Partridge Hill
This 1600 sq. ft. just big enough home features natural materials including Vermont sourced hemlock, pine, maple, cherry, and slate. Built by its owners, the home is sited in an idyllic rural location north of Stowe, where it is surrounded by hardwood and softwood forests with views of Sterling Mountain and Bull Moose Ridge. The owners came to us after seeing a design on our website that appealed to them for its compact size, use of locally available materials, and pleasing design. Our team worked in collaboration with them to revise and optimize the design to fit their needs and lifestyle. The siting of the home allows for the future construction of a separate garage, and an addition.
The compact floor plan includes two bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, an open and light filled living area, dining room, and kitchen, a mudroom entry, office/den, and ample storage/utility space. The home utilizes an HRV for balanced fresh air intake and stale air exhaust, necessary because of its tight thermal envelope. The owners requested that radiant heat be used throughout, with a small wood stove on the main level for occasional use. The timber frame was fabricated and installed by Liberty Head Post and Beam of Huntington, VT with hemlock timbers sawn by MB Heath and Sons Lumber Co. in North Hyde Park, VT. The home features net metered Solar PV for its electrical loads.
In Our Clients' Words:
"Choosing to work with the Cushman Design Group to design our "just big enough" custom home was one of the, if not the, best decisions we made when deciding to build a house. They were attentive, respectful of our vision and our budget, and a true pleasure to work with. Their collaborative design processes created a highly functional and comfortable arrangement of spaces which we continue to enjoy every day. Building materials were recommended that allowed us to have an efficient home, however recommendations were also balanced in keeping with our budget. The bigger picture and essence of what we desired in a house were kept in mind at all times.
Their team was also able to communicate clearly and effectively with all involved. As owner general contractors building the house ourselves we really appreciated this. After the initial scope of design services were completed, they allowed us to bring them in on an as needed basis to provide additional design inspiration and guidance on detailing. I highly recommend CDG and their dedicated, creative, and knowledgeable designers."