The Craftsman

This new home north of Boston was carefully designed and detailed to fulfill the homeowners' desire for a craftsman aesthetic, while at the same time accommodating their need for wheelchair accessibility.

The home is situated on a corner lot highly visible from the main road, but meadow covered and sunny. Thoughtful consideration was required as to how the house would achieve the look of a craftsman – while complementing its neighbors – and how it would appear from multiple angles on the lot. In addition, restrictions on construction on the lot, both natural and regulatory, required a thoughtful approach to siting the house on the land. The result is a stylish and approachable home that relates comfortably to the neighborhood and its own surroundings.

Several custom details were employed to allow for a barrier-free experience for the owner, both within the house and flowing out to the land. Design strategies included flush thresholds at all doors, both interior and exterior, as well as custom foundation details, and a residential elevator connecting the living levels of the home to bedrooms above.

The main bedroom suite on the first floor is a peaceful retreat, removed from the active and vibrant kitchen and living areas so to achieve a feeling of privacy and rest, an oasis from the bustle of daily life in the rest of the home. The accessible basement is home to a woodshop and physical therapy room.

At the exterior, the wraparound covered porches are the main focal point, and the ramp features are inconspicuous. The connection to the porches from the inside allow the homeowner to move outside seamlessly and experience the calm of the pastoral backyard with ease.