A seamless addition to this classic farmhouse allowed the home to retain its timeless, rustic character while gaining new space for the homeowners. With architectural design by Jay Caughman of Caughman + Caughman Architects, builder Steve Ward of Sun Construction created a picture perfect add-on.
By Candice Graham | Photography By Med Dement
Built between 1906 and 1916, this home is as all-American as it gets. Situated on rolling green acres and enveloped by lush mountains, the setting for this farmhouse is beyond idyllic. But what makes the home truly great is the recent addition by builder Steve Ward and architect Jay Caughman.
“Jay came here and we stood in the front hallway, and he said ‘What do you want to change about this house?’ And I said ‘Nothing. I don’t want to change anything. I just need more space,’” the homeowner says. Then, says Ward, the team got to work building an ideal addition. “We matched the original home’s plank siding, shutters, and doors, and used bricks found on site to match the original ones.”
Preserved details guarantee that the home’s story stays alive. In the original living room, low planked ceilings and a century-old fireplace retain the home’s authentic character. The same green-gray hue used for the kitchen cabinetry is used on the walls, creating cohesion throughout the house. “The addition looks just like it grew off the original house,” says Caughman.
Art: Gallery 1401
Architect: Jay Caughman, Caughman + Caughman Architects
Builder: Steve Ward, Sun Construction
A Trophy Room
Creating unity and flow between rooms helps to keep family members close by, and this concept is carried out in the great room, which extends from the kitchen. “We had complex roof lines to work with when tying together the old with the new, but we were able to blend everything so you can’t tell the difference now,” says Ward. Originally envisioned as a trophy room for the homeowner (who is an avid hunter), this room features beautifully high arched ceilings, allowing mounts from Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Utah to be displayed. A floor-to-ceiling wall of mountain stone carries the rustic feel through the space, as do the timber beams that contrast with the white ceiling. On one wall, windows look out to rolling fields, while on the other, a bank of custom-made doors (to match the original) open to the front porch. See more from Sun Construction at sun-construction.org.
Trim: East Chattanooga Lumber & Supply Co.
The kitchen is full of farmhouse accents, from the farmhouse sink to the hammered copper range hood. A mix of finishes – oil-rubbed bronze, brass, stainless steel, and copper – keeps the aesthetic from looking cookie cutter. Soapstone countertops add a bold black punch and rest atop green-gray cabinetry – a color that was matched exactly to the home’s original kitchen cabinets.
Two kitchen islands – one for food prep and one for family meals – provide plenty of functional space, while glass-front cabinetry and island shelving offer a place to display pretty china and cookbooks. “The nice thing about the house in general is you have all the charming characteristics of the old house but you have all the modern conveniences of a new build,” Ward says.
Appliances: Ferguson
Countertops and tile: Stone Source
Lighting: Ferguson
The master bedroom’s thick planked walls mirror the planks in the original hallway. Careful symmetry is displayed through windows and side tables that flank the bed. “The look of this room goes back to the simplicity of an old farmhouse,” says Ward. “It’s simple and uncluttered.” Soothing pillow and rug tones complete the understated elegance of the room.
Clean whites and creams make the master bathroom calm and delicate. A distressed white chandelier with matching wall sconces creates a romantic look, while a barn door ties into the farmhouse feel and eliminates bulk. Rocky pebbles in the shower, granite on the counter, and slate on the floor keep the aesthetic natural.
An earlier addition to the original house is the dining room, where a higher ceiling sets it apart from the rest of the home. Oak floors add warmth, while a bold, oversized chandelier creates an attractive glow. An antique corner china cabinet displays vintage jugs and mugs.
At the front of the home, a pond blends peacefully with a new rectangular shaped pool that is surrounded by flagstone and pea gravel and adjoined by an old stone wall. Together they create an all-natural look that was a factor in the placement of the pool and configuring the new addition. “Usually when we’re adding and renovating, if you listen to the site and look at the view, access points, and circulation from the existing structure, it nearly designs itself,” says Caughman. “On this project, the view out to the pond really told us where the addition should be placed.” According to Ward, seeing the addition come together seamlessly was a rewarding experience. “This was a fun project. You hate to build cracker boxes. It’s fun to do something totally unique.”
Other Suppliers:
Cabinetry: Tony Cordell, T&C Cabinets | Cabinetry design: Laura Hertle, Laura Hertle Designs
Interior design: Architectural Elements | Plumbing: Wholesale Supply Group, Inc.
Pool: ASP – America’s Swimming Pool Company | Stonework: Randy Stevens Masonry
