissions and see the variety of great work being done here! These submissions represent the most noteworthy work our residential design community is doing in New Hampshire. To determine the crème de la crème, we assembled a jury of three talented, out-ofstate professionals (introduced on the left).
Interior designer Lorin Starr of Lorin Starr Interiors in Amherst, Massachusetts
Winners were announced January 12 at the Manchester Country Club in Bedford, where former New Hampshire artist laureate James Aponovich served as master of ceremonies. For those of you who couldn’t make it to the event, awards in twelve categories were given to the following projects and their designers.
Landscape architect Joan S. Rockwell of Joan S. Rockwell & Associates of Colrain, Massachusetts
—Andi Axman
To see additional images of this year’s winning projects, go to www.NHHomeMagazine.com 58 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
HOME OF THE YEAR
Winner Squam Lake Guest Home Wood & Clay, Inc. in Gilford (603) 524-3128 • www.woodandclay.com Murdough Design in Boston, Massachusetts (617) 536-7992 • www.murdoughdesign.com Designed to harmonize with the family’s original lakeside home that’s set a stone’s throw away, this 2,820-square-foot home incorporates great expanses of glass, gleaming black walnut floors, intelligent built-ins and a streamlined interior. Featured in New Hampshire Home (Room for Everyone!, July/August 2014), this home was carefully constructed with minimal impact on the lot’s natural beauty. Judges said: This home pays homage to Frank Lloyd Wright but brings the master firmly into the twenty-first century. Broad eaves, strong horizontality and ample glass are enlivened by the striking asymmetry of chimney, ceiling, clerestory and plan. A deft hand appears in the fineness of scale, proportion, materials and details. Private rooms received the same attention as the public spaces, creating a unified sense of quality throughout. This rigorous design endows the house with authenticity, strength and a sophistication often missing in a rustic retreat. The architect’s design is realized through the builder’s craft, creating a synergy that makes this home worthy of its awards and popularity. Photography courtesy of Chibi Moku
Honorable Mention Summer Serenity
Honorable Mention Mountain House
DeStefano Architects in Portsmouth (603) 431-8701 www.destefanoarchitects.com
Recreama Development in Intervale (603) 356-2301
Judges said: Despite its cottage-style massing and detail, this is a grand house in a grand tradition on a grand lake! The house succeeds in transitioning from a rigorously formal front façade to a much more informal lakeside façade. Overall, there is good control of large volumes balanced by more intimate nooks, materials and finishes. Many of the rooms seem delightfully bright and sunny. There is good consistency, quality and craftsmanship from the large elements of scale and form to the millwork details.
INTERSTICE Architects in San Francisco, California (415) 285-3960 www.intersticearchitects.com See project description and judges’ comments on page 60, and story, A Spectacular House on a Dramatic Site, on page 68. Photography courtesy of Greg Premru
Photography courtesy of Greg West
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Excellence in Architectural Design
Winner Mountain House Recreama Development in Intervale (603) 356-2301 INTERSTICE Architects in San Francisco, California (415) 285-3960 • www.intersticearchitects.com Surrounded by the White Mountains National Forest and built on five acres along a logging trail, Mountain House has an interior “breezeway” that separates the living quarters from the studio, workshop and garage, and fills the spaces with light and mountain views. See more about this home, A Spectacular House on a Dramatic Site, on page 68. Judges said: This home is proof that good modern architecture can create both a comfortable and enlivened natural retreat. The linearity of the driveway approach is continued through the house with the open, end-to-end hall serving as a spine to organize the floor plan; the parallel,
private side deck connects living area to the outdoors. The limited but organic palette of wood, stone, steel and glass further integrates indoors and outdoors, grounding the house to the site. We delighted in elements such as the glass stair landing, unexpected site lines, custom furniture and the split-log posts alluding to past rustic structures. All said, it looks like a thoroughly enjoyable place to spend time with family and friends, or appreciate what nature offers. Photography courtesy of Greg Premru
Honorable Mention Maine Lakeside Cottage
Honorable Mention Fernwood Landing
TMS Architects in Portsmouth (603) 436-4274 • www. tms-architects.com
Bonin Architects & Associates in New London (603) 526-6200 • www.boninarchitects.com
Judges said: The house clearly expresses both its traditional and contemporary heritage. Sitting comfortably in its beautiful lakeside location, the cottage exudes relaxation as well as the vitality imparted by woods and water. Pleasing proportions, natural materials, open interiors and nicely crafted details carried from outside to inside imbue this home with “firmness, commodity and delight.” Photography courtesy of Rob Karosis
60 | New Hampshire Home
Judges said: This house beautifully continues and combines the legacy of the Shingle-style, traditional lakeside design and architect Prentice Sanger in style, siting and materials. Like in other well-designed homes, this house’s architect works with a limited but harmonious palette; the continuity of materials and craftsmanship expresses the bond between inside and outside as well as a sense of quality throughout. Photography courtesy of John W. Hession
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Excellence in Bath Design
Winner Perry Road Master Bathroom Granite State Cabinetry in Bedford (603) 472-4080 • www.gscabinetry.com The goals of this renovation were to create a sense of continuity throughout the home that better reflected the new homeowners and to make the home more energy efficient. The master bath now includes an eight-foot Italian mosaic shower along with matching mosaic on the floor and a custom his-and-her vanity with a floor-to-ceiling corner cabinet for storage. Interior design was by Deb McBride of McBride Design in Manchester, and Artistic Tile in Nashua provided tile and stone. Judges said: This room has a good functional layout. We liked the consistency of the patterning, use of materials, colors and textures. The details are thoughtful, well scaled and nicely crafted. There is restraint with a decorative quality. Photography courtesy of John W. Hession
Excellence in Green Design
Winner Family Retreat Sheldon Pennoyer Architects in Concord (603) 856-8994 • www.spennoyerarchitects.com Pennoyer worked with the homeowners to develop a forestry management plan to enhance wildlife habitat, provide all the interior hardwood flooring for the new house and open views by creating additional meadows that had been lost through the years. Judges said: There is both an imperative and a paradox related to large homes that strive to be green, as size itself is viewed by many as being innately unsustainable. Yet good capitalization well invested in energy efficiency can lead to a relatively quick return on investment. As building www.nhhomemagazine.com
codes and technology continue to push the energy-efficiency envelope, really good architecture is ahead of the curve. Good architecture realized through well-crafted construction using responsibly sourced materials is enduring, reducing its lifecycle cost and carbon footprint. Good architecture extends sustainability to the surroundings, healing the land where needed. Good architecture is enduring over generations, minimizing changes to the homes we love. Photography courtesy of John W. Hession
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Excellence in Interior Design
winner Family Room Reinvention TMS Architects in Portsmouth (603) 436-4274 • www.tms-architects.com Cebula Design Inc. Fine Interiors in Newburyport, Massachusetts (978) 462-6984 • www.cebuladesign.com After they retired and sold their home-based business, the homeowners converted their former shipping and warehouse space into a cozy family room and mudroom. The newly designed space is connected to the main house with a series of elegantly detailed arches. Strong colors in the fabrics, paintings and walls create a dramatic feel in the room. A table placed in front of large windows provides a serene place to work. A round window is cleverly installed on one wall to capture
natural light from the mudroom and provide a glimpse of the entryway beyond. Judges said: The new room integrates beautifully with the rest of the house. A strong axis terminates in a focal point window, and there is an overall consistency of design with wonderful detail and craftsmanship. Photography courtesy of Rob Karosis
Honorable Mention Booth Court Model Home
Honorable Mention Rye House by the Marsh
Design East Interiors in North Hampton (603) 775-0080 • www.designeastinteriors.com
Cebula Design Inc. Fine Interiors in Newburyport, Masschusetts (978) 462-6984 • www.cebuladesign.com
Judges said: Remodeled for resale, this model home holds together as a whole. It is sophisticated without being stuffy, and the color scheme is strong. The furniture and finishes have a certain strength and are consistent throughout.
Judges said: A balance is struck between the somewhat subdued furniture and finishes and the vibrant artwork. The stonework on the fireplace is rich yet understated, and works as a whole. Photography courtesy of Leo McKillop
Photography courtesy of Jeff Thibauth
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Excellence in kitchen Design
winner Multi-Finish Custom Kitchen Crown Point Cabinetry in Claremont (800) 999-4994 • www.crown-point.com This beautiful custom kitchen in Sugar Hill makes a bold statement with multiple cabinetry finishes. The homeowner wanted a mix of white and color, choosing wall cabinetry finished in Farrow & Ball Pointing and bases in Black Blue. This space is beautiful and functional with seating at the island, custom wine storage and plenty of natural light.
Judges said: This is a light and bright custom kitchen that is very nicely detailed. There is a balanced use of color, the soapstone is used well and the light fixtures integrate nicely into the overall design. We appreciated the select use of overhead cabinets, which allows the windows to bring in substantial light. Photography courtesy of Crown Point Cabinetry
Honorable Mention Bostock Residence
Honorable Mention Rosewell Road Kitchen
Honorable Mention Designer’s Kitchen
Linda Cloutier Kitchens & Baths in Greenland (603) 964-2959 • www.lindacloutier.com
Granite State Cabinetry in Bedford (603) 472-4080 • www.gscabinetry.com
Teresa Perry Design in Silver Lake (603) 367-4429 • www.teresaperry.com
Judges said: This kitchen has a pleasing layout and is very well organized for a small space. We liked the translucent pocket door to the pantry. The space has considerable visual interest for an open kitchen, flows nicely into the adjacent dining area and is compatible with the rest of the house.
