Photo by Eric Zepeda

South Cove Residence Shelburne, Vermont This 15 acre site is located on the southern end of historic Shelburne Farms, a property originally designed by Frederick Law Olmstead for the Vanderbilt / Webb family. The site design attempts to soften the formal, classical character of the house with a minimal approach to the landscape. The stone and wood house is sited to enjoy both the southern and westerly views while integrating within the rolling agrarian landscape. The design creates a series of outdoor spaces which through classic geometry fade away into the more rugged lakeshore. A simple, yet elegant bluestone terrace bordered by perennials and a low stonewall, creates a space for entertaining on the south side of the house. Large trees of 8" and 10" caliper were planted to add a feeling of maturity to the landscape while creating a sense of intimate scale. Photo Credit: Westphalen Photography

Wiff Harmer

Foto:graf Luckner Planung: gartenplus, die Gartenarchitekten info@gartenplus.com

In the renovation and addition to this home in Falls Church VA, exterior hard-scapes and garden spaces surround the house while the spaces within the home are made larger and are opened up to the forestall views surrounding the home. When walking on the pathway one crosses the many thresholds along the exterior that help to separate and create new intimate garden spaces. Steel, concrete, and wood come together in this intricate walkway system comprised of slatted screen fences, a guiding pergola overhead, and a hard-scaped pathway. The changes in grade, volume, and materiality allow for a dynamic walkway that runs both to the new entry and continues to the rear patio where it then terminates at the patio access of the home. The master bedroom is extruded out over the lower level into the rear of the house and opened up with tall windows all along two sides. A more formal entry space is added at the front with full height glass bringing in lots of light to make for an elegant entry space. Partitions are removed from the interior to create one large space which integrates the new kitchen, living room , and dining room. Full height glass along the rear of the house opens up the views to the rear and brightens up the entire space. A new garage volume is added and bridged together with the existing home creating a new powder room, mudroom, and storage.

CABINETRY: The Ladbroke kitchen, Cue & Co of London, painted in French Gray Estate, Farrow & Ball APPLIANCES: Range cooker and extractor hood, Falcon; integrated fridge, Liebherr; integrated dishwasher, Siemens WORK SURFACES: Polished concrete, Cue & Co of London SPLASHBACK: Polished plaster, Cue & Co of London LIGHTING: Box Lantern from the Memoria collection, Cue & Co of London SINK: Claron 550 sink, Blanco TAP: Monobloc mixer tap in pewter, Perrin & Rowe FLOORING: Porcelain tiles, European Heritage Cue & Co of London cabinetry, lighting and furniture is handcrafted at its workshop in Parsons Green, London. Each piece is tailored to individual specifications Cue & Co of London kitchens start from £35,000

Joseph Schell

Landscape Architect: Howard Cohen

This design for a year-round retirement home addresses all aspects of the site, which resides on the western flank of Blue Hill Bay and has easterly water views framed by a mature forest of oak, birch, and fir. The use of natural materials, featuring wood in all aspects, was an important way to tie the building to its site and its cultural context. Photo by Brian Vanden Brink

V.I.Photography & Design Vincent Ivicevic

With the careful use of a few simple but massive walls, the house, its adjacent grounds, and the site are organized into four simple quadrants for approach, arrival, entertaining and privacy. Each quadrant affords its own special views across the varied landscape. An aperture in the wall separating the entry from the private bedroom quarter frames a view of the garden in the foreground and a typical western New York meadow in the background. Photo: Ben Rahn

By Beccy Smart Photography