Tucked in the Vermont hinterlands beside a steep ravine sat a modest (under 1,200 sf), but well-loved four room home. The owners needed bedrooms and more living space for a blended family of six, with a limited budget. They wanted a rustic Scandinavian feeling to the home.

The result is an energy efficient home with under 2,700 sf in a compact footprint. A third floor, bath, stair and were added to the house. A two-story wing addition angles along the top of the bank. The new master bedroom has a cathedral ceiling and a gable porch overlooking the ravine path. Its reached by a bridge through the new skylit atrium. The wood-fired Tulikivi soapstone heater in the atrium circulates heat throughout the house and serves as the primary heat source.

The new red vertical siding, roof overhangs, window arrangements, and gable ornaments evoke both Scandinavia and rural Vermont. With nine rooms, including home offices, the cottage now fits everyone.

G.C.: Lud Leskovar, Norwich, VT.

Masonry Heater: Tulikivi

Cabinetry: Ikea