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Cole Harris Associates

Cole Harris Associates

Brilliant Architecture - Westport, CT

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Designed with simplicity and precision, wrapped in nature, inside and out

September 12, 2019 by cole harris associates

The HOBI Award-winning kitchen in Osprey, with custom cabinetry is superbly simple, yet remarkably functional.

Every home’s property has its own identity and our Osprey project is characterized by its unique water environment and wildlife ecosystem. It was important for us to find the connections and relationships between the interior space and the outdoors and to reflect this in the design…

The success of this house is how it integrates into the site — how the experience of the site comes into the house and vice versa. We named this house Osprey because of the Blue Herons, Egrets, Bald Eagles, and Osprey we observed nesting nearby…

This home is the epitome of a natural water environment and surrounding wildlife. The project is named after the Blue Herons, Egrets, Bald Eagles, and Osprey nesting nearby.

Because the architecture is very specific to the environment, every line of sight within Osprey was important to capture. Every single room has a water view, and some rooms actually have 3 completely unique perspectives of water surrounding the property. The exquisite light, at all hours of the day, is a spectacular complement to the construction itself. 

Wrapped in nature, large trees and 5 perennial gardens with black-eyed susans and Russian sage provide beauty at all hours of the day and in all seasons.

Outside, the house has a homey, farmhouse vernacular — a crafted feeling drawn from the lakefront atmosphere of the property. The materials and elements on the outside are rustic including exposed rafter tails, a yellow cedar roof and regional, split granite stone. There are five perennial gardens with sprays of Black-Eyed Susans and Russian Sage. We also added a green roof system — a large planter with vegetation that blooms all year and provides the home with greenery high above the ground floor gardens. The driveway splits a single perennial garden into two halves.

A farmhouse feel incorporates rustic elements such as exposed rafter tails, a yellow cedar roof and regional, split granite stone. Perennial gardens and a green roof system bloom all year round.

A large hickory tree and a large European beech tree, original to the property, remain as part of the heritage. Finally, the outdoor family entertaining area sports a pool with an automatic cover, a sun deck with covered area, and a grassy lawn for play.

A spacious outdoor family area sports a pool with an automatic cover, a sun deck with covered area, and plenty of a grassy space for kids to play.

Osprey’s interior captures a similar rustic vibe with white oak flooring and artistic light fixtures which reflect elements found in nature. The carefully chosen staging by Leah Ward from LTW Design also captures the holistic, connected feeling.

The captures a similar rustic interior has white oak floors and artistic light fixtures that mimic nature and capture the holistic, connected feeling of the property.

The home is split into an informal and formal halves. The formal dining room and living room provide a private space for adults. A see-through fireplace separates this area from a secluded study.

The home is divided into formal and informal sides, with a formal dining room and living room separated from the study by a see through fireplace.

The informal side includes the breakfast nook, kitchen and family room, communal areas for the family to gather. The award-winning kitchen, reflects themes of nature with its custom cabinetry and artichoke light fixture.

The award winning kitchen breakfast nook and family room where everyone can gather at family time.

A two-story family room, adorned with a floor-to-ceiling stone hearth, opens up onto its own covered porch. The second-floor loft overlooks the room and sits across the green roof — which flowers throughout the summer and fall. The native driftwood chandelier was sculpted by Caroline Harris and Ryan Gusson, and celebrates the property’s natural surroundings.

The spectacular, two-story family room features a floor-to-ceiling, stone hearth and custom-made, native driftwood chandelier. The room opens up onto its own private porch with remarkable views.

Upstairs, a custom-built steel railing system leads you to a second-floor landing and multiple bedrooms. The aforementioned loft can be converted to a perfect homework area by closing the oversized barn door.

A custom-built steel railing lines the second-floor landing, which leads to a loft with an oversized barn door.

The master suite boasts clean shiplap walls and white oak floors. This large space has a modern, remote controlled, gas fireplace and a large wooden chandelier. The accent wall behind the bed is lined with a Phillip Jefferies wallpaper. The muted, oyster shell pattern once again connects the home to its environment and pay homage to the oyster and clam beds found in the surrounding pond. Walk out onto the private, master deck to be surrounded by nature and incredible views.

Shiplap walls adorn the master suite along with a modern gas fireplace and a large wooden chandelier. The Phillip Jefferies wallpaper integrates a muted, oyster shell pattern represent the oyster beds found in the nearby pond — which can be seen from the private deck.

We are proud that this home won HOBI Awards for Best Spec House Over $7 Million and Best Kitchen in the state of Connecticut! While designing this home, every element of the property was considered to capture and to maximize its extraordinary qualities. The morning, afternoon, and evening light, the water views and lush greenery are all paramount to the experience of not only being inside the house, but actually living in each room.

View the full Osprey photo gallery in the portfolio…

Tagged With: LTW Design

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Cole Harris Associates
2 Riverside Ave, Westport, CT 06880
203.226.1830
sharris@coleharris.com

Photo Credits
Austin Eterno Photography
Daniel Milstein Photography
Paul Warchol Photography
John Gould Bessler Photography
Jeff Roberts Photography

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