Turns out human beings have a tendency to gravitate toward trios—musketeers, little pigs and BLTs, for example—and hence the popular expression “good things come in threes.” Architect Ted Porter, who admits to a propensity for triads, pursued that very idea when called upon to expand a property with a single barn used as a residence into adequate space for a family of six. Rather than adding onto the existing structure, he determined three barns would be better than one. As he explains, “The barn is such a nice compact gabled form, I thought why not make one for all the main living spaces, redo the original into a bedroom barn, and create a third building with a garage and separate guest suite.”
The homeowners, a young couple with four children who planned to use the Litchfield County property as a weekend and summer home, readily embraced the concept while adding their own goals. “We wanted to honor the history and pastoral quality of the surroundings, and establish a connection to the beautiful landscape,” says the homeowner. “It was Ted’s idea to create a breezeway to establish harmony with the environment.”
What Porter refers to as “the sleek, slick glass connective piece,” is in fact the kingpin that ties the three barns with matching black Accoya siding and anodized standing seam metal roofs together. “The original barn had shingles, but we put Accoya everywhere,” he says about the wood product that has been charred and altered to make it highly durable. “It doesn’t need to be painted or treated over time, and the black is stunning against the lush green summer backdrop, equally beautiful with fall’s reds and oranges, and spectacular during a winter snowfall.” The architect also resurrected an existing circular driveway, so upon arrival visitors look through the breezeway to the 20-acre property, which further cements the home’s relationship with its surroundings.
The new staircase—constructed of two-inch-thick solid white oak treads set on painted white risers and black-painted steel spindles—is in keeping with the home’s neutral color scheme.
Intentionally unfussy, the sitting area in the living room includes a RH sofa and a contemporary wingback by Cisco Home next to the Stûv fireplace, while a pair of RH armchairs are positioned for enjoying the view.
Natural oak cabinets, a black stone countertop and light fixtures by Marset continue the natural oak, black-and-white theme in the kitchen.
A pathway of blue stone pavers leads to the white brick steps and the breezeway that serves as an entryway and connector to the three structures.
A Barn Light Electric gooseneck light complements the Accoya siding.
Architect Ted Porter opted to replicate an existing barn form to create three buildings each with a designated function. The Accoya siding is from reSawn Timber Co.
In the primary suite, existing beam work frames the bed and side tables from Williams Sonoma.
Matching beds from Matrix define the sleeping quarters for the homeowners’ two boys; the ceiling fan is from the Minka Group.
For the boys’ ensuite bathroom, the homeowner chose LiLi encaustic cement tile in Twinkle pattern.
The interiors of the original barn, which housed a living room, kitchen, three bedrooms and a tiny stair, provided a jumping off place for the ensuing members of the triad. “We changed the windows but kept the structural timbers that were old and beautiful,” says Porter, who reconfigured what became the bedroom barn into a primary suite and home office on the lower level and two children’s bedrooms with ensuite baths upstairs. A new stair composed of solid white oak treads and black painted steel spindles was situated on the north wall to capture natural light from the windows. “Moving the stair from the center of the barn freed-up space to make all the bedrooms bigger,” he adds.
Triple-glazed, divided-light windows clad in anodized metal and new structural beams and woodwork continue the Shaker style in the main barn, where the living room, dining room and kitchen reside. “The interior architecture is minimal but with some articulation like the woodwork and lots of big white surfaces for art,” says Porter, noting the window style is an intentional nod to the New England vernacular.
Finishes like the plaster fireplace wall, locally milled white oak floors, and custom oak kitchen cabinets complement the unpretentious spaces. “The kitchen was a chance to bring in more wood and reference the outdoors, while the black faucets and painted metal light fixture in the adjoining dining room provide a striking contrast to the white walls and the scenery visible through the windows,” Porter says.
Meanwhile the homeowner, who stepped in to do the furnishings, opted for neutral upholstered pieces in the living room, and curved white wood chairs surrounding a wood table in the dining area. “This is a family environment, so I wanted to bring in warmth,” she explains. “There is such a simplicity of form in the architecture and real magic in the landscape. The furnishings and finishes were all about complementing both those elements.”