Before and Afters
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Houzz Tour: Polished Rustic Redesign for a Mountain Home
A designer updates and expands a Vermont timber-frame home with family time in mind
In looking for a vacation home in Vermont’s Green Mountains, these parents wanted plenty of space for their three kids to hang out and relax and for their family to gather with friends and relatives. They were aware they’d probably need to renovate whatever they found, so they brought in designer Milford Cushman to assess a few houses they felt had potential. They landed on this timber-frame home with spectacular mountain views of the Worcester Range.
The home had room for expansion in a large space over the garage and in the unfinished lower level. In addition, Cushman bumped out the footprint in a few key places. Other design priorities included bringing more light into the house and creating better connections to the outdoors. The finished home has a polished rustic look and is the perfect place for making lifelong memories.
The home had room for expansion in a large space over the garage and in the unfinished lower level. In addition, Cushman bumped out the footprint in a few key places. Other design priorities included bringing more light into the house and creating better connections to the outdoors. The finished home has a polished rustic look and is the perfect place for making lifelong memories.
After: Cushman added to the garage connector and included a cross gable dormer, the second-story window seen here between the garage and the front porch. He also reworked the front entry. On the main level, he extended the porch, replacing its gabled roof with a shed roof. “Changing the porch roof made the house much more inviting and allowed for larger windows above it,” he says.
The original windows and doors in the home were 6 feet, 8 inches high. Cushman replaced them with 8-foot-high windows to let in more light and provide more expansive views. The primary suite is located on the right side of the main floor. The shed roof on the right is a new addition that houses the primary bathroom.
The original windows and doors in the home were 6 feet, 8 inches high. Cushman replaced them with 8-foot-high windows to let in more light and provide more expansive views. The primary suite is located on the right side of the main floor. The shed roof on the right is a new addition that houses the primary bathroom.
Before: The home had fantastic bones with its rustic timber-frame construction. But it was dark, and some elements had become dated.
These are the stairs to the top floor, located off the entry. Because the level below the first floor was unfinished, the stairs down to it were closed off by walls and a door, seen on the left side of this photo.
These are the stairs to the top floor, located off the entry. Because the level below the first floor was unfinished, the stairs down to it were closed off by walls and a door, seen on the left side of this photo.
After: Let’s pause a moment to get oriented. We’ve walked through the front door into the entry, which looks straight out through the living room windows, but we’ve angled our bodies about 45 degrees to the right. The primary suite is located past the bench seen here. The kitchen and dining spaces are on the left side of the house.
Cushman redesigned the staircase to give it a more modern feel. The risers are open, which lets light through. The black steel is modern, while the white oak on the treads and handrails lends warmth.
The living room fireplace, TV cabinet and steel firewood storage can be glimpsed at the left of the photo.
Browse ceiling lighting in the Houzz Shop
Cushman redesigned the staircase to give it a more modern feel. The risers are open, which lets light through. The black steel is modern, while the white oak on the treads and handrails lends warmth.
The living room fireplace, TV cabinet and steel firewood storage can be glimpsed at the left of the photo.
Browse ceiling lighting in the Houzz Shop
One of the most dramatic changes occurred in the living room, where the house now opens up to bigger views of the mountains. Cushman created a wall of windows that lets in the light. He replaced the home’s windows and glass doors with energy-efficient triple-pane windows that keep out the cold.
The home’s flooring was dark and had orange tones in it. Cushman replaced it with white oak to lighten things up. He also lightened up the ceilings and walls. The contractors pickled the existing boards, which washed out the redder tones in the wood. The new wall color is Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White.
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The home’s flooring was dark and had orange tones in it. Cushman replaced it with white oak to lighten things up. He also lightened up the ceilings and walls. The contractors pickled the existing boards, which washed out the redder tones in the wood. The new wall color is Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White.
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Before: The house had a fantastic wood-burning fireplace with a grand stone chimney. However, it needed some updates, including one that involved newer safety codes.
