This 1770 Saltbox farmhouse, beautifully restored by Haver & Skolnick Architects, is located in the northwestern hills of Connecticut on a large working farm. It sits on approximately 150 acres of rural land, offering complete privacy and seclusion as well as natural beauty. This distinctive home was greatly expanded to meet the lifestyle needs of a large family, with a new carriage house wing to the right.
DESIGN DETAILS
Architect Haver & Skolnick Architects
Construction CDS Contracting
What is a Salt Box Home?
A saltbox home is a traditional New England–style house characterized by its asymmetrical gabled roof, with two stories in the front and one in the rear, making the front roof noticeably shorter than the back. Its name comes from its resemblance to a slant-topped wooden box used for storing salt in colonial times. Originating in the 17th century, saltbox houses were typically timber-framed and often featured a flat front and central chimney, with the long, low rear roofline being their most distinctive feature. This architectural style is valued for its efficient use of space and historical significance in New England.
Rear elevation with additions — The rear elevation reveals the full scope of the home’s additions, designed to complement the original architecture. Off to the right is the owner’s bedroom with a bay window supported by curved brackets; to the left, a dining pergola sits on fieldstone piers.
What We Love About This Home
This Saltbox farmhouse beautifully blends historic New England character with thoughtful modern updates. Its timeless architecture, warm materials, and carefully preserved details create a home that feels both authentic and inviting. The renovation honors the past while making the space perfectly suited for contemporary living and meeting the needs of a large family. We are loving every detail of this warm and welcoming home!
Tell Us: What details in this restoration and expansion project do you find most appealing? Let us know in the Comments below!
Note: Be sure to check out a couple of other fabulous home tours that we have featured here on One Kindesign in the state of Connecticut: This Connecticut modern farmhouse offers the ultimate countryside escape and Step into this outstanding Connecticut farmhouse with a contemporary edge.
Outdoor entertainment and dining areas — Generous outdoor spaces connect conveniently to the new Mudroom and Great Room.
Carriage house entrance and pool features — A curved fieldstone wall and giant bluestone pavers lead to the carriage house entrance. A rustic copper outdoor shower serves the nearby pool.
Mudroom entrance door — A charming Dutch door functions as the main family entrance to the new Mudroom.
Rustic bluestone mudroom floor — The rustic natural-cleft bluestone flooring from the exterior porches carries through into the Mudroom. The walls are clad in simple horizontal boards typical of service spaces in 18th-century New England farmhouses.
Kitchen cabinetry details — The simple cabinetry in the Kitchen section of the new Great Room is inspired by country furnishings of the period.
Central Great Room addition — The central Great Room of the new addition provides the spaciousness, light, and views the owners desired, in contrast to the intimate spaces of the antique house.
Great Room with natural light — Rough plaster walls and ceilings, country grade wide board oak flooring, and antique furnishings make this area feel warm and cozy. Locally sourced antique stones form the surround of the fieldstone fireplace. A series of dormer windows floods the room with morning light. Plasterwork by Sean Platt Plaster.
Butler’s Pantry — The Butler’s Pantry connects the antique house to the addition and serves both the Great Room and the Keeping Room.
Restored Keeping Room fireplace — The fireplace in the Keeping Room has been restored to its original massive size.
Original chimney fireplaces restored — Three fireplaces in the saltbox’s center chimney are reconstructed using stone salvaged from the original. Walls throughout the antique and new sections of the home are of unpainted rough plaster.
Study feather-edge paneling — The feather-edge paneling in the Study is recreated based on fragments of the original house.
Reconstructed original stair and entry — The reconstructed winding stair, paneling, and entry door of the original house are inspired by local 18th-century examples.
Restored bedroom in the antique house — A restored bedroom in the antique house features a paneled wall and exposed ceiling beams.
Owner’s bathroom with meadow views — The Owner’s Bathroom’s soaking tub offers views of the surrounding meadows.
Extensive glazing in new addition — The rear of the new addition has extensive glazing, providing light and views of the surrounding meadows.
French doors and fire table alignment — French doors from the new Mudroom align with a copper fire table on the Ipe poolside deck.
Ipe sunning deck and pool views — The Ipe sunning deck offers views across the lap pool to the meadow beyond.
New additions give prominence to the original house — The placement of the new additions to the rear of the property gives prominence to the original antique house.
Saltbox Farmhouse Floor Plans
Additions as architectural backdrop — The extensive additions shown at the top of the floor plan, serve as a backdrop to the original saltbox house.
Rear elevation suggests growth over time — The rear elevation of the new addition is composed of smaller elements, suggesting a home that evolved over time.
Site plan relationship to farm context — The site plan shows the relationship of the house to existing barns and sheds on the 150-acre working farm.
PHOTOGRAPHER Robert Benson Photography
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