PRELUDE Volume VI
PRELUDE is a timely print and digital companion publication to BDG's annual luxury home resource guide.
PRELUDE is a timely print and digital companion publication to BDG's annual luxury home resource guide.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>Volume</strong> <strong>VI</strong><br />
SUSTAIN<br />
ABILITY<br />
& STYLE<br />
RHODE ISLAND’S<br />
HIDDEN CHARM<br />
A publication of Boston Design Guide
AWARD-WINNING LEADER IN COASTAL BUILDING<br />
W e know how important your home is to your well-being. As custom home<br />
builders for nearly 40 years, we have crafted and restored coastal and luxury homes<br />
in Rhode Island and throughout New England. Our goal is to create spaces that allow<br />
you and your family to thrive.<br />
DA<strong>VI</strong>TTINC.COM
Coastal<br />
PERFECTION<br />
4 FRANK AVE • SUITE A1 • WEST KINGSTON, RI 02892 • 401.792.9799 • DA<strong>VI</strong>TTINC.COM
JOYELLE WEST PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
581 TREMONT ST, BOSTON, MA 02118 | 617-982-6136 | TWELVECHAIRSINTERIORS.COM
17 WOLCOTT CT., BOSTON, MA 02136 | 617.333.6800 | FBNCONSTRUCTION.COM
LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS<br />
CONSTRUCTION | MASONRY | MAINTENANCE<br />
Photography: Marianne Lee<br />
R.P. MARZILLI & CO., INC. | 508.533.8700 | 21-A TROTTER DRIVE | MEDWAY, MA 02053 | WWW.RPMARZILLI.COM
RICHARD MANDELKORN<br />
RICHARD<br />
New Homes | Renovations | Historic Preservation<br />
New Homes | Renovations | Historic Preservation<br />
Home Maintenance | Small Projects<br />
Home Maintenance | Small Projects<br />
Building trust since 1976.<br />
171 Reservoir 171 RESERVOIR St., Needham, ST., NEEDHAM, MA 02494 | 781.237.0505 | falloncustomhomes.com | 781.237.0505<br />
FALLONCUSTOMHOMES.COM | INFO@FALLONCUSTOMHOMES.COM<br />
CUSTOM HOME<br />
DESIGN/BUILD, WEST
From the Publisher<br />
<strong>PRELUDE</strong> – Rhode Island<br />
This <strong>PRELUDE</strong> is our RHODE ISLAND edition. While I have been traveling to the Ocean State<br />
for over 35 years, I’ve mostly only visited Newport and Providence. In recent years, however, I<br />
have learned about more and more people who are making Rhode Island their second home,<br />
in towns including Jamestown, Portsmouth, Bristol, and Little Compton. Those bucolic towns<br />
give me a whole different perspective of Rhode Island. Now, when I think of the area, I envision<br />
farms, vineyards edged with stone walls, and wide open spaces with the ocean nearby.<br />
Whether you’re living on Bellevue Avenue, Jamestown, or in Little Compton, the region truly<br />
evokes the movie, Somewhere in Time—the 1980s period romance staring Christopher Reeve<br />
and Jane Seymore—in which timeless architecture and regal beauty by the water really do<br />
exist. Throw in the fact that the state is considered the “sailing capital of the world” and is<br />
home to the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Newport Polo, Rhode Island’s refined, classic<br />
character is indelible.<br />
In this edition, we showcase some of the many people working in the design and build realm<br />
who are mindful of the environment. We feature three homes in which sustainability was a key<br />
component of the design. Conserving resources and creating energy are common themes<br />
in this issue, which also showcases landscape professionals who are doing their part to be<br />
stewards of this spectacular place we’re all blessed to be a part of.<br />
So enjoy going back in time as you browse this <strong>PRELUDE</strong>. Take in the beauty and style in which<br />
these talented individuals have created and preserved for generations to come.<br />
Melanie Perillo, Publisher<br />
@BostonDesignGuide @BostonDesignGuide @BostonDesignMag<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY: WARREN PATTERSON<br />
karensebastianllc@gmail.com • 617.529.6719 • karensebastianllc.com<br />
6<br />
bostondesignguide.com
CONTENTS<br />
12 Pastoral Haven<br />
A historic Little Compton home get’s sustainable updates and a refined,<br />
timeless landscape.<br />
34 Passion for the Build<br />
WKP Construction strives to get the job done right with precision.<br />
40 Super-Powered Home<br />
TSP Smart Spaces covers all aspects of residential technology.<br />
43 Enduring Legacy<br />
A masonry artist’s insights on building long-lasting client relationships.<br />
50 Positive Vibes<br />
Thoughtforms creates homes with people in mind.<br />
54 Ship Shape<br />
A family relies on its experience living aboard boats to build an<br />
uber-efficient home.<br />
58 Fresh Perspective<br />
A kitchen overlooking Narragansett Bay embodies originality.<br />
12<br />
PUBLISHER<br />
Melanie Perillo<br />
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR<br />
Jaci Conry<br />
DESIGN DIRECTOR<br />
Rob Silsby<br />
DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST<br />
Andrea Mingels<br />
WRITER<br />
MaryKate Forté<br />
SALES/DISTRIBUTION MANAGER<br />
Ian Kaplan<br />
ACCOUNT MANAGERS<br />
Lisa Almquist<br />
Ian Kaplan<br />
Colleen Keelan<br />
Maureen Lampert<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
Anthony Crisafulli<br />
Warren Patterson<br />
Michael J. Lee<br />
Nat Rea<br />
Keitaro Yoshioka<br />
43<br />
54<br />
Cover: Architecture: Gale Goff Architect; Construction: Arkins Construction Company;<br />
Landscape Architect: Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC;<br />
Landscape: Landscape Creations; Photography: Anthony Crisafulli<br />
58<br />
www.bostondesignguide.com<br />
BDG <strong>PRELUDE</strong> - <strong>Volume</strong> <strong>VI</strong>, 2021, prints triannually and is<br />
published by Boston Design Guide, Inc. 365 Boston Post Road, Box<br />
373, Sudbury, MA 01776. Boston Design Guide (“BDG”) provides<br />
information on luxury homes and lifestyles. Boston Design Guide,<br />
its affiliates, employees, contributors, writers, editors, (Publisher)<br />
accepts no responsibility for inaccuracies, errors or omissions<br />
with information and/or advertisements contained herein. The<br />
publisher has neither investigated nor endorsed the companies<br />
and/or products that advertise within the publication or that are<br />
mentioned editorially. Publisher assumes no responsibility for the<br />
claims made by the Advertisers or the merits of their respective<br />
products or services advertised or mentioned editorially herein,<br />
and neither expressly nor implicitly endorses such Advertiser<br />
products, services or claims. Publisher expressly assumes no<br />
liability for any damages whatsoever that may be suffered by<br />
any purchaser or user for any products or services advertised or<br />
mentioned editorially herein and strongly recommends that any<br />
purchaser or user investigate such products, services, methods<br />
and/or claims made thereto. Opinions expressed in the magazine<br />
and/or its advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinions<br />
of the Publisher. Neither the Publisher nor its staff, associates or<br />
affiliates are responsible for any errors, omissions or information<br />
whatsoever that have been misrepresented to Publisher. The<br />
information on products and services as advertised in BDG<br />
<strong>PRELUDE</strong> are shown by Publisher on an “as is” and “as available”<br />
basis. Publisher makes no representations or warranties of any<br />
kind, expressed or implied, as to the information, services,<br />
contents, trademarks, patents, materials or products included<br />
in this magazine. All pictures reproduced in BDG <strong>PRELUDE</strong><br />
have been accepted by Publisher on the condition that such<br />
pictures are reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent<br />
of the photographer and any homeowner concerned. As such,<br />
Publisher is not responsible for any infringement of the copyright<br />
or otherwise arising out of any publication in BDG <strong>PRELUDE</strong>.<br />
BDG <strong>PRELUDE</strong> is a pending licensed trademark of Boston<br />
Design Guide, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication<br />
may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,<br />
electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any<br />
information storage and retrieval system, without the express<br />
written permission of the Publisher. ADDRESS SUBSCRIPTION<br />
REQUESTS AND CORRESPONDENCE TO: Boston Design<br />
Guide, 365 Boston Post Road, Box 373, Sudbury, MA 01776.<br />
Email: Info@BostonDesignGuide.com or telephone 978-443-9886.<br />
8<br />
bostondesignguide.com
Architecture by Flavin Architects Photo by Nat Rea<br />
www.m-d-l-a.com | 203.592.4788 | Boston
Architecture: Stern McCafferty<br />
Photography: Chuck Choi<br />
KE<strong>VI</strong>N CRADOCK BUILDERS<br />
Custom Building | Renovation | Millwork<br />
617-524-2405 | cradockbuilders.com | Boston, MA
12<br />
bostondesignguide.com
A historic property in<br />
Little Compton gets<br />
sustainable updates<br />
and a refined landscape<br />
with timeless appeal.<br />
PASTORAL HAVEN<br />
bostondesignguide.com 13
Topped with a green<br />
roof, the sleek addition<br />
has three walls of<br />
glass and connects<br />
to the new patio<br />
overlooking the pool,<br />
vegetable garden and<br />
pasture beyond.<br />
One of the first homes built in Little Compton,<br />
this property came into being in 1790. The rustic<br />
Cape Cod-style house and adjacent barn, set<br />
amid four verdant acres, ultimately became a<br />
gentleman’s horse farm. The current owners who live yearround<br />
in Boston purchased the place as a summer retreat in<br />
2017. Before their offer had even been accepted the couple<br />
consulted architect Gale Goff about renovating the original<br />
house with a modern addition that would honor the historic<br />
nature of the home.<br />
Ultimately, Goff’s office designed a glass central core that<br />
connects the storied structure with a 650-square-foot<br />
addition encompassing a new open stairway overlooking the<br />
living spaces, along with a mudroom, powder room, laundry<br />
area and an expansive hang out space. ”The new room<br />
has a very modern vibe, with large expanses of glass. It’s a<br />
great contrast to the rest of the house,” says Goff. Set low to<br />
the ground, the space seamlessly transitions with the patio<br />
when the sliding doors are opened, blurring the boundary<br />
between indoors and outside. Because truly, the home is all<br />
about the lush parcel upon which it is set.<br />
While it was important to the homeowners that the property<br />
retain its patina and rustic appeal, it also needed to feel<br />
suited to contemporary living. “Because of the way the<br />
site is positioned away from the road, the place really feels<br />
stuck back in time. The idea was to build on the agrarian<br />
aspect of the property,” says landscape architect Matthew<br />
Cunningham, who designed the grounds. “The family really<br />
wanted the kids to be able to run around barefoot.”<br />
Cunningham and his team worked with the homeowners to<br />
select drought tolerant and eco-friendly plantings to create<br />
14<br />
bostondesignguide.com
ostondesignguide.com 15
“THE RECLAIMED GRANITE PIECES HAVE INSTANT PATINA<br />
THAT LOOKS LIKE IT’S BEEN THERE FOREVER.”<br />
– Mathew Cunningham<br />
Clockwise from above: The neighbor’s horses often roam on the property;<br />
the addition is clad with clapboards painted black, while the original part<br />
of the house features black trim and classic cedar shakes; the barn, which<br />
has an outdoor shower is adjacent to the pool.<br />
16<br />
bostondesignguide.com
ostondesignguide.com 17
18<br />
bostondesignguide.com
a landscape that feels laid back and authentic and doesn’t<br />
require huge maintenance or an intense carbon footprint.<br />
The property has several century-old fieldstone walls and<br />
Cunningham called for the creation of additional walls<br />
made with antique rocks. Landscape Creations carefully<br />
repaired the existing dry-stacked stone walls, installed<br />
plantings, and introduced modern outdoor amenities<br />
including a pool, firepit and terrace.<br />
“Reclaimed granite pieces were brought in to fit the rustic<br />
setting. We used feathers, wedges, and wrought iron tools<br />
to antique materials to the desired look,” says Landscape<br />
Creations founder, Jonathan Zeyl. “Then slings, excavators,<br />
and vacuum lifts were used to place the massive stones to<br />
exact specification.”<br />
The house needed significant updates to ensure it was an<br />
airtight space. “We stripped the home down to its original<br />
post and beam structure and reframed the walls to get<br />
the necessary insulated value,” says Andrew Cliff, project<br />
manager of Arkins Construction, the firm that spearheaded<br />
