New Hampshire Home March-April 2023

SPECTACULAR LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Cooking With Whole Grains

A Lakefront Transformation

Gardening With Native Plants

Where design, innovation and quality unite. Let’s create together.

By literally and figuratively pushing the boundaries, a breathtaking property evolves over time.

A gently renovated antique farmhouse that lives mostly off the grid brings the best of the past into the future.

Nina Rollins | Photography by Erin Little

Attracted to Yankee Barn Homes’ new bespoke design options, a young couple builds the house of their dreams in Deerfield.

Janice Randall Rohlf | Photography by Brittany Schones/Squarelight

Garden Rx Native Nurseries

Robin Sweetser

Master of His Craft Environmental Studies

Emily Reily

by John W. Hession

Mark Your Calendar Events Around the State

in New Hampshire

Landscape is Alive

by Carolyn Vibbert

residential commercial interior design

§

CONTRIBUTORS

Mary Ann Esposito is the host of the public television series “Ciao Italia,” now in its 30th season, and the author of 14 cookbooks, including her most recent, “Ciao Italia: Plant, Harvest, Cook!” She lives in New Hampshire. Visit her website at ciaoitalia.com.

Brittany Schones, based out of Enfield, has been photographing and filming a variety of commercial and residential real estate projrcts throughout New England for over 5 years.

Erin Little is an interior photographer who specializes in capturing the soul of a space. She lives in Maine and travels nationally for her clients.

Brion O’Connor is a freelance writer and journalist whose work has appeared in many publications, including Men’s Journal, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, Bicycling, Men’s Fitness, Boston Magazine, New Hampshire Magazine and numerous in-flight magazines.

Emily Reily is a freelance journalist for several online music and entertainment sites, and has been published in New Hampshire Union Leader, New York Times for Kids and the Washington Post Magazine’s “Opening Lines” section. A former newspaper photojournalist, copy editor and page designer, Emily lives in Dover.

Robin Sweetser writes on gardening for the Sunday Concord Monitor and is a contributor to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, among other publications. A former Seacoast resident, she now lives and gardens in Hillsborough.

Carolyn Vibbert is a Portsmouth illustrator whose work also appears on packaging for food and wine brands such as Barbara’s, Stone Cellars and Williams Sonoma.

Dan Szczesny is a journalist, author and speaker who has written several books of travel memoir, poetry and essays. His newest book is “NH Rocks That Rock: An Adventure Guide to Twenty-Five Famous Boulders of the Granite State.” Learn more at danszczesny.wordpress.com.

Jeff Sinon is primarily known for his landscape photographery. From the seacoast to the White Mountains, his passion is capturing the dramatic landscape that New Hampshire has to offer.

MARCH/APRIL 2023 V OL. 17 | NUMBER 2 nhhomemagazine.com

VICE PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER • Ernesto Burden

EDITOR • Janice Randall Rohlf

MANAGING EDITOR • Emily Heidt

PROOFREADER/STAFF WRITER • Amanda Andrews

ART DIRECTOR • John R. Goodwin

PHOTO EDITOR • John W. Hession

CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR • Jodie Hall

SENIOR GRAPHIC PRODUCTION ARTIST • Nicole Huot

SALES DIRECTOR

Jessica Schooley (603) 624-1442 ext. 5143 • (603) 345-2752 jessicas@yankeepub.com

ADVERTISING & EVENTS SALES DIRECTOR • Jenna Pelech

OPERATIONS MANAGER • Ren Chase

SALES & EVENTS COORDINATOR • Paul Milone

BUSINESS & SALES COORDINATOR • Paula Veale

DIGITAL OPERATIONS AND MARKETING MANAGER Morgen Connor

VP/CONSUMER MARKETING • Brook Holmberg

VP/RETAIL SALES • Sherin Pierce

BILLING SPECIALIST/IT COORDINATOR • Gail Bleakley

STAFF ACCOUNTANT • Nancy Pfuntner

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE

Janice Randall Rohlf, editor New Hampshire Home 250 Commercial Street, Suite 4014 Manchester, NH 03101 (617) 543-3902 • janicerohlfnhh@gmail.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Subscriptions, New Hampshire Home PO Box 37900, Boone, IA 50037-0900; Call (877) 494-2036 or email customerservice@nhhomemagazine.com; subscribe online at nhhomemagazine.com

NEW HAMPSHIRE GROU P An Employee-Owned Company

© 2023 Yankee Publishing, Inc.

New Hampshire Home is published six time a year by Yankee Publishing, Inc.; 250 Commercial Street, Suite 4014, Manchester, NH 03101; (603) 624-1442. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the publisher’s written permission is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any mistakes in advertisements or editorial. Statements and opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect or represent those of this publication or its officers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, Yankee Publishing, Inc.: New Hampshire Home

Respect For Nature Takes Many Forms

I WRITE THIS as we’re experiencing record-cold temperatures in the Northeast, including an all-time low of minus 108 degrees at the top of Mt. Washington. It is probably safe to say that most of us are not the least bit interested in stepping outdoors, let alone giving any thought to landscaping and gardening, unless, of course, your business is to do just that.

When I talk to architects about the process of building a new house, they are quick to mention the importance of siting. Both an art and a science, siting a home properly on its lot involves major considerations like septic system location, but for the purpose of this conversation, let’s think about siting in its relationship to landscape design. How does the sun move across the lot? From which direction do the prevailing winds blow? The best views? The best location for a driveway? These factors, and many others, influence the compositional layout of a house, but they are also critical in landscape design and architecture.

Landscape designers and architects are so much more than simply gardeners. Just ask George and Graham Pellettieri and Dan Bruzga, featured in this issue along with outdoor living expert Alex Stewart. Pellettieri Associats, Inc. is a wellestablished family business, so it resonates when George, the dad, says of our featured project in New Boston (page 58) that it “has become one of the most well-loved properties that we have had the pleasure of working on over [our] 40 years.”

Together with MGa Architects and the homeowners, PAI’s initiatives yielded a property that marries purpose with style.

At the steep lakeside property that landscape architect Dan Bruzga redesigned by incorporating thoughtful updates, his clients wanted an easier-to-navigate way to get from the

house to the lake than the existing stairs provided. As often happens, one thing led to another and by the end of the project, in addition to creating a new curving pathway, Bruzga had changed the driveway material, redesigned the house’s front entrance, built a lakeview patio and a stone wall, and planted perennial blooms and ornamental grasses. Without razing the 1980s-era house, the clients got a whole new place to live. (See story on page 44.)

The makeover, Bruzga says, was in part an opportunity for adaptive reuse. Such was one of the goals when Kaplan Thompson Architects took on what principal Jesse Thompson calls a “restrained renovation” of a farmhouse in the small town of Freedom that underwent a deep energy retrofit to improve its carbon footprint (page 68). The heritage and visual characteristics of the original home were preserved while adding 21st-century energy-efficient elements to both it and a brand-new 1,600-square-foot addition.

For Karina and Ben Kelley, too, energy efficiency was a key factor in the decision to build a new house. Yankee Barn Homes’ use of prefabricated panels with insulation made from recycled materials appealed to the couple, who feel as strongly about protecting the environment as they do about supporting artists like Don Williams, who lives not far from them in Deerfield. Besides a hometown, the Kelleys and Williams share a deep respect for the natural world, which, says Williams, has always inspired him and fueled his creativity. New Hampshire Home interviews the artist on page 78.

When the temperature outside recalibrates to normal for this time of year, think about your own backyard. And if you’re inspired to do any planting, consider using native plants so as not to disrupt the local ecosystem. As “Garden Rx” writer Robin Sweetser says in her article on page 52, “The best way to support local fauna is to plant local flora.”

Janice Randall Rohlf Editor

Whether your home is on a lake, in the mountains or in the center of a beautiful New Hampshire town, you want your rooms to reflect your lifestyle and personal taste. Our stores will inspire you, spark ideas and provide solutions. Learn why the construction of quality furniture makes a difference and enjoy design expertise from a staff whose only goal is to make you love your home. Whether you are looking for one perfect piece or furnishing an entire home, we invite you to discover all that Winchendon Furniture has to offer.

Outdoor Living

Bring the wet bar outside with this convenient cart that’s sure to fit into any style choice.

Grevior Furniture in Franklin · (603) 934-4159 · grevior.com

Keep the party going after the sun goes down with lighting elements such as this distressed-finish lantern. The Copper House in Epsom · (603) 736-9798 thecopperhouse.com

Adorn your outdoor living space with a bistro table and all-weather dining chairs. Harris Family Furniture · (603) 273-9201 harrisfamilyfurniture.com

Take your morning cup of joe outside to the porch swing for a relaxing start to the day.

Bedford Fields in Bedford Lowry’s Lawn & Patio Furniture in Berwick, Maine (207) 384-5903 loweryspatio.com bedfordfields.com

Highlight pops of color and unique designs easily with throw pillows on love seats or lounge chairs. Alternative Energy Hearth & Patio Shoppe

No patio or porch is complete without an Adirondack set.

Bemister’s Pool & Patio in Salem, Litchfield and Hampton · bemisters.com

Cool off under the shade of this cantilever umbrella after a dip in the pool. Arhaus in Salem · (603) 681-6548 · arhaus.com

Bring a little ambience to your outdoor living space with an elegant fire table that is sure to delight your guests. The Patio Barn in Amherst · (603) 673-2716 · thepatiobarn.com

Caribbean looks. Midcentury styling. Soak up the sun on resortinspired outdoor furniture crafted from teak and woven rope. Ethan Allen in Bedford · (603) 472-5101 · ethanallen.com

To Your Health!

Tasty and good for you, whole grains are a win-win.

THE NEXT TIME you walk through the grocery store, take a stroll down the aisle that stocks rice and you will see an amazing array of whole grains that may be unfamiliar, like teff, spelt, rye, millet and sorghum. Many of us are more familiar with oats, cornmeal, wild rice and barley.

