Washington, Connecticut Farmhouse by Elizabeth Roberts Architects

New York-based architect Elizabeth Roberts is no stranger to heritage buildings, having restored and renovated dozens of the city’s historic townhouses over her 30-year career. In this project, an 18th-century farmhouse in Connecticut, her time-tested skills are elegantly adapted to a bucolic setting.

In the foreword of Collected Stories, the new monograph by Elizabeth Roberts Architects, Wendy Goodman dubs Roberts a “house whisperer”. This rings true at Washington, Connecticut Farmhouse, where Roberts allowed the dwelling’s history to guide her scope. “Typically, buildings are changed, added to and remodelled,” she says. “The amount of deterioration, original detail and the desired future use of the building often tell us how much to save.”

“Typically, buildings are changed, added to and remodelled,” says Roberts. “The amount of deterioration, original detail and the desired future use of the building often tell us how much to save.”

Originally built in 1783, the dwelling had undergone a series of changes over two centuries, including a sensitive renovation and extension in 1900 by renowned Connecticut architect Richard Henry Dana. Yet the home’s lack of cohesion and outdated features prompted the clients to engage Roberts, who says that, although “the owners wanted to retain as much of the historic detail as possible, they wanted a home suited to contemporary – not colonial-era – living.”

Restoring the home to its former grandeur while ushering it into a new era proved extensive, and the original post-and-beam structure was completely reconstructed to accommodate new energy-efficient systems, windows and insulation. Inside, the large brick chimney has been returned to working condition, as has a wood-fired brick beehive oven in the ‘great room’. Many of the home’s original features, including wood floors, doors, hardware, panelling and trims, have been lovingly restored.

Roberts’ knack for marrying old-world charm with a sense of modern resolve is prevalent throughout the five-bedroom home.

The most significant intervention was the addition of an expansive, glazed, north-facing room that houses both the kitchen and an informal gathering space. A freestanding timber dining table grounds the room, while benches line the perimeter beneath wraparound windows. “The clients asked for a really functional kitchen where the family could gather and eat casually,” says Roberts, describing the extension as “a version of a sunporch with a ton of natural light and views”.

Roberts’ knack for marrying old-world charm with a sense of modern resolve is prevalent throughout the five-bedroom home. Decorative heritage elements commingle with contemporary details and fixtures, resulting in an interior that feels authentic and layered. What’s more, the colour palette of cream, sage green and navy blue feels fresh and modern yet complements the home’s historic bones. “I’m probably most proud of the fact that when people drive past the house it looks as though it hasn’t been altered,” says Roberts. “Even though we did a ton of work, it still appears as a modest, old farmhouse in the country.”

Architecture and interior design by Elizabeth Roberts Architects. Build by West Mountain Builders. Landscape design by Daryl Beyers Landscape Design & Development.