construction on the renovation. The need for fossil fuels<br />
was eliminated on the property by installing solar panels.<br />
A green roof was planted on top of the addition and<br />
the home’s original stone foundation was wrapped with<br />
a rubber membrane to make the basement watertight.<br />
While the home’s new systems ensure that it maintains<br />
a modernized eco-friendly footprint, interior details nod<br />
to its origins. The original 18th-century floors have been<br />
preserved on the main level along with three fireplaces and<br />
a beehive oven.<br />
The main chimney made out of ballast imported by brick<br />
from the Netherlands in the 1700s was rebuilt with the same<br />
joinery used back then. As with the way the landscape was<br />
designed and installed with reverence to the property’s<br />
provenance, Cliff says, “We worked hard to make sure the<br />
craftsmanship matched the time-period of the house.”<br />
Clockwise from left: A rebuilt stone wall with<br />
granite steppingstones leads through the<br />
gate to the pool. The gate posts are reclaimed<br />
salvaged granite; the patio and firepit are made<br />
of reclaimed granite procured from parking<br />
lot curbs, bridge parts, and old foundation<br />
slabs; Landscape Creations installed an allée of<br />
Crabapple trees that lines the meadow path.<br />
Architecture: Gale Goff Architect<br />
Construction: Arkins Construction Company<br />
Landscape Architect: Matthew Cunningham<br />
Landscape Design LLC<br />
Landscape: Landscape Creations<br />
Photography: Anthony Crisafulli<br />
Text: Jaci Conry<br />
bostondesignguide.com 19
Clockwise from top: Rosemary Fletcher Photography, Ngoc Doan Photo, Anthony Crisafulli Photography<br />
BUILD SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY<br />
We work with New England’s top landscape architects, custom builders, and clients to build extraordinary<br />
landscapes. Rhode Island projects featured were completed in collaboration with (clockwise from the top):<br />
Katherine Field and Associates, STIMSON, and Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design.<br />
MASSACHUSETTS | CONNECTICUT | RHODE ISLAND landscapecreationsri.com | 401.789.7101
(401) 635-2329<br />
info@arkinscorp.com<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER: ANTHONY CRISIFULI
Photography: Anthony Crisafulli<br />
WWW.GALEGOFF.COM<br />
401.855.1929<br />
7 MAIN STREET LITTLE COMPTON, RI 02837
live large. insure simply.<br />
S aaaa yy h eee ll ll ooooooo tttt ooooooo B ooooooo sssss tttt ooooooo nn ' sssss b ooooooo uu tttt iiiiii q uu eee p rrrr iiiiii vv aaaa tttt eee rrrr iiiiii sssss k aaaa dd vv iiiiii sssss ooooooo rrrr yy ff iiiiii rrrr mm ..<br />
w w w .. c aaaa nn dd sssss iiiiii nn sssss .. c ooooooo mm | 5 0 8 .. 3 3 9 .. 2 9 5 1 | iiiiii nn ff ooooooo @ c aaaa nn dd sssss iiiiii nn sssss .. c ooooooo mm<br />
f ine homes.<br />
autos. watercraft. aircraft. umbrella.
Native Surroundings<br />
An outdoor haven is created with reverence<br />
to its historic backdrop.<br />
T<br />
The backyard of this suburban home abuts conservation<br />
land, a verdant wooded wonderland of pathways, fields,<br />
and wildlife. The homeowners contracted landscape<br />
design firm, a Blade of Grass, to create an outdoor oasis<br />
where they could enjoy the view and spend time with<br />
their family.<br />
Owner and lead designer, Jim Douthit’s idea was to<br />
divide the space into four outdoor rooms, including an<br />
outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill and a seating area<br />
surrounding a firepit. “Each room is defined by distinct<br />
bluestone patios. The plantings around them serve as<br />
walls,” says Douthit.<br />
As a nod to the heritage of the protected landscape, the<br />
firepit is made of antique granite, which has a timeless<br />
appeal. Since a bit of privacy was necessary to shroud from<br />
the public pathway, the team calculated how tall plantings<br />
would ultimately grow. “We didn’t want anything too tall<br />
that would block the view,” says Douthit, noting that some<br />
of the varieties selected include black-eyed Susans and<br />
Verbena, which complement both the landscaped yard<br />
and the wild nature of the adjacent conservation land.<br />
For more information, visit abladeofgrass.com<br />
bostondesignguide.com 25
Experience the beauty of light<br />
with Palladiom Wall Controls & Shading System<br />
• MUSIC<br />
• <strong>VI</strong>DEO<br />
• LIGHTING<br />
• SHADING<br />
• COMMUNICATIONS<br />
• CONTROL<br />
Providing the finest automation solutions to<br />
homeowners and businesses throughout New England.<br />
Cutting Edge Systems • 364 Littleton Rd. • Westford, MA 01886 • (978) 392-1392 • www.cuttingedgehome.com
ELEVATE YOUR EN<strong>VI</strong>RONMENT<br />
Lutron has been controlling light for decades by<br />
offering a wide variety of fabrics and solutions for<br />
window treatments that are reliable and quiet.<br />
Their Palladiom Shading System and keypad is yet<br />
another solution, elegant in its simplicity. The easy-tooperate<br />
keypad is sophisticated without being complex<br />
and its sleek design with backlit lettering makes it a chic<br />
solution perfect for any type of room. “The idea behind<br />
the shading system is that it has very simple lines, which<br />
doesn’t take away from the environment because it’s so<br />
non-obtrusive,” says president and CEO of Cutting Edge<br />
Systems, Evan Struhl, whose company sells this system.<br />
“The keypads don’t draw attention and don’t make you<br />
look at the shades, they make you almost forget that<br />
they’re there.”<br />
The Palladiom keypad is designed to work with the<br />
shading system, but it can also be used with the Lutron<br />
HomeWorks System to provide lighting, heating,<br />
ventilation, and air conditioning control. “Lutron’s<br />
evolution of different processes provides homeowners<br />
and businesses with ways to control the light in their<br />
environments,” says Struhl. “Palladiom is a step in the<br />
direction of providing not only controls and the basic<br />
features, but also elegance and simplicity for controlling<br />
environments.” For more information, check out<br />
cuttingedgehome.com.<br />
bostondesignguide.com 27
COME HOME TO STYLE<br />
BEAUTIFYING NEW ENGLAND ONE GARAGE DOOR AT A TIME<br />
617-862-6164 | DESIGNERGARAGEDOORS.COM
Catherine Truman Architects opens an outpost on Cape Cod.<br />
SOUTHERN EXPANSION<br />
