Welcome to all my readers.
What an honor to be “hosting” Architecturally Speaking for my own project. I love writing my Simply Saratoga column, Colleen’s Picks, for each magazine along with many interior design articles to educate my readers…but my depth of interior design is so much more. When Chris Vallone Bushee, the Creative Director & Managing Editor for the magazine division of Saratoga TODAY stepped into my latest project during the photo shoot, she insisted that I share this undertaking with my readers. As a contributing writer, she handed me the wheel. It’s quite humbling to share this story with all of you, my readers. In my passion for creating beautiful homes for my clients, this gave me the opportunity to pause and reflect.
Let me introduce you to The Cleverdale Gem and its owners, Steve & Dee Haraden.
Cleverdale Living
My client, Steve Haraden, grew up in Lake George, spending many hours at the Lake; Cleverdale was his fun-in-the-sun home. His parents met in the mid-1940s while their parents were spending summers at the lake and loved sharing their lake life with their children. In fact, he confessed that on occasion, a boat ride was the means of transportation to school in a pinch!
As a single dad of two boys, Steve decided to buy a slice of Cleverdale for himself in 2012. “The old camp was built in 1920. It didn’t have a true foundation, only cinderblocks with dirt below. I fixed it up a bit by replacing the subfloor, installing a new kitchen, and knocking down many of the dividing walls to open the space for easy living. It was all a temporary band aid.” states Steve in recollection of his original purchase. After he and Dee…a single mom of two more boys…were married, they knew that the Cleverdale location would be the perfect summer respite to retire once the kids were established and on their own. BUT…some changes needed to be made.
It was a knock down, start over kind of plan
Some of the challenges facing the original structure were aging electrical, cramped spaces, and mostly, the view was more of the boat house than the lake itself. It was time to start over. The house was torn down and a new set of plans were crafted by Dean Howland and built by his son, Jake, of Howland Construction. With the project starting from scratch, the Haraden’s knew they wanted help with the interior and exterior selections…they wanted to get everything right…that’s when I was invited to become part of their dream lake home endeavor.
In reflection, Steve noted, “We were looking for a contemporary Adirondack style and you grasped our vision right away. We were impressed with your knowledge of how a home should function. You had excellent working knowledge of plumbing, lighting and even the details of proper storage in the kitchen! You brought to the table what your average homeowner wouldn’t even think of.”
…Dare I say, I’m blushing. But, this is what interior design is to me…To capture the essence of my client’s personality and lifestyle and create environments for their life. A personal touch that can’t be replicated.
Change the View
Dually noted, Dean Howland’s approach to the design of the house was magnificent. “The original house sat only 22 feet off the water. If we moved it back, we were able to go a bit higher. This elevated their first-floor view above the boat house, capturing endless views of the lake and the mountains in the distance.” Take a look for yourself…breathtaking!
Satisfying a need while putting a stamp on it
There are so many details that need to be ironed out when building a home. I hope you had the chance to read my article, “The Value of Interior Design,” in last year’s Simply Saratoga FALL, the Showcase of Homes Magazine. It actually gave a sneak peak of the Haraden’s home through construction drawings that highlighted all the responsibilities of an interior designer for their client. In this home, I was able to have a little fun adding special details that truly put their stamp on this family home. The impressive main sitting room called for an authentic wood burning fireplace with custom built-ins on either side. Hewed of walnut, the mantle was fashioned to gracefully ease into the face of the side shelves, creating a sense of unity from one end of the room to the next. To ensure a true hand-crafted finish, my mill shop, Meunier Woodworks out of Granville NY, added surface joinery at each plane intersection to capture the genuine meaning of craftsmanship for this family home.
Just above, rather than spotting the ceiling with recessed cans, I designed a layout of LED strip lights to be installed within the ceiling beams to cast light softly from the ceiling rather than bathing in it. “We get endless compliments,” remarked Dee.
In the kitchen, subway tile was not top of my list…my Made in the USA tile source just so happen to have a tile in the shape of an “H”…with a little convincing, and a big nod from the boys, the Haraden signature has now been marked for generations to come. Dee also reminded me that one of her wishes was to have a dream island; as big as I could fashion from one piece of stone…Done!…And with no wasted room just below that beautiful countertop! Extra deep drawers were crafted to house silverware for a crowd, dishes, glasses arranged in individual compartments, endless room for Tupperware and lids and a drawer microwave! Just under one ledge of the dining overhang, I installed deep pullout cabinets to keep less often used items, but ones that she wanted at the ready instead of burying in a closet somewhere, never to be found again.
As a surprise for Steve, a sailor at heart, Dee had me sketch a compass rose that was etched into one of the slate pieces of the mudroom floor, centrally located under the pendant above it. And yes, pointing due North! (see these photos and more at SimplySaratoga.com!)
Atop the main staircase resides the hall bathroom shared with a guest bedroom via a walk-through shower area. I was inspired by the dimensions of the room to craft an elongated trough vanity where grandkids would one day line up to brush their teeth together before heading off to bed. The dual waterfall faucets spoke to the feel of summer splashing fun while the hammered polished nickel sink nestled itself within the white oak cabinetry below, echoing the timeless notes of the Adirondack woods. The cross and star hand crafted tile glazed in crackled blue and green added a touch of playfulness over a more expected selection.