After: New fireplace codes required airtight glass doors. This set, as well as a set of fireplace screen doors inside, was fashioned by Brad Robertson of Ironart. “Brad is a specialty blacksmith who has worked with us on many projects and he is incredibly talented,” Cushman says. Having a network of expert craftspeople he trusted made the project extra special.
The designer also replaced the mantel and filled in the area beneath the hearth for a cleaner look.
The designer also replaced the mantel and filled in the area beneath the hearth for a cleaner look.
Another expert local craftsman, Todd Sirak of Sirak Woodworking + Design, made the coffee table and a cabinet that hides the TV on the right side of the fireplace (seen in the earlier staircase photo). Hiding the TV promotes conversation, and shelves of books encourage reading in this spectacular room.
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Find a local fireplace professional
Before: The existing kitchen was dark and had a large vent hood at its center. The connector to the garage was off the kitchen, seen at the back left of the photo. Cushman opened up some of the connector’s space and incorporated it into the kitchen’s design.
In completing the design, Cushman upcycled and recycled as much as possible to prevent waste. For example, the kitchen cabinets seen here are now being enjoyed in another home.
In completing the design, Cushman upcycled and recycled as much as possible to prevent waste. For example, the kitchen cabinets seen here are now being enjoyed in another home.
After: This photo was taken at a different angle, but it should make more sense as we explore the kitchen. Cushman created a two-island layout. “I find having two islands can be a great strategy when families like to cook together,” he says. The island on the left has a prep sink. The one on the right houses a gas range, induction range and wall oven. A 36-inch vent hood is mounted in the ceiling above the gas range (not visible in this photo). The white oak kitchen cabinets are Shaker-style.
The main sink sits underneath the windows and looks out to the forested side yard. It’s a large workstation sink with two faucets, and dishwashers flank either side of it. Three drawers beneath the sink are nice ergonomic alternatives to cabinet doors. The fridge, at the back left corner of the photo, is panel-front.
Cabinetry: Halsey Woodworking
The main sink sits underneath the windows and looks out to the forested side yard. It’s a large workstation sink with two faucets, and dishwashers flank either side of it. Three drawers beneath the sink are nice ergonomic alternatives to cabinet doors. The fridge, at the back left corner of the photo, is panel-front.
Cabinetry: Halsey Woodworking
Before: The connector to the garage is located off the angled wall of cabinets on the left. The area in the foreground on the left was a coat closet.
After: Cushman relocated the coat closet, which allowed him to open up this area and add a banquette. The house is all about gathering, so maximizing seating was important.
The garage connector includes a mudroom with laundry.
The garage connector includes a mudroom with laundry.
There had been a large structural post in the center of the kitchen that didn’t work with Cushman’s plans, so he removed it. This meant he had to find another way to hold up the house. He placed a steel structural beam over the islands, then boxed it in wood to make it look like part of the original timber frame.
This photo also shows the dining area in the right corner. Its placement gives it an eat-in kitchen feel, yet it also feels like a separate space during meals.
This photo also shows the dining area in the right corner. Its placement gives it an eat-in kitchen feel, yet it also feels like a separate space during meals.
Before: This is more of an in-process photo than a “before” photo. The important thing to note is that the exterior wall at the back of the space was flush with the exterior kitchen wall to its left.
After: Cushman pushed the dining room footprint back 12 feet to make it feel special and separate from the kitchen. He custom-designed the table and Sirak crafted it. The top is composed of two slabs of live-edge ash. Cushman had the edges charred to match the black iron trestle base.
He also added a sleek cylindrical wood stove in the corner. “It is very energy-efficient and EPA-certified,” Cushman says. “There’s a magic to adding fire in a corner of a house on a cold winter’s day. I think of fireplaces as having an archetypal energy that pulls us in.”