Catherine Truman Architects has been slowly and quietly<br />
gaining a reputation for subtle, well crafted, understated,<br />
and elegant projects. The Cambridge based firm, founded<br />
seven-and-a-half years ago, is primarily known for its work in<br />
the greater Boston area, yet its projects span from northern<br />
New England to the Berkshires to the Cape and Islands—<br />
with plans to do even more throughout New England.<br />
Truman will be expanding her practice to add an office on<br />
Cape Cod starting in 2021. The move southward comes as<br />
a result of her recent purchase of one of the oldest homes<br />
in Falmouth—and becoming her own client, undertaking a<br />
painstaking renovation of the antique property.<br />
The firm will continue to be anchored in the Cambridge<br />
office: “our world headquarters,” Truman jokes, where she<br />
and her team continue to take on new and varied projects.<br />
Currently, she’s working on the design of a new artists<br />
studio space in Boston, a mid-century modern renovation<br />
outside of town, and a barn-inspired family home on a<br />
conservation-protected property in a western suburb. At<br />
the time of this interview, Truman was also thrilled to share<br />
with us that her Net Zero Barn and Farmhouse project,<br />
in Western Massachusetts, had recently been awarded a<br />
Boston Society of Architects Residential Design Award—all<br />
great news and indicative, we hope, of future success!<br />
Photography: Nat Rea<br />
For more information, visit catherinetrumanarchitects.com.<br />
bostondesignguide.com 29
Photography: Warren Patterson<br />
LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION • HORTICULTURAL SER<strong>VI</strong>CES • EXCAVATION • AGGREGATE & ORGANICS<br />
(978) 263-1185 | ONYXCORPORATION.NET
Architect: Foster Associates; Photographer: Warren Jagger Photography<br />
Fine Custom Home Building, Renovations & Home Services<br />
“Exceptional Craftsmanship since 1978”<br />
Cape & Islands: 215 Onset Avenue, Onset, MA 02558 | 508-295-8700<br />
Greater Boston: 916 Main Street, Acton, MA 01720 | 978-635-9700<br />
www.kistlerandknapp.com
Without Sandy, it wouldn’t be Clarke.<br />
More than 20 years ago, Sandra<br />
Lashway left a career in home<br />
economics and education to join<br />
the Clarke team. She is expertise<br />
personified. Ask her anything<br />
about cooking and how to<br />
create your beautiful,<br />
functional kitchen.<br />
Spend an hour at a Clarke Showroom and one thing is clear:<br />
your time with a Clarke Consultant is the most valuable part of your<br />
kitchen journey. While they’re not designers, these are the people<br />
designers call on when it comes to appliance recommendations.<br />
You won’t buy anything at Clarke, so there’s simply no pressure.<br />
What you can do is compare more Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove models<br />
than anywhere in New England. And explore a living portfolio of kitchens<br />
created by the region’s top designers. You’ll leave inspired with new<br />
knowledge to make your appliance selections with confidence.<br />
New England’s Official Showroom and Test Kitchen<br />
Boston & Milford, MA • South Norwalk, CT<br />
800-845-8247 • clarkeliving.com
The MacDowell Company Landscape Architecture<br />
21 Center Street, Weston, Massachusetts - TheMacDowellCompany.com - 781.899.9393
“WKP Construction doesn’t just build homes,<br />
we solve for longevity. We build homes that<br />
are designed to be cherished and lived in,<br />
truly lived in, for generations to come.” says<br />
Wade K. Paquin, whose Newport, Rhode Island-based<br />
firm, WKP Construction will mark its 20 th year in business<br />
this June. “If a client comes to us with a challenging<br />
request, all the better. We love experimenting with new<br />
materials, leveraging the knowledge of our tradesmen,<br />
creating innovative solutions and elevating our expertise<br />
overall.”<br />
Ensuring that a home is built to its highest quality with<br />
meticulous attention to detail can sometimes be a long<br />
process, but the end result makes it well worth it, says<br />
Paquin. “Just as we appreciate and marvel over a fine<br />
cuisine, hand-crafted furniture, high fashion clothing—all<br />
of these things are in part luxurious and valued because<br />
of the time, attention and thoughtfulness spent creating<br />
them. I’m a firm believer that great things take time. And<br />
since a home is one of the biggest investments most<br />
people make, this has always just resonated with me. That<br />
said, not everyone agrees with this philosophy. And we’re<br />
okay with that. We’re not for everyone.”<br />
Paquin has been on construction job sites since he was<br />
a two-year-old when he would accompany his father, a<br />
home builder and designer, on jobs in the Boston area. He<br />
started framing when he was 12 and continued working<br />
on his father’s construction sites through college. After<br />
graduation from Construction Management at Roger<br />
Williams University, Paquin did a stint working for a<br />
large commercial construction firm, but he missed the<br />
THE BUILD SHOW NETWORK<br />
WADE PAQUIN<br />
www.buildshownetwork.com<br />
“I consider it a commitment to my clients, present<br />
and future, to constantly enrich and immerse<br />
myself in learning experiences that allow me to<br />
better understand our industry and the materials<br />
that help build long-lasting homes. My knowledge<br />
base is constantly expanding from annual trade<br />
shows, to meeting new tradesmen and artisans to<br />
understanding innovative building technologies,”<br />
says Wade Paquin, who is one of three builders<br />
from around the country that serves as a contributor<br />
on The Build Show Network, a channel devoted to<br />
showcasing the science behind building and quality<br />
craftsmanship with more than 900 videos.<br />
34<br />
bostondesignguide.com
Passion<br />
for the Build<br />
WKP Construction strives to get the job done right with<br />
precision, fine craftsmanship, and dedicated teamwork.<br />
Photo by George Gray<br />
bostondesignguide.com 35
Projects in WKP Construction’s portfolio include<br />
these stunning spaces (clockwise from top): an<br />
open-air porch has unfetterd views of the ocean<br />
and a ceiling inset with custom wood detailing;<br />
a spacious kitchen with brass fixtures exudes<br />
