Kanso home A Balanced Retreat for the Quietly Powerful In the heart of bustling Wadala, amidst the towering silhouettes of Mumbai’s skyline, lies a home that whispers rather than shouts—one that celebrates calm over clutter and intention overindulgence. Designed under the concept “Stillness in Structure,” this residence for the wonderful couple and their beautiful daughter, at Dosti Eastern Bay stands as a meditative retreat—an ode to balance, warmth, and quiet sophistication. The central design narrative revolves around creating a sanctuary that embodies restraint and timeless grace. Every surface, curve, and finish has been curated to exude composure. The palette—woven from taupes, soft greys, dusty beiges, and stone whites—becomes the visual language of serenity. Lighting plays a quiet yet profound role—concealed within coves or diffused through sheer drapes—casting a soft glow that mirrors the homeowners’ gentle temperament. The overall effect is of a space that breathes, inviting introspection and ease. The Living Core: Connection and Continuity The living and dining areas are designed as fluid extensions of one another, encouraging conversation and connection. With earthy finishes, clean silhouettes, and subtle textural layering, the rooms flow seamlessly into a balcony that becomes a serene escape. Soft furnishings transform the space into an urban oasis—a moment of stillness above the city’s rhythm. The dining corner, defined by warm tones and minimalist lighting, balances functionality with grace. Custom cabinetry with clean lines anchors the space, offering both utility and sculptural beauty. The Private Realms The master bedroom continues the home’s philosophy of quiet luxury. With muted undertones, warm timber, and linen textures, it exudes a sense of grounded comfort. A tailored study nook and soft lighting create an atmosphere conducive to focus and rest in equal measure. The daughter’s room, in contrast, introduces a tender narrative—pastel hues of blush, sage, and mauve meet whimsical elements. It balances playfulness and calm, ensuring the design grows gracefully with its young occupant. Meanwhile, the guest bedroom embodies understated hospitality—tones of beige and olive layered with soft fabrics and tactile finishes. It maintains harmony with the home’s larger aesthetic, while introducing subtle individuality through its bespoke furniture details. Crafted Details and Quiet Precision Every element—from custom joinery and door designs to the utility layout and curtain treatments—reflects an unwavering attention to proportion and texture. Rounded corners, soft lighting coves, and flush detailing enhance spatial fluidity. Even the kitchen area is designed with the same philosophy—functional minimalism executed with warmth and precision An Ode to Intentional Living “Stillness in Structure” transcends mere visual beauty—it’s a state of being. The home tells the story of two individuals who find strength in subtlety and meaning in moderation. It’s a space that nurtures the rhythm of everyday life while offering a meditative counterpoint to the world outside.

Set in the center of the room rather than against a wall, this double sided fireplace surround was fabricated in Antique steel patina for a mountain contemporary great room in Castle Pines, Colorado. Built for RLK Management, the piece lets the fire read from every seat in the room while the steel's depth plays against a full wall of windows facing the trees beyond. Raw Urth Designs handcrafts every fireplace surround, range hood, and specialty metal piece in its Fort Collins studio, one client at a time. Photography by Susie Brenner. Curious what a custom surround like this would look like in your own great room?

When the homeowners purchased this house, it had good bones — but needed a vision. Ready for a new chapter, they wanted their dining room transformed into a proper gathering space: formal enough for holidays, warm enough to linger. The direction was sophisticated, earthy, and organic with a slightly masculine edge, inspired by the wife's New England roots. We kept the architecture and gutted the built-ins, rebuilding with purpose — custom millwork featuring reeded cabinet faces, a mirrored backsplash, dark wood tones, an arched detail, and an exotic stone top strike a balance between feminine and masculine. A hidden pantry door disappears flush into the wall, and wainscoting was added to ground the space. Floor-to-ceiling window treatments fill the wall for balance, with the curtain track tucked inside the bay window for a clean, floating effect. An iconic mural-style print from Rebel Walls anchors the room as a large-scale work of art — a subtle wash of earthy tones that doubles as a focal point. Every outlet and switch was swapped for aged brass, tying every detail together into a room that feels like it was always there.

