New Exterior Facade

Mountain Top Vacation Home in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia

The owner’s found a 5 acre site almost at the top of Shannondale Mountain overlooking four bends of the Shenandoah River and a lake at the base of the mountain — an hour and 45 minute train ride from Washington D.C.  At night, the view is spectacularly lit by the many small towns below creating an illusion of overlooking D.C. This was a daring project as the original purchase was a small “spooky” cabin with cheap paneling and a wood burning stove for heat.  The purchase was questionable until one of the owners climbed on top of the roof to discover an amazing view by topping a group of trees.

The concept from the beginning was to add on to both sides of the cabin in stages with the intent of the final result appearing as added structures over time versus a new built home.  An architect was brought in to create undulated sections for the new space.  Following this same scheme, garden walls were added and washed in soured buttermilk with moss to give an aged appearance.  The additions were built on stilts which provided for an outdoor living room below along with two bedrooms. A pond was constructed on the lower level with enormous boulders being rolled into place.  The interior walls were also washed to give an aged look and the floors were re-milled from original barn wood.   A large walk in fire place was constructed as was a large deck off the new living room.  The furnishing direction was mountain casual, mixing traditional with a soft edge contemporary feel.

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