Judges said: This renovated kitchen addresses the homeowners’ love of cooking while entertaining. The designer used the long, narrow space well, creating both ample food prep area and pantry space. There is a good choice of materials, creating an overall effect that is restrained and well coordinated.
Judges said: This designer’s own kitchen has a strong primary elevation. There are good focal points created around the range and at the windows. The kitchen shows strong attention to detail and consistency throughout.
Photography courtesy of John W. Hession
Photography courtesy of Madonna Repetta
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Photography courtesy of John W. Hession
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Excellence in Historic Renovation
winner Private Historic Camp Renovation Christopher P. Williams Architects, PLLC in Meredith (603) 279-6513 • www.cpwarchitects.com This historic camp building was renovated as guest quarters for an existing waterfront house. The original camp consisted of two bedrooms, a small porch and a tiny bathroom. The renovation has one bedroom and a small living room with views of the stone fireplace. The porch was relocated to take advantage of the newly landscaped space between the camp and the lake as well as the new Adirondack-style pavilion.
Judges said: Previously this was a small, outdated yet endearing guest cabin. This renovation kept the integrity and historic character of the original camp while not overdoing the design. New expanded and functional spaces were thoughtfully created. New materials were sensitively integrated with old, while providing small twists of fresh contemporary accents that improved the renovated feel of the cabin. Photography courtesy of John W. Hession
Excellence in Outdoor Design
Winner A Landscape You Dream About Stephens Landscaping Professionals LLC in Moultonborough (603) 707-0630 • www.stephenslandscaping.com The goal of this project was to create an outdoor entertaining space to complement the remodeled nineteenth-century lake house. The main patio tier was brought up and retained with a fieldstone wall separating it from a lower tier, which houses the grill, pizza oven and fireplace. Weathered fieldstone was used to match the original stonework on the house. Bluestone was used for the patio spaces and walkway to the boathouse. A low-growing perennial garden runs across the top of the retaining wall; a section close to the grill is an herb garden. Low64 | New Hampshire Home
voltage landscape lighting provides just enough ambiance to keep the entertaining going into the night. Judges said: This project did an excellent job with the outdoor lighting that accentuates the sculptural quality of the outdoor spaces. The choice of natural local building materials for edging, wall facing and capping was tasteful. The organic shapes of the paths, patio and planting areas enhance the natural beauty of the shoreline and lake. Photography courtesy of Ben Kelley
march/april 2016
Excellence in Landscape Design
winner Clearview Lake Retreat Bonin Architects & Associates in New London (603) 526-6200 • www.boninarchitects.com The most dramatic changes to the property were removing an existing outbuilding and converting the lawn into a low-maintenance wildflower meadow that blooms throughout summer. Adjacent beds were planted with native shoreline shrubs. The driveway remained circular as a nod to the history of the property, but was modified to improve maneuverability as well as accommodate parking and a new entry to the house. Existing blacktop was replaced with more natural bluestone. Old Chester Granite Flagging, quarried nearby in Vermont, was used to create a series of steppingstone paths, a modest lakeside patio and the stacked flagstone steps that descend to lake level.
Judges said: This project is worthy of the Excellence in Landscape Design Award for its overall sensitivity to the lake environment, beautifully organized outdoor spaces, and use of local building materials and native plantings. Transitions between outdoor spaces were well designed and expertly crafted using local granite in the entry court, steps and flagging. The intimate scale of the patios appears consistent with the owners’ desire to maintain integrity of the property while enjoying views of this quiet lake. Photography courtesy of John W. Hession
Honorable Mention Alton Bay Residence Pellettieri Associates, Inc. in Warner (603) 456-3678 • www.pellettieriassoc.com Judges said: This project succeeds quite well in utilizing local stone and naturalized plantings to enhance the transitions from the main house to the outbuildings and the water’s edge. Good hierarchy of plant material with a few splashes of color provide for a very pleasing and comfortable landscape. Photography courtesy of John W. Hession
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Excellence in Remodeling/Renovation Design
winner In-Town Renovation TMS Architects in Portsmouth (603) 436-4274 • www.tms-architects.com The new owners of this historic Exeter residence wished to retain its formal aesthetics but recognized that their young, energetic family needed some additional casual space. The kitchen did not meet the owner’s needs, and all bathrooms were antiquated. A new three-car garage with attached pool house and mudroom was created. The kitchen was redesigned to include a walk-in pantry, a new rear stairway and family space with direct access to the new terrace. A new private master bedroom suite on the second floor overlooks the rear yard. The laundry room was relocated, and all bathrooms were modernized. Inside, the historical features were preserved.
Judges said: This renovation and addition maintained good consistency between old and new, inside and out—yet the new feels contemporary. While lower in scale than the main house, the addition retains the Italianate roofline and details. The angle of the garage/pool house creates an inviting, side entry while opening up the private yard and creating good sight lines from the house to the pool. The interior is opened up with flow between family spaces and the outdoors. As a whole, the project accommodates the needs of a young family. Photography courtesy of Rob Karosis
Honorable Mention Hilltop Home
Honorable Mention A World of Color
Bonin Architects & Associates in New London (603) 526-6200 • www.boninarchitects.com
DeStefano Architects in Portsmouth (603) 431-8701 • www.destefanoarchitects.com
Judges said: Part of what attracted us to this project was the incredible improvement in the quality of light, space and flow throughout the house. It works well as a new “old” house both in the sense of overall comfort, warmth and openness as well as improvements in practicality illustrated by the mudroom/entry and pantry. There is consistency in materials, finishes and furniture. This house has been adapted well for the activities of an active family located near a ski area.
Judges said: It’s one thing to save a grand central staircase and another to turn it into a library! This combination of preservation and inventiveness is seen throughout the house and out into the yard. The fearless use of strong color juxtaposes well with existing and uncovered historic materials of the townhouse. This is a good example of modern sensibility in the service of preservation, creating a wonderfully alive home environment.
Photography courtesy of John W. Hession
Photography courtesy of Greg West
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Excellence in Small-Home Design
Winner Beacon Hill Beauty TMS Architects in Portsmouth (603) 436-4274 • www.tms-architects.com The architects worked with long-time clients on the renovation of their Beacon Hill pied-a-terre. The condominium is only four hundred square feet, and every inch has been put to good use. The careful layering of textures, colors and materials woven throughout the home make it appear more spacious. Judges said: Where others might have tried to brighten and unclutter such a small space, here the solution was counterintuitive with an almost overthe-top use of materials and textures, which come together with good result. Photography courtesy of Rob Karosis
Excellence in Specialty Room Design
winner Kelly Brook Boathouse BEAM Construction Associates, Inc. in Center Sandwich (603) 284-6187 • www.beamconstructionassociates.com The family thought the location of a ramshackle boat shed on their property would be ideal for storing their kayaks and canoes as well as serving as the new study. Because the nearby brook runs clear and cold throughout the year, the project evolved to include a sauna—something that had been on the family’s wish list for many years. This led to a design with a central open space where firewood and boats
Judges said: This is a beautiful, practical and highly crafted small structure. It has a great overall shape and is very nicely detailed. Photography courtesy of Monika O’Clair
Honorable Mention Amherst Custom Home
Honorable Mention East Sandwich Mudroom
JBART Consulting in Amherst (207) 468-5048 www.jbartconsulting.com
BEAM Construction Associates, Inc. In Center Sandwich (603) 284-6187 www.beamconstructionassociates.com
Judges said: This space is very nicely detailed, handsome, elegant and tailored. The design is a sophisticated approach to a multipurpose space with rich textures that are not overdone. Photography courtesy of Alexandra Whitten
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could be stored, flanked by an office and sauna. Local, rough-sawn pine was used for all framing and sheathing materials, with red-cedar shingles for the exterior siding and red-cedar, hand-split shakes on the roof.
Judges said: The renovation of this entry area resulted in a very functional mudroom/laundry room. There is a good use of space with nice cabinetry and good lighting and fine detailing. Photography courtesy of Monika O’Clair
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A Spectacular House on a Dramatic Site
68 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
A landscape architect and her architect husband design a dream home for her parents, dedicated skiers who loved
By Debbie Kane | Photography by Greg Premru
Nestled on the side of a mountain, and combining vernacular and contemporary architecture, the home provides a dramatic contrast to its woodland surroundings.
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New Hampshire Home | 69
being surrounded by the White Mountain National Forest.
T
The land that Cynthia Astrachan and her late husband,
Ed, chose for building their dream home seemed, at first glance, to be anything but ideal. A narrow, heavily wooded lot, without road access and hugging a hillside in the White Mountains, it was overlooked by many prospective buyers. But not by the Astrachans, avid skiers and hikers as well as longtime northern New Hampshire
residents.
“Ed always wanted to live in a house where the
inside felt like the outside,” Cynthia says. “The opportunity to buy this land presented itself, and then everything else came together.” Even more serendipitous: their daughter, Zoee
Astrachan, is a landscape architect; her husband and business partner, Andrew Dunbar, is an architect.
Partners and founders of INTERSTICE Architects—an architectural firm based in San Francisco, California— the couple were eager to design Ed and Cynthia’s new home. The result is a contemporary home that blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings; utilizes energy-efficient materials and technology; and features modern conveniences that make it an easy, comfortable place in which to live. The design of this home is so noteworthy, in fact, that it won both the award for Excellence in Architectural Design and an honorable mention for Home of the Year in New Hampshire Home’s 2016 Design
Awards, which were presented in January. Judges said, “This home is proof that good modern architecture can create both a comfortable and enlivened natural retreat.” See more of their comments on page 60.