This condominium is modern and sleek, while still retaining much of its traditional charm. We added paneling to the walls, archway, door frames, and around the fireplace for a special and unique look throughout the home. To create the entry with convenient built-in shoe storage and bench, we cut an alcove an existing to hallway. The deep-silled windows in the kitchen provided the perfect place for an eating area, which we outfitted with shelving for additional storage. Form, function, and design united in the beautiful black and white kitchen. It is a cook’s dream with ample storage and counter space. The bathrooms play with gray and white in different materials and textures to create timeless looks. The living room’s built-in shelves and reading nook in the bedroom add detail and storage to the home. The pops of color and eye-catching light fixtures make this condo joyful and fun. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images Design Credit: Staci Levy Designs

Foodies, we see you—we are you. We also dream of perfect recipes, browse must-have gadgets, and fantasize over the idea of making the ideal crème brûlée topped cheesecake. Why not craft the ultimate kitchen for your culinary adventures? At Artisan Build Construct, we create kitchen remodels where culinary dreams come true. Think gorgeous counter space for your sourdough to rest, a stovetop ready for your Le Creuset, and custom cabinets for every gadget (yes, a potato ricer is essential). *For this project, we built a custom office alcove for serious foodies—perfect for researching cookbooks, planning menus, and curating Michelin-Star-level shopping lists. Because every chef deserves a command center. Crafted with care by true artisans—who may or may not bring panini makers to job sites. Let’s make your kitchen the star of the show! #ArtisanBuildConstruct #ChefLife #KitchenGoals #RemodelMagic Please schedule a time via email or give us a call: info@artisanbuildconstruct.com Phone: (615)988-1769

Every design decision for this Caribbean beach residence was guided by the desire to maximize the views of the property’s breathtaking natural surroundings. To connect the spaces and reveal the views from every vantage point, the team reconfigured the layout to create vistas, and installed window film to reduce solar heat gain. These modifications increased efficiencies, reused 90% of the interior envelope and did not impact the exterior structure of the building. In addition to providing incredible views, opening up the plan allows cross ventilation, maximizing the use of ocean breezes to cool the interior. The result is an effortless flow and maximization of space. Throughout the interior, dark materials express the concept of respite in the shade, and emphasize the sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea. Millwork crafted by local artisans from local materials establishes hierarchy – providing a clear understanding of the layout – and filters light to create privacy and drama. Screens help define the spaces and create suspense. Varying screen opacities serve specific functions: nearly opaque screens build suspense, translucent screens provide privacy, and reflective screens – as seen in the kitchen ceiling – create mystery in the core where light and views are challenged. Referencing the seaside location, the baseboards create a sense of being in a deep shallow. The 16” tall baseboards create a pool effect, engaging the walls with Cradle to Cradle certified Mosa tile flooring. The irregular height also conceals power and data cabling. The resulting space is a contemporary oasis that offers a high-level of comfort and functionality. Anne Rausch Photography

Every design decision for this Caribbean beach residence was guided by the desire to maximize the views of the property’s breathtaking natural surroundings. To connect the spaces and reveal the views from every vantage point, the team reconfigured the layout to create vistas, and installed window film to reduce solar heat gain. These modifications increased efficiencies, reused 90% of the interior envelope and did not impact the exterior structure of the building. In addition to providing incredible views, opening up the plan allows cross ventilation, maximizing the use of ocean breezes to cool the interior. The result is an effortless flow and maximization of space. Throughout the interior, dark materials express the concept of respite in the shade, and emphasize the sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea. Millwork crafted by local artisans from local materials establishes hierarchy – providing a clear understanding of the layout – and filters light to create privacy and drama. Screens help define the spaces and create suspense. Varying screen opacities serve specific functions: nearly opaque screens build suspense, translucent screens provide privacy, and reflective screens – as seen in the kitchen ceiling – create mystery in the core where light and views are challenged. Referencing the seaside location, the baseboards create a sense of being in a deep shallow. The 16” tall baseboards create a pool effect, engaging the walls with Cradle to Cradle certified Mosa tile flooring. The irregular height also conceals power and data cabling. The resulting space is a contemporary oasis that offers a high-level of comfort and functionality. Anne Rausch Photography

