Northshore Home

36 SPRING 2017 inspire Howell Custom Building Group, 360 Merrimack St., Lawrence, 978- 989-9440, howellcustombuild.com Sacris Design, 20 Glenwood St., Amesbury, 978-388-5948, sacrisdesign.com area and sunroom and adding two sets of French glass sliding doors with transoms to replace the narrow door that led from the sunroom to the backyard. Continuing the flow of spaces, a deck now connects the kitchen and breakfast area with the pool. "It made this part of the house and yard much more accessi- ble," Sanborn says, and more intimate. In another big change, Sanborn suggested adding a wall between the family room and breakfast room. The Vernereys were hesitant at first she says. "People don't like to add walls, but spaces need to both function well for daily living and relate well architecturally." Howell and Sanborn worked together on how to enhance these newly connected spaces. Sanborn sug- gested wrapping the breakfast area and sunroom from floor to ceiling in custom horizontal shiplap paneling, painted in Benjamin Moore's "Revere Pewter" and add- ing rustic wood beams to the ceiling. The beams, from Jim Rogers Sawmill in Georgetown, are a mix of sal- vaged spruce and hemlock timbers, Howell says. "They had air-dried and developed surface 'checks' over the years in their original structure, so they are more di- mensionally stable than new green timber," he says. The saw marks on the re-sawn faces were left unsanded for texture and character; then the timbers were treated with a hand-rubbed gray stain. "Howell's team did an excellent job with the custom millwork and making this vision a reality," Sanborn says. The kitchen cabinetry was extended to the ceiling, and a new exhaust hood, counters, and gray/green subway tile were installed. The old flooring tile was replaced with an ash floor, stained dark. Anchoring the room is a furniture-style island topped with a counter stone that was the foundation for the serene color scheme. "Barbara and I integrated those colors into the grass- cloth in the family room and all the new furniture, rugs, and finishes throughout," says Sanborn. Today the Vernereys love being in their home, which easily transforms from a warm space for the two of them to plenty of room to accommodate visiting family, including their three children during holidays. "We have a lot of company," Barbara Vernerey says. Her husband is from France, so, as she says, "they can't come just for a weekend." Often in a renovated home, it's the little things that count. One of Barbara Vernerey's favorite features is a new laundry chute in the master bedroom closet that drops dirty laundry to the basement. It all adds up to a home to treasure. "It's so pleasing," she says of the house. "We love it." Jenn Sanborn, ASID, principal of Sacris Design in Amesbury (left). Right, the Vernereys home easily transforms from a warm space for two to plenty of room to accomodate family.

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