Anchoring the house to the landscape Ed and Cynthia wanted a simple, well-organized home that brought the outdoors inside year-round. “We always enjoyed the outdoors—skiing, biking and hiking,” Cynthia says. “We wanted the house to be durable so you could wear your ski boots in the hallway without damaging anything.” Dunbar and Zoee kept these considerations in mind as well as the site’s wooded location. “We wanted to marry vernacular and contemporary architecture, and use materials that honored New England mountain architecture,” Zoee says. Ed, a former educator-turned-builder, tackled construction on the new home (“He told me, ‘I’ll build what you draw,’” Dunbar says). Maurice Page, of Page Building and Remodeling in Berlin, worked closely with Ed throughout construction, framing the house and doing the finish work. “I really wanted to work on his house because it was so unique,” Page says. Surrounded on three sides by the White Mountain 70 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
Top: Three giant pine trees—split in half, stripped of bark and secured by steel beams—separate first-floor living spaces from the front hall. The hall is paved with Vermont slate and runs the length of the house. Above: Architect Andrew Dunbar, of INTERSTICE Architects in San Francisco, California, designed the maple dining table and chairs, which echo the design of the hearth and vertical windows. Kitchen cabinetry and walls are plywood; the ceiling and upstairs walls are knotty pine. Left: A soaring twenty-five-foot-tall hearth wall, constructed of Vermont slate, divides the living and dining spaces. Wall-mounted lights and track lighting throughout eliminate the need for lamps. www.nhhomemagazine.com
New Hampshire Home | 71
Scaled tin panels on the home’s exterior are accented by natural wood and concrete walls. The outside deck, which wraps around the side and back of the home, is easily accessed from downstairs rooms.
National Forest, with views of the moun-
the space cooler in summer. Scaled tin
side of the home and a patch of moun-
tains and Saco River, the two-thousand-
panels cover the north and east sides of
tain laurel. Shade-friendly perennials
square-foot, two-level home is intimate
the house, accented by natural concrete
include hydrangea, hostas and lilies; a
yet spacious. The Astrachans were in-
and wood walls, which provide tight in-
bright patch of ferns helps bring the for-
terested in using all-natural materials;
sulation. A wraparound deck, accessed
est’s edge to the east side of the home.
there are no painted or stained walls
by all ground-floor rooms, overlooks
inside and no carpeting because of the
the mountains on one side, the river on
Weaving in and out
radiant-heated floors. Dunbar suggested
another and a row of birch trees planted
Inside, a twenty-four-foot, two-story
low-maintenance building materials—
alongside the house. Floor-to-ceiling
internal hall of concrete panels and
plywood, concrete, tin, Vermont slate
windows open into the roof framing in
exposed plywood separates the home’s
and knotty pine—that evoked local
back of the home. “The windows let in
primary living quarters from a studio,
landmarks, such as woodsheds, barns
lots of light, help solar warmth and al-
workshop and garage, spaces where Ed
and mountain lodges.
low views of the changing trees during
kept tools as well as outdoor gear.
Dunbar designed a tin roof as a shel-
the seasons,” Dunbar says.
Paved with slate, the breezeway is
tering element that extends over the
The home’s landscaping is simple,
another element that brings the out-
front of the home; the overhang pro-
capitalizing on its woodland setting.
side in: the space runs from outside the
vides passive solar energy that helps
Trees were preserved as much as possi-
home directly through the house. “Ed
heat the house in the winter and keeps
ble, including the birches on the north
and I used to joke that we should put
72 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
split down the middle and welded to steel frames along the floor and ceiling. It’s a dramatic effect that helps ground the space. Efficient and sunny, the kitchen—with its open shelving and an island that does dual-duty as a wine rack—was often a gathering place during parties. A maple dining room set, designed by Dunbar, echoes the shape of the home’s vertical windows. Windows dominate the north side of the living room, where Cynthia and Ed often entertained friends and family. Interior lights are mounted on walls, eliminating the need for additional lamps or electrical outlets, and making it easier to move furniture. “I had a favorite place to sit in the living room, looking toward the opposite wall, which is all glass,” Cynthia says. “You can see the big trees, eighty feet tall from top to bottom. It is always amazing and inspiring.” Other rooms are minimalistic, designed with convenience in mind. Both the master bedroom suite, located on the first floor, and the upstairs loft have built-in beds as well as benches integrated into railings for seating. Walk-in closets between the master bedroom and Floor-to-ceiling windows help bring the outdoors inside. The Astrachans hosted many musical performances and community gatherings in their bright living room.
bath minimize closet space. Because the home is far from a main road or other residences, Cynthia and Ed eschewed
snow all along the slate walkway so we
passive heating and radiant in-floor
window treatments, so the woodland
could just ski all the way through the
hydronic system, the hearth frames a
views are ever-present in the sleeping
house,” Cynthia says.
wood stove and wood storage on one
spaces, even the master bath.
side, and houses an interior barbecue
Although Cynthia moved out of
laundry room. High ceilings and win-
and shelving accessed via the kitchen.
the mountain house last year, its cur-
dows provide light as well as cross-
A long, vertical opening in the hearth
rent owner, Brian Otis, is equally en-
ventilation and ever-present outside
acts as a seasonal clock, designed by
thralled with its construction. Like the
views. A staircase along one wall leads
Dunbar and Zoee to take advantage of
Astrachans, Otis is an outdoor enthusi-
to an upstairs loft space, connected via a
the home’s orientation to the sun. “On
ast who enjoys the home’s relationship
glass walkway. Each stair, constructed of
December 21, the winter solstice, the
with the woods, and appreciates its de-
butcher block, is secured to the wall and
sun shines through the window to the
sign and craftsmanship. “The house is
reinforced with steel, creating a floating
back of the house and casts a floating
well thought out,” he says. “It’s interest-
affect that’s also sculptural.
rectangle of light on the snow,” Dunbar
ing, warm and a great place to live.”
Off the hall are a linen closet and
The living room, dining room and kitchen share a dramatic, high-ceiling
says. “The effect really ties the house to the landscape.”
space, anchored by a twenty-five-foot-
Cynthia’s favorite room, the kitch-
high hearth wall constructed of slate
en, is separated from the main hall by
and steel. Complementing the home’s
three giant pine trees, stripped of bark,
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NHH
Resources INTERSTICE Architects (415) 285-3960 www.intersticearchitects.com
Page Building and Remodeling (603) 752-1632 Recreama Development (603) 356-2301
New Hampshire Home | 73
Living l i g h t l y
A net-zero house on Lake Sunapee offers great views, comfortable surroundings and no bills for heat or electricity. By Jenny Donelan | Photography by John W. Hession Most of the homeowner’s professional life had been spent promoting clean energy and progressive environmental policies, but he had never had the opportunity to live in a cutting-edge, energy-saving house. Several years ago, when he and his wife—who live in a two-hundred-year-old-house in Concord, Massachusetts—began seriously considering retirement, their thoughts turned toward creating a vacation home based on the latest energy-saving technology. 74 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
Left: The family enjoys the central area of the home, which combines a library, living room, kitchen and dining area. Facing page, lower left: Solar panels located on the south-facing roof, to the left, aren’t visible from the front of the house, which looks like a typical New England lake house.
Impressive as these results are, energy efficiency was not the couple’s only goal for this second home. They also wanted a house with plenty of views to take advantage of the lakeside location. The couple sought an open environment that would reflect the way they live—a space that was relaxing rather than fussy, and that provided lots of locations for reading. They and their two children, ages twenty-three and twenty-one, are avid readers. “We also wanted a good kitchen where people could gather and talk while we cooked,” says the wife. The end result is a gracious, comfortable lake house with brown shingles and green trim, and an open-concept library/ living room/kitchen/dining area that looks onto the water. There are at least eight places where someone can sit and read. Walking into the house, many first-time visitors remark that they would never guess it is a net-zero house, says the homeowner. A noticeable difference for the family, however, is that the New Hampshire home is actually cozier in winter than their older (and draftier) house one hundred miles to the south.
An all-new view Since 2002, the family has had a vacation property on Lake Sunapee, and in 2009, they found a new site, where a farmhouse sat looking onto the lake. According to local history, this house had originally been a barn on an adjacent property and had been moved to its current location many years earlier. A lawn, trees and overgrowth stretched from the house down to the lake’s edge and a boathouse. It was a nice property, according to the homeowner, but the house’s design didn’t take That home, finished about two years ago, produces as much or more electricity as it uses in a twelve-month period.
advantage of the lake location. When the front door opened, you saw a wall; the kitchen had only one small window.
This is the definition of a “net zero” building. The four-
The homeowner had a colleague who had recently had
thousand-square-foot, Shingle-style house on Lake Sunapee
a net-zero home designed in Newton, Massachusetts, so he
derives its energy from a bank of thirty-nine solar panels on
contacted the same architectural firm, Maclay Architects in
the south-facing roof. During the long, hot days of summer,
Waitsfield, Vermont. The firm and its principal, Bill Maclay,
the panels collect more energy than the homeowners use.
are known for designing ecologically sustainable buildings
Throughout the short, dark days of winter, they collect less
and communities. Maclay developed a plan that called for
electricity than is consumed. The energy that was “banked”
a new house on the original foundation, and recommended
in spring, summer and fall with the local electric company
solar panels and an air-source heat pump for electricity,
can then be used in winter. Over the period of a year, the
heating and cooling.
usage evens out, so there haven’t been any electric bills to
Of first consideration was the position of the house rela-
date—except $13 a month to rent the meter. Nor are there
tive to the lake and the sun. “The house is oriented to the lake,
heating bills, as the house’s air-source heat pump runs on
as it should be,” says Chris Cook, the project manager from
electricity.