In the master suite, the private bathroom was detailed to reflect the needs of the masters of the house. With a long slender space to work with, I designed a hand crafted walnut floating vanity that stretched the length of the room, concluding with a tower for additional storage. The openness below expanded the sense of space. Hand crafted circular mirrors were carefully placed so both Dee and Steve could properly utilize the vanity without compromising symmetry. To add a nautical touch, the streamlined faucets were artfully mounted over glass carved bowls that brought the essence of water to a whole new level. For the shower, a steam option was desired, but the space was not large enough to add a full bench. Just our luck, the chimney enclosure for the fireplace below just so happens to reside on the outside wall, adjacent to the shower stall area. This provided just enough room to create a large niche where I could incorporate a lift-up teak bench for two when needed. With the use of authentic boat seat hinges, luxury was not sacrificed over size. But what about the steam generator? That had to be accessible…no worries. It’s well hidden within the lower bottom “drawers” of the dressing table just to the right of the shower stall. With a little tug, the generator is fully exposed for repairs.
As we progressed with working through the details of each room, we had a bit of a debate over a small room just across from the master suite. Steve was looking forward to an exercise room while Dee swooned over a large walk-in closet. Well, in the end, it was decided to be an office space which could double as a guest bedroom…and one day…a hide away for the grandkids to watch TV removed from the adult clamor. Just lower the room darkening shades and let the movies begin!
Down the guest hallway, the laundry alcove was hidden away across from a large window overlooking the main entrance to the home. I envisioned a window bench with nautical lights above for a cozy reading nook and soaring barn doors to contain the chore of laundry from sight. To draw your eye down this hallway, custom painted oars with playful geometry and bright hues connect to the pillows atop a navy-blue cushion that beckons the homeowners to sit for a spell. Who knew waiting for laundry to dry could be so restful!
The guest bedrooms each had their own individual feel. The larger rear room is appointed with a private bath. The oak vanity detailed with book matched woodgrains sets the stage for the hand-crafted ship’s wheel with mirror above. To add the sense of water to this back room, ogee-dropped tiles both on the floor, and within the shower, were installed in varying layouts to create the feel of being on the water even though the view was a bit removed. The bedroom came together with the inspiration of highlighting the long wall with wallpaper. A custom headboard was upholstered in InsideOut faux leather for its durability, yet authentic in touch, to pair nicely with a leather recliner adjacent to the bed. Another long built-in bench offers a restful view of the lake while an antique Taylor trunk sits just below an original printed map of Lake George by New York Central Lines depicting the railways to the Adirondack Mountains.
In the lower level, which leads to the lake, it was all so important to the Haradens to have a space that would function for gatherings with friends and family. Having a bar—complete with all the kitchen amenities—was not only a want, but needed, as the hike upstairs to the main kitchen would become wearisome when entertaining. Undercabinet appliances, well hidden from sight, keep the space airy yet function as efficiently as the main kitchen. A speak easy styled mirror was crafted behind the open shelves to bring depth and drama into this corner bar area.
When I first reviewed the plans for this level, I noted a row of 4 large windows that needed to be broken up to better designate each area. I discussed the idea with the Haradens to use the same stone we selected for the exterior foundation and bring it inside to suggest that possibly they retained the original basement and built up. From there, the sitting area would be defined by angular planks on the wall, divided into sections to create an architectural feature. This singular large space in the lower level now found intimacy without disrupting the open feel they longed for. It also lent itself to incorporating a built-in “loveseat” with shelving, side tables and a little surprise…you see, that loveseat backs up to the staircase leading to the first floor. With the desire for additional sleeping quarters in the lower level, I designed a queen trundle bed that pulls out from beneath the staircase…and voila! In addition, the cozy built-in bench just to one side of the fireplace houses all the bedding needed as well!
“One of our friends dubbed it the Grotto!,” Steve remarked as he was recalling a recent gathering.
I know, you’re wondering where the true basement area is? See that Bees Ranch sign? That was a favored pub of Steve’s family when he was growing up. When it closed down, Steve acquired the signage. It was a perfect size to frame and turn into a hinged door allowing access to the area we all affectionately called the “Scuttle Hole,” dubbed by their builder, Jake Howland.
History remembered
Just as this home will be passed to the next generations, in the same vein, it was important to remember who taught Steve to sail, enjoy family and continue the heritage of running the family business…his dad. The two loved sailing together, so as a memorial, I suggested commemorating his legacy by adding a tiled rug of his sail cloth number into the lower-level bath floor. When the next generation asks what the number means, it’s an opportunity for storytelling and memories to come alive!
Classic or Organic
When it came to the lighting, I presented the Haradens with two options…Classic or Organic. Steve took one look at the hand crafted fixture for over the dining table and declared…
“Organic!” He was in love! In the end, we used mostly organic fixtures for the main floor and master bedroom and mixed in nods of nautical pieces and copper fixtures for the exterior to melt together the two ideas which ultimately speak to the lake as a whole.
The Jewels of a Home
As I said before, there are so many decisions that go into making a house a home, right down to the final details such as pillows, drapery and cabinet hardware. When I asked the Haradens for their reflection on the finished selections, Dee stated, “It’s a Lake Life Theme, great palette, and the look we wanted to achieve. Soothing, welcoming, open with a cozy feel overall. It all flows nicely, and every room blends well.” That’s music to a designer’s ears. “It’s a home that’s very special to both of us. Who knows if we could have done this by ourselves.”
