WHEN THIS NEW HAMPSHIRE COUPLE started thinking about renovating their multigenerational country home in Wilmot, two words kept coming to mind: accessibility and timelessness. “We wanted to make sure the home would continue the deep sense of history and country living embedded in its storied foundations, with an agelessness that would last through generations,” one homeowner says. “We knew we wanted it to serve as a multigenerational gathering place that would feed the human spirit.”

The property had been in the family since 1912, with the original house having been converted from a schoolhouse to a modest, rustic cottage tucked in the mountains, where generations gathered among its familiar walls. The house was never winterized, which meant it was only useable from May to October. So when the current homeowners inherited it in 2000, they started thinking about deconstructing it to make it a permanent, year-round residence. They spent more than five years developing a vision that would give them a solid foundation on which to build, and they worked with Bonin Architects in New London to bring that vision to life starting in the fall of 2018. Their plan: build a new, country-inspired home with reclaimed and repurposed materials from the old home that paid homage to their family history and the wonders of nature.

Above: Designing the main living space around the fieldstone fireplace helped the homeowners include past generations into the new home. Far left: Interior spaces were designed with an eye for modern country farmhouse living, both relaxed and timeless.

“Having a home that exudes warmth and hospitality is important to us,” a homeowner says. “We wanted to make sure that a variety of spaces was designed to support and foster quiet, alone time; intimate conversation; creative energy; and social gatherings for small and large groups, while also being able to easily enjoy the rolling landscape outside our windows. We wanted every space to be comfortable and convenient for all age ranges coming through our doors.”

Accessibility was important to the couple from the start. “From the outdoor landscaping to the indoor design process, we wanted to make sure that the indoors were in constant harmony with the outdoors,” principal architect Jeremy Bonin says. “An elevator, ramps and appropriate detailing were a few methods of creating an inclusive environment, while material selections— such as reduced VOCs (volatile organic chemicals)—in construction and finishes to give a healthier indoor environment. This level of intentionality throughout keeps the landscape and the homeowners happy and healthy.”

Project manager Jude Dallaire says the couple’s focus on continuing the traditions of the original home to be inclusive for all family members provided a strong starting point for the initial layout and form. “Salvaging the fieldstone fireplace built by the first owner in the family, hand-hewn timber frame, windows, doors, barn board, cast-iron sinks and a claw-foot tub were vital to the building process,” Dallaire says. “Designing the main living space around the fireplace in roughly the original location helped the homeowners include the decisions of past generations into the new home. With the new home being composed partially of salvaged material, it was natural for us to be able to continue in that spirit.”

Through the front door, visitors are welcomed by a natural entryway with warm, wood tones for the flooring and a vintage area rug for an energized, yet cozy look. As you walk into the living room, you are greeted by sweeping views of the mountains and the salvaged fieldstone fireplace from the original home. “Spaces like the living room and dining room have large windows to create a comfortable axis from the front to the back of the house,” Dallaire says.

“This is where more formal functions occur as well as being the first impression when entering the house, and where most of the original components are preserved.”

That cozy, relaxed feel continues with the interior design. The plan—created by Melissa Hammond, of Hammond Design in Alton—was to balance the old with the new. She achieved this by taking inventory of the homeowners’ furnishings, artwork and treasured antiques to use as a starting point for each room.

“The reclaimed wood beams in the living room ceiling and gunstock posts in the hall helped set the soft tone for the design for the rest of the house,” Hammond says. “We were also able to use reupholstered or refinished furniture to bring a fresh look and life to each space. We chose Benjamin Moore’s White Dove for the trim and painted cabinetry for the whole home for its warmth. Rich reds, deep blues and terracotta rounded out the color palette in the living and dining areas, and we carried that color palette into the kitchen, breakfast nook and sitting area in softer, lighter tones. We knew that the couple enjoyed cooking and entertaining, so we kept the overall kitchen and informal dining areas simple and inviting, letting each space speak for itself.”

