18 Ranney Hill Rd, Roxbury, CT 06783

The home at 18 Ranney Hill Road is designed to maximize the views from the spacious 5+ acre lot. Large banks of double and triple windows - some with transoms above - look southward over the historic cut granite slab wall, past the sweeping lawns below to the bucolic views of the surrounding hills.  The natural cedar shingles with crisp white wood trim are the first hint at the homes reliance on natural materials with a preference for local and reclaimed.  Nineteen different rooflines give visual interest and individuality to this country retreat. The welcoming stone walls at the driveway entry are constructed of salvaged stone from an old foundation on site. A wonderful apple tree stands behind the stone wall as a historical marker of the apple orchard which occupied the property over a half-century ago.The front door welcomes the visitor into the formal side of the home.  The open concept allows the dining area to blend seamlessly with the extended living area; the floor to ceiling panels and wide crown hint at the stately feeling of the space. The informal side of the home contains the kitchen, family room and sunroom. The kitchen cabinets were custom designed and built for the home and are topped with leathered granite counters. The island top is crafted of reclaimed timbers from a cottage on Bantam Lake. The informality of the family room is emphasized by the ship lap wainscoting and Roxbury granite fireplace face. The sunroom gifts the homeowner a bright, beautiful space that can be interpreted in many ways - breakfast room, music room, greenhouse, drawing room, reading room... All the red oak posts and beams throughout the home were custom milled from trees that had grown on the property. The prodigious windows contribute to the light and airy sense of leisure. The light walls are contrasted by the dark hue of wide plank floors.The stairway to the second level exemplifies the juxtaposition of concepts in the design of the home. The rhythm of the formal half panels guides the visitor up while the rustic newel post anchors the traditional railing and balustrade. The features blend easily into a modern interpretation of form and function.The second level welcomes visitors with a feature wall assembled using salvaged antique oak boards found on site.  The site grown oak beams above the soaking tub in the Master Bathroom provide a feeling of solid comfort. All of the bathroom countertops were milled from rustic planks of the same red oak trees. The sloped and angled ceilings throughout the second level are designed to add charm and character to the home.The easy style and comfort of the home masks the rigorous methods and materials employed in the construction of this new home. All of the latest energy and electrical codes have been met or exceeded, providing a truly energy efficient, sustainably built home.