Project Description

This new three bedroom, three bath contemporary home was built on the foundation of an old summer cottage on top of a mountain with panoramic views over Lake Candlewood.  The owners are both commercial architects who designed the house for themselves as a weekend home now that will become their retirement home when they are ready.

Special Features:

  • Open concept living/dining/kitchen area
  • Raised ceilings with built-in high shelf to display owner’s antique radio collection
  • Sunroom with glass roof and folding glass doors
  • Dumbwaiter for moving heavy objects to the 2nd floor
  • Main staircase has steps with reduced rise and extended run for effortless stair climbing
  • Fiber cement clapboard and panel siding
  • Stainless steel flashing and scuppers
  • Propane fireplace can heat the entire house in emergencies
  • Back-up generator

Green Building Approaches:

  • Flat roof is ready for future solar hot water or PV for electricity
  • Tile floors on 1st floor rest on 6” of rigid foam insulation installed over an existing slab
  • 10” double wall framing, insulated with dense-pack cellulose
  • Continuous adhesive membrane wraps the walls to achieve exceptional air-tightness of 0.4ACH50 that exceeds Passive House standard
  • Canadian fiberglass triple-glazed windows with u-values of 0.18
  • Fiber cement siding installed over ¾” drainage plane
  • Condensing propane boiler provides HW for space heating and domestic water
  • Home is heated by hot water radiant floors and hydro-air forced-air system
  • Central dehumidifier ties into air handler
  • Energy recovery ventilation