Maclay Architects, “but faces west over Lake Sunapee instead
www.nhhomemagazine.com
New Hampshire Home | 75
of [the more desirable] south. West-facing is tough in terms of overheating in the summer.”
It was also important that the house blend in with its surroundings, that it didn’t “jump out” at people viewing it from
A long, covered porch wraps the west side of the main
or across the lake. “Anytime you have a great view, you have
floor, creating outdoor living space and providing shade for
the opportunity to destroy someone else’s view,” the home-
the indoor living space. The home’s solar array is located on
owner says. Ultimately, the house is barely visible from the
the roof on the south side of the house, where the panels can
lake due to the way the building nestles into its surroundings,
only be seen by someone standing in the neighbor’s driveway.
its brown and green colors, and the surrounding foliage. “Un-
Challenging, Maclay says, were the usual setback issues in-
til you’re about two hundred yards away, you won’t see the
volved with lakefront property—the house could not expand toward the lake. The final design retained the same basic foot-
house unless you know it’s there,” the homeowner says.
print of the original house, with two exceptions. The front
Construction, cooling, heating
(facing away from the lake) was pushed out between eighteen
The homeowners enlisted builder Nick Estes of Estes & Gallup
and twenty-four inches to accommodate the new, larger stair-
in Lyme and began working with him even before demolition
case (the old one was small and narrow, and wouldn’t have
started. This was on the advice of Maclay, who told the couple
met code if rebuilt today). The back porch was also expanded
that—especially in the case of a net-zero house—it’s impor-
from six to eight feet to create a more livable space where the
tant for everyone involved in the project to understand the
family enjoys the sunsets during the warmer months.
goals and be invested in them moving forward. It’s also help-
Site unseen To determine the exterior look of the home, the couple pe-
ful from a financial standpoint, Estes notes. “We were able to do a lot of the preconstruction cost tracking and estimates this way,” he says.
rused magazines and hit the water for research. From a boat
“It was very much a collaborative process,” says the home-
on the lake, the homeowners took pictures and made notes
owner. And it was an efficient one: demolition of the old
of the lakeshore houses they liked. The couple used these to
farmhouse started the week after Labor Day in 2013, and the
provide direction to the architect as to what they were looking
family moved into the new house shortly before July 4, 2014.
for—something more in keeping with the lake house vernacular than the pre-existing farmhouse. 76 | New Hampshire Home
Early planning is important because a net-zero house is much more than solar panels; it’s really a system that requires march/april 2016
Facing page: The homeowners’ children paddle on the lake in summer. The new house (at left) harmonizes with the lines of the original boathouse at right. Left: The back porch is an ideal spot for watching the sun set over the lake. Below: A wealth of windows in the back of the house offers excellent lake views from every floor. The solar panels are visible on the roof to the right.
numerous elements to function properly, and many of these
fan) running. Another handy and energy-saving device is a
must be incorporated from the beginning. First and foremost
remotely operated thermostat. That way, when the family is
is a tight building envelope. In this house, the walls are heav-
headed to New Hampshire for the weekend, they can turn up
ily insulated to R-40 and the ceilings to R-60. A continuous
the heat before they get there.
air barrier on the outside of the sheathing prevents warm air from escaping in winter. The windows are Marvin Clad, triple-
Comfortable interiors
glazed and R-5.
The redesigned house takes advantage of its location. “With
A net-zero house also needs to be properly ventilated. In-
the original house, there wasn’t a whole lot of experience
door air can become polluted in super-insulated houses from
of being on the lake,” Cook says. “It’s a very different house
daily activities such as cooking and breathing. So the house
now.” On the main floor, there is a combined space with a
incorporates an HRV, or heat recovery ventilation system,
library, living room, kitchen and dining area, all with views
which exchanges fresh outside air with stale inside air when
of the lake. The kitchen is separated from the dining area by
doors and windows are shut. The system preheats the air
an island with stools, so guests can indeed socialize with the
coming in so cold air isn’t constantly entering the house.
homeowners while they cook. The main floor also has what
The heat pump that delivers hot air in winter can also
the homeowners call “the winter living room,” which has a
provide cool air in summer, but that hasn’t been necessary
direct-vent, propane-fueled fireplace that provides backup
so far. Lake breezes, ceiling fans and open windows keep the
heat in the case of a power failure. Upstairs, there are three
house comfortable. An extremely helpful feature is a bank of
bedrooms and an office space; downstairs in the ground-level
three windows at the top of the staircase landing. They face
basement is a large recreation room with a pool table, utility
away from the lake and are so high you can’t really look out of
room, multi-purpose room, workshop and exercise room.
them. Maclay recommended them because, when open, they
In terms of furnishings, the couple found that most of
draw warm air from the lower floor of the house, creating
the furniture from their former lake house fit right into the
a chimney effect. The windows are opened and closed by
new one. Materials are net-zero suitable—carpets and paints
remote control.
are low-VOC-emitting and virtually all light fixtures use LEDs.
Should power fail, a backup generator kicks in to keep
The style is comfortable and casual, with exterior views and
necessary appliances (such as the refrigerator, air pump and
natural wood providing the strongest statements. The floors
www.nhhomemagazine.com
New Hampshire Home | 77
Walking into the house, many first-time visitors remark that they would never guess it is a net-zero building, says the homeowner.
are made of reclaimed Southern pine, from Longleaf Lum-
out that he and his wife love the stove’s performance—one of
ber in Cambridge, Massachusetts. There are also a bench, a
the pleasant surprises involved in building a net-zero home.
mantelpiece and two tables made from one giant slab of waste redwood obtained from a fallen tree outside San Francisco,
Landscaping transitions
California. The homeowners did order a few new pieces: the
When the homeowners bought the property, unmaintained
kitchen bar and stools, a sideboard that divides the living area
hemlocks and creeping juniper dominated the landscape and
from the dining area, and a bed are all made by craftsmen
the view. Greg Grigsby of Pellettieri Associates in Warner wid-
Steven Hayden of Steven Hayden Arts and Dave Little of Win-
ened the vista by gently clearing areas in back of the house
nipesauke Forge, both of Meredith. These pieces combine sat-
(facing the lake), carefully pruning vegetation and editing the
iny-smooth cherry with organically shaped ironwork, creating
palette of miscellaneous flora. He added weathered boulders,
a kind of rustic-meets-art-nouveau look that works very well
native rock steps and footpaths to the lake and boathouse.
in the setting.
For the riparian buffer between the house and the lake,
In the kitchen, the induction stove that was necessary be-
Grigsby used native plantings requiring little maintenance. “I
cause the house is so airtight was initially a compromise. The
always tell clients that mulch equals maintenance,” he says. “If
homeowners are serious cooks who would have preferred a gas
you have exposed mulch, you’re constantly weeding or main-
stove. “I expected to tolerate it,” the husband says. But it turns
taining the mulch.” Plantings include a variety of shrubs, dwarf
78 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
Facing page: The homeowners love cooking in their new kitchen, which is ideal for entertaining. The kitchen bar and the sideboard that divides the living area from the dining area were made by Steven Hayden of Steven Hayden Arts and Dave Little of Winnipesauke Forge, both of Meredith. Left: A bank of windows above the stair landing (partially visible at upper right) is strategically placed to provide air flow. Below: The homeowners (left) share a toast with project manager Chris Cook of Maclay Architects in Waitsfield, Vermont; builder Nick Estes of Estes & Gallup in Lyme; and landscape architect Greg Grigsby of Pellettieri Associates in Warner.
hemlocks, pines, spruce, Spiraea latifolia and native blueberry
The homeowner says there are several common responses
bushes. Nearer the house, there are hydrangeas and climb-
when people first see the house. Visitors say, with surprise,
ing roses, the latter added by the wife. Strategically located
“This looks like a regular house.” Another frequent comment
plantings near the house camouflage the compressors for the
is, “You can do a net-zero house in New Hampshire?” (The
air-source heat pump. The landscaping helps the transition
homeowner responds: “Hire the right architect, and pay atten-
from the rectilinear house, to the more organically shaped
tion to what they have to say. That’s the key.”) And last, the
terrace, to the riparian buffer, and ultimately to the lake.
nicest compliment of all is: “This is a lovely home. It looks like
A “regular” house The house on Lake Sunapee has so far fulfilled its occupants’ goals of net-zero operation. “It’s a great house, built on time and in budget,” the homeowner says. “It fits really well in that space,” says Estes, who adds that although he has worked on other net-zero houses, this one was special in terms of tightness of the building and quality of the trim. “It was a unique and interesting process,” he says. www.nhhomemagazine.com
it’s always been here.”
NHH
Resources Estes & Gallup (603) 795-4400 • www.estes-gallup.com
Longleaf Lumber (617) 871-6611 • www.longleaflumber.com
Maclay Architects (802) 496-4004 • www.maclayarchitects.com Marvin Windows and Doors • www.marvin.com
Pellettieri Associates (603) 456-3678 • www.pellettieriassoc.com Steven Hayden Arts (603) 520-7299 • www.haydenarts.com Winnipesauke Forge (603) 279-5492 • www.irontable.com
New Hampshire Home | 79
master of his craft
This new timber frame barn in Bradford had an old foundation. Finishing touches include a new retaining wall, patio and steps, all built on a solid stone base. This project was aided by an abundance of local stone.
Stone by Stone Master builder Kevin Gardner
demystifies the art and history
of constructing stone walls.
