Local Architect Sandra Vitzthum Featured in New Old House Magazine. Guess Who Did the Lighting?

Flip through the glossy pages of the latest New Old House magazine and you will find the aptly named article “Bright Spot” featuring the work of Montpelier architect Sandra Vitzthum. This bright and breezy kitchen and family room exude summer, like a cool refuge where you can almost feel a zephyr. But then, with its expanses of white, high ceilings, plenty of natural light, and delicate detailing, the space conveys a sense of openness also reminiscent of winter. Whatever the time of year, there is a quality of stillness and breathing room that makes you want to relax. 

Sandra achieved this look by removing the walls separating the old dining space, den, and family rooms, thereby opening views throughout the house and to the outside. She also had the low, 7’6″ ceilings removed to expose beams and enable the installation of skylights.

 

I must admit, I love how our Insulator Pendants look so light and delicate in this space. They add subtle texture and sparkle without detracting from the simplicity and architectural merit of the room. Something else might have looked busy.

Notice the ball jar pendant in the pantry. Clever.

For the full story and more pictures, go to the New Old House website.

Source.

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Recover. Reinvent.

That’s what we do. After each blizzard, flood, and hurricane, Vermonters pick up the pieces and start over. We have experienced some extreme weather this year. But, then, people don’t move to Vermont for the mild climate; they move here and stay here for what makes this state unique–an ethic of independence, creativity, hard work, and community. Oh yeah, and the jaw-dropping natural beauty.

We recently salvaged and reinvented a piece of furniture and it’s story seems like the perfect metaphor for Vermonters. With the flooding in June, Lake Champlain’s waters rose to unprecedented levels. When the waters receded, Tyler, a memeber of our staff, came upon an old barge hatch that had washed ashore. He walked the hulking piece of metal (weighing around 125 pounds and almost as large as he is) up the hill, down the sidewalk, and into our doors on Pine Street. Around the same time, we discovered a wheeled factory cart that, judging by its scarified surface, had probably been used to haul steel or bricks. Both pieces had most likely been dumped into the lake for filler a hundred or so years ago and forgotten.

Scraps of history, souvenirs of the flood…but what to do with them?

Make something new, of course.

Tyler at work.

After some metal working, refinishing, and putting together of pieces…voila! Our vintage coffee table, circa 1900, has a whole lot of history. 

And after all it’s been through, you can bet it’s up to the task of supporting your espresso cups and champagne flutes.

As it is with people, time, hard work, and rough weather can make for some beautiful character.

And patina. 

 

 

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Check us out on Practically Green!

You can check out Steve Conant’s latest interview with the blog site Practically Green…and while you’re at it, take a quiz to see how green you are!

Here’s a blurb from the article:

“It’s so like a Vermonter to come up with this: take a quintessential symbol of the farmhouse kitchen, turn it on its head, and let it shine.  Conant Metal & Light of Burlington, Vermont, salvages thick-glassed, antique canning jars, the ones Granny used for putting food by and turns them into energy-efficient lights.”

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