This modest, Colonial style home was designed in 1978 by famous local architect Alfred A. Scheffer and his nephew, Greg Zwirko. The house was designed specifically for its year-round occupants -- a dentist, who practiced from home, and a painter, whose studio was situated next to the garage for its southwest exposure. The house was built on an agricultural field, which remained largely untouched by its first owners.
Thirteen years later, Richard and Susan Furlaud purchased the two-story house with single-story eat-in kitchen extension. For 26 years, they used it as a respite from their busy lives, enjoying weekends and summer escapes with their two children. With time, the family knew the house did not fit their long-term needs -- both in its limited size and its relationship to the surrounding fields.
Susan longed for a private guest suite and more opportunities to enjoy the yard, while Richard needed a dedicated office space. They decided to move forward with a two-room addition in 2017, with the added goal of opening the house up to the landscape to take better advantage of the pleasures of summer.
This happy project spanned two years of design, building, furnishing and planting in a highly collaborative effort between ABA Studio, the Furlauds, and the contractors. In the end, the project accomplished all of its original goals and more. Once a seasonal weekend destination, the house and gardens have become a place the whole family looks forward to visiting more often, all year-round.