According to the Whole Grains Council, whole grains are defined as those that have been minimally processed and retain all parts of the grain kernel: the bran, the germ and the endosperm. In contrast, refined grains are those that have been processed to remove the germ and bran, which means that just 15 percent of the grain retains its fiber and nutrients. Refined grains have a long shelf life because their essential oils have been removed, while the oil-rich germ in whole grains causes them to have a shorter shelf life and be prone to becoming rancid, so it is best to keep them refrigerated once opened.

Whole grains in general have seen a steady surge in popularity as consumers increasingly recognize their health benefits. Known as super foods, whole grains are packed with fiber, protein, magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorus and many other vital nutrients.

Dive into a bowl of hot oatmeal for breakfast and you will be doing your blood pressure and cholesterol level a favor. Eating whole grains is one of the best ways to support a healthy diet. Opting for brown or wild rice instead of the white version is a smart way to boost your intake of nutrients.

Consider serving grains as a base for vegetarian main dishes, adding ingredients like mushrooms, peppers and asparagus.

Farro and quinoa are also among my favorite grains to cook with. Farro, a wheat berry grown in Italy and the Middle East, is a protein-packed grain with a chewy texture and a nutty taste. Extremely versatile, farro can be used in dishes from soups to salads and as an integral part of vegetable and meat courses. Use it for stuffing cabbage rolls or add it to your meatloaf mix. Quinoa,

BY MARY ANN ESPOSITO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN W. HESSION

an almost microscopic grain native to South America, is related to spinach and Swiss chard. Once known as the gold of the Incas, it contains all nine essential amino acids and is low in gluten.

Experiment with whole grains in baking, too. Who among us does not have our Granny’s recipe for oatmeal bread, cookies or muffins? How about adding oats to your favorite pancake mix?

Ramp up your cooking and baking with whole grains. There are so many ways to use them, plus they’re good for your health! NHH

Farro and Vegetable Sauté SERVES 4 TO 6

This nutritious farro and mixed vegetable dish can be served as either an entrée or a side.

1 cup farro

2½ cups chicken broth or water

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup minced onion

2 cups peeled and diced sweet potato

1 cup peeled and diced carrots

1 cup diced zucchini

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

2 tablespoons minced parsley

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ teaspoon cumin

¼ teaspoon sweet paprika

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon lemon zest

1. Pour the farro into a medium-size pot and cover with the chicken broth or water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and cook covered until the farro is tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain well, place in a bowl and set aside.

2. In a sauté pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat. Stir in the onion, sweet potatoes and carrots and cook until the vegetables begin to soften. Add the zucchini and continue cooking until the zucchini is tender but not mushy. Stir in the cayenne, cumin and sweet paprika.

3. Transfer mixture to the bowl with the farro. Combine well and season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, cheese and parsley. Add the lemon juice and zest and combine well. Serve hot.

Granny’s Buttermilk Oatmeal Muffins

MAKES ABOUT 2 DOZEN

These are my granny’s oatmeal muffins. As a kid, I loved them so much that I would snitch one or two when she wasn’t looking! They are very moist and not too sweet.

2 cups rolled oats, not quick oats

2 cups buttermilk

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

¼ teaspoon cloves

Grated zest of one orange

1¾ cups packed light brown sugar

2 eggs

12 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 cup diced dried dates

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line two standard 12-cup muffin pans with cupcake papers and set aside. (See note.)

2. Combine the oats and buttermilk in a large bowl and allow to sit covered for 1 hour, or refrigerate overnight and bring to room temperature before continuing with recipe.

3. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and orange zest in a medium bowl and set aside.

4. Stir the brown sugar and eggs into the oatmeal mixture. Mix in the butter, vanilla and dates. Stir in the flour mixture.

5. Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until tops of muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool muffins in the pan for a few minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to finish cooling completely.

NOTE: Besides standard cupcake papers, parchment paper cups can be used as well as larger-size muffin or popover pans.

Design with Distinction

Studio Sage is a small, full-service design firm, with a focus on specialty, individualized interior design. We strive to curate innovative design solutions tailored to our client’s specific lifestyle. We pride ourselves on a collaborative approach to projects, helping our clients discover, develop and execute their own unique aesthetic. Because no two projects are the same, we are equally challenged and inspired by the work that we do. From concept, completion and finishing with our white-glove art curation. We are proud to serve clients all over New England.

Quinoa with Shrimp and Mixed Vegetables

SERVES 4 TO 6

Quinoa (keen-wah), a grain originating in South America that looks like tiny saucers, is gluten-free and light and fluffy with a nutty taste. It is the perfect foil for this slightly spicy shrimp dish.

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

½ cup plain or tricolor quinoa

1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste

Freshly ground black pepper

1½ cups chicken broth

1 cup cooked snow peas

2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined

3 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons minced garlic

2 tablespoons grated ginger

½ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes

½ cup diced sweet bell pepper

1 cup yellow wax beans, cut and cooked

¼ pound cooked snow peas

½ cup white wine

Juice and zest of two limes

¼ cup minced parsley

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a medium sauté pan over medium heat. Stir in the onions and cook until softened, then stir in quinoa and cook, stirring until it smells toasty and begins to brown. Stir in the broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until the quinoa is tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a platter; cover and keep warm.

2. Using the same pan, add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and place over medium-high heat. Add half the shrimp and cook until they begin to turn opaque and pink in color. Transfer the shrimp to a bowl. Add the last 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and cook the remaining shrimp. Transfer the shrimp to the bowl.

3. Add the butter to the pan and, when melted, add the garlic and cook until softened. Add the ginger and peppers and continue cooking until the peppers begin to soften. Add the yellow wax beans and snow peas. Pour in the wine and stir to blend all the ingredients. Return the shrimp and any juices to the pan; stir in the lime juice, zest and parsley and season with salt and pepper.

4. Scoop the shrimp mixture over the warmed quinoa and serve.

leighbstarerllc.com

603•770•1630 starer@aol.com

Barley Soup SERVES 4

Barley, one of the oldest grains in existence, was used in ancient times to make a coarse type of bread from barley and wheat. It is a nutritious grain in this and other soups, and it has been historically used as an “extender” in main dishes. Pearl barley does not need presoaking before cooking whereas hulled barley does need about two hours of presoaking prior to cooking.

1 cup pearl barley

4 cups beef broth

¼ pound Canadian bacon, diced

3½ tablespoons butter

1 carrot, diced

1 stalk celery, diced

2 cups chopped escarole

Salt to taste

1. Place the barley in a soup pot. Add the broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then lower the heat to simmer. Cover and simmer until the barley is tender, about 20 to 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a sauté pan. Add the bacon and when it begins to render its fat, stir in the carrot and celery. Cook until the bacon begins to brown, and then transfer everything to the pot with the barley and broth. Stir in the escarole. Bring the soup to a boil and cook an additional 10 minutes.

3. Serve hot with whole wheat or pumpernickel bread.

Wild Rice Casserole

SERVES 4 TO 6

This comforting wild rice casserole oozes great taste and is the perfect accompaniment to meats, poultry and fish. Or just make it the main attraction and serve it with a crunchy lettuce salad.

1 cup wild rice

2½ cups chicken broth

½ teaspoon salt

4 tablespoons melted butter

1 cup chopped onion

½ cup chopped celery

1 cup chopped sweet red pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups thinly sliced button or shiitake mushrooms, or a combination of both Freshly ground black pepper

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

½ cup toasted slivered almonds

1. Rinse the rice in a strainer and drain it well.

2. Transfer the rice to a saucepan, add the broth and salt and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to simmer and cover. Cook until tender, about 35 minutes. Drain in a colander and set aside.

3. In a sauté pan, melt the butter. Add the onion, celery and red pepper and cook until softened. Stir in the garlic and mushrooms and cook until mushrooms soften, about 5 minutes. Add black pepper to taste.

4. Mix the rice, vegetables and half the cheese together and spread in a buttered 2-quart casserole.

5. Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake at 325ºF for 35 to 45 minutes. Uncover and spread the remaining cheese evenly over the top. Return it uncovered to the oven for about 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted and is hot and bubbly.

6. Sprinkle the almonds over the top before serving.

Mary Ann Esposito’s most recent cookbook, “Ciao Italia: Plant, Harvest, Cook!,” takes the reader on a seasonal home garden vegetable journey focusing on simple growing tips for anyone interested in growing their own vegetables and how to cook them Italian style. Available wherever books are sold and on ciaoitalia.com.

Makeover at the Water’s Edge

By adding several key elements to a lakeside property, landscape designer

Daniel Bruzga turned a ho-hum expanse into a stunning yard with easier access to the lake and seating areas for admiring the water view.

“LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION,” goes the old real estate adage. “You can change anything about a house except its location.”

The new owners of this 40-year-old lakefront home did exactly that, updating the interior for their needs, renovating the existing screened porch and three-car garage, and adding a new front entry. When it came time for landscaping, they turned to Daniel Bruzga of db Landscaping in Sunapee, a New Hampshire-based landscape architect known for lakeside projects throughout the state. A New Hampshire native, Bruzga grew up in Warner and now lives

in Sunapee, so he is well acquainted with the lake. “Over the years we have become experts in waterfront design and the permitting associated with getting landscapes and houses constructed within the tightly regulated areas around New Hampshire waterways,” he says.

When tackling any home renovation, one thing leads to another. “The owners were hoping that the house just needed a paint job, but once the project started, they realized that the entire house and landscape needed updating,” says Bruzga. The construction process, undertaken by Bill Ostrom of C.W. Ostrom Builders, took about a year before landscaping could

BY ROBIN SWEETSER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN W. HESSION

even begin, and that took another year to install.