B
efore Kevin Gardner begins his lecture
He’s part of the New Hampshire Humanities’
on building stone walls in New England
award-winning Humanities to Go program,
at the Madbury Public Library, he lugs
presenting lectures like the one in Madbury
in two plastic buckets of small rocks, plunks
to community groups throughout the state,
them by the long table that serves as his
and also an actor, director and teacher of
lectern and spreads a green towel on top of
theater. When he spots the pies, he smiles
the table. The crowd piles into the room right
and says, “Now, that’s cruel.”
on time. Nearby, homemade pies grace a side table, refreshments for after the lecture.
Having captured everyone’s attention, Gardner very judiciously places one rock on
Gardner—author of The Granite Kiss, one
the green towel and then another to lay the
of the select, definitive books about building
first course of the miniature wall he’ll even-
stone walls in New England—has spoken at
tually build.
historical societies, town libraries, Canterbury
The rocks themselves seem unremarkable
Shaker Village, Old Sturbridge Village and
at first. This assortment all fit comfortably in
Boston’s Arnold Arboretum, to name a few.
Gardner’s hand. Some are gray, or mottled,
By Carrie Sherman | Photography by John W. Hession 80 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
or flecked with mica, or maybe ringed
miles of walls in New England and
with a white stripe. Nothing special,
New York.”
just the kind of odd rocks you might
Gardner scrutinizes his tabletop
find walking down a dirt road any-
construction—even a miniature stone
where in New Hampshire.
wall sometimes requires a meditative
“All rocks want to go to the center
pause. He finds a stone that seems to
of the earth,” Gardner says as he care-
fit a spot and continues: “The entire
fully places yet another stone. “This is
nation of Great Britain contains only
something to work with.”
about 70,000 miles of stone walls. And
Strangely, he notes that New
Allport’s figures refer only to walls—
England’s thousands of miles of
they do not include foundations,
stone walls actually compare with
ramps, stairways, wells or bridges.”
the construction of Egypt’s pyramids. Quoting author Susan Allport, he says,
How we got here
“It would have taken … 15,000 men
Gardner outlines the great fall of
[working 365 days a year] close to 250
the virgin forest and construction of
years to build the more than 250,000
stump and split-rail fences. Hopeful,
Award Winning Interior Design Since 1982
Model Home, Sales Center and Clubhouse Design
603-775-0080 www.designeastinteriors.com
Kevin Gardner enjoys a sunlit moment, leaning against a sturdy double-faced stone wall, built by Owen Builders, a company comprising himself and a family crew. www.nhhomemagazine.com
New Hampshire Home | 81
master of his craft
nineteenth century with the birth of nostalgia for “Ye Olde New England” and all its virtues. “Ever notice how presidential candidates like to pose in front of stone walls?” Gardner observes with a smile. “Even car dealers try to associate their products with stone walls. “Have you had enough?” he asks the audience. Before him on the green towel is a lovely double-faced stone wall that is very much like the one he’s leaning against in the photo on the This battered foundation wall is bigger at the base and forms a classic right triangle (top). It’s an exceptionally strong wall and easily supports the old ell (above, before the foundation was rebuilt). Working alone for the most part, Kevin Gardner uses a small loader with a fork to place the larger stones. Then, using iron bars, he tightens up their placements.
determined settlers heaped up those
From 1810 to 1835, the Merino sheep
previous page. Gardner recalls working on that wall in 1988. “It’s on Route 202 near Concord. It does look good doesn’t it?” he says. “That was a project the entire fam-
wooden fences with glacial rubble, the
industry was booming in New England
ily crew worked on. It’s a classic double
stones they continually tilled up in
and life was good. But by 1840, the
wall. There’s no distinction between the
their fields. In the late eighteenth
sheep had nibbled fields right down
inside and the outside. The two faces
century, when the wooden fences
to granite in places, and soon many
are interwoven together, and there are
rotted, stone wall building began in
farmers moved west to greener pastures.
big stones throughout the wall. This
earnest: first in earlier settlements
By the late 1860s, stone walls sported
kind of wall is very stable. It’s a good
like Exeter, and decades later, inland.
metal stakes laced with barbed wire
example of the old style of building.”
Farmers used the accumulating rubble
to fence in diary cattle. But even that
to build the single stack walls that we
innovation couldn’t keep farmers in
Family knowledge
still see delineating the contours of the
New England.
When Gardner refers to “the family
land, along with boundaries and old homesteads. 82 | New Hampshire Home
Yet, stone walls would soon experience a kind of renaissance in the
crew,” at that time it included his sister-in-law Stephanie and uncle Derek march/april 2016
Owen. Gardner learned about working with stone from his uncle, who often “signed” his walls by including a crossed T as part of the stone pattern. It seems that Owen Associates, the family business in Hopkinton, which specializes in dry stone walls, has coined numerous terms to describe their work: a “problem solver” is
green design
often an elongated, triangular stone; a “cheap seducer” is a stone that looks like it should work but doesn’t. And
since 1980
it was Gardner’s brother, Chris, who came up with “the granite kiss”: “That instantly discouraging, and inevitable, experience in stonework when a finger or two fails to escape the contact point between two large stones on the occasion of their first meeting.” Especially useful to a fuller understanding of stonework are the many Zen koan-like statements that Gardner shares to provide guidance to wouldbe stone-wall builders. Of course there’s the oft-repeated, “One over two, two over one.” But then there’s also, “Pick the stone for the spot, not
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the spot for the stone”; “Try to train yourself to remember more than one available space”; “Move on if your
See How Stone Walls Are Built If you haven’t already seen Kevin Gardner’s wonderful presentation, Discovering New England Stone Walls, he’ll be at these locations in April: April 10: Long Memorial Building in Hopkinton, 2 p.m. April 13: Chamberlain Free Public Library in Greenville, 7 p.m. April 16: Olivia Rodham Memorial Library in Nelson, 11 a.m. April 21: Third Congregational Church in Alstead, 7 p.m. April 28: Campton Public Library in Campton, 6 p.m. For more information about these and other New Hampshire Humanities programs, visit www.nhhumanities.org/ event-calendar. www.nhhomemagazine.com
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speed”; and “Avoid needless force.” All worth repeating, when a beginner tries to repair a stone wall on his/ her own. Yet for Gardner, perhaps
when you bring non-perishable food, socks, or hygiene products for Harbor Homes veterans’ programs.
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Located on Route 202 near Concord, this doublefaced stone wall constructed by Kevin Gardner and his family company, Owen Associates, illustrates many variations on the “one over two, two over one” adage (top). Larger stones fitted together secure and strengthen the end of this wall (above).
time to do any given thing … to find that infinite patience.” Repairing stone walls was once an annual chore as immortalized in Robert Frost’s poem, “Mending Wall.” Stone walls actually are fairly fragile, especially single-stack walls. Gardner notes that even the heavy vibration march/april 2016
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cloth, scattering stones like so many crumbs. So Gardner encourages those who are inclined to go ahead and pick up a stone or two. These days Gardner works mostly on his own and not full time. He
It’s like a
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takes on work that appeals to him, and has participated in major restoration projects at Canterbury Shaker Village, Acadia National Park and many other historic sites throughout New England. He enjoys “communing with history … I like to say I’m looking for anonymity when I build,” he says. “When someone drives by, they might think it was done two hundred years ago.”
NHH
Resources Kevin Gardner (603) 225-1782
kgardner@mcttelecom.com
New Hampshire Humanities (603) 224-4071
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Owen Associates (603) 848-1506
www.owenassociatesnh.com
The Granite Kiss: Traditions and Techniques of Building New England Stone Walls by Kevin
Gardner. The Countryman Press, 2001
Sermons in Stone: The Stone Walls of New England and New York by Susan Allport. W.W. Norton, 1990 www.nhhomemagazine.com
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architectural icon
The Barrett House, a Federalist-style mansion located in the New Ipswich Center Village Historic District, is operated and meticulously maintained by Historic New England. The building’s exterior was repainted last summer.
A Turn-of-the-Century Treasure The Barrett
House estate brought city
elegance to a
country setting in the 1800s.
T
he Barrett House’s turn-of-the-century
father, Jonas Minot, declared he would
Federalist-style architecture and furnish-
furnish as “fine and elegant a house” as the
ings transport visitors to the time when
father of the groom could build, according to
John Adams was U.S. president and ancient
Historic New England, which owns the home
Greece inspired everything from women’s
today. And elegant the home was—and still
clothing to art.
is. It was the largest in town at the time—the
Set in New Ipswich on a seventy-acre estate, which includes a Gothic revival gazebo, the country mansion was built in 1800 by
three-story, 5,300-plus-square-foot mansion included a ballroom on the third floor.
Charles Barrett Sr. for his son, Charles Jr., and
Stately family home
daughter-in-law Martha Minot as a wedding
New Ipswich was a bustling mill village with
present. According to tradition, Martha’s
a booming local economy when Charles Jr.