Wood stove: Bari by Hase, HearthStone
He also added a sleek cylindrical wood stove in the corner. “It is very energy-efficient and EPA-certified,” Cushman says. “There’s a magic to adding fire in a corner of a house on a cold winter’s day. I think of fireplaces as having an archetypal energy that pulls us in.”
Wood stove: Bari by Hase, HearthStone
This photo shows how the kitchen connects to the rest of the home. The living room is to the left and the front door is to the right. The pendant lights emphasize a path from the front door straight back to the living room. All the lighting in the house is LED.
Before: The primary bedroom had 6-foot-8-inch windows and doors. The doors led to a balcony.
After: Cushman replaced the windows and doors with four 8-foot-high windows. He removed the balcony as part of the renovation. The homeowners weren’t interested in it and they had plenty of outdoor spaces planned for the landscape phase of construction.
Cushman clad the headboard wall in Eastern white pine with double nickel-gap spacing. This adds a cozy, polished rustic touch to the room.
Cushman clad the headboard wall in Eastern white pine with double nickel-gap spacing. This adds a cozy, polished rustic touch to the room.
The primary bathroom occupies the small addition on the right side of the house. “Their existing primary bathroom was much too small,” Cushman says. The room includes a custom double vanity and a double shower with a rain shower head in the center.
Finishing the lower level was a key part of the project. Because the house is on a slope, the lower level opens to the backyard. “The homeowners wanted lots of spaces where the kids could hang out and relax,” Cushman says. They also wanted a space for overnight guests that would give them some privacy. There’s a bedroom with an en suite bathroom down here. This area is perfect for games and TV, with a gas fireplace Cushman housed in a recess within the existing cinder block support for the living room chimney above it.
The lower level also includes an exercise room, a second laundry room and a second full bathroom, which has a steam shower and a sauna. An in-ground spa is just outside.
The lower level also includes an exercise room, a second laundry room and a second full bathroom, which has a steam shower and a sauna. An in-ground spa is just outside.
Before: This lofted area is at the top of the main stairs. The arched window was above the front door.
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Check out our beginner’s guide to get started on your home project
After: Cushman replaced the arched window with multiple windows, including three in the center that are 8 feet high. He also added uplights that illuminate the pickled ceiling boards, creating a cozy glow. Removing the sheetrock half wall along the staircase made the room feel more open.
The iron ring chandelier is similar to the one in the living room, providing cohesion between the levels.
The iron ring chandelier is similar to the one in the living room, providing cohesion between the levels.
Just off the sitting room is the new connector to the space over the garage. This is the domain of the homeowners’ two sons, and these doors lead to their bedrooms. Their sister’s room is on the other side of this level. Each of these bedrooms has an en suite bathroom.
Cushman clad the walls in Eastern white pine wainscoting to add interest and coziness. He also clad the headboard walls in the wood, just like he did in the primary bedroom.
The house allows the family to spend lots of quality time together, and it also gives them more opportunities to gather with extended family and friends. They intend to enjoy it for many years to come.
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Cushman clad the walls in Eastern white pine wainscoting to add interest and coziness. He also clad the headboard walls in the wood, just like he did in the primary bedroom.
The house allows the family to spend lots of quality time together, and it also gives them more opportunities to gather with extended family and friends. They intend to enjoy it for many years to come.
More on Houzz
Tour more homes
Find a local general contractor
Shop for your home
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: This is the vacation home for a family of five
Location: Warren, Vermont
Size: Five bedrooms, 6½ bathrooms
Designers: Milford Cushman and Terri Gregory of Cushman Design Group
Contractor: Moore Design Builders
Before: In this photo, the garage is on the left. One of the goals was to make the most of the space above it and provide a connection to it from the top level of the home.
In addition to making the home lighter, brighter and more open to the outdoors, other goals revolved around family. The homeowners wanted lots of spaces for their kids to spread out and relax. They also wanted every bedroom to have an en suite bathroom. This would allow the house to serve as a comfortable gathering spot for everyone.
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