Board + Batten
Vermont
Architect | Birdseye |
|---|---|
Builder | Birdseye |
Woodwork | Birdseye |
Sitework | Birdseye |
Interior | Brooke Michelsen Design |
Photography | Jim Westphalen PhotographyErica Allen Studio |
Completed | 2017 |
Notable Detail
The facade combines painted wood siding, mirror-polished stainless steel panels, and strategic glazing placements to create a shifting visual boundary that responds directly to the forested environment.
Craft Component
Custom-milled cabinetry, hand-finished western red cedar details, and a selection of durable mid-century furnishings bring warmth, texture, and craft integrity to the interior buildout.
Set against the backdrop of Vermont’s Green Mountains, Board + Batten was constructed to balance privacy and openness.
Reached by a narrow footpath, the guest house is designed to sit low and quiet in the landscape, with its T-shaped plan maximizing natural light and views across a private clearing.
The project name references the board-and-batten cladding typical of the region, but the build team updated the system with modern execution—alternating painted boards, mirror-finished steel panels, and glass inserts to create a layered, dynamic exterior. The standing seam metal roof, shaped with precise hipped geometry, integrates with tight cedar soffit detailing for a crisp, clean roofline.
Inside, the construction focused on delivering a simple but refined material palette: finished concrete slab floors, smooth painted walls, and western red cedar accents throughout. Built-in custom beds and cabinetry were fabricated to match the mid-century style furnishings, tying the structure’s interior experience back to traditional New England craft with a contemporary, durable finish.
The result is a guest retreat built for longevity and seasonal transformation, rooted firmly in both its landscape and the local building tradition.
