Royal River Point

Not many clients come to us with a written narrative for their home, but we love when they do. While the site was still a wooded lot, this residence was already dreamed up to be a cozy welcoming space for the clients along with their family and friends, as a space to return to between outdoor activities, work, and everything else life throws their way. As a primary residence, comfort and health took top priority, ensuring natural resilient finishes, well-insulated exterior, and sweeping views of their beautiful surroundings of woods and water. With opportunities to engage with nature and guests at all levels, the house and surrounding landscaping provided larger gathering spaces for festivities, alongside smaller areas for one or two to enjoy a moment of reflection, each filled with natural light and a view to nature.

The design of the house balances a more traditional approach of New England shingle style exterior with a contemporary, timeless interior. Cedar shakes on the exterior with decorative accent shingles at the gable ends help nestle the house into the wooded site. Dormers offset the steep rooflines to create a very cozy but spacious second floor, while the first floor is easily navigated and includes many areas to gather together. The interior was designed to be unassuming but elegant, with a fine eye to detail on casework and trim. Two beautiful fireplaces provide extra cozy spaces to gather during the colder months. At once the house is both familiar and comfortable, while still maintaining a refined and fresh aesthetic. The natural landscaping truly anchors the house into the site, as if it had always been there.

With a well-sealed, well-insulated shell, and fresh intake ERV, the outdoors can be comfortably appreciated from the interior regardless of the weather or season. The visual invitation to the surrounding woods is experienced as you move through the house through the many windows, while the arrangement of intersecting porches, patio, and balcony open up the primary gathering spaces directly to the outdoors with views overlooking the water. With their active outdoor lifestyles, this residence has immediately become a well loved hub for the clients and their family between hikes, skiing, kayaking, and more.

‍