Archer & Buchanan Architecture designed this gorgeous traditional-style stone house situated in Kennett Square, a historic town in Brandywine Valley, Pennsylvania. When these owners thought about how to redeem an inherited 1960’s ranch house, it was hard for them to see the forest for the trees.
The property was a cramped and random arboretum of odd trees. The house was gloomy to say the least. Rather than live through, or move out of, what would have to be a thorough gutting of the ranch house, a new residence became a more practical solution.
Once the decision was made to clear out the landscape by shipping specimen trees off-site, building a new house only inches behind the old became a logical next step to keep the family in situ during construction. While not for the faint of heart, this arrangement proved wildly successful for a family deeply interested in the care and craft of construction.
Exterior Details
The approximate dimensions of the main mass are 50’x30′. The Stone is from Rolling Rock Building Stone, Inc. in Boyertown, PA. It is a Chesterfield blend with 10% “Brandywine Granite” (a.k.a iron (black) stone). The roof shingles are jumbo tapersawn cedar shakes. The cedar shutters are manufactured by Timberlane Shutters. Trim Color: Benjamin Moore Linen White.
DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECT Archer & Buchanan Architecture BUILDER Dawson Construction Company INTERIOR DESIGN Hoffmann Design CUSTOM CABINETS Paradise Custom Kitchens
Daily visits with the superintendent were no trouble for the couple, often over coffee in the old knotty pine family room! From one perspective, at the front of the original house, you could miss entirely that a new home was emerging behind the old, so life carried on as it had for this family of five.
Upon completion of the new residence, the family moved their belongings across the narrow gap between old and new with the anticipation of the old house coming down in a hurry.
It was a grand unveiling to the neighborhood of an elegant new home that had been hiding behind the rancher for a year in production. Would they do it again? “In a heartbeat!” says the wife, who made the most of her opportunity to refine every aspect of the interiors, landscape, and details by being so close during construction that she could learn and grow with the project.
The architects designed the new home to meet both the family’s need for informal gatherings and their aspirations for a more historically sensitive home. To that end, they created a simple cottage made of timeless materials; stone walls with brick cornices and wood that nestles quietly into the hilltop site.
By breaking the mass down into farmhouse ‘telescoping’ sections and keeping the eaves low, the total square footage appears to be much less than its actual 7,500 square feet.
One arrives at the boldly scaled front door on the north side via a gentle loop driveway. Beyond the formal Front Stair Hall, the heart of the home extends across the south side of the house, taking advantage of the views and light, encompassing Living, Dining, and Kitchen in one volume. These are delineated into zones by a coffered ceiling and changes in wall surfaces.
A lofty screened porch with a more rustic fireplace concludes the sequence on the garden side to the south. The owner’s bedroom suite encompasses the wing to the west, and the family entry / mudroom is to the east off the garage, kids and guest rooms upstairs, and the recreation and guest suite are downstairs. This simple pattern provides family and friends with places to gather while creating a cozy home for two.
What We Love About This Home
This stone house in Pennsylvania blends timeless craftsmanship with cozy, modern touches. From its classic stone facade to inviting interiors, it’s the perfect mix of character and comfort. We especially love the beautiful kitchen, with its warm white cabinetry, contrasting dark-stone island countertop and white marble perimeter countertop, coffered ceiling detail, and a door that provides access to the back patio while also bringing in natural daylight and tranquil views of nature.
Tell Us: What details do you love most about this house, and what details would you change if this were your family home? Let us know in the Comments below!
Note: Check out a couple of other amazing home tours that we have featured here on One Kindesign in the state of Pennsylvania: Step into a beautifully restored 18th-century stone farmhouse in Pennsylvania and Delightful restoration of a brick and fieldstone farmhouse in Pennsylvania.
Above: This gorgeous chef’s kitchen features warm white cabinets with glass-front upper cabinets adding a stylish detail. The backsplash is made of 3″x18″ Grey Foussana Limestone Tile. It should be available at any local tile store. The island countertop is brown antique granite, double laminated, while the perimeter countertops are Calcutta Gold. The faucet is a Rohl, and the sink is a stainless steel undermount. The custom-made wooden painted cabinets are Ralph Lauren’s Nantucket White. An antique brass-finished, four-light pendant from the Visual Comfort Sloane collection hangs above the island. The wall paint color is Brushed Aluminum 1485 | Benjamin Moore.
Above: In the powder room, Restoration Hardware makes a very similar mirror called Venetian Beaded Mirror.
Above: The floor is made of 5-1/2″wide white oak, which is available through most flooring manufacturers.
Above: The floors are stained concrete. The hanging light was purchased through Lighting by Design in Exton, PA. The large stone above the fireplace is mica schist, which is a stone found commonly is the region of Pennsylvania where this home is located. The mica flecks in the stone make it glisten beautifully. The blend of stone surrounding the fireplace is also typical of this area. It was provided by Rolling Rock Building Stone of Boyertown, PA.
Above: The main roof of this 7,500 square foot home is made of jumbo taper sawn cedar shakes, and the sun porch is covered by a standing seam copper roof. The stone is a local blend found in Chester County, PA. It was supplied by Rolling Rock Building Stone in Boyertown, PA.
PHOTOGRAPHER Jim Graham Photography
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