A Naturally Modern Home in Vermont

By Maria La Piana

Take one couple with a modern sensibility (sadly living in a Colonial-style home), bring in a very accommodating architect and top it off with 10 acres on Lake Champlain. The result: A dramatic, contemporary home that satisfies on many levels while settling seamlessly into its striking site. From the get-go, architect Brian Mac at

Birdseye Design “got it.” He understood so well the couple’s desires that when the wife saw a chipboard model of the 6,500 home, she started crying. The floor plan goes beyond open; that, and a mass of windows bring in the natural surroundings and expand the space exponentially. The kitchen has a place of honor at the center of the house, and the couple’s life. An organic, modern mix of materials—from marble to mahogany—and finely crafted architectural details complete the couple’s dream home. More than pleased with the finishing touches, the wife says Mac “really understood what we liked, our style; he nailed it.” See what she means in the March/April issue of New England Home. Coming soon to mailboxes and newsstands.

Photography by Jim Westphalen