The #HilltopHouse is coming right along and is truly an amazing space. I was just looking back through my notes from the first design meeting: “modern, steep roof pitch, big columns, lots of windows, and connection to outside is everything.” When a client knows what they want it makes the process fun. We really get to dig into the design and figure out what they mean by particular terms and descriptions of space. We get to find special ways to highlight their goals in the design. We get to bring a touch of style to their dreams.
This #HilltopHouse has a very clear style, lets call it Industrial Loft Modern Farmhouse for now. It sits beautifully in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley capturing long views over the land and out to the mountains. The open feel of the home is amplified by the tall vaulted ceilings and plentiful glass. The details are subtle letting the views to the work of “decoration.” The house is designed for family to gather, to connect to the outside places where they play, and to build memories.
Here are some photos from my last visit to the home site. The home is being construction by Larry Sauder of Sauder Builders, Inc.
View from the driveway with driveway installation underway View from the rear of the house View from the rear porch First floor looking back towards the kitchen and loft second floor looking back at the loft
The Cabin Addition in Luray is finishing strong and looking really good. Integrity Custom Builders took on this challenge to add functional space to a remote cabin retreat. The addition was straight forward but the site is remote adding to the complexity of coordination. This project highlighted the importance of a team approach from design to construction to owner’s being involved through the entire process.
Click the arrows to view some photos of where we started.
We started with a simple request of adding more functional space to make the cabin more comfortable when visiting. The existing kitchen was just big enough for two and the primary bedroom was very cozy. The cabin featured one bath making taking turns a little bit of a challenge in the mornings. So we developed a plan to make a very spacious primary bedroom with a private bath, added a laundry room, needed storage, and really opened up the kitchen space for entertaining.
We love how this project is coming together and look forward to the next phase in the future to update the other rooms we did not touch in this project.
Click the arrows to view some photos of the almost finished project.
When we kicked off the design for the modern home on Afton Mountain our clients provided aesthetic goals and a clear idea of program. They knew which rooms were needed on each floor and a general direction they wanted to go with overall aesthetics. Every home we design is custom from the design itself to the approach. However, these were the first clients ever to bring a massing model to the schematic design kick off meeting. It was good to discuss early how the house would sit on the lot and how to maximize the views from each room. We had a lot of inspiration from their existing house, spaces they loved and wanted to recreate, and were able to blend in some really cool custom features to tie it all together in this new place.
As the construction of the home finishes up I was able to stop by for a visit and to grab some photos of the progress. Our client is building some of the cabinets and furniture themselves so the project is not complete yet. The views are amazing, the modern mountain home sits just right on the land, and the program is perfect for how they plan to live in this new place. We are very happy to share some of the photos with you for this modern mountain home.
View from the road with detached garage/workshop on the right
View back to the kitchen from the living area.
Amazing primary shower.
Beautiful sunroom modeled after their existing sunroom.
We love working with visionary clients, especially those that support other small businesses. When Debbie and Nate approached us about their Manufacturing Collective project we were very excited to work with them. One, the building is a hidden gem in Harrisonburg and two, their goals to create a manufacturing incubator is a huge asset to our local business community. I asked Debbie to tell us in her words more about the facility.
A manufacturing incubator is coming to the Shenandoah Valley. The Manufactory Collective will support small batch and early-stage manufacturers as they scale up their businesses. The name, Manufactory Collective, is a literal description of the vision for this space. This will be a facility used for the production of manufactured goods by many individuals and small businesses. The Manufactory Collective will serve as an incubator by pursuing three main goals: to provide access to manufacturing space, to provide access to manufacturing equipment, and to provide access to fractional services and entrepreneur support.
Entrepreneurs are often praised for starting in their kitchens or garages, but what we often don’t see is the challenge of being space constrained until their business grows and they can afford their own standalone space. We want to help overcome this challenge by offering entrepreneurs and small business owners an interim space to grow their businesses. The Manufactory Collective has leased a 20,000+ sq ft facility which will offer dedicated work areas ranging from stand alone workbenches to studios to entire rooms for anchor tenants. Members will be able to upgrade or downgrade their spaces as their business needs change. This will closely resemble many of the coworking spaces emerging around the United States.
