Country garage in New York.

This is an example of a country garage in Portland Maine.

Inspiration for a large country detached garage in Austin.

The conversion of this iconic American barn into a Writer’s Studio was conceived of as a tranquil retreat with natural light and lush views to stimulate inspiration for both husband and wife. Originally used as a garage with two horse stalls, the existing stick framed structure provided a loft with ideal space and orientation for a secluded studio. Signature barn features were maintained and enhanced such as horizontal siding, trim, large barn doors, cupola, roof overhangs, and framing. New features added to compliment the contextual significance and sustainability aspect of the project were reclaimed lumber from a razed barn used as flooring, driftwood retrieved from the shores of the Hudson River used for trim, and distressing / wearing new wood finishes creating an aged look. Along with the efforts for maintaining the historic character of the barn, modern elements were also incorporated into the design to provide a more current ensemble based on its new use. Elements such a light fixtures, window configurations, plumbing fixtures and appliances were all modernized to appropriately represent the present way of life.

Boathouse with pile dock foundation on Lake George New York
This is an example of a country detached one-car boathouse in Other.

Southern Living House Plan with lots of outdoor living space. Expertly built by t-Olive Properties (www.toliveproperties.com). Photo Credit: David Cannon Photography (www.davidcannonphotography.com)

Matthew Benham
Photo of a country garage in Charlotte.

Design ideas for a country garage in Atlanta.

Two-story pole barn with whitewash pine board & batten siding, black metal roofing, Okna 5500 series Double Hung vinyl windows with grids, Azek cupola with steel roof and custom Dachshund weather vane. Custom made tree cut-out window shutters painted black. Rustic barn style goose-neck lighting fixtures with protective cage. Rough Sawn pine double sliding door.

A new workshop and build space for a fellow creative! Seeking a space to enable this set designer to work from home, this homeowner contacted us with an idea for a new workshop. On the must list were tall ceilings, lit naturally from the north, and space for all of those pet projects which never found a home. Looking to make a statement, the building’s exterior projects a modern farmhouse and rustic vibe in a charcoal black. On the interior, walls are finished with sturdy yet beautiful plywood sheets. Now there’s plenty of room for this fun and energetic guy to get to work (or play, depending on how you look at it)!

This is an example of a country detached two-car garage in Boston.

Inspiration for a country garage in Other.

House and barn designed by Marcel Valliere, photographed by Dave Clough Photography
Photo of a country detached garage in Portland Maine.

Design ideas for a country detached garage in Philadelphia.

Photography by Rob Karosis
Photo of a country three-car garage in New York.

Single car garage with outdoor living space attached
Design ideas for a country detached one-car garage in Raleigh.

Lisa Carroll
Small country detached one-car garage in Atlanta.

Post and beam two car garage with storage space and loft overhead
Photo of a large country detached two-car workshop.

Our client, with whom we had worked on a number of projects over the years, enlisted our help in transforming her family’s beloved but deteriorating rustic summer retreat, built by her grandparents in the mid-1920’s, into a house that would be livable year-‘round. It had served the family well but needed to be renewed for the decades to come without losing the flavor and patina they were attached to. The house was designed by Ruth Adams, a rare female architect of the day, who also designed in a similar vein a nearby summer colony of Vassar faculty and alumnae. To make Treetop habitable throughout the year, the whole house had to be gutted and insulated. The raw homosote interior wall finishes were replaced with plaster, but all the wood trim was retained and reused, as were all old doors and hardware. The old single-glazed casement windows were restored, and removable storm panels fitted into the existing in-swinging screen frames. New windows were made to match the old ones where new windows were added. This approach was inherently sustainable, making the house energy-efficient while preserving most of the original fabric. Changes to the original design were as seamless as possible, compatible with and enhancing the old character. Some plan modifications were made, and some windows moved around. The existing cave-like recessed entry porch was enclosed as a new book-lined entry hall and a new entry porch added, using posts made from an oak tree on the site. The kitchen and bathrooms are entirely new but in the spirit of the place. All the bookshelves are new. A thoroughly ramshackle garage couldn’t be saved, and we replaced it with a new one built in a compatible style, with a studio above for our client, who is a writer.