Lakefront Transformation

Steep waterfront lots are notoriously difficult to work on. “Challenge always creates opportunity though, and the site can start to dictate the design as opposed to a site that is more of a blank slate,” says Bruzga. “The work largely needs to start by the water’s edge and then we have to back out up the hill, leaving the completed landscape behind us.” His clients wanted a better way to get to the lake from the house since the existing stairs on the steep bank were hard to navigate and

treacherous to use. Bruzga designed a new curving pathway that sweeps across the slope to make for a gentler descent to the water. “The meandering path lengthens the distance so it can have steps and landings and a longer flat pathway in the middle that creates a natural resting plateau between larger grade changes,” he explains.

It also provides access to the lakeview patio he built halfway down the hill on a small knoll overlooking the water. Here, the homeowners and their guests can sit and enjoy the sights and sounds of the lake. “The patio was strategically positioned to provide a long view up the lake toward Mt. Sunapee and the gold coast of New London, while also meeting the State of New Hampshire DES setback rules that were 20 feet at the time,” he points out.

From the patio, more steps lead to the water. “The existing steps by the dock—that were in great need of reconstructing—were granite that was quarried locally years ago by the Stocker family of Sunapee Granite Works, so we chose to keep using granite and to fabricate more stairs to match,” says Bruzga. Large slabs of Goshen stone were used to

pave the patio, landings and an area of dockside seating at the foot of the stairs. “I love this stone, because it naturally splits into large flat pieces and, due to it being granite schist, it fares well in our northern climate compared to commonly used sedimentary stone like bluestone,” he explains. Generous patches of wooly

thyme, sedum, creeping juniper and other groundcovers carpet the spaces in and around the large rocks that form the edges of the stairway.

The lot had originally been clear-cut years ago by a previous owner and had grown up into thick brush. “The new homeowners wanted the view from the

lake toward the house to look green and lush and less like a clear-cut,” says Bruzga. “They have a screened porch and expansive deck on the lake side of the house where they entertain their friends, so they wanted to maintain the view to the lake.”

Well-placed evergreens and small trees interplanted with shrubby understory plants including hydrangeas, rhododendrons, yellowroot, sweet fern (Comptonia) and red twig dogwood achieve that goal. Perennials such as goat’s beard, geraniums, catmint, anemones and daisy-like “White Bomb” chrysanthemums provide added interest. “We were aiming for summer blooming, since that is when the homeowners spend most of their time here,” he says. To fulfill the client’s wish for ornamental grasses, Bruzga planted clumps of Miscanthus sinesis “Adagio” in the garden just below the deck, along with dwarf mugo pines, hydrangeas and “Stella de Oro” daylilies. “She wanted to be able to see the grass dancing in the breeze,” he says.

A Welcoming New Entry

The existing driveway leading to the front entrance was red-colored, stamped concrete. “Hot and unattractive,” says Bruzga. “The new driveway is called a ‘chip seal.’ It’s an asphalt-paved driveway that has bluestone applied over the top, held in place by a thick asphalt emulsion, creating the look of a rural bluestone or hardpack driveway while eliminating the maintenance issues associated with winter plowing.” Due to the site’s sloping and

wooded nature, there isn’t a lot of extra flat space at the front of the house that isn’t driveway court. The new architectural front entrance created the ability to have a welcoming courtyard and a nicer, more aesthetically pleasing entry, with plantings and pedestrian space.

Bruzga created an inviting entrance garden enclosed by a stone wall built from split local granite. The wall is just tall enough to prevent the homeowners’ dogs from wandering off while still keep-

ing an open feel to the space. Although the area is small, it required many elements: the wall, a custom-designed and fabricated gate, the stone pathway, stone entry stairs, a stone bench, turf for the dogs, ornamental plantings and stone drip edging for water infiltration.

Planted within the walled space are a Kousa dogwood, low-growing juniper, hay-scented ferns, Hinoki false cypress, hydrangeas “Annabelle” and “Tuff Stuff,” and areas of turf surrounded by “Biokovo” geraniums. “Stella de Oro” daylilies, “Walker’s Low” catmint and “Bevan’s Variety” geraniums grow outside the wall and across the front of the house. Behind “Walker’s Low” catmint, are a fragrant “Korean Spice” viburnum, rhododendrons and more hydrangeas. A large river birch Betula nigra “Heritage” underplanted with ferns and stephanandra punctuates the corner of the front yard. Large granite monoliths accentuate the end of the stone walls and create the entry point for the Mondrian-inspired gate. “We drew dozens of gate designs to help our client reach her goals,” Bruzga says.

Start Where You Are, Use What You Have

These thoughtful updates show that you don’t have to tear down an existing house and demolish the entire site to create a wonderful property. “Many times older waterfront houses on New Hampshire lakes are torn down to make way for new cutting-edge architecture. While the existing house isn’t up to date in architectural style, by adding some key elements we could make it work for the new owners. In some cases it can be ideal to start over, but it is certainly less taxing on our environment to reuse and recycle, and hopefully less taxing on overall costs and length of the project,” says Bruzga. This makeover was an opportunity for adaptive reuse which extended the life of the structure for another generation. NHH

RESOURCES

db Landscaping LLC • (603) 763-6423

dblandscaping.net

Native Nurseries

Sourcing plants, trees and shrubs close to home not only benefits home gardeners but it’s a boon for the planet, too.

BY NOW, MOST SAVVY GARDENERS

are aware of the importance of protecting our native insects—not just the pollinators but also the many other types of beneficial insects, worms and invertebrates that form a vital part of the ecosystem we depend on. Biologist and naturalist Edward O. Wilson called them “the little things that run the world.”

When native plants are overtaken by foreign exotics and invasive species, our delicate ecological balance is disrupted. Pesticide use, habitat loss, climate change and invasive species of insects are also wreaking havoc on our native insects, which has caused bird popula-

BY ROBIN SWEETSER

tions that depend on them for feeding their young to decline as well.

As gardeners, we can reverse this alarming trend by making a few simple changes to our own yards. Shrink the size of your lawn, remove invasive plants, say no to toxic chemicals and, most importantly, grow more native plants. The best way to support local fauna is to plant local flora.

Return of the Natives

We all long for a landscape that is not only beautiful but also easy to care for. Incorporating native plants into our gardens whenever possible will go a long way

toward achieving that goal. Native plants have survived thousands of years without human help. Once established, they need less supplemental watering, little or no fertilizer, and they are winter hardy. They also have formed symbiotic relationships with native wildlife, so they offer the most sustainable habitat and promote biodiversity by providing food, nectar and shelter for a wider range of insects and animals than do non-native garden plants. Native plants are a win-win for the gardener and the ecosystem.

So, what do we mean by native? A plant is considered native if it was here when the first European settlers arrived in

the early 1600s. Since demand for these plants has grown, nurseries around the state are stocking more of them, but be mindful when shopping. Everything is native somewhere, so make sure the word native also includes a region indicating that it is a New England or Northeast native suited to our weather conditions, rather than, say, a California native that would not survive.

Instead of purchasing a plant that has been pre-treated with chemicals and shipped from who-knows-where to a big box store, look for locally raised, chemical-free ones. These nurseries often began out of necessity when garden designers and landscapers who needed natives for their projects could not find them in our area and started growing their own. Look for more native nurseries to open as demand increases.

Native Nurseries are Growing

Found Well Farm in Pembroke has been specializing in native plants since its inception in 2003. Owner Ayn Whytemare has a B.A. in environmental science, a master’s in forest ecology and currently teaches sustainable agriculture at NHTI. Formerly a landscaper, she worked on large mitigation and restoration projects that relied heavily on native plants. She raises many of her perennials from seed

collected from plants on her property but also uses seeds from the Wild Seed Project and Fedco Seeds in Maine, and from Prairie Moon Nursery in Minnesota.

By growing straight species instead of nativars (cultivated variations of native plants), Whytemare gets plants that are hardier and have higher wildlife value since they offer more nectar and pollen. “Many places talk about native plants, but so few sell actual native plants,” she says. “Most are improved versions bred for looks not ecosystem compatibility.”

She buys bare-root shrub and tree seedlings from local sources such as the state nursery and grows them for at least one winter to make sure they will be hardy in our area before offering them for sale. Whytemare makes her own potting soil using compost from the Dirt Doctors as a base. “It comes with a chemical profile so I know what amendments to add to get it balanced perfectly,” she explains. In the spring, she also grows certified organic vegetable seedlings in her greenhouse. They sell out fast, so visit her website, foundwellfarm.com, and pre-order now.

Bagley Pond Perennials, located on a 300-acre hillside farm in Warner with a wide range of habitats, has two greenhouses and many display gardens. This candy store for gardeners is now in its

fifth season. Owner Denise Dalaker explains that it was a rundown farm when her partner, Mark Govini, bought it in 2013. They have since built a new barn on an old foundation and reclaimed some fields for their plants. She plans to add more woodland plants such as Jack-inthe-pulpit and trillium and will be designing a woodland walk to showcase them.

“We source a lot of our seeds from the farm,” says Dalaker, “but what we don’t have, we try to source locally.”

Though not yet certified organic, they employ organic methods and specialize in Northeast regional natives grown in fiber pots, rather than plastic ones.

“We celebrate when we see caterpillars in the greenhouse,” says Dalaker. “It means we are doing things right!” They supply plants to other nurseries and retailers in New Hampshire and to the New Hampshire Audubon in Concord and the Massabesic Center in Auburn.

Conservation groups, land trusts and towns order from them, and they have donated plants to schools with pollinator gardens. In fact, Bagley Pond provided all the plants for the new pollinator garden that was installed at the Bridges House in Concord last summer. (Look for more about that garden in a future issue of New Hampshire Home.) Their excellent website, bagleypondperennials.com, is loaded with information and even offers collections of plants for different growing situations, complete with garden design ideas sold as kits, taking the guesswork out of starting a native plant garden from scratch.

