Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Jan 24, 2026

A Secluded, Industrial-Style Home in the Berkshires

A Secluded, Industrial-Style Home in the Berkshires

Salvaged wood interiors flesh out a skeleton of concrete, glass, and steel in the Mohawk Trail State Forest.


The property, located in the small town of Florida, is part of the protected Mohawk Trail State Forest. "A goal was to move from one spectacular setting in the Berkshires to one that was under less development pressure," explain the owners, who previously lived in an A-frame home designed by two Frank Lloyd Wright acolytes.



Bright yellow trim lining the floor-to-ceiling windows on the lower level pops against the exterior blend of concrete, steel, and glass.

Yet, it was the inviting community that sealed the deal. "Discovering the people and community of Florida became the core of our decision to move here," the owners continue. "No one conformed to a stereotypic image. Young and old seemed to not only respect, but also actually like, each other."



Glass wraps around three sides of the primary living room, which the owners call their sunroom, framing captivating views of the surrounding forest and meadows.

After acquiring the lot, the couple quickly got to work on crafting their dream home, which resulted in a multilevel retreat of concrete, steel, and glass. "Working with concrete and steel was not our first idea, but it became the idea that set us free," they say. "We wanted to display these materials as a visible center for the design, where the bones of the structure had a voice."

It was a young, energetic structural designer who "made the impossible possible" by designing "two unthinkable spans of bridge iron." This enabled generous, open interiors and broad windows and accentuated the steel-and-concrete form.



A more intimate seating area is nestled near the wooden staircase that leads to the office.

To balance the more industrial elements, the couple incorporated handcrafted woodwork salvaged from their previous property, where a devastating storm brought down a total of 50 hardwood trees. "Something at the time told us to harvest the wood, rough-saw it, and begin the process of slow curing," they say. "Now, more than 10 years later, these trees have become beautifully bright, patterned paneling throughout the new house."



Handcrafted shelving units lining the office offer plentiful storage for books and memorabilia.

In addition to modern comforts, such as radiant floor heating, the 4,076-square-foot dwelling also features custom details: The owners contracted a European furniture maker to craft ceiling-height doors, tilt-and-turn windows, and built-in cabinetry.



The kitchen features a large island and L-shaped banquette. Concrete floors and steel beams complement the handcrafted millwork cladding the walls.

The kitchen is also personalized, divided into two sections: a prep room and a cooking/serving area with a large island and L-shaped banquette. The idea was to separate guests from the back, which "serves as a hidden, but very stylish, scullery for cleanup and supplies," say the owners.



The kitchen scullery radiates industrial vibes, featuring exposed piping and stainless steel cabinetry.

The principal suite occupies the entire upper floor and has a separate entrance from the outside. Also on the property is a renovated guesthouse dating back to the 1930s, where the couple stayed while building the main residence. "All around the house, whether it be inside or out, there is an appealing place to enjoy the light," note the owners.



An underground, naturally cooled room for wine and beer is connected to the kitchen scullery.



A covered outdoor eating area, located off the kitchen, overlooks the forested lot.



The various flat roofs that cap the home also serve as spacious decks.



Another view of the exterior, which highlights the unique unfolding of the home.



A peek at the detached guesthouse, which the owners completely renovated to make it more consistent in style with the main home. The small yet fully equipped space comes with two bedrooms, as well as a living area, kitchen, and bath.



