Stone Works

Huestis Tucker Architects


Have you seen the website Houzz?  It's an online forum where residential architects, designers, and product manufactures can show their projects and products.  It's a great resource for people who are considering building or renovating a home.  People ask all sorts of questions about the work which is published on Houzz.  Lately I've had several people ask me what the name of the stone is that I've used on a project.  When it comes to exterior masonry, I think most architects use local stone.  Especially if you want your project to feel "of a place".  So I find it extremely odd when someone from say, California, wants to reproduce a masonry look from New England, and they want the name of it so they can use it in their home.  So odd! 

Huestis Tucker Architects

Huestis Tucker Architects

 

 Huestis Tucker Architects

To me the stone in our projects above really say Connecticut....they are built with native Connecticut stone; a mix of light colored and gray fieldstone, in varying sizes with large flush mortar joints.

 Archer Buchanan

 Archer Buchanan

 Archer Buchanan

These three images above are from Pennsylvania...I love how masonry from each region in our country has a very different look.

 Ken Tate

Norris Architecture

 Norris Architecture

 Oak Hill Architects

RWA Architects

Wiltshire England
And of course, who doesn't love the stone houses of England!!??

Hedge Fun

Edward Kinsella

Tall clipped privet hedges are synonymous with places like the Hamptons and Nantucket.  Their dense foliage and vigorous growth pattern means you can create a sense of privacy on a small peice of property.  I think it's sort of a friendly way to keep curious eyes out.  I personally like to see them cut into tall straight hedges like the image above, or forming an arched gateway as in the image below.

I'm realizing just how much work is involved in keeping these type of hedges looking neat and clean.  I have read that you have to trim them 3 times a year. I believe it! My family and I were trimming ours for the second time this summer...just to keep them from growing out of control. 

 

 This Old House

 Schapper White

The Inspired Room

 Boxwood also makes a really nice hedge, though usually smaller than privet.  I like this the layering of shapes and textures of the boxwood hedge in front of the hydrangea.  I think the boxwood hedge doesn't require quite as much work as the privet.

 Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens

 Better Homes and Gardens

 Claus Dalby

 Deborah Nevins

 Douglas Friedman

Garden Design

 Garden Design

 Habitually Chic

 Houzz

Lamberts

This Old House

 Traditional Home

 Tumblr

Tumblr

Aga Love

Susan Tulley

I've always wanted to design a kitchen, or maybe a whole house around an Aga stove.  It would be a little country cottage in Scotland or Ireland, a place where there is a bit of chill in the air all year long, and of course, a view of the sea. The kitchen would be the "main" room of the house, the place where you cook, eat, read, relax, socialize.  And the Aga would keep it cozy and warm.

They come in lots of amazing colors, the lavender is pretty tempting, but I think I'll take the cream colored Aga and pair it with some grey-blue cabinets, like the kitchen above.  Which one would you want?