Vermont Village Home

It is our core belief that extraordinary energy efficiency, craftsmanship and beauty are not separate concepts. They are instead complimentary parts to a single “whole”, that having one without the others is an incomplete gesture. With a HERS rating of -4, this cozy net-zero home on a small corner lot in the village of Bristol, Vermont exemplifies this concept.

Our clients came to us to design them an energy efficient, “just big enough” village home in which they could enjoy their retirement years. For accessibility they requested that the home allow for one-level living. Additionally, it was to fit seamlessly into the surrounding village community vernacular and attain net-zero energy efficiency. Lastly and of high importance, the project must fit within their modest budget. General contractor Conner and Buck Builders and Cushman Design Group worked hand-in-hand with the owners throughout the design and construction phases of the project to ensure that these goals were met.

In Our Clients' Words:

"We feel extremely fortunate to have had Cushman Design Group (CDG) design our new house in Bristol. Our goal was to downsize in a highly energy-efficient house, while remaining in the village where we had lived for almost four decades. The plan that CDG came up with for us was not only elegant but also extremely clever. It fits into our small but still buildable parcel of land in ways both we and our Bristol neighbors have enjoyed observing. For one thing, it harmonizes in lovely ways with the craftsman cottages near us on Mountain Street. We can't wait until late-January when we can move into the house. Our pleasure in the design process and its outcome has already led a couple of our close friends to hire CDG for their own new house in Weybridge."