During an unforgettable trip to Iceland, Thomas Mitchell got a revelation. Inspired by the innovative architecture and architectural tendencies of this small country, he began to consider how to replicate the homes he saw in Iceland—sustainable, efficient, bright, comfortable and fully suitable for its natural environment.

As his general contractor, he formed a team that could turn his vision of a modern farmhouse into reality and set out to find the perfect place to build it. With the help of his real estate agent, Market Realty's agent and owner Judi Caracausa, he found a 7.33-acre plot in Stonington at 54 Barnes Road and placed his bet.

Mitchell's team consists of more than 30 contributors, including architect Mark Comeau, HJ O'Keefe Construction, four engineering companies, five construction experts, five system suppliers, and Cedar Ridge Landscaping. In early November, when Mitchell showed us around the house, he talked about the team's cooperation.

It is no exaggeration to say that he considered everything here, from the big picture foresight to the tiny but important details. He designed this house as a home that can take care of the residents rather than that they need to take care of it. He did a great job in this regard, just like the machinery of a house. It has a SolarEdge system and backup battery to reduce power costs. Mitchell generated an electricity bill for less than $10 that month. The excess electricity generated by the system is sold back to the public grid.

The geothermal well flows down 65 feet underground and flows back again, keeping the house at a comfortable ambient temperature throughout the year. The team also added a heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system designed in Germany to manage humidity and air quality. Thermal mass concrete was chosen for the exterior walls, and energy efficiency was taken into consideration for all doors and windows.

Mitchell also considered the location of the house on the plot. They used the mound-the berm-to further isolate the outer wall. The design also added many windows to capture natural light and provide views, which used to be fertile farmland. Mitchell recently discovered a slice of heirloom cherry tomatoes on the grass behind the house. He proved their sweetness and fragrance when they mature.

Inside the house, 3,058 square feet of living space provides a true open-plan living, with large rooms including a kitchen, dining room and living area. It has a beamed cathedral ceiling and a sealed gas fireplace, surrounded by a rough stone and built-in inserts around the fireplace, each side is filled with school bags.

The interior of the house truly displays natural building materials. Mitchell purchases Douglas fir posts and beams from a timber company in southern Vermont. The hand-made stair railings are made of red oak, and the hardwood floors are made of white oak.

The master bedroom suite is on the first floor. The bathroom is spacious, with deep claw foot bathtub and shower room, with two shower heads side by side. The bedroom’s glass doors lead to a south-facing terrace and there is a fully equipped walk-in closet.

Throughout the house, potential buyers will find plenty of storage space, as well as custom closets. Although the beauty is airy and magnificent, it has a feeling that the space should be used effectively—for example, the laundry room. It is hidden in an ingenious closet on the main floor, equipped with a Whirlpool brand washer and dryer, and does not require external ventilation; in addition, there is a laundry sink and folding area, completely hidden from view.

The other closet on the main floor has a door, which is far enough from the floor to allow the automatic vacuum cleaner inside to enter and exit at will.

There are some spaces that provide buyers with some flexibility. For example, there is a loft overlooking a large room, which can be used as a reading corner or home office. The large storage room on the second floor may be a good playroom for children. On the first floor, there is an indoor to outdoor space with a glass garage bay door in front. It can be any number of things: yoga studios, creative spaces, home offices, or even studios.

The large attached garage also has plenty of workshop and storage space.

Although this was not part of the original plan for the property, COVID-19 also made Mitchell consider the outdoor living space here, so he added a pillared pavilion with a bluestone terrace and outdoor fireplace. Although there is currently no license for a swimming pool, there is enough space to add one.

Building this special home is a labor of love for Mitchell, but he is ready to pass it on to a new person, and he will appreciate his care and consideration for this project. He listed 54 Barnes Road, Stonington; Judi Caracausa was the listing agent. As of press time, they have accepted the offer, but are still considering alternate offers. Caracausa is also busy looking for more land for Mitchell's next project. He enjoyed this experience so much that he founded a company based on the Realsmarthouse LLC concept.

"Realsmarthouse got its name because I am annoyed by the terms'smart home' and'smart home'. Those control systems that support the Internet are indeed revolutionary, but most of them are installed in houses that were basically not smart 300 years ago. ," Mitchell explained. "Therefore, we decided to use the natural intelligence inherent in the earth, atmosphere and sun to build a smart house from scratch."

Seller’s Agent: Judi Caracausa, Market Realty; Mobile: (860) 572-1155; buymystic@aol.com

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