A Modern Farmhouse for 2
One couple’s dream home was literally within reach.
For this lofty farmhouse, builder Tom Cook used a variety of windows to give the structure visual interest that aligned with a historical vernacular.
Interior Designer Susan Durling’s clients, whom she had worked with before, were very familiar with the town of Hollis. They had lived there for many years, but, says Durling, “They didn’t need as much space anymore because they were empty nesters.” So they purchased a piece of land that they loved, which just happened to be right down the street from their family home.
Painted tongue and groove and pine-and-black-steel trusses give the lofted interior a crisp, agrarian feel.
Working with architectural plans and Hollis-based builder Tom Cook, of Cook Custom Homes, the couple envisioned a more compact space with an airy, open feel. “The whole idea and reason for building this house was [for them] to live in less square footage,” says Cook. “But the cathedral-type ceilings of tongue-and-groove pine with steel struts make it feel substantial. The ceilings are full two-story, so they give the home a lofty, barn feeling.”
The entire structure reflects an agrarian atmosphere, which complements the rural landscape. “The property had been a cow farm for years,” says Cook, adding that his firm often does similar builds. “Over the past few years, a lot of clients have asked for traditional farmhouse-style homes. Our trademark is to put cupolas on garages attached to a house, which makes them look similar to a barn.”
For the exterior siding of this home, Cook used white Hardie board and batten, a composite product designed to resemble wood. The roof’s height was such that his team needed to install it in sections, using a crane. “Because it was so tall and so high, we built sections of the roof on the ground and used the crane to lift it,” he explains. “We hadn’t done that before, and the process was very interesting.”
Designer Susan Durling used metallic finishes in the kitchen to reflect the tone of the owners’ artwork.
Inside the home, oak flooring was installed throughout, which provided a neutral foundation for Durling’s design. “The couple were very big art collectors,” she says. “So I worked off some of the signature pieces that they wanted to display in their home.” One example is a portrait of a motorcyclist that hangs in the kitchen. “There’s a palette within that — steely grays and a little touch of red — that we used as the jumping off point in the kitchen,” says Durling. “I added some metal hardware in the cabinets, metal mesh and polished nickel to pick up on the cool motorcycle vibe.”
The stairway continues the home’s mainly black-and-white palette, with vibrant prints that provide color and interest.
“They also are collectors of objects, not just artwork,” elaborates Durling. “They had all kinds of vintage juggling/ exercise pins, so we used those in other rooms to provide more texture.”
The home, which has three bedrooms and two and a half baths, was also designed to complement the owners’ hosting style. “Their previous home was a beautiful Cape, but for this new house, as empty nesters, they wanted it to be more relaxed, more of an adult-focused space,” says Durling. “They were big entertainers who loved to cook, so the open plan was better suited to their lifestyle.”
Enhancing the airy ambience, a variety of Marvin windows in different configurations allows for generous amounts of natural light to enter the rooms and also lends visual interest to the home’s exterior.
Durling, who began her career as a kitchen and bath designer, especially enjoyed choosing the finishes for those particular rooms. “I do whole homes now — lighting, furniture, artwork — but bathrooms and kitchens are still my favorite spaces to design,” says the New Hampshire native. “I really get a charge out of helping people find the fixtures and tiles and everything else that makes those rooms work.”
Windows without coverings allow the view to tell the story in an upstairs bedroom.
Durling says that as she herself enjoys entertaining and cooking, she attracts clients who share these interests. “I have a lot of fun in people’s homes, and most of my clients become my friends.”
She believes that the collaboration among her, Cook and the clients is what made this home such a success. “It went so smoothly because the homeowners and the builder had a clear understanding of what they wanted,“ she says. “When home-owners are very active and engaged in the process, it usually makes the build go better. It was a three-pronged team, and everyone was very pleased with the results.”
PROJECT TEAM
INTERIOR DESIGNER:
Susan Durling Designs
617-657-4159
BUILDER:
Cook Custom Homes
603-493-7272
