Custom Home in Chatham, NH

This stylish two-bedroom house rises from the landscape like a phoenix along the shore of a peaceful lake in New Hampshire. The owners lost their previous home to an electrical fire on a New Year's Eve night.

They found the replacement for the serenity they had lost in a set of purchased plans and several hundred hours of work by our designer Dave Norton, who modified and completed the plans. The customers' wants and needs were massaged into this low-maintenance, solidly constructed gem.

A graceful barrel vault entryway invites the visitor into a living area that is alive with light. Two 4-foot high by 10-foot long picture windows bring the ever-changing lake scenery into the living room and first-floor master bedroom. Our designer created the sense of open space with appropriate use of angled walls, tray ceilings, and an eye-catching archway into the kitchen. The light is accentuated by the natural-finish bamboo flooring and light-colored walls. Several owner-supplied products were used in conjunction with custom built-ins from our shop, allowing the owners' eclectic taste to flavor the bathrooms, kitchen, and office.

Radiant floor heating and careful attention to insulation and vapor barrier details ensure interior comfort while keeping oil deliveries to a minimum. Cement siding, which will hold its finish for decades (as opposed to years for conventional siding options) and the use of Trex decking greatly reduces the need for exterior maintenance. A generator with an automatic switch keeps all of the home's electrical systems functioning properly when storms shut down electrical service, while a timer-driven irrigation system keeps the landscaping green throughout the growing season.

This project is a perfect example of how to blend the owners' desires with the builder’s knowledge of good design and building practices to create a new and “perfect” home from the ashes of the old.

Location: Chatham, NH
Designer: Dave Norton, Cormack Construction Management
Square Footage: 2,478