Step into an opulent retreat where softness meets sophistication in every detail. This meticulously designed bedroom by Morrone Interiors envelops you in plush tranquility, blending moody romance with elevated comfort. Walls draped in rose velvet create a cocooning effect, instantly transforming the space into a serene hideaway. The oversized upholstered headboard, paired with tonal mauve bedding and layered throw pillows, radiates warmth and understated glamour. A textured cream throw with whimsical tassels adds a handcrafted touch, softening the structured symmetry of the bed. To the side, a sculptural marble-top nightstand anchors the space with rich contrast, adorned with personal photos and golden accents. Ambient lighting from delicate pendant globes provides a warm glow, perfectly complementing the dramatic chandelier of glass bubbles overhead—a contemporary twist on classic elegance. The rich palette is balanced by the organic luxury of a green marble coffee table and a pale woven rug underfoot, grounding the space in earth-toned sophistication. At the foot of the bed, a modern easel-mounted screen doubles as art, while a sleek linear fireplace wrapped in stone introduces a cozy, modern edge. From texture to tone, every element in this space is designed to cocoon, inspire, and calm. It’s more than a bedroom—it’s a bespoke sanctuary tailored for luxurious rest and quiet contemplation.

This charming home sits on a 500-acre horse farm in Lexington, KY, providing a peaceful retreat for a family of four and their two dogs. The homeowner not only lives here but also manages the property on behalf of the horse farm owner’s. The farm owner wanted to ensure that the family had a comfortable, welcoming space to unwind after a day’s hard work. To bring this vision to life, we collaborated with Ayers Custom Homes to design an abode full of thoughtful, beautiful details. Every aspect, from the custom floors to the ceiling details, was carefully planned. We handpicked every feature in this home, resulting in a space filled with intricate, custom touches that make it stand out. The goal was to create a home that feels cozy, comfortable, and ready to be lived in from day one. The more time you spend here, the more you’ll notice the fine details—like the stone arches, coffered ceilings in the living room, detailed trim work, hickory floors, wood beams, and more. This home was crafted with love and precision, ensuring it’s a perfect fit for this wonderful family.

This charming home sits on a 500-acre horse farm in Lexington, KY, providing a peaceful retreat for a family of four and their two dogs. The homeowner not only lives here but also manages the property on behalf of the horse farm owner’s. The farm owner wanted to ensure that the family had a comfortable, welcoming space to unwind after a day’s hard work. To bring this vision to life, we collaborated with Ayers Custom Homes to design an abode full of thoughtful, beautiful details. Every aspect, from the custom floors to the ceiling details, was carefully planned. We handpicked every feature in this home, resulting in a space filled with intricate, custom touches that make it stand out. The goal was to create a home that feels cozy, comfortable, and ready to be lived in from day one. The more time you spend here, the more you’ll notice the fine details—like the stone arches, coffered ceilings in the living room, detailed trim work, hickory floors, wood beams, and more. This home was crafted with love and precision, ensuring it’s a perfect fit for this wonderful family.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR INTERIOR GLASS DOOR! Interior glass doors ship for just $99 to most states, $159 to some East coast regions, custom packed and fully insured with a 1-4 day transit time. Available any size, as interior door glass insert only or pre-installed in an interior door frame, with 8 wood types available. ETA will vary 3-8 weeks depending on glass & door type.........Block the view, but brighten the look with a beautiful interior glass door featuring a custom frosted glass design by Sans Soucie! Select from dozens of sandblast etched obscure glass designs! Sans Soucie creates their interior glass door designs thru sandblasting the glass in different ways which create not only different levels of privacy, but different levels in price. Bathroom doors, laundry room doors and glass pantry doors with frosted glass designs by Sans Soucie become the conversation piece of any room. Choose from the highest quality and largest selection of frosted decorative glass interior doors available anywhere! The "same design, done different" - with no limit to design, there's something for every decor, regardless of style. Inside our fun, easy to use online Glass and Door Designer at sanssoucie.com, you'll get instant pricing on everything as YOU customize your door and the glass, just the way YOU want it, to compliment and coordinate with your decor. When you're all finished designing, you can place your order right there online! Glass and doors ship worldwide, custom packed in-house, fully insured via UPS Freight. Glass is sandblast frosted or etched and bathroom door designs are available in 3 effects: Solid frost, 2D surface etched or 3D carved. Visit our site to learn more!

The client had a finished basement space that was not functioning for the entire family. He spent a lot of time in his gym, which was not large enough to accommodate all his equipment and did not offer adequate space for aerobic activities. To appeal to the client's entertaining habits, a bar, gaming area, and proper theater screen needed to be added. There were some ceiling and lolly column restraints that would play a significant role in the layout of our new design, but the Gramophone Team was able to create a space in which every detail appeared to be there from the beginning. Rustic wood columns and rafters, weathered brick, and an exposed metal support beam all add to this design effect becoming real. Maryland Photography Inc.

