The universal design was incorporated by making the house handicap-accessible design for the elderly client. In the kitchen remodel, the counters were lowered and placed to meet her needs. A laundry room design / mudroom room design was placed on the first floor next to her bedroom (the first time the house had a washer in 300 years)! A master suite was created upstairs as a multigenerational space for the daughter to live with the mother. A guest house design and construction followed in the barn design and construction. This accessory dwelling unit allowed flexibility for a possible live in-nurse on the site. The farm has been untended for eight years before the project, so extensive landscaping was done to restore the views of the pond, brook and meadows. Perennial flower and vegetable gardens were incorporated in the new plans.

Before / After gallery

Example blueprints of the historic farmhouse

Example blueprints of the historic farmhouse

Process

Developers were planning on demolishing the oldest house in the town when an elderly client took on the project of saving a piece of history.

  • There was 18” of standing water in the basement; curtain drains and gutters were installed.

  • The chestnut posts and beams had parts rotting; 5 large LVL beams were installed to hold up the structure.

  • The small dark rooms didn’t allow you to see the pond and brook: a couple of interior walls were removed to open up the space.

  • The original kitchen had a 5”-10” ceiling; the new kitchen has an island and a higher ceiling.

  • An antiquated bath was replaced with new plumbing fixtures.

Client Reviews

“Caren has such passion for historic homes. She preserved the feel of the old home while making it comfortable to live in with modern comforts. The project was completed quickly and professionally.”
— Judy Lynch
“Caren renovated the cottage in the barn for me to live. She used wood from fallen trees on the property for the floor and trim. The cottage is a perfect place for a nature lover to enjoy all of the views of the pond and meadows.”
— New Fairfield, CT
 

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