contemporary elegance; this refined flat-roofed<br />
home nods to mid-century modern design; a freestanding<br />
tub in this master bathroom is oriented to<br />
overlook the secluded pastoral setting.<br />
36<br />
bostondesignguide.com
Photos by Warren Jagger<br />
residential side and launched his own business. “I was a<br />
one-man-show for the first few years, building during the<br />
day and doing paperwork at night,” recalls Paquin.<br />
Eventually, his hard work paid off, resulting in contracts<br />
for large, high-end homes and a robust, growing team.<br />
“I learned over the years that I had to get out of my own<br />
way and let go of the reins a little,” says Paquin. “I had<br />
to hire people to help the company grow and delegate<br />
responsibilities.”<br />
Since I’m working in the best interests of my clients, my<br />
job is to not only deliver a superb final product but also<br />
educate and evaluate along the way, in tandem with them.<br />
So if that means spending a Saturday evening reviewing<br />
the pros and cons of a product or material, I consider that<br />
part of my commitment to them.<br />
According to Paquin, the little details matter a lot. “My<br />
project managers and subcontractors know that I’m a<br />
stickler for the most minute details. I push everyone to give<br />
each task their all and then some. I suppose I like to think<br />
that perfection exists in home building. That mentality is<br />
simply part of our culture.”<br />
Visit wkpconstruction.com to learn more about the business.<br />
bostondesignguide.com 37
Refrigeration Redefined.<br />
RootCellar is a breakthrough<br />
new product that may just<br />
change your approach to grocery<br />
shopping, food organization<br />
and refrigeration.<br />
This premier, fully customizable<br />
refrigerated pantry and freezer<br />
can replace or augment the<br />
refrigeration in your kitchen and<br />
fit seamlessly within your design.<br />
866-366-5253<br />
rootcellarconcepts.com<br />
Instagram: @RootCellarConcepts<br />
Wenham, MA<br />
Photography: Warren Patterson<br />
The Premier Refrigerated Pantry
Landscape Architecture<br />
LombardiDesign.com
SUPER<br />
POWERED<br />
HOME<br />
Offering advanced cyber security,<br />
lighting, sound systems, and IT solutions,<br />
TSP Smart Spaces covers all aspects of<br />
residential technology.<br />
Visit www.tsp.space<br />
Launched by MIT graduate Michael Oh in the early 1990s as a<br />
provider of Mac small business IT support, TSP Smart Spaces<br />
recognized a gap in the market about a decade ago: clients were<br />
asking for the company’s help at home. “They were dissatisfied<br />
with their home systems and the level of service they were<br />
getting from providers,” says Aaron Stallings, director of TSP’s<br />
smart spaces division, who focuses on client relations and<br />
residential design.<br />
With high profile corporate clients including the Boston Celtics<br />
and Novartis, TSP expanded into designing multi-faceted security,<br />
lighting, audio, and IT systems for luxury residential projects. “Our<br />
40<br />
bostondesignguide.com
history in IT services has provided us with more than just a robust<br />
set of technical skills. It has given us a unique perspective on<br />
home automation as a continuing relationship rather than just a<br />
one-time install.” says Stallings.<br />
TSP’s technical expertise is in demand now more than ever with<br />
so many people working from home requiring robust networks with<br />
strong security. “We build the cyber security infrastructure in the<br />
house, including the firewall and networking equipment,” says<br />
founder Michael Oh. “We’re not using stuff you buy on Amazon<br />
which can be easy to hack.”<br />
AV systems are now converging with more systems in the home<br />
and that creates risk, says Oh. “Our job is to design the systems<br />
including building the cyber security, having them installed, and<br />
then being there along the way to provide updates.”<br />
TSP also works with clients to install cutting edge lighting solutions.<br />
“There is a lot to understanding lighting control these days.<br />
We use systems that follow natural daylight patterns and rhythms<br />
and have a big impact on the homeowner’s well-being,” says<br />
Stallings. “Lighting is changing at the pace of computer technology<br />
and our job is to educate ourselves about what’s out there and<br />
bring it to our clients.”<br />
bostondesignguide.com 41
We have raised the bar.<br />
Walnut interiors.<br />
Walnut drawers.<br />
Our new standard.<br />
Only the finest.<br />
Only from Crown Point.<br />
Handcrafted in New Hampshire<br />
Custom cabinetry<br />
for every room in your home<br />
42 bostondesignguide.com<br />
800-999-4994 • www.crown-point.com<br />
Available direct, nationwide<br />
Work with one of our<br />
in-house design professionals
Enduring Legacy<br />
A masonry artist’s insights<br />
on creating excellence and<br />
lasting relationships.<br />
bostondesignguide.com 43
Photography: Warren Patterson<br />
44<br />
bostondesignguide.com
By Nick O’Hara, O’ Hara and Company<br />
When someone interviews me for a project,<br />
regardless of size, one of the first things I<br />
ask is, “How long are you going to enjoy<br />
living in this house?” The answer that<br />
motivates me most is when the client says, “Forever.<br />
This is our last house.” That’s the client for me. It’s a new<br />
opportunity to establish a long-term relationship, to build<br />
something beautiful and build it to last.<br />
These days I primarily work as an artist in my own right,<br />
but I also jump at the chance to work with like-minded<br />
people who want to build beautiful masonry projects that<br />
generations of their family will enjoy.<br />
Such was the case with this French-inspired, greater<br />
Boston property, a project I have been working on for<br />
three decades.<br />
Artistically like-minded people often come in the form<br />
of homeowners. People who want to see their visions<br />
made into reality. I’ve also been fortunate to run into<br />
many artistic and creative landscape architects, architects,<br />
interior designers, a few really good general contractors,<br />
and many great subcontractors.<br />
I was lucky with the two different lady owners of this<br />
magnificent property, both so talented in many ways. It<br />
all started back in the 1980s. My brothers and I had just<br />
