Not your average basement bar, this renovation includes a custom made, hand carved, curved, Mahogany bar by Ober Woodworking. Aged oak flooring and timbers, leaded glass windows, antique mirror and rough plaster walls complete the English pub look. The in-home bar complete with ice maker, beverage refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave and keg refrigerator serves as a gathering place for a large family. The carved keg pull is a replica of Cody the bison for whom the bar is named.
Vernacular forms and a combination of clapboard and board and batten siding create a whimsical exterior for this 1,600 square, foot two-bedroom home. Perched on a small outcropping of ledge this house serves as a vacation home for a geologist and his partner. A screen porch and stone patio overlook the ledge. Free-standing fieldstone walls anchor the house to the site. The interior features an open kitchen, living and dining room with a master suite on one end and a guest bedroom and bath on the other.
This project is recently completed.
Renovations to the Willmarth Farm include updating the master bedroom, kitchen, family room and four baths in the existing farmhouse, stabilization of an enormous, historic, timber-framed, dairy barn and renovation of an existing carriage barn into guest quarters. Architectural interventions comprised of clean, modern lines complement the existing historic fabric. Living spaces in the farmhouse and guest house take advantage of panoramic west facing views of the Adirondacks. Extensive landscaping, including a new pool, ties the farmhouse and barns together.
“Joan’s work speaks for itself. We were initially attracted to Joan’s clean, simple design style and the organic materials of her work. Working with Joan, confirmed her talent for translating farm vernacular into contemporary design. In an easy, efficient work process, Joan was able to translate our ideas for our 1788 Vermont farmhouse and work with the contractor to transform them into a beautiful, comfortable home. She and the contractor worked patiently with us to stay within our budget and time frame. Joan also recommended just the right landscape architect to create an overall outdoor plan connecting the farmhouse to the carriage barn, which Joan repurposed into a 2,000 square foot guesthouse. A lap pool and landscape improved the approach to the main house and provided a number of outdoor spaces to take advantage of our panoramic view of the Champlain Valley and the Adirondack Mountains.”
– Lisa and Bob
The challenge in this project was to transform an existing 100 year old hay barn into a modern three bedroom home. The design incorporates both old and new – the antique timber frame contrasts with contemporary steel stairs and railings while new energy efficient windows sit next to salvaged barn doors. The west facing barn takes advantage of spectacular Adirondack views; a large steel balcony allows occupants to sit outdoors on the second level.
Located in Middlebury Vermont, the renovated barn sits on a new foundation. The sloping site gives access on two levels with a two car garage on the lower lever and a front door on the main level where the hay wagons once entered.
Read about the barn in Design New England magazine.
Sited on the shore of Lake George, this exquisitely crafted, four-bedroom, lake home incorporates large spaces where groups can gather as well as intimate spaces for relaxation.
Details of shingles and stone, typical of Adirondack architecture, tie the house to its site and the region. The granite fireplace is a central feature of the open first-floor plan; the same stone is repeated in the chimney, at the foundation, and in the landscape.
The scope of work for this lakefront home encompasses the design of extensive built-ins and cabinetry, the selection of interior and exterior finishes and fixtures, and the detailing of custom pieces including a steel range hood, a soapstone sink, stair and deck railings and a unique light fixture made of canoe paddles.
“Joan Heaton managed all of the interior and exterior design including landscaping, working closely with the contractor. She has wonderful expertise, design aesthetic and attention to detail. She has very high standards and is scrupulously professional. She is a great communicator and is easy to work with. She is a superstar. She produced superb results.”
– Janine
The traditional Vermont forms of farmhouse, barn, and silo are reinterpreted for today’s living in this project. This home is oriented to take advantage of sweeping views of the Green Mountains. Timber trusses create a large open living space that contains the kitchen, dining and living areas. The master suite is on the same level as these rooms. The attached three-car garage is detailed to look like a barn. A circular stair within the silo reaches guest quarters above the garage.
The exterior finish is durable, low maintenance, cement siding. Interior finishes of wood, bluestone, and plaster are warm and welcoming. Light filled spaces provide a backdrop for country life. This super-insulated, energy-efficient home utilizes geothermal heating and cooling and solar photovoltaics to meet its energy needs.
Built on a remote site in South Lincoln, Vermont, the cabin is accessed by a long pedestrian bridge across the New Haven River and a footpath. Every board that went into the cabin was carried over the river and up the hill. With a footprint of just over 600 square feet, the small cabin of sustainable design makes efficient use of resources and building materials. Trees that were cleared form the site are used in the round log timber-framed porch. The exterior siding and shutters are made of local rough sawn pine. The interior of the cabin is finished in wood and features locally milled pine and hemlock. The flooring, spiral stairs and claw foot tub are salvaged.
Read about the cabin in Cabin Life magazine.
“Joan helped us turn our very rough plans for a rustic cabin into reality. From site planning to final details Joan was instrumental in making our dream cabin come alive. There are many difficult obstacles that come up when building in a remote setting (I did not want any “roads” near or leading to the cabin) and Joan, along with the Silver Maple team tackled each obstacle with great skill and dedication. It is not often you find someone that has such amazing attention to detail while being able to focus on the master plan, Joan has this skill. That is why we have recently asked Joan to come on board again to help us with a kitchen and bath remodel in our city home.”
– Eric
This four-bedroom home of new construction is nestled into a west-facing slope on East Hill in Keene, New York. The sloping site allows for access to the outdoors from the lower level.
Rustic details of cedar shingle siding, exposed rafter tails and a stone chimney reflect the character of the surrounding architecture in the Adirondack region.
Abundant windows in the family room, dining room, and master bedroom take advantage of light and views. On the main floor, living spaces are contained in one volume and the master suite is contained in an adjacent volume. The stair connects the two volumes and also serves to separate public and private spaces. Bedrooms for children and guests are located on the lower level. The family room features a large stone fireplace and timbered ceilings.
This project is permitted by the Adirondack Park Association and in the design phase.
Nestled in a hillside in the Green Mountains, this new construction in Starksboro, Vermont, is a thoughtfully designed blending of old and new. The time-honored timber frame style and traditional detailing are integrated with sustainable design and modern green building practices.
This hillside home incorporates salvaged and local materials. Textured plaster walls, antique oak floors and local hemlock timbers are complimented by colorful, custom cabinets and doors, distinctive salvaged light fixtures and antique bath fittings and hardware. An artfully composed fireplace of local stone is a prominent feature.
At the edge of a meadow overlooking the Green Mountains, this small cabin’s simple forms combine with rustic elements to create distinctive guest quarters which include a bedroom, living space, kitchenette, bath and loft. The cabin, designed specifically for the client’s use, serves not only as a retreat but also as a pottery studio. This multi purpose use makes for an efficient use of space and a small footprint. Green building practices, local materials and sophisticated detailing are integrated in this energy efficient retreat. A plaster finish adorns the super insulated walls while salvaged pine boards conceal radiant heat in the floors. Railings crafted of beech trees and twigs by a local artisan add interest both inside and out.
The House in the Trees is sited on a steep slope to take advantage of views to the west. Although access is at grade, the house is up in the air among the treetops. The structure is supported on large white Cedar logs. Rough sawn cedar siding, the rusty metal roof and timber frame details throughout contribute to the rustic look.
“Joan was the architect for our beautiful ‘Stowe Vermont Home’. So when our two young boys began talking about a tree house we immediately thought of her. We wanted Joan to bring to life the boys’ sketches and dreams. We also wanted to create a structure that would compliment our house and be in keeping with our landscape. My family truly enjoyed working with Joan and she was delightfully patient as my boys tried to convey all their chaotic thoughts and ideas. The design process was thorough yet fun. We took a very keen interest in every step of the process and Joan was always full of imagination and inspiration. ‘House in the Trees’ was the unique result of Joan’s vision and painstaking attention to detail. We absolutely love the addition to our property and our boys use it year-round. We look forward to working with Joan again on future projects.”
– Leo Murray
The goal in this historic preservation project was to retain the character of this prominently sited 1865 Vermont schoolhouse while at the same time adapting the building to meet current building codes and modern comfort levels.
Renovated to the Department of Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation, the converted schoolhouse now serves as a two-family home with each unit occupying an entire floor. Original exterior features such as the bell tower and elaborate trim and interior finishes including wood floors and plaster walls were rehabilitated. The addition of cellulose insulation, radiant heat and storm windows ensured that the schoolhouse would meet the requirements of modern living. This project was featured in the April, 1999 issue of Vermont Magazine.
Timber frame structures have been built in Vermont for hundreds of years. The exposed timbers, intricate joinery create lofty spaces with a strong aesthetic.
This timber frame barn in Starksboro is inspired by Vermont vernacular farm structures and contains multiple functions. In the dance studio, timbers and pine boards create a warm and inviting atmosphere, while adding detail to the lofty space. The horse barn is more rustic; rough-sawn timbers form horse stalls below and a hay loft above. This timber frame also answers the challenges of green building and sustainable design with local materials (Vermont hemlock timbers) and local craftsmanship (the timbers were supplied and erected by a local Vermont timber framer.
The Adirondack barn is located on an historic estate in Elizabethtown, New York. The barn is sited to relate to its immediate surroundings, which include an historic cottage and formal sunken garden, a newly planted apple orchard, and vegetable garden and also to take advantage of dramatic westerly views of the Adirondack mountains. On the lower level, the barn houses garden equipment, including a tractor, a collection of canoes and Adirondack guide boats and a rainy day play space with a ping-pong table. The upper floor contains guest quarters with two bedrooms, two baths a sitting area and kitchenette. Building materials of stone, shingles, and timber tie the barn to the landscape and nearby cottage.
“Joan Heaton has been the most fabulous individual to work with! From the moment we started conversations with her, we could tell that she understood our somewhat quirky desires to go with recycled and old elements and styles. She created an addition to a 1920s building that is just seamless and even made adjustments along the way that improved the building and the addition even more. She has been more that just a one-time architect in that she also has helped us with long-term planning for our vacation property in terms of needs for buildings. She helped us find the perfect location and design for a second structure that provides boat storage and exquisite guest space above. Joan is so good at listening to the client and working on solutions that make sense for everyone – she often was the bridge between our very practical builder and our fanciful ideas. It is also important to note that much of our conversations with her were over the phone or by email and she visited the projects while under construction many times more than we did. We could trust her completely to oversee the projects. We fully intend to keep creating projects for her over the next several years!”
– Vanessa and Ned