We renovated the exterior and the 4-car garage of this colonial, New England-style estate in Haverford, PA. The 3-story main house has white, western red cedar siding and a green roof. The detached, 4-car garage also functions as a gentleman’s workshop. Originally, that building was two separate structures. The challenge was to create one building with a cohesive look that fit with the main house’s New England style. Challenge accepted! We started by building a breezeway to connect the two structures. The new building’s exterior mimics that of the main house’s siding, stone and roof, and has copper downspouts and gutters. The stone exterior has a German shmear finish to make the stone look as old as the stone on the house. The workshop portion features mahogany, carriage style doors. The workshop floors are reclaimed Belgian block brick. RUDLOFF Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016 and 2017. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017 and 2018, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. RUDLOFF CUSTOM BUILDERS will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with RUDLOFF CUSTOM BUILDERS from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: JMB Photoworks

The attic space was transformed from a cold storage area of 700 SF to usable space with closed mechanical room and 'stage' area for kids. Structural collar ties were wrapped and stained to match the rustic hand-scraped hardwood floors. LED uplighting on beams adds great daylight effects. Short hallways lead to the dormer windows, required to meet the daylight code for the space. An additional steel metal 'hatch' ships ladder in the floor as a second code-required egress is a fun alternate exit for the kids, dropping into a closet below. The main staircase entrance is concealed with a secret bookcase door. The door hardware is a concealed pivoting hinge that can withstand 700 pounds, and opens weightlessly. One Room at a Time, Inc.

This step-down family room features a coffered ceiling and a fireplace with a black slate hearth. We made the fireplace’s surround and mantle to match the raised paneled doors on the built-in storage cabinets on the right. For a unified look and to create a subtle focal point, we added moulding to the rest of the wall and above the fireplace. Sleek and contemporary, this beautiful home is located in Villanova, PA. Blue, white and gold are the palette of this transitional design. With custom touches and an emphasis on flow and an open floor plan, the renovation included the kitchen, family room, butler’s pantry, mudroom, two powder rooms and floors. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017 and 2019. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

This light and airy kitchen is the definition of elegance. It has white shaker cabinets with satin gold pulls topped with white quartz counters. The matching white quartz backsplash provides a clean look. The center piece of the room is the large island! With seating for four, the deep blue island is loaded with storage and has a drawer microwave. For a special touch on the white quartz counter, we used an extra thick quartz slab. The striking gold pendants are from Ferguson Lighting. Sleek and contemporary, this beautiful home is located in Villanova, PA. Blue, white and gold are the palette of this transitional design. With custom touches and an emphasis on flow and an open floor plan, the renovation included the kitchen, family room, butler’s pantry, mudroom, two powder rooms and floors. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017 and 2019. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images

Charles Hilton Architects & Renee Byers LAPC From grand estates, to exquisite country homes, to whole house renovations, the quality and attention to detail of a "Significant Homes" custom home is immediately apparent. Full time on-site supervision, a dedicated office staff and hand picked professional craftsmen are the team that take you from groundbreaking to occupancy. Every "Significant Homes" project represents 45 years of luxury homebuilding experience, and a commitment to quality widely recognized by architects, the press and, most of all....thoroughly satisfied homeowners. Our projects have been published in Architectural Digest 6 times along with many other publications and books. Though the lion share of our work has been in Fairfield and Westchester counties, we have built homes in Palm Beach, Aspen, Maine, Nantucket and Long Island.

The Meryton Table is inspired by French country kitchens of the past. The table features a sturdy planked top and turned legs. Tabletop is available in our classic Espresso or Distressed White finish. Optional hammered steel corner brackets in Black or Copper can be added. Light assembly required (comes assembled for local pickup). All of our tables are handcrafted from solid wood in our woodworking shop in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Our furniture is finished with a multi-step process of distressing and hand-applying varnish to give each piece the look of a cherished antique. Each of our works showcase the natural characteristics of wood, including variations in color, mineral streaks, knots and burls. In addition, our finishing process highlights the organic texture of wood with its pores, ridges, slits and grooves; each piece is a tactile work of art that is truly meant to be appreciated by touch. Every decorative bracket is made from steel, hand-cut and meticulously hammered to create a one-of-a-kind rustic accent for our wood furniture. Available for local pickup or shipment within 5-7 business days. DIMENSIONS: Overall: 72" long x 36" wide x 30" high Tabletop: 1.5" thick Apron: 3.5" high Weight: 132 pounds CARE AND MAINTENANCE: Dust with a soft, dry lint-free cloth. Soak up any water immediately with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid the use of harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners. Photo Credit: Michael Blevins

