A builder realizes his vision for a modernized farmhouse complete with stunning views of Long Island Sound   Jerry and Sandy Effren always dreamt of building a farmhouse that fused contemporary design with a timeless aesthetic He wanted the inside to be fresh and clean and the outside to look like it could have been there forever As the principal with Greyrock Homes Effren finally brought his vision into reality with his own home a farmhouse perched on a hillside overlooking Norwalk Connecticuts Shorehaven Golf Club Working with Jim Jamieson of Jamieson Architects and Len Volpe III of Rings End Effren built a stylish 3 700-square-foot farmhouse that boasts dazzling views of Long Island Sound from virtually every room Set more than 20 feet above the road the farmhouse features Marvin windows and doors that allows natural light to fill the interior Natural light is extremely important so we situated some awning windows up high in baths and closets so you have privacy but still get light Effren said Having an authorized Marvin dealer put it all together was important because its quite a process There are so many options with Marvin in terms of lining up transoms the grids with the windows and doors getting the screens and the hardware It would have been really hard to put it together myself The farmhouse has three bedrooms three baths and a bunkroom with the main suite located on the ground floor The south-facing main also includes custom Marvin window and door integrated panels that illuminate the stunning design inside I really wanted the wall in the master to stand out while remaining subtle soft and true to our aesthetic of bold neutrals layered with texture said Leia T Ward the founder and principal staging designer of LTW Design So we used one of our favorite new products this faux suede wallpaper to add just the right amount of texture and dimension to the room Ward carried this approach throughout the rest of the home The bones of this house are right in line with our brand where less is more and the use of bold pieces with clean lines everywhere Ward said We stuck with black and white then layered in tons and tons of texture such as leather woven chairs linen sofas hide chairs and the finishing touch was the incredible black-and-white artwork throughout the house With the goal of capitalizing on the views Effren faced challenges working with a property that slopes up from the road which created grading issues We had to cut into the hill build a retaining wall out back and situate the house so we had the views and the grading right he said Therefore we decided to turn the entry to the west side so we could install the largest windows and doors It was a bit of a design challenge to position the house so that you got a sense of entry while maximizing the views from the main living areas Effren added that the versatility of Marvin allowed him to design multiple components that worked together in an energy-efficient integrated design Having the flexibility of using awnings and casement windows with any type of opening was a great feature The centerpiece of the home is the 44-foot-long barn which serves as the main living area A chefs kitchen and a butlers pantry open to a vaulted space Effren dubbed the Great Room which has three patio doors that measure nine feet wide and eight feet tall Primed with paint imported from Ireland the Great Room evokes memories of a whitewashed country barn The black frames of the windows and doors complement this agricultural aesthetic This is really the heart of the house Effren said You can see the 80-inch TV at one end of the room as well as from the kitchen at the other end This is where we cook eat and relax From the barn you can gaze toward Long Island Sound across a terrace that includes a built-in spa outdoor kitchen fireplace and personal putting green The goal of creating a home with the look of a vintage agricultural building was achieved with the use of western red cedar siding on the barn while the use of thick stone veneer over the concrete foundation produced a crisp clean line where it meets the barns cedar siding A seam metal roof and board-and-batten siding on the bedroom wing continues the rustic character theme Even the outdoor shower reflects the natural feel with a stone veneer mounted on masonry board and planks of the same engineered wood siding used on the house to create the enclosure One of Effrens favorite features is the porch which can be opened to the elements with electronically controlled screens that roll up onto the ceiling The porch has a large television a stereo a 48-inch Wolf grill and a small refrigerator and sink Alongside the porch is a plunge pool with a hot tub that is around five feet deep and sits about 18 inches above the ground Effren loves the organic feel of the pool which was built with the same stone that was used on the house so that it seamlessly blends into the surroundings A saltwater sanitation system reduces maintenance and requires fewer chemicals and an automatic lockable safety cover eliminates the need for a fence Sun tunnels provide plenty of light along a hallway that runs from the entry foyer to a door leading to the pool As a fitting tribute to Effrens efforts This Old House https wwwmarvincom project-gallery this-old-house featured his project as one of its Idea Houses https wwwthisoldhousecom farmhouse-in-fairfield-idea-house Beginning in May Effren guided host Chris Ermides through the many steps of his modern-meets-traditional vision Watching the project take shape over the course of two episodes This Old Houses millions of viewers could appreciate that the foundation of this innovative farmhouse was built on a bold idea that Jerry Effren wasnt afraid to raise