“gotten off the boat” from Ireland. The original client<br />
was Mrs. O, who asked us to install “a nice set of Indiana<br />
limestone steps, please.”<br />
Of course, we had no idea what Indiana limestone was.<br />
Thus began my journey of discovery of all things STONE in<br />
America. We installed those limestone steps, then sought<br />
the help of an artistic landscape architect and installed the<br />
swimming pool and tennis court.<br />
One day, the artistic Mrs. O telephoned me. She had<br />
sadness in her voice. She was selling the house but<br />
assured me that she would only sell it to a like-minded<br />
person.<br />
And she did. I will just call that second owner Mrs. A. She<br />
is a magnificent lady, very sharp, with an artist’s aesthetic––<br />
always working it, a real collaborator, a gem. We added<br />
four fountains, a stunning barbecue area, koi pond, new<br />
terraces, a courtyard, entry gates, and a stucco addition<br />
built by one of the best general contractors around––Rob<br />
Lawrence out of Westwood.<br />
The original project evolved over a decade and 28 years<br />
later, I am still involved with the client’s team, paying close<br />
attention to the home’s ongoing upkeep and working on<br />
a few new projects like adding a pickleball court to the<br />
existing tennis court.<br />
bostondesignguide.com 45
46<br />
bostondesignguide.com
The message that I’d like to get across to young construction<br />
professionals is that you can enjoy a long-term relationship with clients<br />
who will always come back to you if you build it beautiful and you build<br />
it to last. I didn’t invent that, I just learned from the masters who came<br />
before me. And I’ve had a lot of help along the way.<br />
Clockwise from left: A courtyard with fish pond<br />
connects two parts of the home; a tranquil fountain<br />
in the kitchen courtyard; an airy pergola<br />
offers a shady spot to sit by the pool; a dining<br />
pavilion on the property has a romantic, timeless<br />
feel; the greenhouse overlooks the tennis court.<br />
To learn more about O’Hara & Company, visit oharacompany.com.<br />
bostondesignguide.com 47
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE<br />
Behan Bros.’ skilled team of craftsmen has deep Rhode Island roots.<br />
“It’s all in the details,” says Garrett Behan. Garrett and<br />
his brother Mike Behan work as project managers at<br />
Behan Bros., Inc., the construction firm their father<br />
Michael Behan started in the 1970s. “All of our personnel<br />
take a very detail-oriented approach to every task they<br />
complete; every detail matters. This has been engrained<br />
in the company culture for over four decades.”<br />
Middletown-based Behan Bros., a leader in both<br />
residential and commercial building in Newport<br />
County, is regularly called upon to take on some of the<br />
region’s most ambitious and challenging construction<br />
programs—including the first LEED Gold-certified<br />
project in Rhode Island and the venerable Carnegie<br />
Abbey Club, now the Aquidneck Club. The firm builds<br />
several custom homes a year and frequently takes on<br />
nationally registered historic renovations.<br />
Most of the firm’s employees are native Rhode Islanders,<br />
which gives them intimate knowledge of the landscape<br />
in which they are working. It is a family culture: “Many<br />
members of the team have honed their carpentry and<br />
construction skills with Behan Bros.’ for 20, 30, or even<br />
40 years. This long-standing knowledge is critical to our<br />
success,” says Mike Behan.<br />
“Our customer service, experience, and commitment to<br />
quality are what set us apart, along with our ability to selfperform<br />
the most complex or critical details and facets<br />
of each project,” says Mike Behan. With a fully operational<br />
mill, a team of skilled carpenters, and several specialty<br />
tradesmen on staff, the company is able to ensure<br />
performance and quality are achieved on all job sites.<br />
For further details, visit behanbros.com.<br />
Photography Credit: Nat Rea Photography<br />
Architect: Union Studio Architecture & Community Design<br />
48 bostondesignguide.com
MICHAEL J. LEE PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
CREATE<br />
SOMETHING<br />
REMARKABLE<br />
BOSTON | 617-547-2800<br />
CAPE COD | 508-300-3000<br />
jwconstructioninc.com
Thoughtforms, in business since 1972, strives to<br />
build homes that will endure. “The goal is to create<br />
homes that will be enjoyed for generations,” says<br />
Mark Doughty, who believes strongly in the value of<br />
high-performance homes. Doughty and his team are<br />
well versed in building science, product and process<br />
innovation, and the lifecycle impacts of a home and they<br />
are always looking for ways to build better and to share<br />
what they learn.<br />
“The possibility of a great future is something that<br />
everybody has to participate in, particularly given<br />
the range of challenges society is facing. There is no<br />
reason for a custom builder today to not build a highperformance<br />
home,” says Doughty. “But not everyone<br />
does because there’s a lot of misinformation in the<br />
market. The decision to build a high-performance<br />
home is too often seen as a statement on people’s<br />
values, rather than what it truly is: an objectively good<br />
choice in terms of a family’s health, economics and the<br />
environment.”<br />
A high-performance home is one with “good bones<br />
and a strong cardio system.” The building envelope<br />
(the “bones”) is carefully air-sealed and is well insulated,<br />
not just in the wall cavities, but also with continuous<br />
exterior insulation and energy-efficient windows. The allelectric<br />
mechanical systems (the “cardio”) are typically<br />
smaller than systems in a less-efficient home and include<br />
dedicated fresh-air ventilation that brings filtered air into<br />
the living space, necessary to counter air tightness and<br />
also an opportunity to improve indoor air quality.<br />
“If you connect a high-performance home to renewable<br />
energy—solar panels on the roof or adjacent land or<br />
renewables on the grid—you can reach net zero,” says<br />
50<br />
bostondesignguide.com
Positive Vibes<br />
Mark Doughty, owner and CEO of<br />
custom builder Thoughtforms, creates<br />
homes with people in mind.<br />
