A House And Its Garden Are One

Design Confidently, Live Comfortably

Using natural materials like stone, metal, wood, and glass -- in finishes and furnishings -- was important to us: They tie the house to the land and give it a handcrafted quality. Whenever possible, we used local materials.

Tile in a 4-foot grid The 4-foot-square grid that runs throughout the house is evident in the tile on the master bathroom floor. Just outside is a balcony that can be accessed from the master bedroom or bath.

We found the limestone for the massive wall that makes up the front of the house at a nearby quarry. The wall is 3 feet thick, tapering upward at 1 inch per foot, providing an anchor for the wood house and tying it to the site visually. To offset the solidity of the wall, there is a glass-roof skylight between the stone wall and the wood frame of the house, creating a corridor filled with sunlight during the day and starlight by night.

Timber frame at the core Exposed post-and-lintel framing defines the perimeter of the dining room. The beamed wood ceiling adds visual weight and warmth to this bright, open room. From the front door (right), you can see through the foyer and dining room to the hills beyond.

The center of our house -- encompassing the dining room downstairs and the master bathroom and balcony upstairs -- is framed with large beams of Douglas fir, many reclaimed from old buildings and held together by wooden pegs. We had fun with this aspect of the house. Over the Fourth of July weekend, we had a "barn raising" to get these thick beams into place. We left this timber frame at the heart of the house exposed. It recalls the simple New England farmhouse expanded and absorbed by additions over the years.

We chose dark-gray standing-seam steel for most of the roofing. The metal roof is far better than asphalt shingles at withstanding the strong winds that whip across the hill in the winter. While it costs more to install, its durability more than makes up for the cost in the long run.

Waiting for the weekend
We live in New York City for most of the week, but from the minute we get on the train for the two-hour ride to our rural retreat, the weekend begins. As we pass the Smith farm, halfway up our hill, and see the barnlike silhouette of our house on the horizon, a sense of calm descends, and our weekday world becomes just a memory.

Whether a wind is howling across the fields, or snow is drifting down silently in late-afternoon light, or wildflowers are swaying in the fields surrounding the house, the immediate world outside is a part of every room inside.

Monday always comes too soon. But then Friday is only four days away.

Jack Hyland is an investment banker, photographer, and avid gardener. Architect and designer Larry Wente is a partner with Gertler Wente Kerbeykian Architects in New York City.

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BACK: Interior Rooms with Exterior Views

	IN THIS ARTICLE:

		Introduction

		Beginning the Design Process

		Interior Rooms with Exterior Views

		Choosing Finishes and Furnishings

		An Earth-Friendly House

		Gardens with a Casual Formality

		Simple Design Details Add Character and Interest

		Floor Plan

		Resources