The Nantucket

Rick Forner and James LaVoy wanted to break out of the status quo with their 6,250-square-foot floor plan. The business partners hosted a focus group of prospective clients and homeowners to determine what exactly people want in a home. Through a series of questions, they got their answers: open spaces including a combined living and hearth room, a functional back hall, secluded master suite, lower-level entertaining and outdoor living.

The dining room remained in the plan even though everyone admitted they would use it only for holidays or entertaining. “They told us that that place was a traditional part of life they wanted to continue,” James says.

They also suggested that a circular stair is preferred, that hallways should be minimized, and that they wouldn’t miss a coat closet in the entry or a formal powder bath as long as one was accessible on the main level. From all this information, architect Scott Bickford drew up a plan that was versatile, not formulaic.

In addition to these interior improvements, the team came up with five different exterior elevations, from the Hamptons theme to Old World, to please individual tastes.

Inside out, The Nantucket is a comprehensive manifestation of people’s utmost desires for the most special of all places. “This home is about livability and comfort. It’s for the person who walks through the front door and says, ‘I’m home,’” James says.