Chester County Period Farmhouse

This home was designed to honor Primitive Hall, the homeowners’ ancestral residence.  When a fire left the original house beyond repair, these homeowners embraced the opportunity to rebuild using their heritage as inspiration.  Guided by its 18th-century architectural features, our team set out to create a farmhouse that honors the past while supporting the demands of a modern horse farm.

Situated on a steep slope and on the edge of a woodland, the home had a challenging set of parameters.  Rather than organize the residence and surrounding area as garden beds and lawn space, we conceived of them via an agricultural logic.  Using low stone walls, we evoked the agricultural heritage of the land and created functional yards, paddocks, and fields.  Cordoning off rugged plantings from the foot and vehicular traffic of the equestrian operation, these fences reflect the resourceful nature of farmers of a bygone era and modern functionality.  With bountiful vegetable beds and cutting gardens protected on one side, the other can accommodate the large horse trailers and hay delivery trucks essential to operation.  

This farmhouse succeeds in putting family living at the fore with ample space designated for vegetable gardens, outdoor cooking, and dining.  The surrounding spaces effectively support the modern equestrian operation.  With this home, we struck a delicate balance between rugged horticultural elements, 18th-century architectural elements, and 21st-century agricultural demands.  The result is a farmhouse recalling a deep family heritage, stone fences sectioning plantings from farm operations, and space for a modern equestrian business.