Marion New Contemporary Residence

Situated on a gently sloping 8-acre lot in Marion, Massachusetts, where tranquil woodlands meet the water’s edge, this home stands as a haven of contemporary living. Designed for a creative couple who work from home, the residence creatively blends the natural surroundings with highly functional, open spaces, creating a harmonious environment for living, working, and pursing personal passions.

Elegant Woodland Retreat

Set in a serene wooded setting, this home presents a clean, understated facade that opens to a refined entryway and garage. Above, a gracefully floating roof and clerestory windows hint at the expansive, lofty interiors beyond.

At the rear, the design truly unfolds, with the roof soaring to create expansive window walls that open up to a secluded natural sanctuary. The living room, dining room, and kitchen flow seamlessly, yet each space retains its distinct identity through varying ceiling heights and unique focal points. This open arrangement enhances the connection to the surrounding landscape.

Bringing the Outdoors In

The living and dining rooms are enveloped by glass walls that bring the outdoors in, while sliding glass doors open to an expansive deck and the natural setting, creating a fluid transition between inside and outside spaces.

Dramatic Focal Points

A dramatic feature wall is the focus of the main living space, artfully separating the living room from the dining area. On one side, built-in TV and speakers cater to entertainment needs, while on the other, the wall transforms into elegant cabinets with countertops, elevating the dining experience. This key design element exemplifies the deliberate integration of form and function throughout the home.

Acoustic and Visual Harmony

The upper ceiling is finished with acoustic wood boards, which not only baffle sound but also provide visual continuity between spaces. This purposeful use of materials creates an environment that is both acoustically pleasant and aesthetically cohesive. The kitchen, tucked under the lower ceiling, features clerestory windows that allow daylight to filter in from above.

A Kitchen for Two

The kitchen, tailored for two cooks, features a long galley sink equipped with his and her faucets overlooking the front entry court and garden. The central island with cooktop facilitates social interactions while providing views of the family room and the surroundings. A lower seating counter provides a comfortable area for eating and mingling.

Sleek Architectural Design

Gently sloping rooflines, floor-to-ceiling glass, and angled walls define the home's exterior, in a dynamic interplay of architectural forms. The use of stucco and porcelain cladding, high-performance metal windows, standing seam metal roofing, and composite decking creates a sleek, durable, and low-maintenance exterior.

A Modern Screen Porch

On the opposite side of the two-sided fireplace in the family room is a screen porch, elegantly finished to match the house, offering a comfortable year-round outdoor living space. The fireplace hearth extends to form the outdoor kitchen, blending functionality with design continuity onto the deck.

Expansive Outdoor Living

The indoor living space opens onto an expansive deck that is bordered by a reflecting pool, introducing a serene water element close to the home. The angles of the house plan continue in the lines of the deck, seating areas, steps and pool, creating a cohesive connection between the interior and exterior environments.

Tranquil Master Suite & Versatile Bedrooms

The master suite is a private retreat, with a niche that frames and centers the bed on picturesque garden views. Secondary bedrooms are designed with a Jack & Jill shared bath and bonus loft space, providing comfort and extra sleeping area for guests.

Personalized Interiors with Inviting Touches

The home is filled with personal touches that bring the interiors to life and encourage daily use. LEDs accentuate a solid glass vessel sink, mirroring the glow of the under-vanity lighting. A vibrant laundry room adds energy to this utilitarian space and seamlessly connects to a sunroom, creating an lively area for exercise.

Enhancing the Live-Work Connection

A naturally lit, spacious hallway provides access to the bedrooms, garage, and artist’s studio. Showcasing an array of paintings and art pieces, this naturally illuminated passageway serves not only as a central corridor but also as a private art gallery, enriching the home's cultural and aesthetic appeal.

Artful Entry Foyer

The hallway culminates in the entry foyer, highlighted by a grand pivot door with frosted sidelights, dark coat closet doors customized with back-lit art vignettes, and glass display shelves.

Sheltered Access Points

A deep overhang at the front of the house creates a welcoming and sheltered transition area, while a roof cut-out allows ample sunlight to reach the kitchen window and plants below. Throughout the house, roof overhangs protect doorways from inclement weather, enhancing both functionality and aesthetic harmony.

Accessible Entry Court

The entry court provides access to a four-car garage, with additional navigation to the adjacent car court, an outdoor area designed for working on cars, and a secondary entry point.

Vehicular Indoor-Outdoor Flow

Given the client is a car enthusiast who builds and fixes cars, it was essential to provide relatively flat driving access and dedicated areas for working on cars, both outdoors and indoors. The back of the garage opens to a car court facing the artist's studio. Both spaces feature overhead doors, allowing for easy movement of cars from the garage to the car court and onto the car lift within the studio.

The Artist’s Studio

The artist's studio, the ultimate man cave, features an expansive translucent skylight that bathes the interiors in soft natural light. The skylight provides museum-quality daylighting and enhanced thermal performance, ensuring visual comfort and minimal heat gain for optimal working conditions. Accessed from an adjacent home office, the studio is equipped with a wood and metal shop, a finishing area, a clean room, a car lift, and a storage mezzanine, making it a versatile space for a wide array of creative endeavors. The studio, clad in industrial black corrugated metal with exposed steel beams and concrete floor, exudes a cool modern vibe.

Pathways to Nature

Following a stone-walled ramp from the deck leads further down to a picturesque footpath under a woodland canopy. This path meanders to the water’s edge, offering a tranquil escape and intimate contact with nature. The design of this residence ensures that every journey through the property is an experience in itself, blending modern amenities with natural beauty.