The transfer from Siberia into Vermont was a large shift, however Svetlana and Donat Stern were excited to create the United States their home. After seeing their brothers in the University of Vermont, the couple fell in love with the state along with its natural beauty.
They found that a narrow couple minutes from downtown Burlington and collaboratively designed a new home with architect Ted Montgomery of Groundswell Architects. With energy efficiency, luxury along with a waterfront location in mind, they established a house with vistas of Lake Champlain, passive and active solar, a thermal wrap along with an indoor sauna to produce the space warm and inviting throughout the long Vermont winters.
at a Glance
Who lives here: Svetlana and Donat Stern
Location: South Cove, Burlington, Vermont
Size: 4,000 square feet; two bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, including a sauna
That’s interesting: a number of these windows and wall angles were designed to resemble those of a boat.
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“We wanted to see what working with a real architect was like,” says Donat. “We found the procedure to be very friendly and collaborative.” The couple worked with Montgomery to design an open floor plan with vistas of Lake Champlain. This wall of windows creates a casual summer vacation home ambience year round, preventing the beginning of wintertime cabin fever.
Countertop: Vermont Danby marble, Burlington Marble and Granite
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The lot is 64 feet wide. That narrowness was a challenge, along with the site’s slope and also the minimal land between houses, which generated privacy and erosion concerns. Montgomery carefully positioned each of the rooms — especially the second-floor bedrooms — to maximize privacy and views of the lake.
Glazed south-facing windows and active solar panels onto the roof help keep the house warm. The solar panels also heat nearly all the house’s hot water.
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The couple hired landscape designer Rebecca Lindenmeyr of Linden L.A.N.D. Group to create a three-level terraced landscape extending from the English flagstone terrace to the water. The terraces are built with rock sitting-wall retainers to absorb storm water runoff. The horizontal walls create an illusion of spaciousness, and the lawns are great for entertaining guests, incuding their active grandchildren.
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The family area, dining area, kitchen and entrance foyer all flow into one another. The slightly slanted wall helped create space for the stairway.
Kitchen island, dining stalls: Cheers Collection, Tech Lighting, The Lighting House; furnishings: Furniture World; cabinets: Calligaris; rugs: ABC Carpet & Home; table, chairs: Inmod
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The contemporary furniture in the foyer contrasts with the slick kitchen cabinetry.
Faucets: Close to Home, Burlington; cabinets: Alno, Dalia Kitchen Design; appliances: Boston, Miele; refrigerator: Viking
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Drenched with mild, this comfy sitting area provides a great climate for Svetlana’s orchids. The early-morning light makes it one of Donat’s favorite spaces, since he’s an early riser.
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Off an office the first-floor foyer provides a daily workspace for Donat, who telecommutes into the workplace of the Russian partners. Svetlana frequently uses it in the evenings to work on her pictures of Lake Champlain. “The view from the seat provides a gorgeous sight of the lake at any time of day,” Donat says.
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“The whirlpool hallway was Ted’s idea and one that we loved,” Svetlana says. “We’ve always had many books, and this is an ideal place for them.” The hallway contributes to a glass doorway, a little terrace and the master bedroom. A doorway to a guest bedroom is on the right.
Hall chandelier: Crescendo, Tech Lighting
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Natural light fills the hallway just outside the master suite. This set of paintings by Russian artist Postoev V.D. reminds the Sterns of nature back in Siberia, where winter frequently lasts up to five months.
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Donat’s favorite space, the upstairs game room, has a luxury cruise boat ambience, with nautical round windows and Brazilian tigerwood flooring.
A granite gas fireplace, full wet bar, wall-mounted television and pool table make this the greatest location for relaxing and entertaining. The few often engage friends and family in a game of pool, Chinese or chess checkers within this space.
Bar, fireplace granite: Capalavaro-Brazilian Quartzite, Burlington Marble and Granite
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The fully equipped game room bar keeps food and beverages within convenient reach.
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Place only 50 feet in the lake, the master bedroom enables Donat and Svetlana to see and hear that the lake in all of its beauty at any time of day.
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Repeated round windows in the master bedroom direct the eye into a walk-in cupboard and bath.
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Svetlana loves the master bath. “I was really careful to keep it manly enough for Donat with my colour and stone tile choices,” she says.
Flannel limestone and smoke marble onto the bathtub surround create that manly vibe. Linear stick rock from North Country Tile in Williston, Vermont, adds sudden interest into the walls.
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A slick, upholstered platform bed and fur pillows make the guest bedroom welcoming and warm for when the couple’s daughters visit.
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The hall bathroom is connected to the guest bedroom with a walk-in cupboard. Both rooms have their own doors into the hall.
Tile: North Country Tile
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“If the wind on the lake is powerful, we move to the front terrace and enjoy the outdoors and views of our garden,” says Svetlana.
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On the exterior, deep colors contrast with the rock and clapboard siding. “The exterior of the house is inspired by nautical layout, with the right lines, protruding left angle and round windows,” Montgomery says.
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A glass pergola over the front terrace lets in light and heat whilst providing shade and shelter from the rain.
After five years in their new house, it’s apparent that Donat and Svetlana are content. “We are so happy and comfortable, being near downtown, our daughters and their growing families,” says Donat. “What can be better?”
Architect: Ted Montgomery, Groundswell Architects
Landscape layout: Rebecca Lindenmeyr, Linden L.A.N.D. Group
Interior layout: Tami Esbjerg, Tami Esbjerg Designs
Contractor: Roy Rabideau, Royal Design and Construction