By Larissa Mulkern | Photography by Nancy Belluscio 86 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
and Martha lived at the home, raising
New England Antiquities) as a memorial
first built, New Ipswich was still largely
their five children. The couple main-
to the family. The organization under-
agricultural with farms and modestly
tained an elegant lifestyle—entertaining
took a major restoration project and, in
sized homes. So when the three-story,
guests at parties in the ballroom, and
1950, opened the home as a museum.
mansion went up, the community
surrounding themselves with fine furni-
must have taken notice. “I could only
ture and décor. The family lived in the
Grandeur in the country
home until after Charles Jr. died in 1836
Linda Marshall of Historic New England
and Martha in 1842. Barrett House re-
says the mansion is a stunning example
mained a family home for their second
of Federalist-style architecture charac-
was divided in two spaces but has since
eldest son, Charles III, before he moved
terized by the centrally situated front
been restored to its original condition.
to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to pursue
doorway and symmetrical features, such
“The ballroom is one of my favorite
a successful career as a book dealer.
as the matching front exterior columns
spaces,” Marshall says. From ballroom
imagine it was quite something for the time,” she says. At one point, the third-floor ballroom
Barrett siblings resided in the home
and the equal number of windows on
windows, one can see the rural country-
until around 1916, when the house and
each side of the entranceway. Among
side for miles.
its contents were left to George Robert
the features that stand out are the size,
Barrett’s stepdaughter, Caroline Barr
scale and restored condition of the
Forest Hall, was chosen as one of the
Wade, who never made the mansion
home.
filming locations for the motion picture
The estate, which is also known as
her home. In 1948, she donated the Bar-
“In my mind, what sets the Bar-
based on the Henry James novel, The
rett House with a generous endowment
rett House apart is when you’re there,
Europeans, in 1979. Today, the home
to Historic New England (then known
its like going back in a time capsule,”
features French reproduction mural
as the Society for the Preservation of
Marshall says. When the home was
wallpaper, true in design to the time
The reproduction French mural wallpaper adds color to the dining room. Furnishings at the mansion include pieces owned by the Barrett family. www.nhhomemagazine.com
New Hampshire Home | 87
architectural icon
The Barrett House estate includes gardens, barns and, tucked among the trees behind the house, a Gothic Revival summerhouse.
period, and a mixture of original
If You Like Old Houses…
furnishings from the Barrett family
Homeowners with dwellings of nearly any age are likely to find tips, solutions and strategies at this year’s New Hampshire Old House and Barn Expo coming to the Radisson/Center of New Hampshire in Manchester in March. Sponsored by the Concord-based New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, the expo is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, March 12–13 and includes two full days of educational sessions, traditional arts demonstrations, discussions with preservation contractors, and more than sixty exhibitors of preservation products and services.
Photography courtesy of Steve Booth
Jennifer Goodman, executive director of the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, says the expo offers something for owners of buildings dating from 1750s to the 1950s, do-it-yourselfers and history buffs. “The expo is a welcoming event,” Goodman says. “It helps educate and inspire.”
and pieces provided by Historic New England. The mansion’s exterior was recently repainted. In 2011, Historic New England was awarded a grant from the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program to support a site drainage repair project. “A lot of attention has been paid to the exterior,” Marshall says. “Any kind of historic house requires constant attention to maintenance.” She points out the work done to address drainage issues; paint and roof repairs have resulted in the estate being in good shape. And the public is invited to see for
The one-stop-shopping trade show aims to provide old house and barn owners and enthusiasts with appropriate and affordable solutions. Visitors can create their own show itineraries by exploring garden, architecture, history and preservation strategies with free hourly lectures.
themselves. The property, located at 79
Admission is $10 for adults, and $7 for seniors and students.
second and fourth Saturdays of the
The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance is dedicated to the preservation of historic buildings, communities and landscapes through leadership, education and advocacy. For more information, call (603) 224-2281 or visit www.nhpreservation.org. The proceeds help support the alliance’s year-round educational programming. 88 | New Hampshire Home
Main Street in New Ipswich, is open for tours from June to October on the month.
NHH
Resource Historic New England
www.historicnewengland.com march/april 2016
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New Hampshire Home | 89
April 2 & 3,
2016
Whittemore Center Arena, UNH, Durham, NH
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www.nhhomemagazine.com
New Hampshire Home | 91
Wood & Clay, Inc. 104B Lily Pond Rd. • Gilford, NH 03249 603-524-3128 • www.woodandclay.com
92 | New Hampshire Home
Murdough Design 129 Marlborough Street, Unit C Boston, MA 02116 617.536.7992 • www.murdoughdesign.com march/april 2016
hall of fame
2016 Home of the Year
Wood & Clay, Inc.
Gilford, NH (603) 524-3128 • www.woodandclay.com
Murdough Design
boston, massachusetts (617) 536-7992 • www.murdoughdesign.com
Wood & Clay, Inc. specializes in architecturally unique, custom high-end home construction and renovation in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Founded in 1979 by area native, John Robinson, this family-run business has a long history in construction and project management, and a dedicated team with more than 150 years of combined experience. This rich heritage, knowledge and commitment to long-standing company values— integrity, transparency and quality—is continuing with the next generation. John's daughter and son-inlaw, Shannon Robinson-Beland and Kevin Beland, have taken over management of the company, while John continues to provide guidance. With creativity and fine attention to detail, Kevin guides each project from concept to completion, personally ensuring topdown control of quality, product selection and design, scheduling, costs and safety. His goal is to make the project fun for owners, and he maintains relationships with clients long after the job is done. Sustainability and environmentally sound building practices have long been a focus at Wood & Clay. The company applies green-building strategies, starting with the fundamentals of building science, carrying them through to the latest technology in whole house control and Energy Star Certification.
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Together with Murdough Design in Boston, Massachusetts, Wood and Clay was honored with the distinction of 2016 Home of the Year Award in New Hampshire Home’s annual Excellence in Design Awards for their collaborative project of the the Squam Lake Guest Home featured here. The lakes and mountains of New Hampshire have left a lasting impression on Tom Murdough. His architecture firm, Murdough Design, aspires to design buildings that match his reverence for the New Hampshire landscape. Designing unique responses to the specifics of place, site, use and client – merging the practical requirements with the intangible aspects distinct to each design problem – Murdough Design seeks to create innovative and enduring architectural solutions with the power to enrich lives. As a team player, Murdough Design is equally committed to providing excellent service throughout the design and construction process and believes each project’s success depends on strong relationships and trust between the client, builder and architect.
New Hampshire Home | 93
hall of fame
2016 Excellence in Architectural Design, Landscape Design and Remodeling /Renovation Design
Bonin Architects & Associates
NEW LONDON & meredith, New hampshire (603) 526-6200 • www.boninarchitects.com
Fernwood Landing Honorable Mention: Architectural Design A robust home; stone and shingles, quality insulation, durable anodized windows, geothermal heating and cooling, and locally sourced materials including stone, oak, pine and even cherry taken from an ailing tree on the site. This home drew inspiration from many sources with the goal of providing an enduring and well-built residence for generations.
Hilltop Home - Honorable Mention: Remodeling Renovated to maximize spaces for extended family vacations and gatherings as well as enhancing the stunning panoramic views of the property; light colors, clean details and larger open spaces contribute to the transformation of this home.
Clearview Lake Retreat- Winner: 2016 Landscape Design Tasked with respecting the history and maintaining the integrity of the property was a fantastic challenge. The primary landscape goal was simple: use a natural aesthetic fitting rural New England while taking full advantage of the site’s most positive attributes of a long, open shoreline and stunning southeast views down the quiet lake. 94 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
hall of fame
2014, 2015 and 2016 Excellence in Kitchen Design
Crown Point Cabinetry
Claremont, New hampshire (800) 999-4994 • www.crown-point.com Family owned and operated, Crown Point Cabinetry handcrafts the finest quality custom cabinetry for the kitchen, bath and other rooms for homes across the country. Specializing in period style, including Arts and Crafts, Shaker, Victorian and Early American, we also create outstanding designs in transitional, cottage and contemporary construction. Cabinetry can be crafted from choices in two lumber collections. Our popular Standard Collection includes cherry, sapele, red oak, maple, quartersawn white oak, walnut and pine. We also offer a very special selection of reclaimed and old growth lumber, including reclaimed chestnut, reclaimed hickory, old growth heart pine, and reclaimed elm. Finish choices range from clear natural to dark and dramatic. Painted cabinetry has options in three different collections: Sherwin-Williams, Genuine Old Fashioned Milk Paint or in the esteemed line of Farrow & Ball paints. Our unique approach enables us to sell direct to homeowners, architects, custom builders and remodelers nationwide.
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Custom and Handcrafted
New Hampshire Home | 95
hall of fame
2016 Excellence in Specialty Room Design
JBART Consulting
amherst, New hampshire (207) 468-5048 • www.jbartconsulting.com
How do I develop a construction budget for my custom home? Who can oversee my remote project? How can I achieve that “one of a kind” design? If you have these questions, then you may need Jen Bartholomay LEED AP, a seasoned construction manager and design consultant, as your trusted representative. Today’s custom homes are complex, integrated structures with hundreds of components. If you are building a new home, a vacation home or renovating an existing home, there is no such thing as too much planning. In order to maximize your financial and emotional investment, custom homes require experienced coordination and design throughout all phases of construction. Whether you need budget estimating, custom component design, owner representation, or construction bid documents, Jen Bartholomay, LEED AP offers you the precise blend of industry and product knowledge, design capability, common sense and integrity. photography by Alexandra Whitten
JBART CONSULTING
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT & DESIGN 207-468-5048 | www.jbartconsulting.com With the unparalled skills and collabortive efforts of local craftsmen such as Key Stone Carvings, Inc. of Hudson, NH, Jen Bartholomay created these beautiful spaces in this southern NH rustic home. Unique attributes include copper inlaid granite counter tops and specially crafted Olhausen pool table. 96 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
2016 Excellence in Green Design
hall of fame
Sheldon Pennoyer Architects
Concord, New hampshire (603) 856-8994 • www.spennoyerarchitects.com Sheldon Pennoyer Architects has been recognized with numerous awards for their designs. The practice has received multiple awards for Excellence in Architecture from the New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New England Chapters of the American Institute of Architects as well as being recognized in 2016 for Excellence in Green Design by New Hampshire Home. Other awards in the past have included a LEED platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for a single-family house, and Excellence in Planning, Design and Development from PLAN NH. The firm is committed to being directly involved with each project from start to finish, ensuring that your project equals your highest expectations and has that unique “sense of place.”