Photography: Chuck Choi<br />
Doughty. A home that is net-zero produces as much<br />
energy as it consumes. For his own home, Doughty<br />
achieved net positive, meaning that the home produces<br />
70 percent more energy than it uses; with the extra<br />
electricity the family is able to power their home and a<br />
plug-in hybrid vehicle, while also banking credits with<br />
the electric company.<br />
“In my house, the biggest thing you notice about<br />
sustainability is that you don’t notice anything. It’s just<br />
our home. You’d have no idea it has high-performance<br />
attributes because it doesn’t seem any different inside<br />
or out,” says Doughty. “Living in a high-performance<br />
home, you have the comfort and emotional security of<br />
knowing you’re protecting the environment. Now we just<br />
have to figure out how to reduce the embodied carbon<br />
in construction…”<br />
For more details, visit thoughtforms-corp.com.<br />
bostondesignguide.com 51
Construction: MacCormack Builders; Photography: Bob O’Connor<br />
508-620-0775 | 93 Beaver Street, Framingham, MA 01702 | onyxgranite.com
Spring is nature's way<br />
of saying, "Let's Party."<br />
– Robin Williams<br />
Don't wait until spring to start planning your<br />
outdoor kitchen and patio projects.<br />
PRO<strong>VI</strong>DENCE | 401-421-5815 | 379 Charles Street, Providence, RI 02904<br />
BOSTON | 617-244-3900 | 244 Needham Street, Newton, MA 02464<br />
FINEHOMEDETAILS.COM
Ship Shape<br />
A FAMILY RELIES ON THEIR EXPERIENCE LI<strong>VI</strong>NG ABOARD BOATS TO BUILD A HOME THAT IS OF MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY.<br />
It’s no small accomplishment for a family of five to reside<br />
on a sailboat. “We figured if we could manage on a boat,<br />
we could certainly manage to live in a relatively small<br />
house,” says Chris Museler, who set about designing a<br />
sustainable home in Jamestown, Rhode Island with the<br />
help of architect Paul Weber.<br />
“The goal was to live in as small a space as we could get<br />
away with while still having enough room for the five of<br />
us,” says Museler, of this compact four-bedroom home.<br />
“We also wanted the house to be unobtrusive and recede<br />
with the woods; to look and feel as though it had been<br />
here for a long time.”<br />
Sustainability was a key object to the design of the home.<br />
All systems are electric—heat pumps, air conditioning,<br />
hot water, clothes dryer, lighting, cooking—and all run-off<br />
batteries supplemented by photovoltaic panels installed<br />
on the roof, says Weber.<br />
“The house is super insulated with double-thick exterior<br />
walls and triple-glazed windows.” As a result, the home<br />
is net-positive, which means it typically produces more<br />
energy than it uses over the course of a year.<br />
Weber devised a simple-shaped, narrow, two-story<br />
structure that echoes the extruded form of a barn with<br />
yellow cedar exterior siding offset by cementitiouspanel<br />
cladding. Utilizing a simple palette of materials<br />
helps ensure the home doesn’t feel extravagant or<br />
pretentious, says Museler, noting that the kitchen features<br />
a combination of European birch plywood and Formica.<br />
“Every space in the house is a multi-use space,” says<br />
Museler. The home’s one “grand feature” is a doubleheight<br />
vaulted ceiling in the living area. “As a result, we<br />
lost two rooms upstairs,” he says. “But if we find we don’t<br />
have enough space, that just means we need to get rid of<br />
some stuff.”<br />
54<br />
bostondesignguide.com
Kritsada photography<br />
Visit paulweberarchitecture.com for more information.<br />
bostondesignguide.com 55
781.861.0086 | brookesandhill.com<br />
Photo: Michael Moran/OTTO Photography
Color Makes<br />
a Comeback<br />
FRESH STYLES REPLACE CLASSIC KITCHEN<br />
AND BATH ELEMENTS.<br />
With custom styles and splashes of color, kitchen and<br />
bathroom fixtures are bolder than ever. Not only is color<br />
making a comeback, but the return of wood is too,<br />
according to Patricia Jones, vice president of retail sales at<br />
Snow and Jones, Inc. who is observing an increase in the<br />
demand for authentic wood vanities.<br />
Driftwood and washed gray tones, along with white oak<br />
are increasingly popular, says Jones, noting that wood<br />
warms up bathrooms, which tend to be among the coolest<br />
feeling spaces in the home. “For so long we were in a<br />
world of only white and gray vanities, but now we’re seeing<br />
more wood, which is long overdue.”<br />
Snow and Jones offers Bertch semi-custom vanities,<br />
available in a variety of wood tones. They also carry<br />
Victoria + Albert custom painted bathtubs, offered in<br />
volcanic limestone with 150 matte or glossy colors to<br />
choose from. The bathtubs demonstrate homeowners’<br />
willingness to incorporate more warmth and personal<br />
touch in the bathroom.<br />
“People used to be really focused on resale value and<br />
didn’t want to make a mistake in a renovation,” says<br />
Jones. “Now people are not afraid to be themselves.”<br />
Two-tone faucets are another way individuals are spicing<br />
up their spaces, which is seen particularly in urban areas,<br />
says Jones. Snow and Jones displays the Juxtapose<br />
kitchen faucet by Kallista, a black and brass two-tone<br />
faucet that is bolder and more colorful than a traditional<br />
stainless-steel faucet. Jones says, “The two-tone faucets<br />
offer a fun pop of color and contrast in the kitchen and<br />
bath spaces, which is refreshing.”<br />
Snow and Jones has showrooms on Cape Cod and the<br />
South Shore, for information visit snowandjones.com.<br />
Architect: Marcus Gleysteen; Interior Designer: Hurley Hafen; Photographer: Douglas Friedman Photography<br />
bostondesignguide.com 57
Photography by Keitaro Yoshioka<br />
58<br />
bostondesignguide.com
FRESH<br />
A JAMESTOWN KITCHEN OVERLOOKING<br />
NARRAGANSETT BAY EMBODIES ORIGINALITY<br />
PERSPECTIVE<br />
With its majestic ocean views, it was<br />
important that the elements of this<br />
kitchen in Jamestown, Rhode Island<br />
didn’t detract from the outdoor<br />
perspective. Equally important, according to Samantha<br />
DeMarco, the senior designer at Divine Design Center who<br />
was contracted by the homeowners to execute the first<br />
floor redesign, was that the kitchen exude a sophisticated<br />
