History
The house was built in 1985. It was designed by renowned VT architect John Anderson. The house is sited on one of the last lots developed in the Hill section of Burlington. There were two previous owners before us: the Stoltenburgs, who built the house, and the Weiss family, who lived there for several years before selling the house to us in 2003. We were drawn to the house for many reasons, among them being its distinctive design and the unique combination of privacy and accessibility to downtown.
Fastforward to the present. The house as it stands today is essentially a new house. What started out as an addition and a floor plan modification quickly became a full-scale overhaul. The house retains the signature “telescoping” rooflines, but other than that it bears little resemblance to the house we purchased. Our goal with the renovation was to create a home that delighted the senses, using light and space, wood and stone in a clean, understated design. To use a cooking analogy, we wanted to create a house that was like a memorable meal, prepared simply with the freshest organic ingredients.
In the course of the renovation, all major systems were replaced. The electrical, plumbing and heating systems are all new and improved. All decisions were made with long term durability (and low maintenance) in mind, from the Western Red Cedar siding to the handmade Spanish Cedar windows and doors to the standing seam Copper roof. From a structural standpoint, the house is, if anything, overbuilt. Under the graceful, warm finishes lurk substantial steel I-beams and a carefully engineered skeleton. A quick visit to the mechanical room in the basement speaks volumes about the care that went into the guts of the house.
We also attempted to take the “green” route as often as possible. The house is insulated with low-toxicity icynene blown foam insulation and sound-proofed with recycled denim insulation. The mechanically controlled rolling blinds along the front entry hall use natural woven material. Much of the cabinetry in the house is of old-growth Douglas Fir reclaimed from the beams of old warehouses. The kitchen, dining room, living room and study use extremely durable end grain Larch block flooring sourced from Timeless Timber, a company that retrieves well preserved old growth timber from the bottom of the Great Lakes. All wood used in construction that wasn’t reclaimed is certified sustainably harvested.
The house is full of custom touches. The hardware on doors, cabinets and drawers is hand-forged by Sun Valley Bronze – there is an undeniably pleasing tactile quality to this hardware not found in machined metal. The two French doors that separate the stair tower from the dining room are highlighted by amber handmade glass inserts. The stair tower landings are lit by beautiful spherical handblown glass ceiling lamps. All sconces in the bathrooms are handmade. The handblown glass sconces that line the front entry hallway are circa 1940’s France and the pantry features beautiful leaded art deco glass ceiling lamps. Instead of typical four blade fans, the house employs vintage style, mahogany two blade fans. The master bath boasts a stunning handmade teak soaking tub that echoes traditional Japanese style soaking tubs. Sonoma cast stone counters, Vola bath fixtures, handmade subway tile, silk wallpaper, linen curtains, recycled glass tile, and many more unique touches.
The landscaping received as much attention to detail as the house itself. The first step was to revamp and expand the perimeter drainage. We then brought in extensive fill on the south and west sides of the house to increase the level outdoor space around the house. These expanded areas are shored up with expertly built, substantial retaining walls of locally quarried fieldstone. The stone walls and patios are the defining element of the outdoor landscape, providing the “bones” for the extensive array of plantings. Most of the perennials, shrubs and trees are native and were purchased from local nurseries. The landscaping palette is, like the house itself, understated and full of subtle touches. A carefully choreographed sequence of blooms unfurls as spring gives way to summer and finally to fall. We chose plants that maintain their charm throughout the warm season and are as pleasing for their foliage and structure as for their blooms. Highlights include several different types of dogwoods, a tulip tree on the South lawn, a variety of hostas, hydrangeas, ferns, and a wide range of groundcovers.
Another crucial change we made was to re-route the drive to create more privacy. Originally, the drive exited directly to the street, leaving the house very exposed to passersby. In the course of renovating the house, we purchased the house immediately to the South (we’ve since sold it) and granted a perpetual easement to 673 S. Prospect to allow for the winding drive as it now exists. We filled in the old driveway with a dense array of plantings, including pine and spruce to create a year round natural privacy screen. All that remains from the original drive is a small footpath off the sidewalk.
The Western side of the house features a dramatic Western Red Cedar pergola that frames a gracious gathering area around an outdoor fireplace. Nearby sits a small outbuilding that continues many of the architectural themes of the house – the Japanese-style roof overhang, the copper roof, the bold lines. Inside is a quintessential wood-fired sauna room with changing area flanked by an outdoor “cooling area” with louvered privacy fencing and showers. The sauna was created by a local sauna artisan. With its traditional layout and lovely cedar aroma, the sauna would be quite at home anywhere in Scandinavia.
What this all adds up to is house so intricately and meticulously constructed that it feels like a big piece of furniture. A large, roomy house that feels cozy. A house that is at once cutting edge and earthy.
