The Glass House

This new construction home was inspired by Japanese and modern architecture with a focus on bringing the outside in to enjoy the over 100 acres of surroundingconservation land as well as provide a quiet space for centered living.

Since my client has Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and the New England winters are long, it was our goal to bring as much light into the space as possible. Having tracked the light movement from November to February during the framing process, we located skylights and clerestory windows specifically so that every room in the house would always have natural daylight.

Most striking in the open space is the island. Built from a slab of Claro Walnut originally from the west coast and purchased in the Berkshires, this awesome live-edge wood is married to clear and dark soapstone. Along with the interest and beauty, this island also boasts the function of a sink, dishwasher, trash, cooktop and storage along with seating for six.

The cabinetry is all custom, concealing the function and flow of a classic kitchen to create modern clean lines. Behind the doors are walnut shelves and soapstone countertop with small appliances, a pantry, refrigerator and plenty of storage.

The walls are painted Benjamin Moore, Simply White and directly reflect the outside colors on the walls – sometimes looking grey / brown and sometimes green. And the flooring is quarter-sawn white oak select 5” wide with a Rubio-monocoat of “pure” added to it for a natural, soft finish.

Our goal was to keep the lines simple and clean in order to enjoy and experience the natural textures and light from the outside. Stay tuned to this project as we add furnishings and artwork and continue to provide a space that is inspiring and relaxing.