A short drive from downtown Edgartown, and more than a mile down a long dirt road in some of the most rural parts of Martha’s Vineyard, sits a family homestead property now inclusive of this Amish-style barn. Nestled on a wooded site which abuts conservation land and overlooks one of the Vineyard’s great ponds in the distance, the barn represents phase two of an overall master plan for the site.
When the current owners originally purchased the property, a nondescript 1970s contemporary cape originally stood on the land. In order to give the property new life, a carefully crafted mission statement and master plan were scripted to portray details of a country homestead with a rustic attitude and demeanor. After the main house was completely reworked and decontemporarized, the addition of this barn provided a key link to the pastoral setting and storyline.
In appearance, the barn could have been from the 1800s, and in fact, artisans from Amish country came to the Vineyard to build the superstructure. The interior of the barn, however, is built with modern-day entertaining in mind. The bar area, conversation seating, and game tables are set off by exposed beams and stained wood. Materials including natural New England fieldstone indicate a rural theme, complementing the Katama farmlands, and truly making the barn “of the place.” It is an authentic space for relaxing, spending time with others, and experiencing the view to the pastoral setting through an expansive picture window to the outside.
