Prairie Style in Weston, Massachusetts

One of the clients’ requests was a great room for entertaining. A custom light fixture from Cameron Design House hangs above a cozy sectional, a chair from Anees Upholstery, and a rug from Dover Rug & Home.

A stone-and-copper fireplace separates the great room from the entry.

The homeowners like to entertain, so Briar Design imagined a custom sectional with a deep surround where people can perch during a party.

A light fixture from Visual Comfort & Co. and a rug from Dover Rug & Home create additional interest in the entry; just beyond is a sculptural mono-stringer staircase with oak treads.

Below the staircase is a sculpture by Charles Sherman.

A handmade chandelier from Studio Bel Vetro hangs above a Century table and Artistic Frame chairs in the dining room; the wallpaper is from Dedar.

A light fixture from the clients’ former house brings a touch of sparkle to the powder room, which is enveloped in a wallpaper from Area Environments.

Randolph & Hein chairs upholstered in a Holly Hunt fabric surround a cocktail table by DeKoven Furniture in the lower-level bar area.

The clients requested a black-and-white kitchen. Most of the stonework is Calacatta Venato quartz, while honed Jet Mist granite provides an element of contrast on the tiered island.

A Kelly Wearstler tile from Ann Sacks was the jumping-off point for the butler’s pantry, which also features a gold-leaf ceiling treatment.

A graphic Phillip Jeffries wallpaper brings a sense of playfulness into the breakfast area, where a custom banquette joins a table from Saloom and a light fixture from The Urban Electric Co.

The den, which features a Holly Hunt wallpaper, a Made Goods cocktail table, and a custom sectional, can be closed off from the great room with glass pocket doors.

White oak and stone accents were used throughout the home to lend warmth to the contemporary structure.

Another client request was a primary wing on the main floor; Made Goods nightstands and Ralph Lauren Home lighting flank a custom bed upholstered in a Nobilis fabric.

The primary suite contains two baths, and hers is sheathed in Calacatta marble.

The lower level includes a spa room, complete with a kitchenette and fireplace; retractable glass doors open for an indoor-outdoor experience.

Location is everything, as they say, and this particular four-and-a-half-acre site in Weston, Massachusetts, had everything going for it, from wooded privacy to wetland views. There was just one small hiccup: the property had a modest existing cape that wasn’t going to cut it as the clients’ forever home.

“When we first saw the lot, we all knew it was the one,” says Slocum Hall Design Group principal David Boronkay. With the help of Concept Building and landscape architect Jane Shoplick, Boronkay sited a new 12,000-square-foot five-bedroom residence farther from the road to make the most of the sloping grade in the center of the parcel. “The house is positioned where the slope begins, resulting in a front facade that’s low and sleek and a light-filled walk-out basement in the rear,” explains Boronkay. “We were inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs and how they work in harmony with their sites. There are elements of the Prairie style, but we took it in a more modern direction.”

Boronkay collaborated closely with Shoplick along the way, ensuring that the structure is nestled into the landscape. “Because the house sits on a slope, there is a series of terraces that step down to the backyard,” says Shoplick. “Our goal was to minimize site disturbance and leave as much of the natural forest as possible. We planted native species in front of the wooded area, creating a gradation of lawn to native plants to woods.”

An abundance of windows takes in this landscape. In fact, Boronkay designed the structure as a long, shallow rectangle, enabling views from the front entry straight out to the backyard. White oak and stone lend warmth to the interiors, which are built for entertaining thanks to a soaring great room that’s connected to the kitchen and den via glass pocket doors. Also on the main floor is a formal dining room and a primary wing containing his-and-hers baths and dressing areas.

While the main floor is meant for more formal entertaining, says the architect, the lower level houses several informal hangout spaces and wellness areas—including a playroom, a rec room and bar, a gym, a sauna, and a spa room with a hot tub and kitchenette—that serve both family downtime and casual entertaining.

The spa room, with its retractable glass doors, required intensive coordination with the builder. “Moisture from a hot tub presents a challenge in a basement,” says Concept Building’s Jeff Capello. “We ended up constructing the HVAC system out of stainless-steel components to protect it from humidity and chemicals.”

Throughout the home, Anne Mueller and Jessica Tolman of Briar Design covered a mix of custom and contemporary furnishings in performance fabrics that “look sophisticated but are kid- and dog-friendly,” says Tolman. “For the palette in the main spaces we stuck to earth tones that speak to nature, with accents of muted lavender and peach. The downstairs is less restrained, with fun shapes and statement pieces.” According to Mueller, they “layered in pieces with curvilinear shapes and softer lines to make sure the house doesn’t feel cold.” The goal with this project, says Boronkay, “was to create a modern space that’s also warm and inviting.”

Project Team
Architecture: Slocum Hall Design Group
Interior design: Briar Design
Builder: Concept Building
Landscape design: Shoplick Landscape Architecture