Fassett Farm Nursery is located in Jaffrey, at the base of Mt. Monadnock. Aaron Abitz, former owner of Katsura Landcare, had been using native plants in his landscape designs for 15 years, but because they weren’t easy to find locally, he needed to grow his own. In 2019, he teamed up with landowner Doug Clayton to start a native plant nursery on an overgrown 10-acre lot Clayton had inherited. After some logging and clearing of invasives, in 2020 Clayton received a small grant from the Cheshire County Conserva-

tion District to plant native pollinator and wildlife-supporting plants on the site.

The following year, Clayton built a 1,200-square-foot-high tunnel for propagation, and in 2022 the nursery opened to the public. They offer a wide variety of plants for sun, shade, dry or wet gardens and, along with Clayton and Abitz, design consultant Peg Castle can help you with planning and adding native plants

to your yard or landscape. In addition to natives, they also grow fruit- and nutbearing plants and medicinal herbs. Visit their website, fassettfarmnursery.com, to see their plant list or better yet, visit them in person.

Abitz still does garden design and installation and is working with Clayton and Castle on gardens around the farm to demonstrate how native plants can be

combined to create fruitful and inviting landscapes that fit their surroundings. “Biodiverse native plantings nourish our native pollinators and wildlife species as well as bring beauty to our yards and landscapes,” Clayton says. “Native plants can withstand our regional weather patterns without a lot of extra watering or fertilizers, as compared to non-natives. This past summer, this could be seen in the health of native plants during the prolonged drought.”

NH State Forest Nursery in Boscawen is the place for New Hampshire-grown trees and shrubs. They have been in business for over 100 years and offer inexpensive seedlings of about 50 species of mostly native shrubs, conifers and hardwood trees, collecting about 90 percent of the seeds they grow from their nursery. The minimum order for any one species is ten, so you might want to split an order with friends or your garden club. They also offer mixed packages of natives designed for supporting pollinators, wildlife and songbirds that include five plants each of five different species. These one- to two-year-old seedlings are only six to 12 inches tall, so they will need some TLC to get them established, but it is worth the effort. Demand is high and they sell out early. Visit their

nhpbs.org/windows

online store at buynhseedlings.com and get your order in soon.

Every Day Is Earth Day

As you dream about making garden improvements this season, keep natives in mind to create a healthy garden unique to your property. “Going native doesn’t mean you have to get rid of everything else,” says Whytemare. Dalaker agrees, saying that it’s okay to keep the plants you love as long as they are not invasive. “You don’t have to give up the peonies and daylilies,” she says. When making your plant wish lists, think about what your choices have to offer besides their looks. Will they host insects for the birds to eat? Will they provide nectar and pollen for the bees and other pollinators? Will they offer shelter for wildlife? Do they contribute to our ecosystem or detract from it? “Your landscape isn’t just for you,” says Dalaker. “If everyone does their share, imagine what we can do!” NHH

RESOURCES

Bagley Pond Perennials • (603) 320-0262

bagleypondperennials.com

Dirt Doctors • (603) 229-3200 • dirtdoctorsnh.com

Fassett Farm Nursery • (603) 593-8719

fassettfarmnursery.com

Found Well Farm • (603) 228-1421

foundwellfarm.com

NH State Forest Nursery • (603) 796-2323

buynhseedlings.com

As a 4th generation family-owned business, we take great pride in the products we manufacture and represent. You can feel confident using Ideal. We invite you to browse our website and welcome the opportunity to discuss how our wide selection of pavers, steps, walls and natural stone allow you to expand your personal style to the outdoors.

IDEALCONCRETEBLOCK.COM

Alex Stewart of Ideal Concrete Block Co. in Westford and Waltham, MA

Q:What current trends are you seeing within the industry?

A: Over the past few years, our industry has witnessed tremendous growth in outdoor living as homeowners looked to return to their own backyard as a place of safe-haven and enjoyment. The array of styles, colors and textures in today’s hardscape materials provided the means to create personalized spaces where families could relax and enjoy their personalized outdoor setting with families and friends. We see this trend continuing today as families

want to spend more time in the comfort of their home — indoors and out! A simple fire pit, modest patio or a styled outdoor living space complete with a built-in grill, fireplace and pizza oven are now considered valued amenities to make their property a well-rounded home.

Endless Possibilities

By literally and figuratively pushing the boundaries, a breathtaking property evolves over time.

BY BRION O'CONNOR

The

Large, dimensional Chester stone pavers lead to a secondary entrance, with fragrant plantings, accented by a statue. As seen from above, the property ties together a strong diversity of plants, building materials, stonework and details.

When Beth Stevens looks out over her spectacular property in New Boston, she sees the culmination of several major renovations she has taken on with her husband, Brian, over the course of three decades.

“The finished property still takes our breath away,” says Beth. “Whether it’s the beautiful gardens, unique relics dispensed throughout and cleverly built into structures, or the amazing 360-degree view around the home, it all brings complete satisfaction and appreciation for the effort put into this project.

“It has just worked together to become the masterpiece that it is, in our opinion,” she says. “Everything exceeded our expectations,

since the final orchestrated piece was the ultimate visual prize.”

The most recent addition to that masterpiece—the “last piece of the puzzle,” says Beth—required a coordinated effort by the Stevens and the talented folks at the design-build firm Pellettieri Associates Inc. of Warner, N.H., and MGa Architects of Boston, Mass. After purchasing several adjoining parcels, the Stevens set out to capitalize on the prospects that the larger lot provided. The project started in earnest when the Stevens brought in landscape architects Pellettieri Associates (PAI) to create a master plan.

“I was actively involved in the early stages of the project, opening up many ideas and possibilities (such as) selective tree cutting behind

the house to open views,” says George Pellettieri, who founded PAI almost 40 years ago. “ They liked the results so much they purchased two properties behind to expand opportunities, including a possible driveway extension to the back of the house where the kitchen and main living areas are located.”

The Stevens had an antique shop in the property’s barn—Tea Stains—with the access driveway set on a steep hill from the main route below. Pellettieri suggested relocating the driveway to reduce the sharp incline and clearing more trees to open views from the house and allow an exit for the new driveway.

“Once clearing got started, they loved the results so much they again purchased adjoining properties on the side road,” says Pellettieri.

“That provided an opportunity for us to recommend a whole new entrance—safer, great views, more rural feeling—to their house and shop.” Tea Stains is currently closed pending the Stevens’s decision to reopen or not.

George Pellettieri’s son, Graham, currently president of the firm, agrees, saying the additional parcels, combined with the planned renovation of the Stevens’s farmhouse, “really opened up a world of possibilities” that included expansive views and the driveway relocation.

“It also improved the overall sense of privacy for the property,” says Graham. “Collaborating with the clients and Marcus (Gleysteen of MGa Architects) allowed everyone to share creative ideas, inspire each other to push the boundaries of what was possible, and ultimately deliver a property that marries purpose with style.”

The main Colonial-style home, says Beth, was built in 1991. “Since then, we have completed multiple additions and projects including deconstruction of a very large, old barn from Wilmot, and reconstruction of the original, old post-andbeam structure on our property, which was home for my antique business,” she says.

Roughly 15 years ago, the couple put a large addition on the east side of the main house, which included a new farmhouse-style kitchen. That kitchen location ended up being a major factor in fueling the property’s redesign.

“The new kitchen location now required that we be able to approach and park in the vicinity of it, for practicality, unloading groceries, et cetera,” says Beth. “This need, combined with the idea that I wanted some really special garden features speckled throughout the circumferential area around the house and barn, got us to where we are with the final design.”

An avid gardener, Beth Stevens combined her love of antiques and gardening by peppering statues, sculptures, arbors, fountains and other accent pieces throughout the property, says Graham Pellettieri. “These elements add a great deal of character and depth to the landscape.”

The design team tied together the property’s buildings “in the tradition of New England’s connected farmsteads,” says Robyn B. Gentile of MGa Architects, featuring a dramatic new portecochere, a stunning stone garage on the east side of the home.

Clockwise from opposite top: A modern stepping-stone path connects the main patio with the lower lawn. Ornamental grasses and a blue spruce provide contrasting plantings near lounge chairs. A seasonal cobblestone wheel track drive provides a fun route to and from the porte-cochère. A custom-designed gas fire table is carved out of a single 5,000-pound block of granite.

Clockwise from above:

Stone steppers connect the front walkway with the main patio, while basket planters provide pops of color. Entrances to pathways across the property are often framed with ornate planters, and planted with lush perennials. A colorful assortment of flowers and perennials softens the border between the patio and stone retaining wall.

“Our scope includes the porte-cochère with its adjacent components, a portico over the front door, and a screen porch with a roof deck,” says Robyn. “Each new building component offers a thoughtful transition from the interior of the home to the environment outside. Together, the architectural and landscape work instills the visual harmony and spatial hierarchy needed to feel comfortable in an expansive rural setting.”

Highlights of the finished project, including linear stone walls, the use of reclaimed granite pavers, and the connecting cobblestone “summer drive” leading to the porte-cochère, all help to “ground the house in its property,” says Robyn. “The team also considered views of the mountain to the west and hayfields to the east,

from both inside and outside the house.”

In addition, the design team had to deal with “the challenge of having a property that functions as both a home and a small business that customers could come to visit,” says Graham Pellettieri. “This type of blended use requires extra considerations for parking, access, privacy, safety and security. The driveway redesigns, and creation of parking areas for customers to use by the barn, were big components of this.”

Contractors employed different paving materials—asphalt as opposed to gravel— on the main driveway and secondary driveway, respectively, helped to “visually distinguish the areas that were intended for customer use and those areas intended for private use.”

“We are always thinking about access and

flow when it comes to landscape design, so we wanted to ensure first-time visitors would know where to park, and which path they would take to get to the entrance of the antiques shop,” says Graham.

The new main entrance of the house “transforms the arrival experience,” says Graham Pellettieri. “The sense of invitation and welcome are clear with blocky granite retaining walls framing a wide terraced walkway with granite steps and Chester stone landings that lead to the improved, formal front entry at the front door.”

“With the strong variety of colorful plantings, including perennials, shrubs, ornamental trees and groundcovers, the arrival experience is a vibrant and rich medley for the senses,” he says.

