New Home Construction Photos



"The Hunting Lodge" is a new residence in a suburb of Rochester. It is a house with a fictitious history. The "original" part of the house is imagined to be a hunting lodge built in the 1850's. It features cobblestone masonry which is a hallmark of the vernacular architecture in the Rochester area during the mid to late 1800's. The inside of the original part of the house features a reclaimed chestnut timber frame. It houses the Great Room and kitchen. The basement portion of the original house (which we call Level 1) houses a media room, exercise room, and a bar area.

The remainder of the house is imagined to be additions to the original house. There are five levels to the house, with an elevation change of five feet per level. Plus, there is a "widow watch", which we call "The Tipple". It offers stunning views for miles of the surrounding hills. 

The house was designed by Chuck Smith of Designworks Architecture, www.newdesignworks.com. The owner asked Chuck and his firm to construction manage the project. Chuck, in turn, hired Kyle to be Site Supervisor and to do the trim carpentry. 

Kyle's role was to coordinate details with all of the subcontractors, Chuck, and the homeowner to try to make the home as well built as possible, as smoothly as possible. Kyle enjoys dealing with even the most minute of these details. A good example of this is with the cobblestone masonry. Chuck wanted to pattern the cobblestone work on the Masonic Lodge in the village of Pittsford. Kyle noticed that the sand in the mortar at the Masonic Lodge was particularly course. He then went to the gravel pit to choose the sand which matched it the best. 

This home had many elements outside the norm for a new home, all of which needed attention and coordination. These elements include (but are not limited to) geothermal heating and cooling, in floor radiant heat, a pond with a hydrant for fire protection, three solar panels, two backup generators, and an extensive audio/visual and security systems. 

Building to the client's taste is a significant part of a design-build project. Our client wanted variety in the material selection for different areas of the house. We had a different trim detail in the "original" parts of the house than we had in the "additions". The door schedule varied from level to level as well. We used knotty alder in Level 1, hickory doors for Levels 2 and 3, and walnut for Level 4. In keeping with the theme of variety, Kyle hand selected each board for the tongue and groove ceiling in the Great Room. The client wanted a variation in color, knottiness, and grain pattern from board to board; with no one element becoming too repetitious or dominant.


We hope that you enjoy the pictures.