Tour a Modern Barn-Style Home in Fairfield County

The exterior of the Fairfield County house combines classic barn style, such as the red cedar siding, with modern elements like the oversize metal-framed windows.

A sleek glass elevator extends from the basement to the third floor. Designer Stephanie Rapp chose the pendant lights as an unobtrusive but glamorous addition to the space.

he sitting area uses a blend of natural elements and textures to achieve the cozy but sophisticated look the homeowners wanted.

The front entrance is embellished with a window in the shape of a peace sign.

The main floor’s powder room is all about drama with its Platinum Wave marble and deep blue-gray walls.

The kitchen, designed by Karen Berkemeyer, is a blend of modern and classic with its distressed-wood island paired with contemporary leather chairs; a zinc hood and metal pendants lend a dramatic touch.

A second-floor den is made extra cozy with a ceiling painted Benjamin Moore Ocean Floor; built-ins flanking the woodburning fireplace hold a winter’s worth of firewood.

The cabinetry in the living area’s wet bar matches the kitchen island, while the metallic backsplash ramps up the glam factor.

The primary bath, also designed by Berkemeyer, has cabinets of natural oak that echo the character-grade oak used on the floor of the main living area.

A soak in the primary bath’s tub comes with bucolic views.

Innovations’ Yosemite wallpaper on the bed wall adds interest to the serene primary bedroom with its palette of oatmeal and light gray.

Modern Barn-Style Architecture with a Contemporary Twist

If “barn style” doesn’t immediately conjure images of elegant, chic living, take a look at this Fairfield County house. Designed by Weston architect Jim Jamieson, the three-story, three-bedroom house nods to New England barn vernacular but with a contemporary twist. Classic elements such as a peaked roof and Western red cedar vertical siding speak to tradition, while sleek metal window and door frames sound a more modern note.

Inside, designer Stephanie Rapp worked with the homeowners and builder Jerry Effren of Greyrock Homes to flesh out Jamieson’s design. “When I came on board, plans were drawn but were really bare bones,” Rapp says. “There wasn’t trim work or finishes or fireplaces.”

Sophisticated Interiors with Rustic and Glamorous Touches

That gave the designer the opportunity to lend the space the sophisticated look and feel her empty-nester clients wanted. “The projects I create are cool, comfortable, and chic, and I would say that sums up this home,” Rapp explains.

Taking her cue from the exterior, Rapp sprinkled modern barn elements throughout the interior. A sliding barn door closes off the pantry and mudroom area. Character-grade white-oak floors further the rustic feel, as does the stair railing of white oak and black steel.

Then there are the elements that are anything but barnlike. Chief among them is the glass and steel tube holding an elevator that extends from the basement to the third floor. “This was the first time I did one of these tubes, and it was a challenge,” says Effren. “We had to line up the four levels within a half-inch clearance,” he explains. “The elevator goes in when the house is basically 100 percent complete, so if there’s a problem, it’s a big problem.”

Luckily, he adds, “It went in without a flaw.”

To achieve a stylish look while making sure the home would also feel warm and welcoming, Rapp employed natural elements and plenty of texture, all within a tranquil palette of whites, grays, and silvery tones. In the living room area—part of the open floorplan the designer and her clients call the “commons room”—a dramatic chandelier of smoky-black slate illuminates a seating arrangement that includes a pale-gray L-shaped sofa and a sculptural double coffee table with wooden bases and cast concrete tops. “The coffee table epitomizes the balance of modern and organic elements throughout the home,” the designer says.

Striking Design Details That Balance Rugged and Refined

The kitchen, by kitchen and bath designer Karen Berkemeyer, serves up the same mix of rugged and sophisticated. An island of charcoal-hued distressed wood is topped with smooth white quartz. Hanging above, a pair of oversize Earthshine steel pendants from Currey & Company make a statement that’s rivaled only by the handcrafted zinc hood above the stove.

Rapp couldn’t resist indulging the wife’s love of the occasional glamourous touch. A powder room is outfitted in striking Platinum Wave marble from Norwalk’s Everest Marble and a deco-inspired chandelier of glass disks, while the commons room’s wet bar sports a sparkly metallic backsplash.

One of Rapp’s favorite features is the “peace sign” window to the left of the front door, an element chosen by the homeowner. “When you have a client with cool taste, you end up with a cool house,” she says.

Project Team
Architecture: Jamieson Architects
Interior design: Stephanie Rapp Interiors
Builder: Greyrock Homes
Landscape design: Andy Stewart Property Management