Hillside Farmhouse

This house aims to capture the modest spirit of a New England farm while offering a bit more elegance inside. The classical entry portico is a discreet clue to what lies within.

Anchored to the land on a craggy stone foundation, Rocksyde sits perpendicular to the seacoast, addressing the waves below like a ship’s prow. A black and white floating staircase inside is inspired by the horizontal stripes seen in the layers of rock found in a canyon. Southern sunlight filters through the stairway to all three levels of the house.

Farm Villa combines imagery of the New England farmhouse with that of the Neoclassical European villa. Columns vary according to a hierarchy of formality: plain square white columns for the entry porch, monumental paneled columns for the view-facing porch, and locally-milled timbers with metal connections for the outbuildings.

We seamlessly transformed a beloved summer house built by our client’s grandparents in the 1920’s for year-round living. The house was slightly reorganized, gutted and insulated, but all the wood trim, doors, windows, and hardware were restored and reused.