Vermont Modern:
The Evolving Mountain Sanctuary
Morrisville, Vt
From Foreclosed Shell to a High-Performance Modern Home
There is a unique beauty in a home that grows alongside its family. This project represents a decade-long journey—beginning with a modest 800-square-foot foreclosure and culminating in a significant pandemic-era addition that transformed a "work in progress" into a high-performance sanctuary for a modern, active family.
Architectural Harmony & The Great Room
The heart of this transformation was a large-scale addition designed to bridge the gap between old and new. Integrating complex existing conditions and challenging rooflines, we created a soaring new great room that brings the living, dining, and kitchen areas into one cohesive space perfectly suited for hosting large family gatherings.
While the original footprint was small, the new home now breathes with expansive views of the surrounding mountains, framed by high-efficiency triple-pane windows that remain comfortable to sit by even in the depths of a Vermont winter.
A Rich, Artistic Palette
The interior design leans into a style we call "Industrial Modern meets Mid-Century Vermont." Throughout the home, we utilized:
Fine Finish Plasters: Applied to walls and ceilings to create a shifting, artistic play of light and shadow throughout the day.
Dramatic Tones: A rich, moody color palette that provides depth and character against the bright, natural light.
Rustic Accents: Authentic post-and-beam elements that ground the modern aesthetic in Vermont’s architectural heritage.
The Ultimate Live/Work Sanctuary
For a family-run business, privacy and proximity are a delicate balance. We designed a dedicated home office, partitioned by a massive sliding barn door for quiet focus, and an attached, heated garage that allows work to happen just steps from the comforts of home. When the workday ends, the family can simply "shut the door and turn off the lights," retreating to a private world featuring first-floor bedrooms, a versatile guest/yoga loft, and a dedicated playroom for two active children.
A Study in High Performance
Beyond the aesthetics, this home is a model of energy efficiency and high-performance building science. We shifted the entire structure to be fully electric, ensuring a healthy, comfortable, and sustainable environment.
Thermal Excellence & Envelope
Air Tightness: Achieved an impressive ACH50 rating, creating a very tight, air-sealed thermal envelope.
Multi-Layered Insulation: A robust system featuring cavity insulation, breathable housewrap, and exterior Rock Wool insulation behind a rainscreen strapping system.
Durable Siding: Clad in fiber cement siding for a long-lasting, low-maintenance exterior.
Thermal Mass: A slab-on-grade foundation acts as a large thermal mass, naturally regulating heat and maintaining steady comfort year-round.
Energy & Systems
High-Efficiency Heating: A fully electric ducted, and ductless, heat pump system handles both heating and cooling, supported by a dedicated heat pump water heater.
Balanced Ventilation: Pairs of Lunos in-wall ventilators provide a constant HRV-balanced air supply for exceptional indoor air quality.
Advanced Glazing: Triple pane windows that exceed Vermont Energy Code requirements, further enhanced by cellular shades for optimal performance.
Smart Lighting: All LED fixtures throughout, integrated with wireless smart controls.
Sustainable Materials
Green-Certified: Low VOC paints and Green Certified flooring were used to protect indoor air quality.
Reclaimed History: Renewable and reclaimed interior finish materials add a sense of history and sustainability to the modern build. Rustic hand-hewn posts from a neighbor’s logging barn are scattered throughout the home.
Water Conservation: Low-flow showerheads and dual-flush wall mounted toilets minimize the home’s environmental footprint
Future-Proofing
Oriented toward the south, the site is ready for the next stage of its evolution. We installed an underground conduit and ensured the electrical pedestal and panel have dedicated space to accommodate a future solar installation on the flat roof.
A Living Legacy
Ultimately, this project is a masterclass in patient evolution. It proves that a "forever home" isn’t just found—it’s built, layer by layer, through thoughtful design and high-performance engineering. As the children grow and the Vermont seasons shift, this home stands ready to adapt, providing a bright, creative, and incredibly efficient backdrop for whatever the next decade brings. It is a testament to the idea that we don't have to choose between industrial grit and domestic warmth; with the right palette and a tight thermal envelope, you can truly have both.
Gallery
