Luther Paul Weber, A.I.A. Architects

A modest Cape Cod farmhouse in the foothills of the Blue Ridge served this family with five children as a retreat from the city for many years. However, as the family grew, married and grandchildren arrived, it could no longer house the entire family at one time. The idea of renovating an old small horse barn into extra rooms for the kids and their families evolved into thoughts of a new cabin that would be oriented for better views of the distant hills. However, these concepts divided the family into separate quarters and did not create a large enough space to accommodate a family gathering. So we considered enlarging the original house to provide sleeping quarters for the entire family and a great room in which to gather without changing its scale and character as an old farmhouse. They also wanted to take advantage of beautiful views without looking like a large beach house. The final concept removed a small porch and kitchen appendage while encapsulating the original house on three sides. This preserved the character of the front entry and two large English boxwood plantings dear to the family. The new kitchen, great room, study, balcony, rear screened-in porch and outdoor fireplace terrace are all situated to take advantage of the mountain views to the east.