Melissa Wood Sandy Agrafiotis

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When fusing traditional and modern design, there are those who take a subtle approach and then there are Amy and Alex Case, whose curvy, blue great room seems to crash into the back of their hip-roof Colonial home.

"Alex's inspiration was to have the new appear to have crashed into the old, almost as if it landed from outer space," says Amy. The idea ultimately gets to the heart of what they were seeking in designing the addition. "Over time we've come to realize that the collision is an apt expression of what we were unconsciously recreating," says Alex. "How we describe the addition now is as an updated take on childhood memories of cocktail hour in our grandparents' living room."

The couple's creative journey to building this daring yet fun new addition began when they realized that although their North Hampton house could no longer accommodate how they wanted to use it, they did not want to move away from the home's beautiful natural surroundings where extensive wetlands create both substantial privacy and attract a constant parade of wildlife, such as deer, beaver, otter, fox, red-tailed hawk, coyote, and many songbirds. They began working with the Great Room Company in Portsmouth to add a great room that could house a large party space and library, would feature a screened-in porch, and had a design that made more strategic use of the land's natural features. "The original house was configured on the site such that the very best views were reserved exclusively to be enjoyed from the garage just before closing the bay doors," Amy explains. " So that was a major gaffe our renovation righted."

However, when the designer showed Amy and Alex the first draft of the room, they felt that the modern design did not go far enough to suit their tastes. "We were shown an attractive contemporary take on a traditional great room, which met all of our criteria except we didn't recognize ourselves in it," explains Amy who describes their reaction as, "Please try again, but this time try to scare us.'"

At the next meeting, a designer for the Great Room, introduced the couple to the design element that would lead to a multi-faceted room where they could entertain guests, spend quiet time together, showcase their extensive art collection, and would be both a reflection of and the perfect place to indulge in their favorite pastime of listening to music: curves.

Amy says the couple's passion for music, which is a huge part of their lives, drove the room's curvy design. "Alex is a recording engineer, a professor in sound recording technology, and an acoustician," she says. "We subscribe to the Boston Symphony Orchestra and opera, take in more than a dozen pop concerts a year, drop in to jazz clubs whenever we get a chance, and seek out live performance of almost any genre wherever we travel."

Amy explains that the Great Room's design of a curvy line "is both about those musical influences (as it recalls the piano's belly, the curve of a clef), but is reminiscent of water flow (alluding to the surrounding confluence of river and brook, and the ocean waves nearby)." Amy also suggested that the windows be sized to de-crescendo from the entry door, mimicking the piano's shape.

The addition's media library holds their substantial music collection, which includes "a pretty large CD collection and a modest vinyl trove," and the space has room for their piano and plenty of guests. In 15 minutes it can be made ready to accommodate a 10-piece band, dancing, and more than 100 guests. "In addition to Alex's recording clients, and our own instrumental noodlings, we have live music performers in the space several times each year," says Amy. "So it's space often filled with music and dancing."

At other times, however, the room's cozy seating arrangements create comfortable nooks where the busy couple can catch up with each other or entertain small parties. It also provides a backdrop for Amy and Alex to enjoy their extensive art collection, which features pieces gathered from various travels around the globe. Almost every one is attached to a fond memory of a specific time and place.

"There are cities like Prague where we should be barred from returning because there is so much marvelous and yet affordable art there," jokes Amy. When they do pick up a new piece, what follows are a few days of reshufflings as they discuss what series of moves will best showcase new piece among the existing collection—a process only enhanced by the room's curvy walls.

"What we're trying to solve is both how the art will interact with other nearby pieces, and how those as a group interact with the architecture—both from a static perspective, and as a viewer might perceive things moving through the space," explains Alex. "Afterwards there's a new pleasure of re-discovering many beloved pieces which are refreshed by their relocation. And fortunately the curves help lend discipline to leaving some open wall space to allow a bit of breathing room."

The room is a delightful surprise for new visitors whether they see it for the first time from the inside or out. "If you come in the front door, it's surprising to see how much space stretches ahead of you, although until you're in the new room you can't tell that the room curves," says Amy. "From the outside, you have to walk almost fully behind the original house—past the garage doors—before the addition pops into view."

When asked why they chose the bold blue exterior color for the room, Alex explains that they wanted to contrast but not clash with the pale yellow of their house and harmonize with their home's natural surroundings: the blue connects to the water-rich setting, and the couple hopes it will attract more Eastern bluebirds by acknowledging their plumage. Plus, he adds, "It was actually us taking one safe step back from purple."

Resources:
Great Room Company, Portsmouth, N.H., 603 431-3800 www.greatroom.com