In 2000
when Tom and Sheryl Kaufmann were looking for a rural, outdoor-oriented environment as an alternative to their suburban Philadelphia home, they looked to Vermont
– specifically, to Stowe. “We were searching for a community with a small enough population for the intimacy of
true small-town environment while not wanting to give up too much in the way of social and cultural sophistication,”
Tom says, “and remaining reasonably close to extended family and friends on the East coast.”
The man-made pond on the Kaufmann property in Stowe is designed to reflect the house, which sits about
50 to 60 feet above the water.
With the help of Waterbury-based Sisler Builders (sislerbuilders.com),
the Kaufmanns built a custom home that, as Tom says, “combines magnificent views with privacy, intimacy, great neighbors,
and a five-minute ride to the center of town. We also border thousands of acres of state forest and conserved land.”
The timber-frame structure was designed by the Benson Woodworking Company of
New Hampshire, who had recommended Steve Sisler to the Kaufmanns as a Benson-qualified builder. “When we saw the
quality of Steve's work and the personal creativity that he brings to each project we knew we had found the right builder,”
Tom, 49 and a semi-retired business consultant, says, he and Sheryl, 44, have two children, ages 6 and 8.
The open floor plan of the downstairs (the kitchen and dining and living rooms;
the living room is shown here) allows the family to gather together throughout the day. “A
favorite space of mine is our library or family room with large beams and rafters you can run your hands over; the room has
good morning light and great views of the (Lamoille) valley up to Spruce and Sterling mountains,” Tom Kaufmann says.
The Kaufmanns added custom touches to their timber-frame house, such as
an open indoor shower so the pooches can be cleaned up after a dip in the pond.
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The large outdoor deck
offers views of Sugarbush ski area and the Lamoille Valley to Spruce and Sterling mountains and as far as Jay Peak in the winter. “We
(also) enjoy wonderful views to Camels Hump from the master bedroom, kitchen and living area, lower floor guest room, and
the decks/ terraces,” Tom Kaufmann says. In the warmer months, the screened
porch is often where you'll find the family- “a bit of protection from sun and mosquitoes with wonderful breezes and
views,” Tom says.
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The interior of the Kaufmann house makes use of wood – “Wood is so
alive as it moves with the seasons and ages along with us,” Tom Kaufmann says. “I
believe that a home should truly flow with the form of the natural land, bringing the outdoors in and the indoors out.”
A 30-foot granite cliff behind the house inspired the design of the fireplace,
which also serves to define space in the open floor plan. The kitchen opens on to the deck and the screened porch, and looks
down onto the pond.
The large pond on the property, made during the house construction, is lined and has fresh groundwater
pumped in via a waterfall. By sitting 50 or 60 feet above the pond, the house
is often reflected on the water’s surface. “We have stocked the pond
with rainbow trout, which we catch and grill over the outdoor firepit,” Tom says. “The
pond provides year-round exploration and activities for the children. We swim
and kayak daily in the pond in the warmer months and the two golden retrievers love it.
If I can get a jump on shoveling the snow we'll skate on it, as well – nothing like a good old-fashioned game
of pond hockey.”
And the views on the property can’t be beat. “One of
the elements of the property that spoke to us immediately was the drama of mountain vistas anchored with a foreground of meadows
and pond,” Tom says.
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