A beloved family summer home is transformed to year-round use.
This project is a Comprehensive Master Plan, Design and Construction for The Red House, owned by Nils Johnson and Becky Buyers. The original 5-bay house was reportedly built for Col. Samuel Nevers and his wife, Esther Trull Nevers, in 1805; a 2-bay Ell was added to the house in 1840.
In 1960, Nils’ parents purchased the historic farm and lovingly returning to it with their family each summer. Locally known in Sweden as “The Red House,” in December 2021, Becky and Nils acquired the house.
After spending several months exploring the house in its historic location, with a series of additions, the Owner opted to move the house off its foundation to a new location about 300 feet away, away from the road, and onto to a rise in the land that allowed full-on views of the local mountain range and sunsets.
The house is fully insulated, air sealed and provided with new, historically derived windows. A new geothermal system and solar roof panels heats the house and provides all of its electricity. The original house was restored, including plaster wall repair and replacement, and the addition was designed to be compatible and open for a new glass-filled living room oriented to the view.
In lieu of the historic rubble basement the Red House boasts a wonderful, tall-ceilinged walk-out basement below the house and addition.
Exposed post and beam construction was coupled with conventional framing to allow the interior to tie-in seamlessly. The original kitchen was restored to a function as a modern kitchen, with the great cook fireplace central to the room. Cabinets and millwork became critical as paneled for compatibility.
View progress on this project on the owner’s blog.
