new modern house

located at the base of elmore mountain, this contemporary family home is oriented to take full advantage of the panoramic views of mount mansfield. high-performance wall and roof assemblies, passive solar design and the use of natural and durable materials all contribute to the energy-efficiency of this home. the open living spaces are flooded with daylight through floor-to-ceiling windows. wrap-around porches extend indoor and outdoor living spaces.

new construction

located in the foothills of the worcester range overlooking mount mansfield, this single family home sits lightly on the land at the edge of a treeline. the house features state of the art insulation and air sealing combined with solar-powered heat pump technology. the simple form of the exterior is compromised of durable, low-maintenance materials. dramatic cantilevers create a floating deck and covered roof to extend indoor living spaces. a guest suite is located behind the garage, connected to the house with a covered walkway.

new construction

set on a gently sloping site, this house is designed to take advantage of sweeping views towards mount mansfield. large windows and sliding doors fill the interiors with south and west light and connect interior and exterior living spaces. a robust thermal envelope and carefully detailed air sealing create a comfortable and energy-efficient house.

a new, compact energy efficient house built on an existing foundation in rural vermont. interior living spaces feature an open plan with abundant natural light and a palette of simple modern materials.

new construction

this lakeside home was re-built on an existing footprint overlooking lake champlain and the adirondack mountains. the home's design integrates with the terraced landscape, balancing the privacy of the interior spaces on the east (public) side of the house with the full glass walls on the west (private) side.

photos by susan teare

interior renovation

this modern kitchen and master bathroom remodel was the result of a great collaboration with the homeowners. the kitchen features minimalist details and white cabinetry with walnut accents. wrap-around windows flood the interior spaces with abundant natural light while providing sweeping views of the distant adirondack mountains.

photos by lindsay selin

new house overlooking lake champlain

this new home is built on the footprint of a dated mid-century house. set on a gently sloping site within a tight-knit lakefront community the design, the design of the house balances site constraints and programatic goals. designed with sustainability in mind the house features state-of-the art wall and roof assemblies and solar panels on the south-facing roof. natural materials complement the surrounding landscape.

photos by ryan bent

renovation project

this renovation project updated a mid-century home to reflect the lifestyle of the new owners. opening up the kitchen, living and dining room flooded the interior spaces with daylight while creating a larger living space for a family that loves to cook and entertain. the kitchen includes a separate bread-baking station adjacent to large pantry cabinets.

photos by ryan bent

an extensive interior renovation project to open up and modernize the main living spaces. many interior walls were removed and a clean, simple palette of materials was used to unify the interiors.

timber frame house renovation

"we sought an architect with a deep understanding of contemporary design and the ability to respect & integrate that with the existing bones of the house. our hope was also to more appropriately 'ground' the house to be part of the landscape instead of sitting on top of it. our vision became a reality because of brown + davis." 

this project unfolded in two phases. while relocating to vermont our clients found this property and fell in love with the land and location. however, they found the existing timber frame house to be dark and dated.

the first phase of work focused on the house and included a gut-remodel of the interiors, removing walls, adding new, larger windows and a new kitchen. a new, large screen porch connects the interior space to a new deck and adjacent land. the second phase of work included a new garage and entry courtyard.

lighting design and photographs by Tim Mathiesen. 

interior renovation

"your living room looks like a shack"

this frank appraisal from their granddaughter was the final motivation for lassie and john to proceed with the latest phase of renovation work on their house.  as you can imagine, the focus of this phase was the living room, including a new stair and second floor loft space. we removed a low wall railing and replaced it with a new walnut and blackened steel rail that opens up the space.  the small stair is new and features floating walnut treads around a central blackened steel panel.  the new gas fireplace has a blackened steel and walnut surround. 

in previous renovation phases, we focused on a guest suite including a new bathroom and a new master bathroom.

new modern house

"WOW, WOW, WOW!!! The house is FANTASTIC! ... We really have been thrilled."

nothing makes us happier than happy clients. we had a great time working with our clients on this project. they love design and asked us to create an energy efficient, distinctive house that showcases this love of design. we enjoyed the opportunity to engage many of our favorite local craftsmen and artisans to bring this to life.

the house features SIP wall panel construction with an exposed steel frame that creates a dramatic two-story open living space on the upper level. bedrooms are tucked below on a walk-out ground floor. the house achieved passive house standards for air tightness.

design new england, january/february 2015 article titled: "custom wow"

awards:

