Northshore Home magazine highlights the best in architectural design, new construction and renovations, interiors, and landscape design.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1142011
95 fieldstone foundation and rebuilt most of the exterior stone walls. Finish work was done by Premier Builders of Georgetown and Jenn's father, who owns a construc- tion company in New Jersey. East Woods Landscaping in Topsfield took care of the landscape. From the start of the cottage to the final touches on the 3,400-square- foot house, the work took six years. Jenn credits architect Thomas Peterman for his expertise and patience, though her strong aesthetic and knowledge about construction were also crucial. "She had a strong vision of what she wanted the end result to be," says Peterman. "That, coupled with excellent tastes in the selection of finishes and fixtures, made her very easy to work with." On the first floor, the kitchen, dining room, and living room are open to each other, while a mudroom, pantry, laundry, and powder room are appropriately tucked away. The team reframed each floor level, so the ceilings went from 6 feet 10 inches to 7 feet 4 inches, revealing the original beams in the process. "None of these beams were showing before," says Jenn, emphasizing just how low the ceilings were. Since the living spaces are always within sight of each other, special attention was given to not making it feel like you're always in the kitchen. "You see the fridge, sink, and range top," says Jenn, "but all the other appliances I tried to hide." A microwave drawer and dishwasher are built into the island, while double wall ovens are in the pantry, which creates a separate work zone that can be closed off when the couple hosts parties. Visually, the Lucite chairs at the island almost disappear, so that the kitchen's white cabinets and walls are only separated by gray Carrara marble countertops. Architect Thomas Peterman designed a skateboard barn for the family. Opposite Fun touches in the decor include a pool coffee table.