The kitchen and surrounding spaces were created with features that gave the homeowners a sense of ease when they are hosting. “The kitchen and its relationship to the adjacent spaces allows for large groups to congregate while meals are prepared,” Bonin says. “The kitchen is designed to meet these needs, providing ample storage and workspace, customized built-ins and seating for four at the island. The pantry provides additional storage for bulk items and appliances, providing the kitchen with uncluttered space for a variety of entertaining needs. We were also able to use reupholstered or refinished furniture to bring a fresh look and life to each space.”

Making good use of space by using unique furnishings and architectural details was a big part of the vision, and was even more important in the bathroom, bedroom and master bedroom designs.

“The principal master bedroom suite features all antique and repurposed furnishings from their previous homes,” Hammond says. “We used a grandmother’s framed, embroidered art piece as our jumping-off point for the color palette in this space, and were able to carry the taupe, gray/brown, green, blue and mauve from the living room upstairs, but in a softer, pastel tone. We used a mix of metals in bronze and pewter tones for lighting and plumbing fixtures to bring a balance of texture to the bathroom, and we chose Imperial Danby marble from Vermont for the countertops as a local and sustainable resource. When it came time to design the other bedrooms, we used fun patterns on window treatments and bedding to keep things fresh, and we picked rugs for each room for the starting point for the color palette.”

While the rugs and furnishings bring a sense of balance to each space, it’s the repurposed seasonal Currier & Ives frames that anchor each room. “We thought it would be fun to name each guest room for each of the four seasons,” says one homeowner. “Then, we uncovered the prints, packed up the furnishings from the old house and knew it was meant to be! We put each framed print on the door to the room for the corresponding season, and it’s so much fun to have our family come and hear them claim the ‘winter room’ or ‘fall room’ for their stay.”

Attention to detail can be seen everywhere in the home—from the neutral, earthy tile patterns used in iterations for the floors, to bright and vibrant shades to emphasize the energy that the lower level possesses for games, crafting and exercising. Each space seamlessly transitions into the next, allowing for an even greater sense of ease blending the interior in with the exterior.

The exterior landscape features similar styling as the interior—a low-slope roof, low-slung seating, a low-set patio and screen porch maintain unobstructed views. Ramps leading to the terrace, hot tub and screen porch keep everything accessible to the entire family.

“There is a nice honesty of structure built into the outside of the house and land surrounding it,” landscape architect Greg Rusnica says.

“It was built with durability and functionality in mind based on the extreme conditions of the site. For example, patio and walkway surfaces are pavers, retaining walls are New Hampshire fieldstone, stone steps are solid bluestone and the garden fencing we used is rot-resistant cedar.”

Bonin Architects team from top down:

Jeremy Bonin
principal parter and lead architect

Jude Dallaire
project manager

Gregory Rusnica
landscape architect

The couple’s commitment to sustainability is further reflected in the green-roofed potting shed.

They also wanted an active landscape that supported their hobbies, like gardening. “We made sure we included elements like the green-roofed potting shed and fenced vegetable garden,” Rusnica says. “The plantings are heavy with perennial flowers, many of which are great for arrangements to be brought into the home. Blooms stagger throughout the summer so the landscape is always colorful and ever-changing.”

One thing the country retreat has proven: Rebuilding and transforming a home doesn’t mean you have to lose the original home’s unique charm along the way. “It’s important to have a team around you who can bring their own unique skills and talents to the project, from the planning to designing,” says the homeowner. “We are grateful to have a finished home that will evolve as our family does, changing as we do. We look forward to continuing to welcome family and friends into our home to relax and enjoy its whimsical character, deep history and modern comforts for years to come.” NHH

RESOURCES

Bonin Architects • (603) 526-6200 • boninarchitects.com

Hammond Design • hammonddesign.net

Landforms Ltd. • (603) 228-2858 • landformsltd.com

Old Hampshire Designs, Inc. • (603) 526-6945 oldhampshiredesignsnh.com