Joan Heaton Architects

It has been a great pleasure to team up with Joan Heaton Architects on a wonderful range of projects through the years. What we admire most about Joan is her originality, her commitment to design excellence as well as her relationships with clients. When working on a project she thoroughly engages the client in the decision making process, bringing them into the showroom to go through all selections and guiding them as needed. Joan has amazing versatility and is extremely detail oriented, whether she is working on a Vermont farmhouse, Adirondack style home, Arts and Crafts bungalow or a contemporary lake front cabin. We look forward to future projects with Joan and her team!

Joan Heaton has a gift. I am a designer who has worked with dozens of architects all over the United States. Joan is one of the very best I've ever known. I chose her to design my dream house and I never looked back. She brought ingenuity, style, and restraint when necessary for budget reasons. I've never seen anything like the end product. We never had a "down" moment. Each meeting left me feeling invigorated and in control. She is good at listening to client wishes as well as advocating for her own vision. The output was a blend of ideas that hit all the right notes. I am working hard to save enough to do another building on the property just so I can see what she has dreamed up next...I am sad now that the project is over.

Our project seemed simple enough; take our existing small cottage and transform it into a true Lake House. The challenges posed, were to accomplish this by maintaining the existing structure’s footprint and to work with the restrictions that the proximity to the Lake presented. After our first meeting with Joan, we knew we had made the right decision. She was up for the challenge. Joan listened to us. We formed a true collaborative partnership with her and developed a vision of what our Lake House could become. She was able to take in our ideas and wish list items and apply her eye for creative design, space and function to make our Lake House dream a reality. Even when confronted with unexpected challenges, Joan worked closely with our contractor to develop resolutions that were true to our design. We threw last minute ideas at her and she always gave them thoughtful consideration and honest feedback. Joan has a keen eye, an incredible focus and a command of color. We truly couldn’t be happier with the end result; a Lake House that we cherish. Thank you, Joan.

Doing a project with Joan has been very rewarding, and creating a house together has forged a bond between Joan and me that has worked especially well. I trust her competence, her aesthetic, her concern for detail, her ability to manage hundreds of details at once and also over time, and her way of skillfully keeping me on track when I veered into territory not good for the house. I think Joan had a vision of the house way before I did, and her vision was 3-D, right on target for what we said was important to us, and more importantly, really gorgeous and completely functional! What a ride we have been on, and what a bonanza at the end of the process! Thank you, Joan, from the bottom of my heart.

Joan Heaton was the architect of our new VT vacation home and did an outstanding job. She worked with us from the initial stages through completion of construction. Joan communicates very clearly and could readily translate our preferences, needs and aesthetics into the design. She was generous in guiding us through the numerous decisions that are part of new home design and construction. The resulting design is outstanding! Our new home feels spacious, comfortable, and has a simplicity that only comes from working with a skilled architect. Joan was exceptionally skilled at siting our home, knowledgeable about it's construction, had a great eye for both structural design, color, texture and the interiors. It is rare to find an architect with such a broad set of skills. Her many years of experience repeatedly benefited us in this process. Joan was respectful of our budget - she kept it in mind and was helpful in making choices that resulted in an elegant, quality home which fit within our budget. Joan is great with people! She helped us locate an expert builder and had a great working relationship with him. The three of us worked extremely well together. We are at the very end of this process and have enjoyed our work with Joan and the builder so much that we will feel sad to see the work end!

I was the job manager on Mary Cullinanes project working for Silvermaple construction.This was my first time working with Joan,she was very thorough with her information and promt at answering any guestion I had or coming up with drawings that I needed. I enjoyed working with her and am looking forward to our next project together,thanks Joan.

Joan Heaton managed all of the interior and exterior design including landscaping, working closely with the contractor. She has wonderful expertise, design aesthetic and attention to detail. She has very high standards and is scrupulously professional. She is a great communicator and is easy to work with. She is a superstar. She produced superb results.

It has been great fun working with Joan over the years! As a landscape architect, I truly appreciate her commitment to our collaboration from the onset of a project. Her sensitivity to the landscape in the design process is reflected in her beautiful portfolio of work. My experience working with Joan has benefited me as a professional and I am honored to have shared in her successes.

It has been a true pleasure working with Joan Heaton architects on many projects. Whether it is a new build or renovation we always enjoy collaborating with Joan. She brings great ideas to the table and approaches every job with an open mind. Joan always works closely with the client to help them create the home of their dreams. We look forward to many more projects with Joan Heaton architects in the future.

We could not be happier that we found Joan to transform an old, small house into the perfect Adirondack cottage for our family. She has incredible vision and her attention to detail is unmatched. She took a one room cabin and created a stunning, yet simple 2 bedroom cottage for our family of five. She always listened to our needs and desires and improved upon them in her plans. When we decided to start a second project we called her immediately. She renovated an existing structure into a beautiful and purposeful barn/carriage house. Her enthusiasm is infectious. She has the perfect blend of whimsy and practical. She is super creative and has exquisite taste. It is clear that she views design and build as a team sport and makes everyone feel welcome in the process. We found her a joy to work with and no doubt will look for more projects just to have her around. Guest quarters

When looking for a design partner for a new home i was building in Weybridge, VT i was introduced to Joan and her talent. Joan's ability to bring creativity, quality and personality to my project was outstanding. She recognized and encouraged my participation in the process, she listened every step of the way, while still helping me see what i couldn't see. Building this home has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done, and i couldn't have done it without her!

Joan and I are collaborating on a lake house in the Adirondacks. Joan has a wonderful sense of scale and balance. Her approach to each aspect of the design is well researched and thoughtful, whether it be a beam location or the shape of a handrail, all bear the same amount of weight in coming to a successful conclusion. I have found her to be a delight to work with and I sense the same from the client and contractor. Our back and forth has been in all sense open and synergistic. I look forward to working again with her... very soon I hope.