Larry Lariviere Greg West

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A modern abode with futuristic sensibilities, this berm home provides amazing energy efficiency and surprising amounts of natural light. The front entrance is as inviting as a house on the Shire. From the back of the property, one can see the planted green roof.

Where does inspiration for a challenging project come from? That is an interesting question. But for the owner of a berm house, a more appropriate question might be: How does a decorator come up with an idea to provide privacy and light in a home with an earthen roof and concrete undulating ceilings?

Unlike most homes with straight walls and windows placed in line at certain intervals, this berm home in Durham, N.H. is shaped like a huge boulder partially recessed in the earth. The front door and adjoining window are arch-shaped, giving the feeling of walking up to a cave belonging to a hobbit.

After consulting with many other interior designers, the owners contacted me. During my more than thirty-six-year career, the one ability I have always counted on is creativity. The chance to prove I could come up with a solution spurred me to accept the challenge.

The owners lived in the house for years without any window coverings, but changes in the surrounding area made it necessary to provide them now. The land to the back of the house slopes away to a stream, affording a very picturesque view. The large windows overlooking the view allow for solar heat during the winter, and it was important to the homeowners to retain this benefit. Across the stream, however, homes were being built that would affect privacy.

The windows across the back of the house—some of which are in the two bedrooms—are made from plate glass except where sliding glass doors abut one another at slight angles. Structural support is provided by steel columns placed at intervals close to the glass.

The ceiling height in the bedroom varies from four to seven feet. None of the seven windows has a horizontal top. My challenge lay in these architectural details, combined with
the clients’ desire to have an uninterrupted view, and yet the option of privacy.

The solution in the end was relatively simple. A flexible PVC track extruded with a hook tape imbedded in it, combined with components from the same manufacturer, allowed me to hang coverings for each window from the ceiling.

Templates were made for the top of each window. Every shade was to have a shaped top with a loop tape sewn onto it. A washable lining fabric doubled for privacy. The controls were two faceted cords attached to the shade bottom and threaded up to spools, then through a cord lock. In order to raise the shade as high as possible, we color-coded the cord on the longer side, allowing the client to pull it further.

We accomplished what the clients desired. That, in itself, is the measure of success.