Connecticut Lakefront Home

by Tate + Burns Architects LLC

This lakefront house in Connecticut was built on the footprint of an old summer cottage. The new structure maintains much of the character of the original but with significant improvements: west-facing windows with dramatic views of the lake, three open porches for outdoor living, a stairway that wraps around the two-story brick fireplace, and energy-efficient mechanical systems. A subtle play of open and intimate spaces makes the house seem much larger than its 1900 square feet. The modest size allowed for the use of high-quality materials: cedar shingles, a granite-veneer foundation that complements the stone retaining walls on the site, porches made of durable Ipe wood harvested from sustainable forests, and Brazilian cherry floors with in-floor radiant heat. The interior is painted in soothing warm greens and grays, reflecting the colors of the stone and plant life outdoors. The design is environmentally sensitive: site drainage was engineered to minimize runoff into the lake, and construction was undertaken in such a manner as to preserve the existing mature laurels and pine trees.