PAI also preserved many of the mature trees

on the property, incorporating them into the overall designs. Meanwhile, smaller plantings—shrubs and perennials—were mostly added new, over time, to fill in the plant beds and bring a natural diversity of species, sizes, colors, textures and smells into the landscape, says Graham.

“Transplanting or replacing a large tree is both challenging and expensive, so whenever there’s an opportunity to utilize and preserve the existing vegetation, we try to work that into the plan,” he says. “When you factor in even just the labor time it takes to dig up, move and replant a shrub, it isn’t always costeffective. Oftentimes it’s more affordable to acquire new plant material from a nursery and install it fresh.”

Acknowledging Beth Stevens’ love of gardening, designers incorporated a greenhouse with large glass windows as an additional room off of the porte-cochère, says Graham. However, it was placed in a location that was out of sight

from the front shop area that customers would use, preserving a sense of privacy.

Another highlight is the Chester stone patio added to the side yard to increase the home’s outdoor living space, with an intriguing granite fire table “that acts as a focal point for gathering,” says Graham. When being used, the gaspowered fire table, designed by PAI’s Dennis Ames, has exposed flames rising through the center channel. When not in use, however, that channel can be covered, transforming the piece into a simple stone coffee table.

The finished product, says Beth Stevens, works so well, inside and out, because “it really is the sum of all the parts.” That was the result of “regular, open, trusted communications between the design team” of PAI and MGa Architects and the Stevens, says George Pellettieri.

“ This project has become one of the most well-loved properties that we have had the pleasure of working on over (our) 40 years,” adds Graham Pellettieri. “Our employees loved work-

ing at the property during the original design and construction phase, and we still continue the client relationship today by revisiting to do fine gardening services and address ongoing maintenance. Additionally, new clients often remark about how much they enjoyed seeing the photos of it while browsing our portfolio on our website. But we can’t take all the credit for this magical property.

“The impressive design and construction of the porte-cochère, along with the other building renovations and additions, really brings a ‘Wow!’ factor to this property, and Marcus really deserves credit for these fantastic architectural designs,” he says. “In addition, the clients deserve a great deal of credit, because they so deeply care for the details of the property.” NHH

RESOURCES

Pellettieri Associates, Inc. • (603) 456-3678

pellettieriassoc.com

MGa Architects • (617) 542-6060 • mgaarchitects.comcom

In the kitchen, a wood-burning stove pays homage to one that was originally there. The room's design emulates a Japanese woodworking shop, with kerfed oak cabinetry, dark soapstone countertops and hand-glazed earthenware tiles.

NEW OLD HOUSE

A GENTLY RENOVATED ANTIQUE FARMHOUSE THAT LIVES MOSTLY OFF THE GRID BRINGS THE BEST OF THE PAST INTO THE FUTURE.

At the edge of a historic and pastoral farmstead in the town of Freedom, a colonial Cape house has anchored the steeply sloping hillside for nearly 150 years. From the street, it presents as it has for the last century and a half: modest and gabled, an era of architecture perfectly preserved. Driving up the pebbled path and approaching the farmer’s porch that now serves as the primary entrance, another vernacular building comes into view.

With its simple geometry and tall, pitched roof, the structure recalls a barn. Though traditional in form, modern touches like elongated windows and delicate trim hint that the building is new. A sleek, L-shaped wall of glass connects the two buildings, merging the past with the present so flawlessly that it’s hard to determine where one ends and the other begins.

The Lower House, which is what Charlie Watts and Holly Haynes call their home to distinguish it from another residence that crowns the nearby hill, is indeed old, but it’s also new.

BY NINA ROLLINS PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN LITTLE

It sits at the entryway to High Meadow Farm, a 252-acre property that has been in Watts’s family for some six decades. Over those years, the farm has been home to 25,000 egg-laying chickens, a large apple orchard, corn and hay fields and a maple syrup operation.

Watts, now a writer, spent his childhood summers working on the farm. Holly, a chaplain who has worked in hospital and home settings, also spent many summers in Freedom, attending a nearby camp.

However, the two did not meet until they ended up at a one-year agriculture program in Vermont. They were married five years later and now have three grown children, all of whom have also spent many summers (and winters) at the farm.

After Watts’s mother died in 2016, the couple, who were living in Providence, Rhode Island, inherited the property and decided to make it their full-time residence.

“It’s been a special place for both of us and our families,” Watts says. “But we also wanted to find a way to open things up to a broader community. Holly had the great idea to arrange things so we could host small, contemplative retreats in my parents’ farmhouse at the top of the hill, and then keep the Lower House as a more private space for us and our family.”

They commissioned Kaplan Thompson Architects and Heidi Lachapelle Interiors, which are based in Portland, Maine, to create a living-working space that accommodates them as well as visiting friends and family. Their wish list was as simple as Lower House itself. They wanted a sustainable compound with two separate work spaces (a writing study for Watts, an art studio for Haynes), a place for family gatherings at holidays and vacations, a suite for Haynes’s mother, and a redesign that respected the home’s architectural history while also updating its aging systems.

“We wanted a lot of windows and sightlines so you can see outside,” Haynes says. “We are on the side of a small mountain with hills and valleys around us. With the new design, you can see from one end of the house to the other.”

The result, a close collaboration between

architect and interior designer, is a traditionalstyle farmhouse with a more open layout and that lives, for the most part, off the grid.

“It’s a restrained renovation,” says Jesse Thompson, principal at Kaplan Thompson Architects, noting that the greatest changes to the home modified its performance, not appearance. The farmhouse underwent a deep energy retrofit that completely stripped and rebuilt its envelope. Leaky and creaky walls were improved with insulation and rainscreen siding, and high-performance windows replaced the home’s aging glass.

The connector, furnished only with a bench, a bookcase and a reading light, is designed to be a place of quiet contemplation.

Despite these changes, the heritage and visual characteristics of the original home were preserved. “The exterior is calm, quiet and attempts to emulate the minimalism of New England farmhouses with clapboard siding. The design is clean and spare, elegant and simple with strong, clear shapes.”

Inside, the ground-level floor plan was reconfigured to remove unnecessary walls and open the ceilings, creating a large kitchen and gathering space. The upstairs, however, was left largely intact and updated with new finishes.

When designing the 1,600-square-foot addition, Thompson states that his main mission was to respect the old architecture. “To make it an integrated, organic whole was a tricky thing to do,” he says. “The challenge was in the integration of a new building into a new context and to make it look like it all had grown over time.”

It was important, he adds, for the completed 3,500-square-foot farmhouse, which has four bedrooms and three baths, to make a modest, not grand, impression, especially from the street, where the new addition is only partially visible.

Freedom, with a population of roughly 1,600, is a classic New England town with a main street that features traditional (and well-kept) white clapboard buildings, a library, a church, a town hall and a general store that could all qualify for a Norman Rockwell painting.

“History,” Thompson says, “is all around.”

Yet the farmhouse is also a prime example of 21st-century technology, the kind many homes of more recent vintage don’t possess.

A large, on-site solar array supplies electricity for the entire property. Efficiency air source heat pumps keep the owners cozy in even the most frigid New Hampshire winters, while fresh air ventilation systems with heat recovery ensure optimal indoor air quality. The cold is also kept out by nontoxic wood fiber insulation and triple-glazed windows. These energy-efficient elements turn the original structure into a lowimpact proposition that serves as a model for other renovations and restorations.

Lower House was ideally suited to Watts’s and Haynes’s expansive plans because it already had

Clockwise from top left: A section of the L-shaped glass connector between the main house and the addition that merges indoor and outdoor spaces. The original screened-in porch, which had been refreshed prior to this renovation, was preserved to create an indoor-outdoor flow. Heidi Lachapelle blended old and new in the original house's living room.

an addition: a 11/2-story cold shed that was in too poor of a condition to be salvaged.

In its place, Thompson designed an addition, complete with a guest bedroom, that Watts calls “an echo of the original” and that is cleverly connected to the house via an L-shaped corridor of glass that brings in light as well as glimpses of the natural environment.

The new building has separate spaces for Watts and Haynes at opposite ends, and the connecting hallway, outfitted only with a bookcase, a bench and a reading light, is used as a serene space for repose and reflection.

“It’s like sitting in a garden,” Haynes says.

Other significant alterations include the addition of a farmer’s porch to the side entrance of

the farmhouse and a pebbled driveway. Granite slabs—original to the property—lead up the hill toward a series of barns that were once the heart of the working High Meadow Farm.

The interiors, which were inspired by Shaker, Scandinavian as well as elegantly spare Japanesque aesthetics, are in sync with the architecture, Lachapelle says, adding that the challenge lay in striking the balance between the old and new sensibilities.

Thompson describes the spaces as “New England in feeling with a contemporary aspect and creativity and craftsmanship; the architecture and interiors had to work together because it’s all one puzzle.”

The main pieces of the puzzle are on the first

floor of the two-story structure. The space was opened up, and the wood-burning fireplace, which had been in the center of the floor, was replaced with a newer model that is sited closer to the staircase, which is defined by a wooden divider comprised of vertical planks.

The key element in achieving the unifying blend, Lachapelle adds, is the raw, unpainted plaster finish on the walls. “It gives a movement and atmosphere and a lived-in feeling to the new addition and softens the transition between it and the farmhouse,” she says.

Another unifying factor is the use of the same style of cabinetry in the kitchen and baths. The white oak, clear with a matte finish, and the soapstone tops, celebrate the natural materials.

Above: A cozy nook, is the ideal spot for reading or a quick nap.

Left and below: The primary bath features a double-sink vanity of kerfed oak with a soapstone top. A Japanese soaking tub and a New England cane-top stool illustrate the home's design inspirations.

“The brass faucets in these rooms are unlacquered so they oxidize over time, which makes them more beautiful,” Lachapelle says.

textured white boucle that looks like lamb’s wool and the settees in the primary bedroom and main entrance, as memory keepers.

