StevenGrootaert

Situated on Fishers Island at the end of the Long Island Sound, this new construction, high-end luxury summer home is designed to take advantage of the amazing view afforded by being on the highest elevation on the island - off of ‘Top of the World’ road. Building on an island has unique challenges such as bringing materials and supplies by ferry. Pouring concrete on the island is rarely done and foundation construction is done by block. Sitework needs to balance cut and fill to maintain soil volume as removing it is prohibited. In general, build costs are much higher than they would be on the mainland which encourages us to be intentional about available design options.

As you walk through the front door you are immediately meet with the open two story stairway with a wall of windows highlighting the view of the Sound from the top of Fishers Island. We worked with the client for months to tweak the layout and design of the home. The plan is angled at the kitchen and done so the master suite also takes advantage of the view. As a result the lower garage is large enough to accommodate the family’s sailboat. To the right of the stairs is separate guest ‘wing’ to give a sense of privacy for weekend visitors.

A centerpiece of the design is the high ceiling, open concept kitchen, dinning and living room that opens onto a deck through a wall of sliding doors. The view from this location is what makes this project unique and creating an open space air space connecting to the outdoors during the summer months was considered from the initial concept. Additional structural supports were required to achieve this open space and we worked with a window supplier to order custom sliding doors to fit the largest possible opening.

Built into a slope, the basement is more of a lower level, informal retreat for younger members of the family to gather and socialize. Spilling out onto the lawn and having easy access to the two car garage with ample storage for bicycles and other toys, this house is setup to facilitate outdoor activities and easy summer enjoyment. All windows in this house are hurricane rated to meet coastal requirements and throughly insulated to help the home maintain comfort in the off-season.