Vujovich Project

The Vujovich "Idea Farm" was one of our fun projects, spanning late 2008 into 2009, done in two phases, as many of our larger projects are handled. The back side of the house required major retaining, to sustain an elevation difference of about ten feet, in a short horizontal distance. This kind of retaining, if not well done, can easily end up looking imposing and massive, without looking aesthetically pleasing.

The aesthetics of the Idea Farm were especially important, given the limestone veneer on the foundation walls, the desire to replicate a timeless farm-stead look, and the very lay of the land itself. We chose a locally quarried limestone (Rivard Stone, St. Croix limestone) to build the steps and walls, a wide variety of sizes and shapes, augmenting this stone with a variety of other limestone from the area. The walls are done in a distinctly "Ashlar" fashion, combining some pieces in the one to two ton range, with other pieces in the range of fifty to one hundred pounds. The effect was what we were hoping for, playing into, nicely, the limestone of the foundation walls.

Phase two consisted of patios and walks, combining Patterned Bluestone with more St. Croix limestone steps. The effect with these two disparate materials is a blend of form and function. The limestone steps provide a tie-in with the previous work and the veneer on the foundation. The Bluestone ties in with Bluestone floors inside the house, and provides a smooth, durable, easily shoveled, very attractive walking surface. Though the two varieties of stone are quite different, they work well together in a pleasing contrast. Natural stone is a logical choice in this instance, with the timelessness and beauty the owner was looking for in a new/old farmhouse.