Richard Herman is in the hospitality business and owns several upscale hotels in Florida and in other states as well as cattle ranches in both Florida and Missouri. Their farm in Ocala is by farm their most unique. The property serves as a 4-H demonstration project for the purpose of children’s education. They have been working with the Academy Prep of St. Pete which is dedicated to inner-city youths that are selected on the basis of need and achievement. Wife Diane spends her time on the farm raising Gypsy Vanners, a diminutive draft horse named after the job they did in Eastern Europe, pulling the wagons (vans) for gypsies that wandered across the continent. On the Ocala farm, there are several mules with a unique profession. Richard had visited the Hearthstone display at a Log & Timber Home Shows at the Orlando Convention Center many years ago. He was impressed that Hearthstone had stayed in touch with him over the years by mailings, invitations to shows, and periodic phone calls. When the time came to start serious consideration of the design of barn, Hearthstone responded promptly and professionally to Richard and Diane’s requests for information and a review of their ideas for their barn, which would serve as the centerpiece for their new farm. They wanted a multipurpose facility that could accommodate an educational environment and a large hall suitable for the fundraising events for his charities. Richard wanted a barn that reflected the look and feel of barns built at the dawn of the 20th century. Besides the rustic chicken houses and vegetable gardens, they have completely renovated a 1020’s era farmhouse to be as historically correct as possible and serves as the entry to the farm. “They very careful to feel us out, get comfortable with our capabilities, and be convinced that we could perform as promised,” said Project Manager John Ricketson of Hearthstone. Design Process There were some initial drawings that gave us a start on the basic shape and size of the barn. From there, it was a process of narrowing down the uses of each area and the spans that could be achieved. The barn was going to have the traditional “board & batten” exterior siding and a metal roof. There is a cantilevered ‘hay hood” on the north gable end above the large sliding barn doors that open into the foyer and horse stalls. The wings house a combination of areas, beginning with the large restrooms to accommodate crowds for events. Other parts of the wings have garage areas for the farm vehicles, feed room, tack room, wash rack, storage, offices, and smaller restrooms. Keeping with the look and feel of the turn of the century, Hearthstone developed a process for giving the timbers a surface texture that mimicked the circular cuts of timbers that had just come out of an old sawmill. This was easier said than done. Randy Giles guided his millwright (Wolfgang) in designing a machine that would do this effectively. The barn was delivered in October of 2014 and was erected over the course of two weeks, thanks to a hardworking crew (Eric Foster) and near-perfect weather. After the Hearthstone crew completed the erection and roof dry-in, it was time for the local carpenters to step up and install some light conventional framing on the gable ends before applying the roof fascia and exterior board & batten siding. Next came the big sliding barn doors, plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling. Large rustic fixtures were hung from the great hall roof timbers. Exterior The board & batten siding was cypress and allowed to turn color naturally as rain hit it and the sun started working on it with UV rays. This method causes a much grayer look closer to the ground and less so where the roof overhang provides protection. The North end has some large limestone boulders and planters arranged around the pad with tall pampas grass. The planters provide casual seating before events and during outside receptions. The entire area was sodded with lush St. Augustine grass and split rail fences were added to enclose the barn area. The corrugated metal roof was a special order material that immediately rusted after being exposed to moisture. The layer of rust protects the metal from the elements. Interior The board & batten theme was carried throughout most of the interior with the timbers left natural to show off the circular saw texture. All of the tongue & groove decking was shipped in advance to allow the local painter to pre-stain it with a dark brown transparent stain that is a beautiful background to the light color Eastern White Pine timbers. “Everything was unique in this project” said Project Manager John Ricketson. “The setting on a small demonstration farm close to Ocala, the multipurpose design, the circular saw texture on the timbers.” The Hermans are very proud of their farm’s outcome. Richard sent a note to Randy Giles, owner of Hearthstone: “The Barn is fantastic, not a single problem, period. Next month, we have Jo Dee Messina coming in to help with a fundraiser for a local center for abused kids. Folks love the farm, ...... but that barn gets all of the attention. I would encourage you to use me as a reference for your sales team, feel free to extend my cell phone to any prospective purchasers.”