An aerial view of the property, showcasing the main residence, the guesthouse, and a work barn which could also be used as a studio.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Starmer Breaks Diplomatic Restraint With Firm Rebuke of Trump, Seizing Chance to Advocate for Europe
UK Finance Minister Reeves to Join Starmer on China Visit to Bolster Trade and Economic Ties
Prince Harry Says Sacrifices of NATO Forces in Afghanistan Deserve ‘Respect’ After Trump Remarks
Barron Trump Emerges as Key Remote Witness in UK Assault and Rape Trial
Trump Reverses Course and Criticises UK-Mauritius Chagos Islands Agreement
Elizabeth Hurley Tells UK Court of ‘Brutal’ Invasion of Privacy in Phone Hacking Case
UK Bond Yields Climb as Report Fuels Speculation Over Andy Burnham’s Return to Parliament
Prince William to Make Official Visit to Saudi Arabia in February
Prince Harry Breaks Down in London Court, Says UK Tabloids Have Made Meghan Markle’s Life ‘Absolute Misery’
Malin + Goetz UK Business Enters Administration, All Stores Close
EU and UK Reject Trump’s Greenland-Linked Tariff Threats and Pledge Unified Response
UK Deepfake Crackdown Puts Intense Pressure on Musk’s Grok AI After Surge in Non-Consensual Explicit Images
Prince Harry Becomes Emotional in London Court, Invokes Memory of Princess Diana in Testimony Against UK Tabloids
UK Inflation Rises Unexpectedly but Interest Rate Cuts Still Seen as Likely
Starmer Steps Back from Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ Amid Strained US–UK Relations
Prince Harry’s Lawyer Tells UK Court Daily Mail Was Complicit in Unlawful Privacy Invasions
UK Government Approves China’s ‘Mega Embassy’ in London Amid Debate Over Security and Diplomacy
Trump Cites UK’s Chagos Islands Sovereignty Shift as Justification for Pursuing Greenland Acquisition
UK Government Weighs Australia-Style Social Media Ban for Under-Sixteens Amid Rising Concern Over Online Harm
Trump Aides Say U.S. Has Discussed Offering Asylum to British Jews Amid Growing Antisemitism Concerns
UK Seeks Diplomatic De-escalation with Trump Over Greenland Tariff Threat
Prince Harry Returns to London as High Court Trial Begins Over Alleged Illegal Tabloid Snooping
High-Speed Train Collision in Southern Spain Kills at Least Twenty-One and Injures Scores
Meghan Markle May Return to the U.K. This Summer as Security Review Advances
Trump’s Greenland Tariff Threat Sparks EU Response and Risks Deep Transatlantic Rift
Prince Harry’s High Court Battle With Daily Mail Publisher Begins in London
Trump’s Tariff Escalation Presents Complex Challenges for the UK Economy
UK Prime Minister Starmer Rebukes Trump’s Greenland Tariff Strategy as Transatlantic Tensions Rise
Prince Harry’s Last Press Case in UK Court Signals Potential Turning Point in Media and Royal Relations
OpenAI to Begin Advertising in ChatGPT in Strategic Shift to New Revenue Model
GDP Growth Remains the Most Telling Barometer of Britain’s Economic Health
Prince William and Kate Middleton Stay Away as Prince Harry Visits London Amid Lingering Rift
Britain Braces for Colder Weather and Snow Risk as Temperatures Set to Plunge
Mass Protests Erupt as UK Nears Decision on China’s ‘Mega Embassy’ in London
Prince Harry to Return to UK to Testify in High-Profile Media Trial Against Associated Newspapers
Keir Starmer Rejects Trump’s Greenland Tariff Threat as ‘Completely Wrong’
Trump to hit Europe with 10% tariffs until Greenland deal is agreed
Prince Harry Returns to UK High Court as Final Privacy Trial Against Daily Mail Publisher Begins
Britain Confronts a Billion-Pound Wind Energy Paradox Amid Grid Constraints
The graduate 'jobpocalypse': Entry-level jobs are not shrinking. They are disappearing.
Cybercrime, Inc.: When Crime Becomes an Economy. How the World Accidentally Built a Twenty-Trillion-Dollar Criminal Economy
The Return of the Hands: Why the AI Age Is Rewriting the Meaning of “Real Work”
UK PM Kier Scammer Ridicules Tories With "Kamasutra"
Strategic Restraint, Credible Force, and the Discipline of Power
United Kingdom and Norway Endorse NATO’s ‘Arctic Sentry’ Mission Including Greenland
Woman Claiming to Be Freddie Mercury’s Secret Daughter Dies at Forty-Eight After Rare Cancer Battle
UK Launches First-Ever ‘Town of Culture’ Competition to Celebrate Local Stories and Boost Communities
Planned Sale of Shell and Exxon’s UK Gas Assets to Viaro Energy Collapses Amid Regulatory and Market Hurdles
UK Intensifies Arctic Security Engagement as Trump’s Greenland Rhetoric Fuels Allied Concern
Meghan Markle Could Return to the UK for the First Time in Nearly Four Years If Security Is Secured
×