Bridge to Tranquility

Resources:

Bathroom plumbing fittings/fixtures: Ann Sacks, Barand, Concinnity, Delta, Elkay, Kohler, and Moen; Cabinets: Brighton Cabinetry and Empire Industries; Countertops: Dupont Corian and Nevamar; Dishwasher/range: Dacor; Elevator: Inclinator; Emergency generator: Kohler; Fireplace: Superior; Floor sheathing: Advantec; Garbage disposer: Kitchen Aid; Hardware: Ives, Omnia, and Von Morris; HVAC equipment: Weil-Mclain; Interior doors: TruStile; Structural lumber: LP.

The Builder: Maintenance Man

Winchester Construction’s Andrew Smith can count both personal and professional links to the home’s location, the summer community of Sherwood Forest. Company owner Bert Winchester lives there full time, and so do Smith’s in-laws. “I feel fortunate to have a connection to Sherwood,” he says. As one of Winchester’s five project managers, Smith oversees about three jobs at a time, many of which are custom vacation residences that require a bit of tending in the off season. “In essence, we become the clients’ maintenance person,” he says. “We’re always thinking, ‘What if we need to get at that some day?’” He and his colleagues build accordingly: At the Sherwood Forest residence, they constructed roll-down window screens with a tracking mechanism stored inside a piece of removable trim for easy access. Such complexities give Smith the chance to utilize his civil engineering degree from the University of New Hampshire. “I don’t necessarily use my engineering education every day, but what I accomplished through getting that degree was a problem-solving mentality,” he says. Sounds like he’s in the right business.

Details: Hidden Agenda

The house harbors more than a few secret spots behind its innocuous-looking façade. Its northwestern side, the most visible elevation from the road, appears to be an unbroken wall of siding, trim, and windows. But a chunk of it actually opens up to reveal a storage closet (see image gallery). A pantry and laundry room off the stairs inside is hidden, in similar fashion, behind an expanse of tongue-and-groove paneling. A plasma TV pops up out of a faux-painted cabinet, a pocketed baby gate slides out of a wall (see July/August 2006 CUSTOM HOME), and a Corian oven surround required by code is painted with a faux wood grain to match the Douglas fir trim beside it. “To impress the level of simplicity we were going for, the house doesn’t want to feel overdesigned,” explains Lococo. “There are a lot of hidden doors and light switches. We hid a lot of the HVAC, for example above the refrigerator and in the island. All that begins to establish a sense of calm.”

The home’s low roofline keeps the surrounding community’s water views intact. A wraparound front porch provides a place to chat with neighbors, while the decks on the rear of the building serve as more private outdoor rooms. Photo: Celia Pearson Horizontal tongue-and-groove interior paneling and a contrasting rafter tail-and-outlooker detail contribute to the project’s handcrafted feel. Photo: Celia Pearson Built-in cabinetry around the fireplace holds clutter to a minimum. Photo: Celia Pearson The house harbors more than a few secret spots behind its innocuous-looking façade. Its northwestern side, the most visible elevation from the road, appears to be an unbroken wall of siding, trim, and windows. But a chunk of it actually opens up to reveal a storage closet. Photo: Celia Pearson Bifold windows divide the kitchen from the screened-in porch, while glass upper cabinets act as a conduit for sunlight. Photo: Celia Pearson Delicate track lighting illuminates the rugged, timber-framed ceiling structure. Photo: John Dean