November-December 2022 - 78

The Cushmans reached back out to Bennett,
who became the homeowners' go-to throughout
the design-build process they were about to
embark on. The builder and his team, known
for meticulous work, replaced all the windows,
redid the kitchen and, leading into it, added a
mudroom, laundry room and bathroom.
For his part, architect Anzalone listened as
the couple explained that among other issues
they wanted resolved were a screen porch they
didn't use and the kitchen's dysfunctional
layout. " In general, nothing flowed, " says the architect.
" They had all this square footage (3,400
square feet) but the house always felt tight and
awkward. And no matter what time of day, it
was dark inside. "
The first order of business was tearing down
the little-used screen porch that was on its
last legs and replacing it with a family room
where the kids can play and guests can mingle
away from, but within earshot of, the kitchen.
The room's vaulted ceiling covered in whitepainted
V-groove brings a welcome airiness to
the space that is further enhanced by two sets
of French doors and new picture windows beefing
up the glassiness of the southeast wall. Not
only do the new doors and windows allow more
sunlight to stream in, they are also more energy
efficient, which enabled the homeowners to
upgrade their heating system. Bennett installed
central air conditioning and radiant-heat floors
throughout.
It was easy to understand why the kitchen
didn't work. Walking in from the mudroom, " the
first thing you saw was a black-topped island
set at an odd angle that wedged you toward the
sink, " describes Anzalone. " You could walk
around it, but psychologically it blocked you. "
Repositioning the island was one piece of
the puzzle in reconfiguring the kitchen, but
it was the stove, a handsome white Lacanche
range with brass trim, that played the larger
role in how the kitchen is laid out. " I love old
houses, and since this one isn't old, I wanted a
European-style stove that would have a transitional
look, " says Leah, who was also attracted
to the Lacanche's powerful oven. " My passion
is baking, so that was part of the motivation. "
With the range as the centerpiece, other
elements fell into place. Supporting Leah's
desired lived-in aesthetic, the countertops and
Site-specific design and
careful consideration of the
surroundings resulted in a
home that truly connects
with the natural world and
brings the outside in.
In the concrete-tiled entryway, Bodie, a Jack Russell terrier,
greets guests as they arrive at the front door.
The finishing touch in the powder room is the Lisa Fine " Samode " wallpaper,
hand-printed on clay-coated paper.
76 New Hampshire Home | November/December 2022
November-December 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November-December 2022