Opposite page:

The

The reproduction William Morris wallpaper in the first-floor living room, the first-floor primary bedroom and the second-floor guest bedroom “represents the architecture of the old house,” she says. “The tension between it and the painted trim is a fun balance.”

Although there are some new furnishings and new-found antiques that add character, Lachapelle used some of the “treasures” she discovered in the barn, including the two chairs in the living room that she reupholstered in highly

The kitchen, which Haynes envisioned as a “Japanese woodworking shop where things were made,” is where the addition connects to the main house. It’s also the prime gathering spot for family and friends. Sleek and serviceable, it invites everyone to sit and hang out.

In keeping with the room’s simple theme, the hardware on the refrigerator and the pantry is wooden; the drawers, however, don’t need handles or knobs because they pull out for efficiency. As a thoughtful touch, Lachapelle

designed a custom extendable round table for the dining nook, with four fluted legs that pay homage to traditional architecture.

The original screened-in porch, which had been refreshed prior to this renovation, was preserved to create an indoor-outdoor flow; and a large, heavy wood-paneled sliding door between the living room and kitchen that is reminiscent of those in old country barns reinforces the flexibility of the space and adds a hint of history.

Several other key architectural elements on the first floor, including the old front staircase and a plaster chimney that Thompson describes as a “sculptural experience,” were restored. Lachapelle says saving them made it possible to create a “nuanced middle ground” between the past and the present. “Without them making such a distinction, the space would have had a modern farmhouse feel” instead of a lived-in look, she says.

Watts and Haynes cherish the new memories they are making at the Lower House. The alterations they have implemented, and the elements they have restored, are timeless.

“We hope the changes we’ve made respect the past,” Watts says. “We also hope our investment will help this place continue to provide shelter and comfort to whomever lives here for a long time to come.” NHH

RESOURCES

Kaplan Thompson Architects • (207) 842-2888

kaplanthompson.com

Heidi Lachapelle Interiors • (207) 620-0300

heidilachapelle.com

WORK OF ART

ATTRACTED TO YANKEE BARN HOMES’ NEW BESPOKE DESIGN OPTIONS, A YOUNG COUPLE BUILDS THE HOUSE OF THEIR DREAMS IN DEERFIELD.

BY JANICE RANDALL ROHLF

Though leaning modern in style, this Yankee Barn Homes house is “somewhat reminiscent of an old farmhouse that might be in a Wyeth painting,” says homeowner Karina Kelley. “We were sensitive to the fact that we were in a historic farm town in a field that had never been built on before.”

Care was taken when designing the home’s open-plan layout with large windows to still incorporate enough wall and display space for the Kelleys’ mixed-media art collection.

AFTER MEETING AT A WINE TASTING

in 2009 and quickly becoming a couple, Karina and Ben Kelley spent several years as “serial house flippers,” they say. “We would move into a house, fix it up, sell it, take the proceeds, buy another house, fix it up, live in it,” Karina explains.

The house-flipping cycle included several Victorians in the Concord area, houses the two enjoyed renovating but that weren’t really their style. A mid-century modern deck house in Manchester, however, touched a nerve. “We loved that kind of look, especially the open concept, which we found very livable,” shares Karina, a co-owner of Kelley Stelling Contemporary art gallery, who has a keen eye for good design. “That brought us to the point where we knew all the things we didn’t like, so with this house, we brought together all the things we did like.” First and foremost, the open-plan living she and her husband embraced.

“We were drawn to the church-like feeling you get from a post and beam,” says Ben, a commercial real estate investor who shares his wife’s passion for art and is vice president of the Currier Museum, where he has served on the board for eight years. He grew up in Deerfield, where their new house now sits in a vast field no longer farmed by their across-thestreet neighbor. The couple was living in Portsmouth when they began to consider building a home on this bucolic piece of land where they could segue into a totally different way of life.

Yankee Barn Homes’ new direction into building custom, boutique homes is what sealed the deal for the Kelleys. Since its founding in 1969, YBH has been recognized for their postand-beam constructions. Recently, however, the company has evolved. “In the last five to seven years, we have expanded more into modern home design,” explains Kerri Post, the YBH designer with whom the Kelleys worked from start to finish. “We might have ‘barn’ in our name but that doesn’t mean that’s all we can do.”

The Kelleys had a very specific aesthetic they were after, one they’d seen in some YBH designs in the Hamptons, for instance, houses where the lines and proportions differ from traditional barn-style homes.

“We were also sensitive to the fact that we were in a historic farm town in a field that had never been built on before,” shares Karina. “We wanted to at least retain some nod to ‘old farmhouse,’ like board-and-batten siding. The main structure

BY

The crisp contrast of white walls and black windows and the house’s sleek lines and window massing exemplify a contemporary home. On the coffee table is a ceramic vessel by Don Williams, whose studio is nearby in Deerfield.

of the house is somewhat reminiscent of an old farmhouse that might be in a Wyeth painting.”

The 2,429-square-foot home with 2-3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths has an open interior layout with a lofted post-and-beam frame. The kitchen, dining and living rooms flow into one another, with a two-story fireplace at one end of the common room areas.

Large Douglas fir trusses span the vaulted ceiling over the dining and great room space, while a flex area, currently used as a cozy den, and a powder room complete the first-floor layout.

The mid-century modern house in Manchester they’d flipped years before inspired the Kelleys. “We took that floorplan and tweaked a few things—adjusted some of the dimensions, made a few things larger—but it’s essentially the same first-floor plan of that house,” says Ben.

Post understood that the Kelleys were, in essence, minimalists. For instance, she says, they didn’t ask for spacious bedrooms nor huge closets. “That’s pretty unique and different from most people, who want elaborate master suites.” The secondfloor bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom, are located in either gable end of the house. The master bedroom is accessed via a catwalk suspended over the great room. The Kelleys prefer to call this bridge a dogwalk in deference to Rufus, their affable Great Dane.

Scandinavian-esque economy of detail was top of mind when designing the kitchen, too. Karina loves to cook and both she and Ben like nothing better than entertaining—the more the merrier—but efficiency was more important to them than excess. Kitchen designer Kim Greenwood of Oxbow Green Cabinetry Design Studio says the couple were a quick study. “As soon as you meet them, you get their vibe,” she says. “They are the type of client that makes the design process easy.”

Greenwood says that it was Karina’s idea to go with a lighter wood, rift white oak, for the cabinetry, custom from Plato Woodwork, with whom Greenwood works exclusively. The search for a natural countertop material turned up Danby marble from Vermont, which, says Greenwood, “just brought the whole kitchen together.” The handsome gray-veined marble is used for the waterfall island, the bar area and the nearly room-spanning backsplash.

In place of upper cabinets, Greenwood built storage into the island and cleverly designed two niches into the walls on either side of the cooktop to store frequently used staples like spices, oil and vinegar. The long marble ledge above the cooktop also offers a generous surface area for both small kitchen items and pieces of art or keepsakes that Karina might have a whim to display. “I follow Karina on Instagram, and I love to see how she changes things up on that ledge,” shares Greenwood. Over

the bar, half-a-dozen rift white oak shelves display ceramics and glassware.

“From the beginning, it was clear that showcasing their art collection was really important,” says Post. Apart from the kitchen, this meant building enough wall space into the glassy elevations to hang some of the Kelleys’ favorite pieces, like Dutch artist Preta Wolzak’s large-scale photograph from her “Dolls” series, and New England artist John Bonner’s larger-

than-life Wegman-like painting of their two Great Danes (one has since died). Among other artists in their collection are Vermont-based Eric Aho, who paints abstract landscapes, and James Aponovich, whose painting of artichokes Karina says she’d be sure to grab if their house were on fire, as she would a wall hanging made of resin-coated seashells by Portland-based artist Lauren Fensterstock.

“I especially love supporting living artists and young artists,” says Karina, who is chairing the Currier Museum’s annual gala this year. Along with Ben, she has a special fondness for ceramics, which are displayed throughout their home. “Ben and I like the tactile quality of ceramics and how you can interact with them,” she continues. “I like how wood-fired ceramics, specifically, transcend eras in a way. For example, you wouldn’t necessarily know the difference between a piece made a few years ago and one made in the 1950s,” a time when well-known ceramic artists Ed and Mary Scheier, a married couple with ties to the Currier Museum, were productive. The Kelleys’ collection includes Scheier pieces.

It’s more than coincidence that the town they live in has a community kiln, run by local ceramicist Al Jaeger, and that another well-known ceramicist, Don Williams, lives there too. (See “Master of His Craft” on page 88.) Ben was nostalgic for his hometown, but it didn’t hurt that Deerfield is an art-focused community, and it conducts a fall arts tour every year.

Once the Kelleys’ art pieces were positioned (on paper) where they wanted them, “and we had an interior layout that was working and flowed, we played with the outside,” says Post. The crisp contrast of white siding and black windows and the house’s sleek lines, like those on the interior, exemplify a contemporary home. Window massing is also a distinctive feature of the modern style, and one that played a role in the aesthetic sought by the Kelleys. “I’ve always wanted a house that you could see through from front to back,” says Karina. “Here, when you walk in the front door, you can look right out to the fire pit at the pool.”

Plus, the Kelleys appreciated YBH’s use of prefabricated panels and the company’s emphasis on energy-efficient building. “The way we insulate our roof and wall panels is really energy efficient, and the insulation is made from recycled materials, so there is no off-gassing,” explains Post.

This respect for the environment plays out in other areas of the Kelleys’ life. The couple has cut trails in the 200 acres of woodland adjacent to their property, acreage that abuts 10,000acre Bear Brook State Park. It is an ideal place to walk with Rufus. “We try and do a daily hike back there and cross-country ski and snowshoe in the winter,” says Ben. “When everything’s busy and we’re stressed, it’s our go-to place.” NHH

RESOURCES

Oxbow Green Cabinetry Design Studio • (970) 406-0468 • oxbowgreen.com

Northpeak Design • northpeakdesign.com

Yankee Barn Homes • (800) 258-9786 • yankeebarnhomes.com

Environmental Studies

The

natural world is the common denominator in Don Williams’s art, whether sculptural or functional.

