Classic Case

2 MIN READ

Brian Vanden Brink

Before the owner of this Maine shorefront property had a plan for his house, or even an architect, he invited builder Jay Fischer to walk the land. When Fischer asked what sort of building he had in mind, the owner pointed across the cove to a classic 19th-century farmhouse and said, “There it is.” From that encounter emerged two ingredients that would prove crucial in producing this instant classic on a relatively modest budget: early input from the builder and the model of a simple house built in frugal times. Both made architect Dominic Mercadante’s job easier. Fischer was on hand to provide cost feedback during the design process, and the things that made wood-frame farmhouses inexpensive to build 150 years ago still apply today.

“It’s a traditional building, so it was relatively easy to put together,” Mercadante says. Two-by-ten floor joists determined the 14-foot width of the house’s two wings. The house went together without any steel beams. The owner did his part by remaining flexible about his wish list and holding the line on product selections. An oversize second-floor landing, which doubles as guest space, takes the place of a planned third bedroom. Mercadante specified quality plumbing fixtures, but with the exception of a tub in the master bath, nothing “really extravagant.” Pedestal sinks save both space and the cost of vanity cabinets. “The appliances are nice, but there’s nothing over the top.” Bathroom and mud room floors are linoleum and all the millwork is paint grade.The owner spent a little extra where it would have the most impact, springing for granite kitchen counters and cherry floors. But, as Mercadante says, “He was willing to give up some other things to make that happen.”

Project Credits
Builder:
Cold Mountain Builders, Belfast, Maine
Architect: Dominic Mercadante, Belfast
Living space: 1,400 square feet
Site: 1.5 acres
Construction cost: $135 a square foot
Photographer: Brian Vanden Brink

Resources: Bathroom plumbing fixtures: Kohler; Dishwasher: KitchenAid; Entry doors: Marvin and Morgan; Hardware: Baldwin; Insulation: Owens Corning; Interior doors: Simpson; Kitchen plumbing fixtures: Kohler and Moen; Lighting fixtures: Juno and Urban Archeology; Linoleum flooring: Forbo Marmoleum; Oven: Thermador; Paints: Benjamin Moore; Patio doors, windows: Marvin; Refrigerator: Amana; Roofing: Byrd; Wood stove: Vermont Castings.


The Rail Thing

Closed stair railings are fast and cheap to build. The problem is, they usually look that way too. To give the finished look of an open stair rail while saving on labor, architect Dominic Mercadante says, “We opted for just a little gesture of a balustrade.” A couple of balusters, a simple newel post, and a short run of curved handrail did the trick. A cherry tread that wraps the corner to become a bench adds both function and visual interest. The result looks highly crafted, “but the pieces themselves are very simple.”

About the Author

Bruce D. Snider

Bruce Snider is a former senior contributing editor of  Residential Architect, a frequent contributor to Remodeling. 

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