Collaboration | Consultation | Sustainable | Design
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New Hampshire Home | 97
hall of fame
2016 Excellence in Outdoor Design
Stephens Landscaping Professionals, LLC Moultonborough, New hampshire (603) 707-0630 • www.stephenslandscaping.com
We would love to show you the value Stephens Landscaping brings to your property. As certified professionals in landscaping, we provide reliable, year-round services to residential and commercial clients throughout the Lakes Region. The maintenance division provides custom tailored programs to meet the needs of your property. With seasonal clean ups, garden maintenance, mulching services, irrigation and more, our team takes pride in their work resulting in the Stephens Landscaping difference. Experience a lasting landscape from the installation division specializing in lakefront design-build projects. Maybe it’s a fire-pit with outdoor lighting? A perched beach with a water feature and steps to the water? A new bluestone patio or cobblestone walkway surrounding a outdoor kitchen? Whatever it may be, you’re adding remarkable value to your property. We make the landscape you dream about a real one, built to suit your needs, everyday life and budget. It’s the Stephens Landscaping difference.
Stephens Landscaping
98 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
hall of fame
2016 Excellence in Kitchen Design
Teresa Perry Design
Silver Lake, New hampshire (603) 367-4429 • www.teresaperry.com
experience, Teresa understands that we live differently today. It’s about you, your lifestyle, what matters to you. Give Teresa Perry Design a call today to collaborate on your new kitchen, bath or any other interior-design project. Let’s create something truly beautiful together! — xx, t Check out our online shop at www.teresaperry.com for our new AllNatural Home and Spa Collection products.
TERESA PERRY DESIGN CABINETRY
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INTER IORS
www.teresaperry.com
603-367-4429
❖
Like you, kitchen and interior-design expert Teresa Perry has a passion for excellence in design. By combining her acquired skills and training with her artistic instincts for properly blending scale, proportion, forms and function, she can help clients create something truly beautiful. Do you like taking walks on the beach or hiking in the Whites, collecting seashells or heart-shaped rocks? Do you like entertaining? Spending time with family and friends? What is your passion? What is important to you? With nearly two decades of design
www.teresaperry.com New Hampshire Home | 99
resources
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Outdoor living
Rolling Green Nursery Explore and stroll nine acres of display gardens and stone paths. We grow an uncommon palette of annuals, herbs, perennials,vines, flowering trees and shrubs, custom patio containers, and beautiful hanging baskets. We stock over 35 varieties of Japanese maples, large and dwarf evergreens. Our staff is knowledgable and passionate about plants. Visit our website for events, hours and directions. Plants, seeds, advice and inspiration. 64 Breakfast Hill Road in Greenland • (603) 436-2732 • www.rollinggreennursery.com
Soake Pools
Did you know that plunge pools use 85% less water than traditional inground pools? Our elegant semi-custom concrete plunge pools are energy efficient and can be used year round; keep them cool in summer and warm in winter! Soake Pools are delivered ready to install, fully tiled, and ready for finishing touches by your landscape designer. Visit our website and contact us for more information! In Madbury • (603) 749-0665 • www.soakepools.com
Derek Marshall Lighting, LLC Derek Marshall presents the Juneau chandelier in stunning blue American art glass. Fabricated from overlapping leaves of glass, kiln formed and fastened with stainless steel screws, this unique chandelier will add a distinction that only the finest handcrafted quality can bestow. Made in New Hampshire. We offer more than forty choices of glass colors and textures. Full catalog online or call (800) 497-3891. 85 Upper Road in Sandwich • (603) 284-7000 • www.derekmarshall.com
lighting
Lighting by the Sea We can add decorative and functional lighting to any room in your home with our large selection of fixtures and lamps. The newly renovated showroom in an eleven-room Victorian home will fulfill all your lighting needs whether you’re building a new home, remodeling a room, or need to give a lamp new personality with a new lampshade. At Lighting by the Sea, we are here to help you brighten your home. Route 1, 87 Lafayette Road in Hampton Falls • (603) 601-7354 • www.lightingbythesea.com
The Lighting Showroom With today’s unlimited range of styles, sizes, there are so many decisions to make. The Lighting Showroom has made the process easier to save you time and money. With over a combined 35 years of experience, our Certified Lighting Consultants can help guide you through the right lighting layout. Visit our showroom for special promotional events, and competitive prices. Shop us last and you’ll be glad you did! Bedford Villages Shoppes in Bedford • (603) 471-3299 • www.nelighting.com
services
McLaughlin Transportation Systems Moving Solutions for Every Need: • Full Service Moving • DIY or Long Distance Moves • Local • Long Distance • International • Vehicle Transport • Household Moving • Office • Retail • Corporate • Portable Containers • Secure-Sprinklered Warehouse Storage • Secure Indoor Storage • Two Acres of Secure Outdoor Storage • Professionally Trained Movers & Packers • No-Cost Estimates • Top Quality Moving & Storage since 1936. 20 Progress Avenue in Nashua • (603) 883-4000 • (800) 258-MOVE (6683) • www.mcmoving.com 100 | New Hampshire Home
MARCH/APRIL 2016
resources
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
interior design
C. Randolph Trainor Interiors Good interior design is about creating balance and harmony from disparate objects. Rough/smooth, shiny/dull, light /dark put together to create a cohesive whole that showcases your personality and works for your lifestyle. C. Randolph Trainor Interiors will help you make sure the end result is everything you want. Randy Trainor • (603) 823-8133 • crt@crtinteriors.com
Squam River Landing
Sippican Partners Construction • (603) 968-7711 • Sippicanpartners.com
Old Hampshire Designs This lakefront home in Sunapee, NH incorporates an impressive variety of high-efficiency, sustainable options including an electric car charging station. Please visit our website and Houzz.com to see many more of our custom building projects. You can also call to arrange a tour! 263 Main Street in New London • (603) 526-6945 • www.oldhampshiredesigns.com
Furniture Masters 2016: Distinctive Exhibiting regionally this summer and fall. www.furnituremasters.org Visit our gallery at 49 South Main Street Concord, NH
Alden Rocker by Greg Brown. Photo by Bill Truslow. www.nhhomemagazine.com
New Hampshire Home | 101
builders & remodelers
We work with our clients, and other team members in a collaborative process to optimize the cost, design, quality and schedule of the buildings we construct. We listen to our clients and all involved to build on our team’s strengths and provide leadership. We work to understand what matters most to the people we work with, and the buildings we build.
mark your calendar!
march M a rch 5
Whether you plan to hire a landscape construction company or design firm, or want to build and create something on your own, learn some basic steps helpful to the design process. The workshop is led by Greg Bilowz, a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Boston Society of Landscape Architects, and the Massachusetts Nurseryman and Landscape Association. 10 a.m.–noon. Admission is $35; $20 for Tower Hill members. Tower Hill Botanic Garden • 11 French Drive in Boylston, Massachusetts • (508) 869-6111 www.towerhillbg.org M a rch 5
Mary Ann Esposito Book Signing and Winter Farmers’ Market
Mary Ann Esposito, New Hampshire Home contributor and the host of the PBS series Ciao Italia, is on hand to sign copies of her latest cookbook Ciao Italia Family Classics as well as Ciao Italia aprons (both available for day-of purchase). 10–11 a.m. Cole Gardens • 430 Loudon Road in Concord (603) 229-0655 • www.colegardens.com M a rch 5
ProStart State Invitational
As New Hampshire’s premier culinary competition featuring high school juniors and seniors, eight teams demonstrate their creative abilities through the preparation of a three-course meal in sixty minutes, using only two butane burners, and without access to running water or electricity. 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. University of New Hampshire • Stillings Dining Hall • 20 Ballard Street in Durham www.nhlra.com/?page=ProStartCompetitions M a rch 12
Yoga and Chocolate
Yoga teaches how to become better aware of our bodies, hearts and minds, and how to be present in each moment in order to experience life fully. Experience these concepts with a thirty-minute yoga class to deeply connect with your senses, body and breath, and heighten your awareness of fine sensory input. Then enjoy a ninety-minute chocolate presentation by Dancing Lion Chocolates: a lesson in truly experiencing and appreciating chocolate’s texture, taste, richness, color, smell, beauty and pleasure. 1:30–3:30 p.m. Admission is $55. YogaBalance • 135 Hooksett Road in Manchester (603) 625-4000 • www.yogabalance.info M a rch 12–13
New Hampshire Old House and Barn Expo
Homeowners with dwellings of nearly any age are likely to find tips, solutions and strategies during educational sessions, traditional arts demonstrations, discussions with preservation contractors, 102 | New Hampshire Home
Photography courtesy of Steve Booth
Landscape Design and Construction Fundamentals
Representatives from Canvasworks Floorcloths of Perkinsville, Vermont (left), met with attendees at an earlier New Hampshire Old House and Barn Expo.
