Exterior Ideas

Falu red wooden shingles bring the "outside in".

A coumarou deck at the back of the house provides John, Erik, and their dog, Ludwig, with a tranquil place to unwind. “We get an immense amount of enjoyment out of it,” Erik says.

The annex mimics the roofline, scale and proportions of the original house, but it offers more natural light with larger expanses of glass.

An upstairs window in the new master bedroom helps ventilate the house naturally and add natural light.

The Solit-Garreau residence's annex was designed as a separate contemporary wing that nevertheless seeks harmony with the original 1936 house.

In leafy northwest Washington, D.C., a two-story addition expands a 1936 home without overwhelming it.

Designed in a Scandinavian-Colonial style, Unity Homes’ Värm model features two floors with three to four bedrooms.

A Ledge House cross section shows how the home is naturally ventilated.

Ledge House site plan

At night, carefully orchestrated lighting illuminates the house like a lantern in nature.

On the valley side, the terrace steps down as a series of wide bleachers that double as casual seating for enjoying the scenery. The plan also sets the railings below the main floor, so that the interior offers unobstructed views of the landscape.

The expansive glazing allows the occupants to appreciate not just the views, but shifting light and shadow play throughout the day.

The region’s famous West Cornwall Covered Bridge is one of the many vernacular inspirations for the house’s pitched-roof form.

The exterior palette and form of the house complements the natural environment.