The Elk Rock Meadow Farmhouse has started to take shape. I visited the top of Afton Mountain yesterday to see how things were going and to enjoy the views. Herr and Company have started their work with site layout for this majestic farmhouse project that will capture views across the Appalachian Trail of the Blue Ridge. This new neighborhood has a couple of houses already and the addition of this farmhouse continues the tradition of beautiful homes.
The challenges of the last year have been well documented. We were forced in a very short amount of time to adapt our business to a virtual world with remote workers. I met with these clients on a regular basis using zoom, text, and phone calls. We exchanged ideas as they told me their dreams of living in this beautiful place close to family. We sketched, erased, changed, and modified to develop the finished product. The Elk Rock Meadow Farmhouse will sit near the entrance of the neighborhood and fits just right into the topography of the site.
Working with clients online and remote was a challenge. It makes it harder to read body language, or to point at items on the screen, and communicate desires. We had to learn from each other through the process to be better at communicating and the process has made us stronger designers. We achieved Architectural Board Approval for the design with no modifications – a difficult challenge for any neighborhood. The house has a sophisticated style and one that will fit well in the neighborhood. The interior layout will enhance livability for this family, I hope for many generations. The house is custom just for them and is designed with aging-in-place features, durability, and of course healthy indoor air in mind. I cannot wait to see it take shape.
