FACING PAGE: The large living room takes full advantage of the courtyard through large expanses of glass; Lavigne built the bookcases flanking the fireplace. TOP: Architect Joseph “Joe” Lavigne BOTTOM: A spiral stairway leads to the second level, with a skylight added in the top of the tower above the second floor ceiling to provide maximum natural lighting for the stairway and landing.
personal identity. The clean lines and slightly elevated base of the structure make it blend pleasantly with the neighborhood. “The front of the house provides the privacy I wanted, yet a pedestrian can still glimpse into the house to get a welcoming feeling,” Lavigne says. Both levels overlook the courtyard through a wall of glass that floods the house with light. Ten-foot ceilings add to the spacious feeling. Ash wood floors reclaimed from a warehouse were stained dark to add to the modern design, and the white envelope that covers all of the interior walls and ceilings gives the home an almost gallery-like feeling. “I designed a skylight in the tower at the top stairs to serve as a light scoop and add intensity to the curved stairway and open balcony on the second floor overlooking the living, dining and kitchen area below, with the view continuing to the porch and courtyard beyond,” he says. Rugs define the seating area in the living room and Lavigne proudly explains that he built the bookshelves that flank the fireplace. A unique black-andwhite scripted rug defines the adjoining dining room space. “The ceiling in the dining room encompasses the second floor thus adding to the volume of the main living area and providing an interesting view of the downstairs from the second floor gallery. Then to continue the open floor plan, I designed a sleek kitchen with a large island to complete the first-level living quarters.” The second floor features a large master bedroom with two completely separate his and her bathrooms. Lavigne prides himself with having built the dividing wall of storage and the closets behind the wall. On the opposite side of the second level are his and her of-