Blueberry Hill is a special property sited on one of the higher points
in the Berkshires. Its overgrown fields created in the mid nineteenth century
show the remnants of Sandisfield's agrarian past. Granite stonewalls define
and divide the fields, all are grown over with mature pioneer trees. I
wanted the stonework on this house to look like it had been there for hundreds
of years. Reclaimed granite blocks were used on all the corner details
to give the volume a crisp look. The lintels, thresholds, and window sills
were all cut on site from pieces of a local granite. The veneer infill
is weathered granite fieldstone discarded on the edge of the property from
150 years of farming.
The stone fireplace and wood stove surround have a more refined, lighter
stonework. No mortar shows on these and the most interesting details are
observed up close. The classic Rumford style firebox throws generous heat
into the room due to its depth, angled coving walls, and height. It’s lined
with a dense, waterstruck brick made in Massachusetts. The plaster on the
chimney is a slightly different color and texture from the plaster on the
walls of the room.
Two large lace farm walls create an entrance to the home and serve as
a boundary separating the lawn from the surrounding fields. The outdoor
shower uses these same lace walls to provide tall but unimposing privacy.
A granite accent wall and marble sink define a small powder room.