Farmhouse Reimagined

This project in tranquil, picturesque Wenham, Massachusetts, began with a clear intention: to preserve the spirit and scale of a modest 1840s Greek Revival farmhouse while crafting a home that could support the evolving needs of a young, modern family. The original structure—charming and compact—stood at just 21 feet from grade to ridge, with low second-floor walls and ceiling heights far below today’s standards. It was never designed with code compliance or modern comfort in mind. Yet it held an undeniable character, one that the homeowners, Hanna and Ross - and Senior Architect Rick Bernard - were eager to honor.

The challenge: how to create new, functional spaces—spacious enough to meet contemporary standards—without overwhelming the historic home. Our response was a series of quiet architectural moves rooted in humility, craft, and collaboration.

Respecting the scale of the Greek Revival farmhouse, we designed a one-and-a-half-story ell that echoed the scale of the original structure. This ensured that the addition wouldn’t visually dominate the existing structure, and it allowed us to stay within a roofline hierarchy that felt natural and historically appropriate. To further reduce massing and support the interior program, we extended a porch-like roof along the south façade of the ell—providing cover for kitchen, dining, and sitting areas, while subtly softening the addition’s profile.

Perhaps the most defining gesture was the introduction of a “barn” element: a new volume clad in weathered shingles, angled off the axis of the original house. The angle was deliberate. It resolved several site and program constraints: it respected the existing driveway and parking area; made the new entry clear and welcoming; and visually broke up the scale of the rear elevation, especially when viewed from the south-facing yard.

Importantly, the barn’s placement allowed us to tuck two full-height floors into the natural slope of the site—taking advantage of topography to reduce the perceived height of the new construction. It was a fortunate alignment between site and intent: to create something new, yet rooted and respectful.

An expanse of glass allows the primary family spaces to connect to the outdoor living spaces. Connecting to the landscape was of great importance as was reducing the environmental footprint employing passive solar gains, abundance of natural light, deliberate material selections, and maximizing the area of photovoltaic panels on the roof.

The design process itself was iterative and highly collaborative. We sketched by hand over site plans developed by Peter White (the homeowner’s father and landscape architect), explored forms in section, and refined ideas through 3D models that allowed us to visualize proportions, connections, and the evolving relationship between building and site. These tools were essential in solving the project’s biggest design questions—balancing scale, entry sequence, and indoor-outdoor flow.

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A Living Landscape: Family, Flow, and Function

Landscape Architect Peter White of ZEN Associates—also the homeowner’s father —brought an intimate understanding to the project. His design reinforces the seamless indoor-outdoor relationship that defines the family’s "every day" life.

Natural materials, unfussy plantings, and a series of purposeful outdoor "rooms" support the family's rhythms: raised garden beds for fresh herbs and vegetables, a chicken coop, meandering stone paths, and a boulder-edged patio for gathering. Hanna's art studio, nestled just steps from the main house, allows creativity to blend effortlessly with family life.

As Hanna describes it, "Our yard isn’t for show. It’s to be lived in every day. It’s just another room."

The result is a deeply personal family HOME. A home that honors its past while embracing a creative, family-centered future. Its forms are familiar yet new. Its materials weather gracefully. And its architecture supports not just how the family lives—but how they want to live.

More than a renovation, this is a reimagining of what it means to live connected to history, land, and each other. It’s a home that holds memory, makes space for growth, and supports the full expression of the lives within.

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Team:

Architecture: Benjamin Nutter Architects, Ben Nutter and Rick Bernard

Landscape Architecture: Zen Associates, Peter White

Builder: Howell Custom Building Group, Susan Seligsohn Howell

Interior Design: Belhaakon, Kelly Healy

Photography: Nat Rea