ARTIST DON WILLIAMS is continually inspired by the world around him to find moments where form and function intersect. A potter as well as a visual artist, he divides his time between creating sculptures and wall pieces and crafting serviceable clay items like bowls, pitchers, vessels and plates.

His mom, Elizabeth Williams, a junior high art teacher and artist, designed and painted tile walls in lobbies of Manhattan apartment buildings in the 1960s. “I’ve always been interested in art,” says Williams, who lives and works in Deerfield. “My mother worked with clay, and she always had tiles around that I could paint. Drawing was encouraged, and I gravitated to it.”

Having had exposure to such a creative environment since he was very young, Williams often notices connections between the natural world and mankind’s influence on it. He takes note of the tension created by that synergy in, say, aerial landscapes, civilizations built into rock and the destructive power of lightning, and he is inspired by these things to make art. He felt compelled to rescue architectural relics from a nearby home, for example, because he related to its history.

Williams gathers disparate items during his travels—to Deer Isle in Maine, the once-toxic wetlands of the New Jersey Meadowlands, the wildfireravaged California woods, or simply during walks in the woods with his dog. His studio, Don Williams Clayworks, is filled with charred wood

fragments, distressed, nearly unrecognizable pieces of plastic, earthenware, industrial objects, jagged scrap metal and other manmade items weathered by nature and time. Williams combs through this dusty ephemera looking for a spark that will fuel an idea for his next piece of art.

Given how thoroughly immersed Williams is in his art, it is interesting to learn that he was originally a pre-vet major

BY EMILY REILY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN W. HESSION

at UNH. He switched to ceramics in his junior year and graduated with a BFA in ceramic sculpture in 1977. From 2010 to 2020, he was a full-time senior lecturer in ceramics at his alma mater.

For New Hampshire Home, Williams explains his creative process and why he’s drawn to piecing together seemingly random pieces into thoughtful, original art pieces.

New Hampshire Home [NHH]: How has your environment contributed to your art?

Don Williams [DW]: Inspiration comes from a lot of places, and it’s not all conscious. I feel like the natural world has always inspired me and fueled my creativity.

I’m always seeing connections between things compositionally, in terms of shape and line, that I see in nature. I’ve also been interested in architecture since I was young, spending summers building forts and tree houses. I can remember building balsa wood houses, just for fun, when I was probably 12.

Traveling, I’ve always been interested in indigenous architecture—in the Pyrenees, walking through an old village where all the houses were made out of local rock; in Mexico, in the desert and seeing fencing made out of cacti. Something clicks. I become more aware of the connections between the manmade world and the natural world, and more interested in those relationships, that tension between them.

In the 1960s, driving to Newark Airport through the Meadowlands in New Jersey, where I grew up, was kind of apocalyptic. Back then, it was lots of mounds of burning garbage. But it was kind of mesmerizing to see this landscape with the skyline of New York City behind it.

Then I started thinking of aerial landscapes, how things look from the sky. Flying in California, I was mesmerized by the agricultural landscape across the Midwest and the West with grid-like patterns and circles of crops, and winding rivers that went through these very rigid, manmade landscapes. That’s how my process started, doing wall pieces.

I salvage interesting artifacts, architectural objects, because I like the sense of history that they have and their tactile quality, how they’ve been changed by nature over 100 or 200 years. My work started to be a mixture of different elements from the natural world, from salvaged materials, and from things I would make out of clay.

NHH: Why do you work between sculptural art and functional items?

DW: When I started doing ceramics at UNH, I very quickly wanted to move away from the [potters] wheel. I wanted to make things that I could more easily change the shape of. I was always interested in sculpture and making functional work out of clay, but stretching the boundaries of it. I need to work back and forth across these boundaries, because the sculptural work is really stimulating. After I’ve done sculpture for a few months, going back and doing functional work is sort of grounding.

NHH: You collect things that remind you of someone or places you’ve been.

DW: We go to Deer Isle every summer for two weeks and it’s an amazingly beautiful spot. I collect flotsam and jetsam from the shoreline—things that have been tossed overboard by lobster fishermen, pieces of old buoys, even interesting rocks, a lot of driftwood—and they find a way into my work. Things that wash up at the beach spark my imagination. I think about the effects of the water and the wind over time. You still recognize the object, but it’s

changed quite a bit. It has a really nice texture to it, or maybe the colors have changed. It has a history now outside of what it was originally used for.

And I’ve been collecting stuff from various scrap metal yards for years. It takes me weeks to figure out how to work an item into a composition. It really happens in a loose kind of way; I never start out with a concrete idea.

NHH: Is that frustrating? Do you wish you could just create something right away?

DW: When I’m thinking too hard about something, I get stuck creatively and I just can’t figure it out. If I put it aside and start doing something else, the solution will come.

Doing functional work helps, because I can go in the studio and start doing something familiar. Just physically working will just relax me enough so that ideas will come.

I also walk in the woods a lot, find-

ing things that have a beautiful patina on them because they’ve been out there for 50 years. New England is full of stuff. People were throwing their trash in the woods up until probably the 1960s.

Recently, I’ve become interested in pieces of trees. Last April, we were in a remote, mountainous area of Northern California where my daughter lives. That whole area has been ravaged by fire every summer. It’s heartbreaking. I brought home some charred wood, which I’ve been using, because it reminds me of the experience. it reminds me of what we’re doing to the world.

NHH: Besides the beach, the woods or scrap metal yards, where else do you find materials?

DW: When new people moved into a house next door to ours, they took out all the old hand-planed 1700s paneling. It was beautiful. I started salvaging boards from a big scrap burn pile in their field. Some of the old timbers from the house had Roman numerals carved in them, so that when they put the house together, like post and beam, they knew what went where. Because I work with my hands, I know what it feels like to do some of that. For me, it adds another layer of meaning to the work to have those artifacts that connect to another human being in another place. NHH

RESOURCE

Don Williams Clayworks • (603) 540-0220 donwilliamsclay.com

KITCHENS

Accent on Kitchens

Your home should reflect who you are and what you love. The Accent team is creative and committed—combining experience and innovation with a friendly, low-key approach. The results are rooms that become the heart of your home: beautifully designed spaces that will be an expression of your lifestyle for years to come.

112 Lafayette Rd., North Hampton (603) 964-1771 • accentonkitchens.com

FLOORING

Ponders Hollow Custom Wood Flooring

As a fourth-generation, family-run sawmill, Ponders Hollow is fortunate to provide some of the finest timber in the world. The diverse grains and colors of New England trees make it the ideal flooring option for any household. Every project is special; that’s why we use state-of-the-art machinery and hand-grading to tailor each board to your specifications.

16 Ponders Hollow Rd., Westfield, MA • (413) 562-8730 pondershollow.com

OUTDOOR LIVING

Soake Pools

Create a spa-like experience in your own backyard. We manufacture four-season, luxury plunge pools designed to be warm in winter, cool in summer and small enough to fit almost any backyard space. Soake Pools are made in New Hampshire, and delivered tiled and ready for your finishing touches. Small pools, big benefits. Visit our website, and contact us for more information.

Pembroke • (603) 749-0665 • soakepools.com

KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

Belletetes

Whether your project is large or small, complicated or simple, Belletetes takes your ideas and makes them happen. We have all the tools, products and skills necessary to make your project a complete success. Specializing in lumber, decking, windows, doors, paint, stains and flooring—as well as fixtures and cabinets for kitchens and bathrooms—we have everything for your remodeling needs. And don’t forget to take advantage of our free estimates!

51 Peterborough St., Jaffrey • (603) 532-7716 • belletetes.com

SPECIALTY WOOD PRODUCTS

Ponders Hollow Custom Millwork

Whether you’d like to call attention to the architectural details of your room or create a crisp contrast of styles, Ponders Hollow provides a vast array of handcrafted custom millwork. We offer countless traditional and contemporary designs in numerous wood species to fit the needs of any finishing wood project.

16 Ponders Hollow Rd., Westfield, MA • (413) 562-8730 pondershollow.com

ARCHITECTS

Bonin Architects & Associates

Bonin Architects & Associates — located in New London and Meredith, New Hampshire — serves clients in New England with a focus on lake, mountain and coastal homes. We bring architecture and landscape together in a collaborative approach to every project; our values of honesty integrity, commitment and respect are the difference between building a home and building a dream.

New London and Meredith • (603) 526-6200 boninarchitects.com • info@boninarchitects.com

Events AROUND THE STATE

MARCH 4 and 5

New Hampshire Home Show

The New Hampshire Home Builders Association will hold its 56th annual New Hampshire Home Show at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Manchester. Attendees can interact with builders, remodelers, decorators, landscapers and all types of home-solutions providers. The latest in home-related products and services will be showcased—everything from air quality to mortgages, hot tubs to custom home builders, and custom closets to fabulous kitchens and baths.

700 Elm St., Manchester; (855) 605-0318; nhstatehomeshow.com

MARCH 24

Waypoint SleepOut

Spend a night out in the cold in solidarity with youth enduring homelessness in New Hampshire. This year is the 9th annual SleepOut, and will be a hybrid event, which means participants can sleep out (as a “Sleeper”) in their own backyard or a place of their choosing, or at one of the designated group sites in Manchester and Rochester (locations TBA). Participants can even choose to sleep in (as a “Daydreamer”). However participants choose to get involved, their objective is to raise as much money and awareness as they can. The support from SleepOut 2023 will help Waypoint quell the suffering of youth, advocate for change at the legislative level and support Waypoint’s expanded services, including an emergency overnight shelter, to help transform thousands of young lives. Register or donate on Waypoint’s website. (603) 518-4000; waypointnh.org

MARCH 20

Steel Chef Challenge

The New Hampshire Food Bank’s 7th Annual Steel Chef Challenge, presented by Service Credit Union, will feature television host, chef, writer and social advocate, Andrew Zimmern, hosting an exciting cooking competition featuring four of the Granite State’s best professional chefs. The Food Bank will transform the Armory Ballroom at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown into a grand dining room, seating approximately 680 guests. Attendees will watch live as the competition between chefs heats up, enjoy a fabulous dinner curated by Chef Zimmern and have the opportunity to take part in both live and silent auctions.