Entrepreneurs and small business owners face many challenges as they scale their manufacturing operations. They are often resource constrained and have to add tools and equipment over time, slowing down their ability to scale to market demand. Their low volumes or unique offerings make it challenging to find reliable support from local and regional fabrication shops, and outsourcing overseas can be cumbersome and costly. The Manufactory Collective will bring together commonly needed manufacturing equipment to support many disciplines. We will also offer modern manufacturing and rapid-prototyping equipment to find novel ways to efficiently produce these low volume and unique parts. We are also working to secure a partnership with a local university or college to provide a rapid-prototyping space to turn ideas into viable products. Entrepreneurs and small business owners have to wear many hats and spend time away from creating the value that will grow their business. They don’t have the luxury of hiring teams of people to help run their organization. The Manufactory Collective will offer access to several types of fractional services and entrepreneurs support services to help support these growing businesses. These services will range from purchasing and fulfillment to project management, engineering, and even include fractional CFO and COO options. These services will be available on an as-needed basis, allowing these businesses to make a full-time employee investment, but receive the value of a team.
We hope the Manufactory Collective can serve as a strong part of the manufacturing ecosystem in the Shenandoah Valley by bridging the gaps that exist for small batch and early-stage manufacturers. Collaborating with machine shops, large manufacturers, higher ed partners, and other community partners will be pivotal to the success of the Manufactory Collective and the businesses that scale within it.
Our cabin in the woods project is shaping up to be a lovely retreat for our clients. The progress being made will upgrade and maximize our client’s comfort and relaxation in this place. This project has been another enjoyable experience of designing to achieve our clients dream lifestyle on another beautiful property.
Our design process began by analyzing the site and looking at the existing conditions and structure. We talked about the way they ideally want to live in this place, and developed concept drawings to continue the conversation. One idea lead to another and we continued to hammer away at the changes and details until we finally arrived at the “just right” design for function, comfort, and budget. We were able to work through the interior design process with our client’s both virtually and with some in-person meetings to determine the perfect design aesthetic for their cabin. It’s a rewarding experience when our team can collaborate and provide clients with many options to consider to achieve the best solution while keeping tabs on their budget.
The results are now taking shape as the framing is complete and the drywall is being installed. We are looking forward to seeing how Integrity Custom Builders brings our drawings to the final reality. Following the process and working with both the builder and client during the construction process has allowed everyone to keep on tack and very importantly, on budget. We have fielded questions (the inevitable type that always come up during renovations), recalibrated if product availability has changed, and offered options for the best possible solutions. We love working with a builder that has an open communication systems to keep everyone informed about progress and clients that engage in the reason behind the design. This cabin is going to feel spacious and inviting while maintaining a comfortable footprint. The clients will be able to entertain, unwind, and enjoy this beautiful property to its fullest potential once construction is completed.
We had a beautiful day checking in on our #hilltophouse and we are excited to see this design come to life. This home is located in a special place for clients Charles has known for many years. It has been fun working through the design goals to create the just-right solution for this family and we know they will enjoy time together here for many years to come.
The exterior walls are draped with framed views of pastoral landscapes and the Massanutten Mountain Range. Capturing these views with large windows creates a direct connection to the outside, where they plan to spend much of their time. A wrap-around porch will be added to give a variety of covered and uncovered spaces to gather. The design centers around connecting as a family and we know this will become a hub for numerous gatherings.
Pictured above, Sauder Builders is hard at work executing the design plan. This is our first project with Larry and his team and their attention to detail is showing through the framing process. It takes many discussions and decisions to determine how the details will fit together to allow our clients the best possible outcome when the project is completed. Although challenges will be incurred, it takes this integrated team approach to deliver amazing results. Stay tuned for more updates on the #hilltophouse as we will be sure to share as progress continues!
Beautiful sunroom modeled after their existing sunroom.
Stonework in progress.
The view from the sewing room.
