The owners loved the character and charm of old houses but really wanted a good solid new construction, so it was really important to us to carefully blend the character and elements of an older home with a design and layout that better suited their needs. The design was driven by their desire for an open concept layout, with one space seamlessly flowing into the next. The large living room flows into the dining area, while the expansive kitchen sits adjacent and is delineated by a vintage transom window suspended between two columns. “We like to entertain friends and family a lot and we wanted a home that we knew could comfortably accommodate large groups" states the homeowner.

The home is filled with memorable design features, many of them “found”. The beams were hard to come by, as they needed to be long enough to span the entire length of the living room. The antique pine beams were eventually recovered from a dilapidated barn in Friendship, Maine; the crown molding was then scribed to meet the beams. Their texture, finish, and irregular character give the space a sort of old world charm, as if these beams have lived many lives before this home.

A unique attribute of the home is its outdoor kitchen and living space; the fireplace opens into both the family room inside the house, as well as into the screened-in porch. The design grew out of beloved features from the clients’ previous home, but reworked for better usability this time around. The second kitchen adds convenience, and allows for the family to spend more time outside. Furthermore, the fireplace, along with glass paneling to replace the screens, makes the porch space usable for the majority of the year.

Read + see more of Chestnut Way: https://www.knickerbockergroup.com/project-stories/chestnut-way/

Knickerbocker Group | ARCHITECT
Knickerbocker Group | BUILDER
Darren Setlow | PHOTOGRAPHER