Located on the Connecticut shoreline, this home sits perched on a channel, overlooking Long Island Sound. Two gables act as flanking bookends, with the life room at its center. A dark exterior base made of horizontal Shou Sugi Ban boards sets the gables rendered in white above. This design decision breaks down the scale of the home, particularly when viewing from the water, and holds the home together compositionally. The main living space forms the aperture for a framed front-to-back picture, with a sculpture garden at its center and outdoor pool and lawn area set on the view.
With two points of entry – one more guest-oriented to the west, the other designed for family life to the east – the home accommodates varying life patterns and day-to-day necessities. A cross gable was integrated on the east side to contain a primary bedroom above with a private bath, along with a stair that leads to the kitchen, mudroom, pantry and garage below. Bespoke finishes, such as a sculptural stair and axial corridor, enhance the artful approach within.