and more than sixty exhibitors of preservation products and services. Sponsored by the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance; proceeds help support the alliance’s year-round educational programming. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, and $7 for seniors and students. The Radisson/Center of New Hampshire 700 Elm Street in Manchester • (603) 224-2281 www.nhpreservation.org M a rch 13
Winter Wellness Walk
Take a brisk walk this winter, and stay healthy and connected to the Arnold Arboretum at a time when the 281-acre landscape is pared down to its beautiful bones. This walk emphasizes fitness, with a healthy dose of information on seasonal highlights. Winter tours are geared to adults and led by trained Arboretum docents. 1 p.m. Free. 125 Arborway in Boston, Massachusetts (617) 524-1718 • www.arboretum.harvard.edu M a rch 14
Steel Chef Challenge
Food Network celebrity chef Robert Irvine hosts a local chef competition and a celebrity chef challenge. Attendees watch the chefs compete and enjoy a fabulous dinner created by Irvine and his staff. The VIP portion of the event takes place before the competition, where VIPs can meet and greet the celebrity chefs and get cookbooks signed. Proceeds benefit the New Hampshire Food Bank. Tickets are $125; $200 for VIP portion. NH Food Bank Warehouse • 700 East Industrial Park Drive in Manchester • (603) 669-9725 www.nhfoodbank.org/steelchef.aspx M a rch 19 –20
Fourteenth Biennial Quilt Show
The Amoskeag Quilters’ Guild presents Tomorrow’s Heirlooms: Quilts for All Time fourteenth biennial quilt show featuring two rooms with more than 150 quilts of all sizes. Also part of the show are diverse vendors, small items for purchase to support the New England Quilt Museum, a sewing machine raffle, various technique demonstrations and refreshments. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission is $8. Manchester Memorial High School • 1 Crusader Way in Manchester • www.amoskeagqg.org
M a rch 31 – A pril 9
Restaurant Week Portsmouth and the Seacoast
This biannual culinary event features special threecourse, prix fixe menus at participating restaurants throughout Portsmouth and the Seacoast. Some of the many restaurants that have participated include the Black Trumpet Bistro, the Blue Mermaid Island Grill, Brazo, Café Mediterraneo, Epoch Restaurant, Jumpin’ Jay’s, The Dolphin Striker, The Library Restaurant, Mombo, Orchard Street Chop Shop, Radici and Salt. Lunches are $16.95; dinners $29.95. www.goportsmouthnh.com/where-to-eat/ restaurant-week/
april A pril 2– 3
Seacoast Home and Garden Show
The twenty-second annual Seacoast Home and Garden Show features more than two hundred exhibitors showcasing the latest products and services in areas such as building, remodeling, kitchens, bathrooms, green living, gardens and landscaping. The Garden Marketplace has flowers, seeds and planters. The Churchill’s Garden Seminar Series offers a variety of gardening seminars. The TASTE Meet the Chefs Cooking Series features some of the Seacoast’s top chefs with the opportunity to learn new recipes, get great cooking tips and taste their culinary creations. Saturday, 10 a.m.– 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission is $8; $6 for seniors; $5 for children age six through sixteen; children younger than age six are admitted free of charge. Whittemore Center Arena at the University of New Hampshire in Durham www.seacoast.newenglandexpos.com A pril 15
Tablescapes
Tablescapes “Creative Settings”® is a chance for local community members to create a tabletop setting, telling a story that is imaginative, playful and fun. The event raises funds to bring arts programming to local schools and libraries, and promote the arts in the community. New this year is a full-color program guide, which includes the Table Story from each participant and photos from march/april 2016
last year’s winning entries. Sponsored by The Governor Wentworth Arts Council. Admission is $5. Wolfeboro Inn • Main Street in Wolfeboro (603) 569-0078 • j@virgodesignstudio.com www.wolfeboroarts.org A pril 18
Gardening Is … Murder
Neal Sanders, a noted mystery author, tells a “husband’s point of view of gardening” that is filled with humor and insight from the perspective of one who gardens less from an abiding love of horticulture than for the love of a spouse. Good horticultural advice is dispensed; bad advice is debunked. Advance reservations required. 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $25; $23 for Mountain Garden Club members. Red Fox Grille Restaurant • Route 16 in Jackson (603) 383-6668 • www.mountaingardenclub.org A pril 22
Earth Day Celebration
Mark Earth Day with Laudholm Beach cleanup by helping to pick up cigarette butts, plastic, fishing gear and other litter on the beach; enjoying the Earth Jams Concert, featuring Matt Loosigian; participating in earthy crafts, games and learning; and taking a guided nature walk. 8:30 a.m.–noon. Free. Wells Reserve at Laudholm • 342 Laudholm Farm Road in Wells, Maine • (207) 646-1555 www.wellsreserve.org
A pri l 23
Mount Kearsarge: History, Stories, Legends and Folktales Book Signing
Larry Sullivan of Warner has worked with the Warner Historical Society to bring back some of the region’s forgotten stories. Sullivan’s most recent book, Mount Kearsarge: History, Stories, Legends and Folktales, is the product of research and data collection from the Kearsarge region and beyond. The book starts with an overview of Mount Kearsarge, to provide the back story for more than thirty stories and several folktales related to the mountain. Also included are many recollections of the mountain, from an early account by Henry David Thoreau about his grandmother’s visit to the Kearsarge Gore, to excerpts of writings by local people who looked up one day and saw a huge, unwelcome tower on their mountain. 2 p.m. Free. New Hampshire Historical Society • 30 Park Street in Concord • (603) 228-6688 • www.nhhistory.org A pri l 30
Hearth Cooking Workshop
This special hearth cooking experience occurs in Strawbery Banke’s eighteenth-century Wheelwright House. The workshop allows participants to learn open-hearth cooking skills as they make and enjoy a traditional, seasonal menu. 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Tickets are $75. Strawbery Banke • 14 Hancock Street in Portsmouth (603) 433-1100 • www.strawberybanke.org
ongoing
The Coast & the Sea: Marine and Maritime Art in America
Organized by the New York Historical Society, this exhibit features fifty-two marine paintings and ten maritime artifacts that explore the ways in which the early U.S. history and culture were inextricably bound to the sea. The Atlantic Ocean, in particular, loomed large in the American consciousness as a geographical barrier between Old and New Worlds; the conduit for the global exchange of ideas, people and things; and the basis for national economic activities as well as personal fortunes. Ranging in date from around 1750 to 1904, the works include portraits of seafarers and vessels; seascapes and harbor views; naval battle scenes; and images of leisure and labor on the water. On view through April 26. The Portland Museum of Art • 7 Congress Square in Portland, Maine • (207) 775-6148 www.portlandmuseum.org
Submitting Events
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New Hampshire Home | 103
at home in new hampshire
An Old Tradition Made New Again I grew up in a secular Jewish household. Everything I
indifference, but if he did, he didn’t mention it. What he
know about Judaism, I learned from Fiddler on the Roof and
was worried about was that I might go all “Martha Stewart”
Woody Allen films. The only times I recall attending syna-
on him.
gogue with my family were for weddings and funerals. My
In the name of domestic harmony, I promised him sim-
brother and I woke up Christmas mornings to a bounty of
plicity. I chose some straightforward recipes and searched
presents, in numbers far exceeding the few we received during
for an appropriate version of the narrative of the Jews’ slavery in and exile from Egypt, the Haggadah, to read ahead of the meal. A friend pointed me to one that suited my religiously unschooled but still culturally Jewish sense of myself. I assembled copies, and, in my only nod toward the Hebrew language (of which I know exactly two expressions: shalom and l’chaim. Thank you, Fiddler!), I made sure the pages would be read from right to left as we recited the text. I made good on my spousal promise, and, with a surprising lack of incident, I managed to set a table with several seder staples (and modern variations), the most satisfying of which were my very first brisket and a flourless chocolate cake. Somehow, I had forgotten the Manischewitz. This became apparent while preparing the charoset, a customary dish that calls for a sweet red wine. What we did have was an unopened flask of MD 20/20 (also known as “Mad Dog
Hanukkah. There were Easter baskets, too. Our feast day was
20/20” to underage drinkers everywhere) purchased by
Thanksgiving, which hewed our familial identity with that of
my husband as a joke months before. A quick taste test
the nation, rather than that of the tribe.
followed by an energetic Internet search revealed that
Growing up, I attended just two seders (the traditional
“MD” stands for “Mogen David” and that it’s as kosher as
Passover meal) but only one of them remains accessible to
matzo. I triumphed in my resourcefulness, and the meal
me as a memory. This is the one at which, at age eight, I
was complete.
tippled too much in the Manischewitz and tipped over on
It was surprisingly simple and satisfying in a way that
my great Aunt Jenny’s couch soon after the main meal was
was new to me. I had managed to not worry about doing
over. What little I recall of the evening, I recall fondly;
it “right” and, instead, to enjoy the fact that I was doing
however, Passover for me had long been not much more
it at all. My mother-in-law was the first to suggest we do
than a subcategory of misty childhood memory.
it again. For her, the seder “created a sense of family and
Thus it came as a surprise to me when, late last winter,
social awareness as well as the space for sharing something
I decided to host a seder. Maybe it has to do with having
with a long and deep feeling of history and commitment.”
kids; maybe it has to do with mid-life. Whatever it was, I
And so we shall, with some Mogen David at the ready
hatched my plan to foist a feast upon my family and some
to get the party started. This, it seems, is how traditions
close friends. My husband, a secular Protestant, may have
begin or, rather, how they continue as, really, it’s only new
wondered what had gotten into me after so many years of
to me.
NHH
By Sally Hirsh-Dickinson | Illustration by Carolyn Vibbert 104 | New Hampshire Home
march/april 2016
Christopher p. Williams arChiteCts, pllC PO Box 703 • Meredith, NH 03253 • 603-279-6513 • www.cpwarchitects.com
O
ur award winning firm has provided innovative and environmentally responsible design solutions since 1984. We are dedicated to using green building techniques and offer expertise in incorporating solar, geothermal and other earth friendly systems into client projects to enhance and protect the ecosystem and conserve natural resources. Whether your goal is a new home, an addition or renovations to existing space, our design team of LEED certified architects will guide you through the process to the realization of your dream home.
Furniture that fits.
The cabinetry of choice. Selected by discerning homeowners for over 35 years. 800-999-4994 • www.crown-point.com
Fine Quality Custom Cabinetry Handcrafted For Your Entire Home