Doubletree by Hilton Manchester, 700 Elm St., nhfoodbank.org

MARCH 11

On Tap for CASA

At this fundraiser for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of New Hampshire, participants aim to keep their teams’ barstools occupied for 10 hours without abandoning the post while competing in a variety of fun competitions to gain points, including trivia, stein hoisting and more. Come for the cause, stay for the friendly competition. All participant spots will likely be filled by early March, but interested persons can donate and drop by the event for music, raffles and libations offered throughout the 10-hour event. All proceeds go toward recruitment and training of CASA volunteer advocates, ordinary women and men advocating for abused or neglected children in New Hampshire’s court system. 12 to 10 p.m., New England’s Tap House Grille; 1292 Hooksett Road, Hooksett; casanh.org/ontap

MARCH 26

St. Patrick’s Parade

This longstanding Manchester tradition may be the granddaddy of all St. Patrick’s Day events in the Granite State. Organizations from around the state hoist the tricolor, don their green and march down Elm Street for the parade (which is held on a lateMarch Sunday every year to avoid competition). Park your lawn chair along the route, wave to the annually nominated Grand Marshal and scout out more guys in kilts than you’ll see all year. Manchester; saintpatsnh.com

MARCH 31-APRIL 2

Exeter LitFest

Calling all bibliophiles, this event is for you. Start the weekend with a kick-off party, followed by a day-long schedule of events on Saturday, including keynote speakers like author Rabia Chaudry, book launches, author talks, children’s programming, art exhibits and more all around downtown. LitFest concludes with a gala poetry reading at the Word Barn. Free. Downtown Exeter. exeterlitfest.com

APRIL 2

Guster

Saturday, March 4 (10am to 6pm) and Sunday, March 5 (10am to 4pm)

Center of NH Expo

Downtown Doubletree Hotel

The jovial Massachusetts-born-and-bred band Guster will be performing at the Lebanon Opera House on Sunday, April 2 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Since their salad days performing in the Boston music scene, Guster has achieved international fame with several hit songs including “Satellite” and “Amsterdam” to “Barrel of a Gun” and “One Man Wrecking Machine.” Lebanon Opera House, 1 N Park St., (603) 448-0400; lebanonoperahouse.org

APRIL 6-8

700 Elm Street, Manchester

Over 200 businesses in the construction trade. Daily seminars and product demos!

go to: NHStateHomeShow.com to learn more, buy tickets and review our list of vendors.

Comedian Bob Marley

Bob loves being a comedian. He’s wicked good at it! He lives in Maine which is the best state in the world maybe even the universe (although New Hampshire is pretty awesome, too). He’s featured regularly on Sirius XM radio and he even won their Superbowl of Comedy. He has put out over 20 comedy CDs and DVDs. He was inducted into “The Guinness Book of World’s Records” for “the longest stand-up comedy show by an individual” at 40 hours of straight stand-up. He’s been on over 100 TV shows including “Leno,” “Letterman,” “Conan,” “Jimmy Fallon,” “Craig Ferguson” and “Comedy Central,” to name just a few. See him at the Palace Theatre. $39.50. Thursday 7:30 p.m., Friday, 8:30 p.m. and Saturday 5:30 and 8:30 p.m., The Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester. (603) 6685588; palacetheatre.org

Presentedby:

APRIL 29

Motor Booty Affair

Join Us at the NH State Home Show

Join us at the 56th Annual NH State Home Show

Join Us at the NH State Home Show

NH State Home Show

Saturday, March 4 (10am–6pm) and Sunday, March 5 (10am–4pm)

Come out the 56th Annual NH State Home Show

Come out the 56th Annual NH State Home Show

Come out the 56th Annual NH State Home Show

Over 200 businesses on display featuring the Construction Trades, Made in New England products, Beer & Wine Garden, Antique Alley, daily seminars and more!

Saturday, March 4 (10am to 6pm) and Sunday, March 5 (10am to 4pm)

Saturday, March 4 (10am to 6pm) and Sunday, March 5 (10am to 4pm)

Saturday, March 4 (10am to 6pm) and Sunday, March 5 (10am to 4pm)

Center of NH Expo

Center of NH Expo

Center of NH Expo

Downtown Doubletree Hotel

Downtown Doubletree Hotel

Downtown Doubletree Hotel

700 Elm Street, Manchester

700 Elm Street, Manchester

700 Elm Street, Manchester

Center of NH Expo

Downtown Doubletree Hotel

700 Elm Street, Manchester

www.belletetes.com

Over 200 businesses in the construction trade. Daily seminars and product demos! go to: NHStateHomeShow.com to learn more, buy tickets and review our list of vendors.

Over 200 businesses in the construction trade. Daily seminars and product demos! go to: NHStateHomeShow.com to learn more, buy tickets and review our list of vendors.

Over 200 businesses in the construction trade. Daily seminars and product demos! go to: NHStateHomeShow.com to learn more, buy tickets and review our list of vendors.

Presentedby:

Presentedby:

Presentedby:

Motor Booty Affair has been lighting up stages across America with their ’70s extravaganza for several years, continually improving on the show that has been dubbed “The Ultimate Disco Party Band.” The show is spectacular—from the afros, bell-bottoms, platform shoes, polyester and dance moves, to the highest quality sound and light show this side of 1975. $20. 8 p.m., Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St., Rochester. (603) 335-1992; rochesteroperahouse.com

MARCH 30

UNH Dance Company presents: Evolution

EVOLUTION is a dance experience featuring ballet, point, jazz, contemporary, modern, tap and aerial dance. In addition this production features PUPPETS by Carol Fisher and the projections of Assaf Benchetrit. Their journey begins at the beginning and takes the audience to where we find ourselves today. Tickets $8 to $16. Johnson Theatre at the Paul Creative Arts Center, 30 Academic Way, Durham. theatre.dance@unh.edu

www.belletetes.com

www.belletetes.com

9 Search for a professional within any of these categories.

9 View detailed company profile, including projects and videos.

9 Link directly to social media, website, locations

The Landscape Is Alive

WE’RE HAVING a little landscaping done in our backyard.

Not on purpose, mind you. Nor are there any plans. Also, no one has been hired to do this. This landscaping all appears to simply happen organically. Each time we look out our window into our yard, well, some new feature just appears.

These “updates” are, of course, the result of my daughter. And her friends. And our new dog. The cat and the fish appear to play no role in all this.

Let’s begin with the dog, since Pip seems to be the catalyst for everything.

Two days before Christmas, we drove down to the Jon Bon Jovi Rest Area in New Jersey, in the middle of a bomb cyclone, to pick up this runt of a litter. Take a minute to digest that sentence.

Got it? This is an adventure I’d not normally undertake.

But the girls in the house had been aching for a puppy, and Pip is hypo-allergenic, doesn’t shed, is friendly around cats and likes kids. He checked all the boxes. The machinations my wife went through to arrange such an adoption are a mystery to me. My role was simply to make sure the cat didn’t go insane and to get us there and back in one piece. So off we went.

Having a tiny puppy in the house is just about the equivalent of having a newborn in the house, at least in terms of neediness, messes and energy.

The puppy brings a perfect storm of chaos to our yard. Little Bean has a half-dozen friends in the couple blocks around our house, and even before Pip, they tended to hang out in our backyard, a veritable paradise of vegetables and flowers and

herbs thanks to my wife’s dedication to this little plot of land we call our own. But now, well, Pip’s presence has unexpectedly changed things. Where Pip goes, the children go. There is far more running in circles, carving favorite spots, rolling. My wife, the planner, calls what’s happening “Desire Paths.” That’s what happens when pedestrians ignore built sidewalks and walkways and choose to cut over a landscaped area. They desire to go in a direction unplanned by the planners.

Not long after Pip’s arrival, even when the kids and dogs were not in the yard, it started to become clear where they desired to play. There’s the spot over by the Jesus statue where Pip likes to, ahem, do his business. There’s the space behind the garage that I now had to cover with chicken wire to keep our little explorer

from going too far and the kids away from spiders and ticks.

And there’s the straight up Desire Path—I call it a Happy Road, not so much to my wife’s amusement—that leads from our back gate down to the swing set. I suspect this new landscaping feature began before Pip arrived, but now it is a clear dirt cut, as defined as any White Mountain trail.

But we endure. We endure because the children are happy and a backyard ought to be organic. A garden breathes and fluctuates like the living entity it is.

Lisa Lubell, the famed director of the USDA’s Community Supported Agriculture Project, once commented not to worry about perfection in gardening. “Nature doesn’t grow in straight lines,” she said.

Well, do I have a backyard for her.

My guess is that come summer, we’ll look into aligning our backyard and garden a little more directly to fit the comings and goings of our new brood. Desire Paths bring mud holes, for example, if you let them. And it’ll be interesting to see how Pip interacts with the other summer backyard denizens, the birds and squirrels and rabbits that have settled in.

Until then, our green space will twist and turn and grow as it desires, a rolling plot of earth where the feet of babies and children see fit to tread. After all, as Mr. Bon Jovi would no doubt point out, “We’ve got to hold on to what we’ve got.”

And what we’ve got right now is a living landscape, organic and breathing, right down to the clover and the dried leaves. There’s a place for all this, as the children and the animals are discovering, and I’m happy to provide.

Just wait to see what happens in the summer when the sprinkler shows up. NHH

BY DAN SZCZESNY | ILLUSTRATION BY CAROLYN VIBBERT