The House

27 Treaty Elm Lane is designed to embrace the beauty of simple natural materials, open spaces, and carefully thought-out systems for health and comfort.  Inspired by Sarah Susanka's The Not So Big House, every aspect of the design aims to maximize space, making use of the entire footprint (and the vertical space) to accommodate the way a family lives.  The result is environmentally sustainable, aesthetically delightful, and lovingly suited to the needs of a family.   

Consistent with the principles of green building, the house sits on the site of a previous structure.  That building, from 1959, was taken apart piece by piece and recycled or reused whenever possible.  In some parts of the structure, studs were left standing and became part of the current home; in other parts the old house was removed down to the foundation.  The foundation was repaired and extensive drainage was installed.  All wiring, plumbing, systems, and materials other than the foundation and some studs are new since 2004.

Careful attention has been paid to the flow of the home and to creating spaces that enhance family interactions.  The main room of the house allows for multiple activites (cooking; working; projects; relaxing; music) in spaces that are connected but delineated.  The master bedroom suite is a retreat-within-a retreat, placed apart but not isolated, at the top of the spiral stairs, with a sleeping-loft at the very peak of the home.  The two addtional bedrooms are on the main floor to allow for a connection with the heart of the house, so childrens' spaces are private but not cut off from family activity.  Along with the guest space and study, these bedrooms and a full bath are in a small wing off the main room, and this wing would also readily house an elderly parent or anyone who needs a main-floor bedroom and bath.

• Large, warmth-filled, open-plan central space, with the Tulikivi at its center, accommodates multiple individual activities, small gatherings, or larger groups. 

• Three bedrooms; 2 1/2 bathrooms; study; guest loft; open-plan living/dining/kitchen; lower-level entrance with mudroom, mechanical room, full basement; one car garage; ample storage throughout.  2531 square feet, not including basement (1731 square feet), lofts, and garage.

• Oversized kitchen island for cooking or entertaining. 

• Kitchen designed for multiple cooks, with two sinks, six burners, large open work-spaces, and a huge built-in window seat.

• Nooks for desks and seating areas

• Varied ceiling heights, carefully devised to allow for a sense of separate spaces within the larger room and for both warmth and expansiveness. 

• Sleeping lofts in every bedroom (with a special-treat hatch between the children's lofts, just for fun) maximize floor-space and allow for multiple uses.

• Spiral staircase maximizes available space and efficient heating.

• Full basement with work space.
  
   
• Extra loft over study for guests, and a secret "retreat" area for meditation or quiet solitude.

• Master bedroom suite: stunning bathroom with stone floor and tub for two, large sitting room, "tree house" sleeping loft with expansive views to the north.