Harvest time
Fall brings the gifts of the season forward. So do we, here with an update on recent work in Vermont, some in design, others under construction or now finished. We are grateful to help our clients and their families into their next stage of life with their additions, renovations or new custom designed homes. Design themes explored range from aging-in-place, multi-generational living, and expanding indoor and outdoor living options all common to other projects found in our Arocordis project portfolio.
The projects span from Montpelier, Burke Hollow, Danville, and back again to Montpelier. With these projects, we found that the process renewed our faith in how the acts of architecture and design are filled with hope and optimism, that look to the future and new possibilities. It is why we do what we do.
North Street Addition
North Street view going up the hill to the rear addition, its side entry and porch with the Ipe & steel thin lattice privacy screen designed for vines to grow up on.
Completed in 2024, this project has significantly matured and developed on the exterior over the past year. Design took from 2022 to 2023. The 16’x22’ ground-level aging-in-place focused addition nearly doubles the living space and includes a new basement below for storage. This two-story home, located on North Street in Montpelier, also features a new spacious private side deck with rear access to the expanded lower-level living area. A notable feature is the wood and steel privacy screen and railing assembly we designed to shield the deck from the busy street and pestrians walking by. Here are a few photos of the exterior. Sticks and Stones Construction of Plainfield built the project. See another single-level aging-in-place design project in Harland, Vermont, more of semi-rural example of a renovation and addition of a 1970’s ranch house.
Closeup view of the new side entry, deck, railings, and wood and steel privacy screen.
Front view of the house with the contrasting yet tasteful addition in the rear.
Burke Hollow New Home
South side of the new 3-story living area with attached garage a mudroom main entry joining them together. Under construction.
Late this summer we visited our Net-Zero Rustic Modern Farmhouse in Burke Hollow up in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. For for the owner-builder family we designed together their forever home close to friends and family for their return home after ten years out west.
A three-bedroom future forward looking aging-in-place friendly design with a main floor bedroom suite, it has lots of surprises still unfolding both inside and outside. If you want to learn more about the project and its design process click on the link above. We will share more photos next year as the project gets finished and the landscaping grows more.
The owner-builder family of this project has committed to building an all-electric net-zero home. It will combine high-performance building materials and energy efficient heating and cooling systems. The envelope of the home will include a well-insulated double stud wall to minimize heat loss during the cold Vermont winters.
Danville Garage-Barn-ADU
Overall view of the home site with the new Barn with upstairs flex space. Set back to create an entry courtyard between it and the home as well as to tie into mountain bike and nordic trails cut into the woods behind it.
In 2023 we began designing in earnest a barn flex building to join the collection of residential buildings and site features on this property of this family in the Danville area. Finished in early 2025, the Barn has a 20’ wide garage door for two vehicles, a smaller one to the side for flex uses for a bike shop, band-rehersal space and nordic ski repair area. A flexible storage area completes the main level. Upstairs the owners, who led the interior fitup and color and material selection, outfitted a flexible living and gathering space for visiting family and friends to complement main house gatherings. That space has a Murphy bed, bathroom, and kitchenette. On the lower level walkout on the rear side, we located a mechanical room and flexible storage area. All levels are connected by internal stairs. They are a dynamic duo of creativity and hard work!
Front view, other side showing the upper two levels.
Upstairs living area showing the gathering area, kitchenette and dining with picture window view to the mountain ranges beyond. Interior design details by the owner.
Interior of the two-vehicle garage bay.
Rear trailside view of the new three level barn. Flex area is on the upper level, ground level is the garage and storage area, and the walkout below is the mechanical, equipment and mountain bike storage.
Towne Hill Additions and Renovations
Here in Montpelier you can drive by on Towne Hill Road to see the progress of this modern inspired project we designed now under construction. We began design on this in 2022 finally with it breaking ground by Ancel Carpentry LLC in early 2025.
The scope includes a sizable addition and reconfiguration of the front entry and porch to create a more unified nature near experience with beautiful stone stairway and wall skirt and a swooping landscaping bed with lots of exciting plantings. It also includes an expanded wellness and home workout area.
The front entry will include a mudroom and join together the main house and garage. Rear addition elements include a main bedroom deck, extensive terraces and landscaping. The scope also includes completing a main bedroom bathroom renovation. Other key project creative design partners include Ecolibrium Landscaping Design and Build, RK Miles Kitchen and Bath Showroom.
A late summer 2025 overall image of the front showing the framing after all the concrete work was completed.
Front addition under construction.
3D design rendering depicting the final design intent. Note, we changed the siding later in design.
Rear main bedroom deck under construction.
Closing and an invitation
As we mentioned in the beginning, there is a lot to be grateful for, especially with these projects to share. We have so much gratitude for our clients and trade partners who entrusted us with this residential architectural work. We look forward to continued collaborations in the years ahead.
Please let us know if you have any questions or need further information about the work shared here. Or if you want to get in touch about our professional architectural services, feel free to click on the link below to connect with us.
Or if you want to see examples from our project portfolio and example projects both ones under design, completed, or our range of prototype custom home designs, please click on the link below.