A Litchfield County Guest House Surrounded by Nature

West Mountain Builders worked with a local company to source a commercial curtain wall system from Germany. “The sliding doors operate quite easily,” says West Mountain Builders’ Eliot Johnson. The deck and patio areas are flanked by walls of local fieldstone—a nod to the old stone walls on the property.

Opposite the kitchen are the sunken living and dining areas, where the same local fieldstone is used for the fireplace surround; a light fixture from BDDW hangs above a dining table and chairs from Schoolhouse.

The roof extends over a portion of the deck to provide protection from the elements.

A pine-paneled nook off the living room serves as “a little moment to get away,” says architect Ming Thompson.

A light fixture from Katy Skelton hangs in the primary bedroom; the interior walls feature Venetian plaster.

A custom rug made in India and a chair inspired by a spinning top from Magis lend a playful touch to the bunk room.

In the primary bath, a Badeloft tub soaks in the view, and the wall tile is from Nasco.

“We thought a lot about different opportunities for gathering, including around the firepit,” says Thompson of the square stone design set on the bluestone patio. “At night, the house glows like a warm jewel box.”

A Modern Guest House in Litchfield County Inspired by Modern Design

For one couple, the timing couldn’t have been better for the neighboring property to become available. They were happily settled in their Litchfield County home, but they needed a comfortable space for their mothers to stay when they were in town visiting their grandchildren. The site’s dilapidated structure would need to be demolished, but the lot itself had great potential, thanks to its forested area and pond.

To help realize their vision, the couple called upon architecture firm Atelier Cho Thompson. “The clients wanted something easy, uncomplicated, and very different from the main house, which is traditional in style,” explains architect Ming Thompson. “We looked at both Litchfield County precedents and Scandinavian cabins for inspiration, and what we ended up with is a modern foil to their traditional residence that honors the natural landscape.”

The footprint of the 1,200-square-foot two-bedroom home—which connects to the main house via a footpath—is essentially the same as the former structure, limiting the environmental impact on the site. The firm envisioned a minimalist building with a glass curtain wall and a roof slanted upward toward a picturesque pond view. The main living spaces and bedrooms are positioned closest to this glass curtain wall, while the storage and service components are located on the opposite side, which features a quiet facade clad in black thermally modified pine siding.

Designing a Minimalist Retreat that Connects with the Outdoors

Working with the site’s naturally sloping terrain, the architects incorporated a series of levels: from the kitchen, one steps down into a sunken living area, then out onto a wooden deck, down a couple of steps to a bluestone patio, and finally to the grass a few more steps below that.

Walls of local fieldstone flanking the outdoor area reference the existing stone walls on the property. “This isn’t just a house on a lot,” says Eliot Johnson of West Mountain Builders. “It’s nestled into its environment.”

Inside, concrete-like composite flooring and a mix of woods impart the sense of warm modernism that the architects were after. The firm also worked with the couple to furnish the space, opting for a mostly neutral palette with fabrics that are rich in texture.

“We kept it casual, easy, and a little playful,” says Thompson. “The furnishings can be moved around if necessary, and the finishes will show some wear over time instead of remaining pristine. We wanted this to be a comfortable, welcoming place.”

Project Team
Architecture and interior design: Atelier Cho Thompson
Builder: West Mountain Builders
Landscape design: Sea Green Horticulture