There are a lot of reasons to like a cedar shingle roof. Here's one more. A light dusting of snow reveals the texture and hardy character of a weather-worn material. For more shots of the recent snowstorm that battered the East Coast, be sure to check out The New York Times reader-submitted photos "Picturing the Blizzard."
Design Snapshot: Another sweet entry porch
You might classify this entry as an “integral” porch. Unlike some porches which are applied to a home as a separate entity, this entry porch is integral to the house since there's living space above it.
As part of a two-story bay of sorts, it projects toward the street and takes advantage of the space above it to give it greater prominence. The scalloped shingle skirt, below the sills of the second-floor bay windows, helps announce the entry with a flair of flare. The windows in the entry sidewall contribute a playful indoor/outdoor feel to this semi-enclosed entry porch. Paneled half walls appear poised to embrace guests. Chamfered post and panel details are enhanced by a dynamic paint-color scheme. Together, the quirky elements of this diminutive entry suggest a storybook cheerfulness.
by Katie Hutchison for the House Enthusiast
Design snapshot: Siting inspiration
Click on this photo to see it in the KHS photo note cards/prints gallery.I imagine most folks associate Martha's Vineyard with summer. Not me. It’s a favorite winter place. It’s quiet then, rugged and achingly beautiful. When I came upon this frozen dinghy, cozying up to some rocks in Lobsterville, I was reminded why I’m so taken with the Vineyard this time of year.
Brimming with ice, the boat was parked almost as firmly on the beach as the dark, worn rocks it had chosen for company. Frozen water had found level in the old beached vessel. A pattern of lapping waves in the sand swirled around the boat’s bowed sides and neighboring rounded rocks. By contrast, the square edges of the boat’s seats betrayed our often orthogonal constructs. The combination of curves, both natural and man-made, and straight or level surfaces, both natural and man-made, transfixed me.
When I look at this photo today, it seems a model of sympathetic site design. I will tuck it away in my visual memory to tap into when pondering how to create a future site design in which a human intervention resonates with its natural environment.
by Katie Hutchison for the House Enthusiast
Design snapshot: Chimney tale
Now that we’re well into fireplace (and Santa) season, I’ve got chimneys on my mind. Often the most we see of a chimney is the three feet or so which extends above a roof top. End chimneys, however, can have a larger impact. This brick chimney with stone and ceramic accents is a standout.
It carves a unique silhouette with two primary tapers below the eave line and two subtle tapers toward the cap. The unusual mix of material and color, coupled with the unique arrangement of components, teases our curiosity. What is meant to occupy the herringbone niche at second-floor level? What is the meaning of echoing the herringbone pattern above the niche? How do we explain the placement of the stone elements?
This chimney seems to be telling a story. Perhaps the two solitary rocks are eyes in an upside-down face, featuring a niche nose and ceramic “o” mouth above a herringbone goatee. Or perhaps I’ve seen too many of those smiley-face Amex ads.
Whatever its story, this chimney reveals the human hand and spirit at work embellishing and communicating through abstraction. It’s an imaginative, compelling expression. If only more chimneys exhibited such exuberance.
by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast
Design Snapshot: Entry porch essentials
A pleasing entry needn’t be grand. This one, on a favorite house, offers entry essentials with grace, ease, and comfort.
The integral shed roof, which extends from beneath dormer window sills, is just deep enough to provide shelter over a brick entry stoop. White, wooden brackets and rafter tails modestly highlight the point of entrance. Spare, white, wooden benches offer a place to rest a package or await a visitor. High bench-backs double as guard rails and help frame the doorway. Narrow sidelights provide a glimpse inside and of approaching guests outside. The intimate scale is both personal and inviting.
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 (just like the street number here); provide shelter, a welcoming flourish, and a place to rest something or for someone to rest. Enter and enjoy.
by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast