Modern Scandinavian

Set on a Vermont mountainside with views to a lake below, this home was designed as a year-round retreat for gathering family and friends. The owners came with a wish list that was intentionally a bit contradictory: a modern home that still felt like a cottage, large open spaces that remained comfortable and intimate, and a warm atmosphere built almost entirely from neutral tones.

The architecture responds with a series of simple, clean volumes and steeply pitched roofs. The peaked forms give the home a familiar, welcoming character while also helping the roof shed Vermont’s heavy winter snow. Breaking the massing into smaller elements softens the scale and allows the house to sit naturally within the landscape.

Inside, room sizes shift to support both gathering and retreat. Expansive living areas with tall ceilings and large windows open to sweeping lake and mountain views, while smaller spaces with lower ceilings and exposed wood beams create moments that feel more enclosed and relaxed.