“The way I work is I like to get a picture of something, then back into the details. That’s how Aharon works. I would ask him a question and 15 minutes later, I knew all about the counter surfaces or types of tile I was considering. That’s what I need. It’s extremely valuable to find someone who is willing to spend that kind of time helping me learn. When a contractor comes in, he naturally wants to know where you want something, but the project at my house expanded to the point where I needed more guidance and support.
Anyone who visits instantly falls in love with this beautifully sited home perched above the Connecticut River with stunning sunset views of the Vermont hills. We wanted to make sure the house itself fully celebrated the location and gave all who visited a warm sense of home. We relished the opportunity to create a sophisticated and inviting space for entertaining guests or welcoming home adult children.
Sometimes we are the first people to touch a project, and sometimes we are brought in to work with contractors and builders who have already begun the process of transforming a space into one that reflects the client’s wishes. Both types present their own sets of challenges and each offers its own flavor of reward.
Imagine this scenario: You’ve just had your home completely redesigned—kitchen, living space, dining room—and you’re ready to enjoy the gorgeous results of all your dreaming and planning. You sit down to an elegant meal at your dining room table and gaze out a large bank of windows at . . . the very uninspired scene of a stone patio populated with last year’s furniture and tired potted plants.
When a potential client first approaches me about design, we have a conversation. It doesn’t matter if we are designing a new home from the ground up or simply replacing a few key items, developing a relationship is a crucial part of the process—it’s foundational.
Nine years ago, a family visiting the Upper Valley from Manhattan stopped by our showroom. They were renting a vacation home on a farm in Vermont that we had designed and had looked us up. I came to realize that the sense of “home” we worked so hard to create in the place they were visiting had made a significant impact and spurred thoughts of how they could bring that same feeling back to Manhattan.
I always mark my calendar and look forward to the annual Architectural Digest Design Show in New York City. It comes at a perfect time—when it’s not quite spring up here, but I’m ready to be done with New Hampshire winter. The show is full of inspiring new innovations and designs. This year was no exception.
When I first walked into this Sunapee kitchen, I could tell this was a kitchen that had seen thousands of family dinners, where parties and informal gatherings had budded and bloomed, where a busy family had landed after weekend days full of skiing. It was a space of love, complete with worn Formica and aging appliances.