2014 aia vt citation award for excellence in architecture

2013 hbra people's choice award for best overall project

2013 hbra energy star energy efficiency award  

photos by jim westphalen

interior renovation

"our new space is beautiful....open and airy, with a good vibe. we're delighted with the results, and would say to anyone considering engaging brown + davis design: DO IT!"

whole house renovation and addition

"you turned a drab, tired ranch house into a lovely, handicapped accessible, contemporary home that I am proud to own, and happy to come home to every day."

thanks, sandy.  it was a real pleasure to work with you on this project and re-imagine this house so it works for your family both functionally and aesthetically.   

our favorite quote from this project came from sandy's young daughter after seeing the new kitchen:  "look mom, now there is a place for me to hang out with you in the kitchen while you make dinner!"

whole house renovation project

while our clients initially rented this house, when the opportunity to purchase came around they jumped at the chance to make this former camp into a modern and energy-efficient structure.  the design intent for the renovation was to provide more open and modern living spaces with improved connections to the outdoors. fundamental to this was a desire to maximize the western (lake) exposure and to provide as much natural light as possible to the interior spaces. finally, the entire project team (owners, architects and builders) were committed to creating an energy-efficient house.

on the first floor, interior partition walls were removed to create an open-plan series of living spaces that create a feeling of spaciousness and allow for views through the house. the existing garage was transformed into living space with the installation of a glass and aluminum overhead door and dubbed the “motorcycle cafe” by our clients as a way of connecting to the street life of the neighborhood. careful detailing throughout ensured cost-efficient construction while enhancing the overall design intent.

photos by susan teare

new modern house

our client for this house grew up in austin, texas, surrounded by contemporary architecture and a thriving art scene.  as a metalsmith and artist himself, kirk has continued to cultivate this early exposure to design and when it came time to build his own house here in vermont, kirk knew he wanted something that spoke to this modern aesthetic. 

the result is a small, efficient and distinctive house located on what was one of the few vacant lots remaining in burlington. the house is raised up above the ground on exposed steel beams that rest on a grid of nine precast concrete piers. the house appears to float, interacting gracefully and gently with the land. the front porch cantilevers out from below the house and does not touch the ground at all, creating a subtle yet profound transition from the city sidewalk to the entry. the energy-efficient house is made of low maintenance, modern materials and features many custom steel pieces fabricated by kirk.

the house has received local and regional press, here's a sampling:

Design New England, May/June 2013 article titled:  "A Contemporary Home in Burlington, Vermont, Breaks the Boundaries of the Farm-and-Barn Vernacular"

Burlington Free Press, August 7, 2010 article titled: "Metalsmith Melds Modern and Warmth in his Dream House"

Seven Days, July 14, 2010 article titled: "A 'Renegade' House Rises in Burlington"

new modern house

renovation

"thanks so much for all of your help with the various pieces of our mammoth rehab. we are very happy with the results....WE LOVE IT!"

interior renovation

this renovation involved the reconfiguration and relocation of several spaces. the kitchen was moved from a dark, back corner of the house to a more central location and is now directly connected to both interior and exterior living spaces. white oak cabinets with black steel detailing introduce a modern aesthetic into this century-old house.

photos by susan teare

interior renovation

"I LOVE OUR HOUSE....JUST LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. I can't say enough positive about working with you two from start to finish."

thanks josee, we love to hear from our happy clients!

josee, her husband peter (a restauranteur) and their daughter love the setting of their house in rural vermont, but found the interiors to be dated, cramped and inefficient. during this gut renovation, we removed many interior walls and added new windows to open up the interior spaces and enhance the connection to the outdoors.

while peter had very specific requirements for the kitchen design, josee had a strong desire for modern finishes for the interiors. we satisfied both, using a palette of white oak cabinets, white oak floors and white marble countertops. these new materials, combined with new lighting and white walls create a clean, light-filled contemporary interior ideally suited for both their family life and frequent dinner parties.

the living room work includes a new woodstove surround and firewood storage box made from blackened steel. there is a concealed door behind the firewood to allow for easy loading of new firewood directly from the outdoor porch. new white oak cabinets combine open shelves for books and photos with concealed storage for the entertainment system.

a new modern house that is a contemporary interpretation of a vernacular vermont farmhouse.

center for dance and the performing arts

a new dance and performing arts center located in jericho, vermont. this 6,500 square foot building includes four dance studios, offices and gathering spaces for dancers.