Private Home

Adams Twp., Pennsylvania

Designed for a collector of exotic objects and wildlife art, the residence is as much private museum as a house. Traditionally inspired but not rigorously historical the forms of the exterior are derived from eighteenth century French and nineteenth century English country architecture. Steeply pitched slate roofs shelter the walls and provide large interior spaces and usable floor area. Interior surfaces are clean and elegant. Floors are stone or walnut and the walls paneled or painted. The colors selected are an overall palette of white ceilings and trim, with subdued neutral background tones in theopen spaces and deep shades in defined rooms.

Entry is from the front courtyard into a formal hall. The immediate space is the trophy room which houses the owners’ collection of wildlife mounts. Beyond the entry and trophy room and running perpendicular are the living spaces. Central to this wing is the open main stair with a monumental window on the landing and large Impressionistic paintings hung overlapping the paneling. On the second floor are bedrooms, a paneled study with a curved vaulted ceiling opening onto the trophy room and a cross-vaulted gallery where oriental carpets are displayed. Each space dovetails with the next, open where appropriate and enclosed as needed. Views out were considered and are an important feature of the rooms and the experience of the house.