Creative Hillside Home on Canandaigua
cool and creative is the vibe at this hillside home on canandaigua lake, where outdoor living is celebrated and waterfront views are treasured year-round.
This is a space for quiet relaxation, when needed and desired, but it’s also a family hot spot where people gather on decks and patios to enjoy the changing seasons.
“We are a boating and sailing family. We love to ski,” said the homeowners. “This house is a dream for us. We are so happy to be
on the lake.”
Interestingly, for years they lived just a half-mile away in a house with wonderful views but no direct access to the water. When they discovered a lot for sale that offered lake frontage, they jumped at the chance to buy it and decided to build. Pete Heintzelman of Method Architecture Studio soon came on board to custom design a home with clean lines, high functionality and enduring appeal.
“Pete was really good at listening to us explain how we live and how we spend our time,” the homeowners said. “We knew the footprint was on the smaller side because there were lot-coverage limitations. We told him, ‘We are going to be using every single inch of this house, so let’s keep that in mind.’ He heard us and definitely delivered.”
The end result? A two-level stunner that is comfortably modern and 2,500 square feet of space that does indeed function as beautifully as it looks. There are 4 bedrooms, 3½ baths, smart storage areas at every turn, and a boathouse that is well-equipped for entertaining and dining alfresco. A deck that runs across the front of the house serves to expand the living space and maximizes the view of Canandaigua Lake, which is fourth largest of the Finger Lakes and is known in Native American history as “The Chosen Spot.”
“It’s a vibrant, happy place. We always feel so good when we’re here — at peace and super content,” the homeowners said.
The half-acre lot is set on a hill so the architect got creative with the design to blend the first floor into that hillside for the garage, workout room, and more. The sun-drenched second floor features the main living areas and is light and bright with high ceilings that “make all the difference in the world in how the space feels,” his clients insist.
“That space being on the upper level does two things,” said Heintzelman, AIA, LEED GA. “One, it gives you better views of the water. The higher up you are, the more expansive the view. And, two, it takes away the bisecting road and privatizes the outdoor space because you are elevated.”
Efficiency and flexibility were key to the overall plan, he added.
“We very much designed this so all the space is usable and functional,” he said. “We wanted the family to be able to use every part of the home now and for years to come as their lives evolve.”
Earthy modern is the decor theme here, said the homeowners, who favor a clean aesthetic, neutrals with artful pops of color, and a less-is-more trimwork philosophy for windows and elsewhere. There are unexpected delights, such as nautical-inspired accents and a quartzite island in the kitchen that glows with thousands of tiny halogen bulbs for a backlit effect.
“When it’s lit up, it looks like a glacier — very dramatic at night and when we’re entertaining,” the homeowners said. “We love to be home, hanging out and cooking and playing games; that’s what we do. We use every part of this house.”