Our cabin in the woods project is shaping up to be a lovely retreat for our clients. The progress being made will upgrade and maximize our client’s comfort and relaxation in this place. This project has been another enjoyable experience of designing to achieve our clients dream lifestyle on another beautiful property.
Our design process began by analyzing the site and looking at the existing conditions and structure. We talked about the way they ideally want to live in this place, and developed concept drawings to continue the conversation. One idea lead to another and we continued to hammer away at the changes and details until we finally arrived at the “just right” design for function, comfort, and budget. We were able to work through the interior design process with our client’s both virtually and with some in-person meetings to determine the perfect design aesthetic for their cabin. It’s a rewarding experience when our team can collaborate and provide clients with many options to consider to achieve the best solution while keeping tabs on their budget.
The results are now taking shape as the framing is complete and the drywall is being installed. We are looking forward to seeing how Integrity Custom Builders brings our drawings to the final reality. Following the process and working with both the builder and client during the construction process has allowed everyone to keep on tack and very importantly, on budget. We have fielded questions (the inevitable type that always come up during renovations), recalibrated if product availability has changed, and offered options for the best possible solutions. We love working with a builder that has an open communication systems to keep everyone informed about progress and clients that engage in the reason behind the design. This cabin is going to feel spacious and inviting while maintaining a comfortable footprint. The clients will be able to entertain, unwind, and enjoy this beautiful property to its fullest potential once construction is completed.
We had a beautiful day checking in on our #hilltophouse and we are excited to see this design come to life. This home is located in a special place for clients Charles has known for many years. It has been fun working through the design goals to create the just-right solution for this family and we know they will enjoy time together here for many years to come.
The exterior walls are draped with framed views of pastoral landscapes and the Massanutten Mountain Range. Capturing these views with large windows creates a direct connection to the outside, where they plan to spend much of their time. A wrap-around porch will be added to give a variety of covered and uncovered spaces to gather. The design centers around connecting as a family and we know this will become a hub for numerous gatherings.
Pictured above, Sauder Builders is hard at work executing the design plan. This is our first project with Larry and his team and their attention to detail is showing through the framing process. It takes many discussions and decisions to determine how the details will fit together to allow our clients the best possible outcome when the project is completed. Although challenges will be incurred, it takes this integrated team approach to deliver amazing results. Stay tuned for more updates on the #hilltophouse as we will be sure to share as progress continues!
We had the pleasure of stopping by our Blue Ridge Mountain Home project and were thrilled to see the final stages of construction wrapping up. It is a special experience to walk through and experience this new home after carefully crafting the design with our clients. To catch up on the earlier stages of this project and learn more about the floor plan, visit the entries here and here.
As this project hits the final stretch, we are excited for our clients to live the life they imagined in this space. Between the open and flexible floor plan combined with the integrated building science system, we are proud to see this durable design come to life. Partnering with Herr and Company to build the project gives us confidence that the client will love the results.
We love the natural light flooding into the open kitchen and living room that gives way to a breathtaking view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The skylights above the family room will maximize natural light within the family room and can also be found in the second-floor master suite.
The rear porch of this Blue Ridge Mountain Home gives plenty of room for entertainment and a covered porch in case weather rolls in.
The welcoming large front door is perfectly situated to welcome the homeowners in with storage, drop zones, and a mountain view.The greenhouse on the back of the garage will absorb plenty of sunlight and sits in front of a magnificent view.The breezeway provides a covered route from the detached garage to the home.
These photos are from our Meadow Branch project in Winchester, Virginia where “green design” meant focusing on tree-saving measures. At first glance, these aerial photos capture the beginning phases of construction, but the real story is these beautiful oak trees and the surrounding trees around the property boundary. Preserving these trees and incorporating the centuries-old landmarks into the center of the site was critical to this design.
The above photo shows the trees remaining at the center of the site.
These photos show Phase II of the Meadow Branch project progress and you can catch a glimpse of our design for Phase I completed in the background. If you look closely, you can see the orange fence line outside the boundaries of the drip line. This extra care to preserve the historic trees along with the technical expertise of the arborist involved will give the trees the best chance of survival. We always enjoy seeing aerial photos of our projects taking shape, thank you KBS Builders for these photographs!
Phase II of Meadow Branch Apartments with Phase I completed in the background.
As this project continues to take shape, we are looking forward to seeing these trees become a central part of the design!
We are grateful for the string of modern home designs we have been trusted to work on over the years and now the modern house on the mountain is taking shape. Surrounded by a stunning backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this modern home takes advantage of the magnificent views and is designed for family living. In addition to the modern aesthetic, the homeowner plans to build a few custom details (not in place yet, but we are excited to share these later.) Some of the other modern homes we designed can be found here, here, here, and here.
Charles recently visited the site on a foggy day as the foundation went in. It was great to see the closed-cell foam vapor barrier installed below the basement slab. This will keep the basement efficient and comfortable once construction is finished.
The framing is well underway and the form of the house is starting to take shape. This home along with the next-door home we designed, has spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The design of the home frames the views while providing distinct spaces for the life these clients want to live in this place. Many of the design elements are centered around spending time together as a family, enjoying their hobbies, and appreciating the surrounding landscape.
The clients have specific uses planned for this detached garage that will enable them to thrive in this space.
Amongst the many activities that will take place in this room, the clients will be able to soak in these beautiful vistas.
Of course, this room feels like you are floating in the trees, can you imagine sitting here and reading as the sun sets?
The vaulted ceilings with exposed beams offer warmth and bounce the light deep into the space.
As the house continues to take shape, we love how it fits on the site and captures the views.
Our first house in Elk Rock Meadow has made some great progress since our post about the framing being in progress HERE. The Blue Ridge Mountain Home update shows that the cabinets are set, insulation fills the walls, and the roughed-in HVAC system is installed. These photos from a few weeks ago show an important stage of construction. First, you can see that the house wrap is installed allowing vapor to move through the walls. This particular house wrap has a very high permeability rating which is very important in our climate to maintain durability over a long time. With our multiple vapor drive seasons in this mixed humid climate, we want walls to be able to dry both to the inside and outside. We spend a lot of time thinking through this building science challenge.
This is also the perfect time to check out how the ductwork is installed and just as important, protected. You can see that there is mastic at all joints allowing the air these clients are paying to heat or cool to get to the room it is designed to go to make it more efficient. I was also pleased to find the ductwork sealed to prevent drywall dust from entering the ductwork. This extra step is critical for a healthy and durable HVAC system when the system is turned on post construction.
We were also able to see the insulation installation. This is just as critical as the house wrap in a total building science system. A complete installation fills and fits all gaps and cracks to prevent air leakage.
Finally, it was a great chance to see the cabinet installation in progress. The fit and finish of the cabinetry show the quality and care that Herr and Company put into their projects. Of course. the other items listed above also highlight the quality of construction being provided to these clients.
