Architectural Design Services in Rutland, VT

“Nancy Leary did a beautiful redesign on my 1850's VT farmhouse. She seamlessly incorporated all my needs, in a fashion that was respectful of the original character of the house, but which also managed to incorporate all the conveniences of the 21st century. The project included: restoration of original front porch, design and installation of a new, modern kitchen, total LR redesign including: creation of stove fireplace and appropriate flanking built-in bookcases, design and installation of new windows and exterior door in LR, relocation of front door, and realignment of beams under original pine plank flooring to eliminate serious buckling and slant. Besides doing a basic basement rehab, a including a new concrete floor, new windows and insulation, upstairs Nancy also did a new insulation of many exterior walls, and in the master bedroom, the installation of new gas fireplace and incorporation of old mantel . Her attentiveness, humor and care throughout the project made her a pleasure to work with. I recommend her highly.”

“I have had the pleasure now of working with Merrimack Design on three projects now. They have the ability to really understand the desires of their clients and execute accordingly. Greg and Eric work remarkably well as a team and their work speaks for itself. As a developer I look for clean, effective and efficient work product that they provide. I would not hesitate to recommend Merrimack design to anyone hiring an Architectural firm knowing they will handle their residential design challenges with great ideas, work product and technical ability.”

“Studio Nexus designed an interior renovation of a large part of our home (kitchen, baths, living areas, master bedroom), as well as an outdoor deck/roof overhang. I would strongly recommend them. They are highly qualified architects whose range of experience encompasses thoughtful renovation of existing residences. One of their great strengths was interpreting our goals for the house renovation into creative design solutions. Studio Nexus understood the bones of the house and what design concepts we found important. We wanted as many windows as possible, and as open a space as possible. They designed a kitchen/living area that met these requirements elegantly and fit within the modern lines of the original home. It is the true heart of our home, and the space that we spend most of our time as a family. Studio Nexus uncovered our house’s potential, creating a light, bright and welcoming living environment. They accomplished all this while being mindful of our budget.”

“Smith & Vansant is a phenomenal architectural firm. In fact, working with them renovated not only my house, but my life! After 15 years or so of living with the property more or less as I found it, my tiny 1850 Cape needed long-overdue renovations -- including improvements to all major systems, solutions to a big water problem in the basement, a new kitchen, a new roof, adding working and living space, and a home office, along with extensive site work and landscaping. From a design perspective, they are simply brilliant. They have a fantastic aesthetic sense; know how to integrate old and new in a way that is pure genius; and are skilled problem-solvers. I wanted the house to be more liveable and comfortable, while still honoring the antique details that had drawn me to the property in the first place. Pi Smith and Stephen Branchflower in particular not only listened to me all along the way, but heard me. They gave me exactly what I had hoped for. From a practical perspective, I needed to live in the house while this was going on, and they were sensitive to my need to carry on amidst the upheaval. They worked closely with the contractor, Lud Leskovar, to assure that I was comfortable and inconvenienced a little as humanly possible while the work was being done all around me. Smith & Vansant, Lud Leskovar and I worked closely as a team. The kept me informed as to costs all along the way and helped me make decisions that took into account my both budget and my dreams. They were endlessly patient and always kind. Everyone in this close-knit firm is a pleasure to work with, operates with the highest integrity, and knows what they are doing. I can't recommend Smith & Vansant highly enough. For photos of this project, see "Houzz Tour: Beautiful, Hardworking Cape Renovation" on this site.”