minimalist aesthetic with a calm and inviting appeal.<br />
The homeowners are avid cooks who love to entertain,<br />
says DeMarco, noting that they were very involved in the<br />
design phase. “They wanted the kitchen to be reflective of<br />
them and it was important that it have a modern vibe.”<br />
Walnut continuous horizontal grain veneer frames the<br />
white matte lacquer cabinetry, exuding a subtle sense of<br />
warmth. All of the Doca cabinets feature custom Bunotte<br />
doors with cut-out handles that are discreet and sleek. The<br />
Arketipo Auto-Reverse sofa and the Leolux Parabolica add<br />
casual sophistication to the living room.<br />
The Gaggenau steam and convection oven commands<br />
attention. The hand-crafted steel and glass oven is a<br />
utilitarian work of art that is as efficient as it is luxurious.<br />
With a touch to open feature for ultimate convenience, the<br />
Gaggenau refrigerator and freezer are clean and minimal<br />
with no handles. The appliance is encased discreetly behind<br />
the white panels, creating no interruption in the cabinetry.<br />
The quartzite island, which has a full surface induction<br />
cooktop at the center, comfortably seats the family’s<br />
four children and also serves as a great spot for adults to<br />
congregate and entertain. Designed at a slight angle, the<br />
island is oriented to capture an expansive view of<br />
the water.<br />
“Working with my clients on this project was truly a<br />
rewarding experience in that we shared the same passion<br />
for bringing this design to life. It was extremely fulfilling to<br />
see it come together.” says DeMarco.<br />
To learn more about Divine Design Center, visit<br />
divinedesigncenter.com.<br />
bostondesignguide.com 59
Maryann Thompson Architects, Scott Norsworthy Photography<br />
96 SWAMPSCOTT ROAD, SALEM, MA 01970 | 781-592-3135 | GROOMCO.COM/BDG
EVERLASTING<br />
Landscapes<br />
Schumacher Companies<br />
focuses on cultivating<br />
grounds for longevity.<br />
A family business since inception in 1965, Schumacher<br />
Companies is a landscape construction and maintenance<br />
firm serving a high-end residential clientele throughout<br />
New England. With over 50 years crafting quality<br />
landscapes, it’s clear that the team knows a few things<br />
about longevity. The company has a keen understanding<br />
of the impact their work has on the earth.<br />
“Our goal is to be stewards of the landscape,” says Molly<br />
Hutt-Wardell, the maintenance manager for Schumacher’s<br />
Cape Cod division. “We have a respect not only for the<br />
client’s expectations and aesthetic, but for the ecology<br />
of the habitats we are working in.” This means that the<br />
company is committed to sustainable practices including<br />
using organic lawn fertilizers and vinegar to treat weeds.<br />
A focus is put on using native plant material in Schumacher<br />
designed landscapes as plants from other zones require<br />
more water and additional fertilizers to stay alive.<br />
Additionally, landscape teams double-grind leaves taken<br />
from a property into compost that is put back into the<br />
yard. Says Hutt-Wardell, “Taking raw material from a site<br />
and transforming it is creating a circular system—how we<br />
take what we have and utilize to the best of our ability.”<br />
“Education and science are at the forefront of what we<br />
do,” says Hutt-Wardell. “It’s a balance of maintaining the<br />
integrity of the landscape and horticultural principles while<br />
being a good steward.”<br />
Visit dschumacher.com for details.<br />
bostondesignguide.com 61
Quality Craftsmanship<br />
Warren Patterson Photography<br />
1545 Broadway Road Dracut, MA 01826 | 978-804-5083<br />
www.liencustombuilders.com
This smart home embodies modern technology and style.<br />
This Boston area residence, designed<br />
by Slocum Hall Design Group, takes<br />
cues from Prairie style architecture<br />
and elevates the definition of smart<br />
home to the next level. Concept<br />
Building and Systems Design and<br />
Integration collaborated on the<br />
building and integration of electrical<br />
devices for this home, using the<br />
latest technology. Work began in<br />
February 2019 and the project is only<br />
a few months away from completion.<br />
Jeff Capello, owner of Concept<br />
Building, and his partner Alan Baima<br />
have worked closely throughout the<br />
process with the owners of Systems<br />
Design and Integration, Alexa and<br />
Angel Centeno, whose company<br />
integrates smart home system technology into spaces.<br />
They worked together to ensure that by the end of this<br />
project every home automated function will be operated<br />
by voice, phone, or iPad.<br />
Josh.ai, a natural language processing technology, is used<br />
throughout the home for voice control that is natural and<br />
convenient. Savant home automation system and climate<br />
control provides comfort at the touch of a button and can<br />
be activated by the homeowners’ smartphones.<br />
The home also boasts Seura TV Mirrors, which are highperformance<br />
televisions when on, and stunning mirrors<br />
when off. Leon moving art lifts are also featured, using<br />
original art to conceal televisions so they blend into the<br />
home. Lutron lighting throughout the house is managed<br />
with the touch of a button, and Circadian lighting supports<br />
the human circadian system by reflecting strong light<br />
during the day and less of it at night.<br />
Artison invisible speakers are located in the dining room,<br />
hidden behind sheetrock so they seamlessly blend into the<br />
space. A dedicated home theater showcases a 120-inch<br />
screen and projector, creating a high-end entertainment<br />
experience.<br />
For more information, visit slocumhalldesign.com,<br />
conceptbuildinginc.com and sdiboston.com.<br />
bostondesignguide.com 63
CAPE COD, GREATER BOSTON & SOUTH SHORE, NH 774 255-1709 LONGFELLOWDB.COM
A R C H I T E C T & B U I L D E R
Welcome Home...<br />
to the place for creating a modern home.<br />
Our 8000 square-foot showroom at Battery Wharf is New England’s largest Modern Kitchen & Living showroom<br />
offering Europe’s top brands, including TEAM 7, LEICHT, MisuraEmme, Arketipo, Altamarea, Gaggenau,<br />
Thermador, Rolf Benz and Miele, for kitchens, bathrooms, furniture, and wardrobes.<br />
2 Battery Wharf, Boston, MA 02109 | 617-443-0700 | www.divinedesignbuild.com