Restoring a dilapidated 19th century brick farmhouse and barn to their original condition was challenging. But the owner stuck to his original vision and used his skills as a general contractor to transform a crumbled dwelling into a rural Maryland paradise. The owned and his family (who wish to remain anonymous) had already begun to renovate the bricked-up farmhouse when the structure gave way. “We were well on the way before the house collapsed,” the owner said. “We decided to reuse the main structure and rebuild it.” In the process of recreating, and then adding onto the original house, he found a new home for many of the old bricks and timbers. Working with designer and architect Sarah Fretwell, the owner reinvented the space from scratch. He repurposed original materials – including wood planks and beams, bricks and barn tools – to create a 6,000 square foot sprawling country manse that effortlessly fuses old into new without the slightest hint of pretension. He turned down plans for a circular driveway and a fountain, opting instead for a more casual, “lived-in” feel. “That’s not what I was going for,” he said. “The views are all natural landscape. We want to live here.” Together with Fretwell, they focused on the details to bring a livable elegance to the rooms. “I was creating a country estate and it was essential to make the furniture look like it had been in the family for years,” said Sarah Fretwell. “The dining room table top is fashioned from wood from the original house.” Five Star Farm, as it is now called, features details like the stars on the brick arches, a constellated globe chandelier and bricks from the original house set in a herringbone design around three fireplaces. Beams were salvaged to top some rooms while others have ceilings with a more conventional and updated feel. The formal dining room – with its vibrant red tones and a china closet that spans an entire wall – became home to salvaged floor-to-ceiling cabinet from another room. Colors transition well from bright to neutral, without clashing because of the way Fretwell approached the project. Her process included putting every piece of furniture in place at the blueprint stage. In addition to the colors, the rooms are stepped down in places to evoke a gradual progression that leads to the slate patio and pool in one direction or down a hall through the master bath to the bay window over a tub. “Every room was treated independently to work together,” she said. “I placed scaled down photos of lighting fixtures on the plan.” If you’re up for watching the game, that’s best accomplished in the newly refurbished barn. The owner contacted an Amish farmer for his opinion on the structure -which was listing to one side and ready to fall down. “He told me to build another one,” said the owner, who didn’t take his advice. The unique “log barn” on a stone foundation was one of the only ones in the area. The owner removed the weight from the top and pushed the walls back into their original position. The space now includes a basketball court above and a game room beneath with the rustic designs of the original stone walls highlighting the décor. “This is a project we dream about,” said Fretwell. “They are a wonderful family and it’s a terrific house.” Design Resources Sarah Fretwell is a member of the Designers Network Network Contact: Dawn Newman www.designersnetworkonline.com 401-964-5724 Great Room: Lighting and Lamps: Progress, Currey and Company – Lillian August Walls: Brick recycled from original farmhouse and Aged Plaster: Lance Dixon Floors: Recycled 100 year floors (client) Case goods: Hillside, Andre, Regency House and Hekman Upholstery: Paul Robert Fabrics: Beacon Hill, Pindler, Robert Allen, Fabricut Bar: Ambella Art over Fireplace: Natural Light Rug: Orient Express Trim and Ceiling Paints: Benjamin Moore Dining Room: Lighting and Lamps: Progress – Currey and Company Floors: Recycled 100 year floors (client) Case Goods: Hillside Furniture Company Repurposed Original Corner Cabinet and Trim – Faux Finished by Lance Dixon Upholstery: Hillside Fabrics: Beacon Hill, Fabricut Ceiling Paints: Ralph Lauren Kitchen: Co-designed by Sarah Fretwell and Rob Vivian Floors: Recycled 100 year floors (client) Granite: Verde Fuoco and Absolute Black Walls: Brick recycled from original farmhouse and Aged Plaster: Lance Dixon Ceiling: Jaima Brown and Faux Finish Cabinets: Wood Harbor Appliances, Wolf, SubZero, Sharp MW Drawer Barstools: Designmaster Fabric: Robert Allen Master Bath Floors: Honed Durango CB Floors Painted Cabinets: Wood Harbor Lighting: Progress Tub and Fixtures: American Standard and Maax – Nolands Faucets: Moen Mirrors: BMC Fabrics: Beacon Hill Walls: Venetian Plaster Lance Dixon
