Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Apr 23, 2026

This Exquisite Berkshires Prefab Was Assembled in Just 24 Hours

This Exquisite Berkshires Prefab Was Assembled in Just 24 Hours

For Mount Washington Residence, McBride Architects use prefabrication to save on costs while going big on functionality and style.

The four-bed, four-bath home of Peter and Sarah Diamond and their two adult children is uniquely situated in one of the most remote areas of the Berkshires: Mount Washington, Massachusetts. Designed by New York City–based architect Nate McBride, who previously worked with the couple on a townhome remodel, the dwelling fades into its environment and provides 360-degree views of the surrounding trees. Having previously lived in Utah for an academic posting, the Diamonds yearned for that "mountain experience" they once had, says McBride.



The 4,368-square-foot residence lies in the isolated town of Mount Washington, Massachusetts.

The concrete-and-red cedar home sits on 12 acres encircled by lush peaks and valleys; a third-story guest penthouse affords unbeatable views. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, a screened porch, and a wildflower garden further connect Mount Washington Residence to the outdoors-and it was all completed on a relatively moderate budget, at least for typical New York standards.



The penthouse guest suite features breathtaking views and minimal furnishings.

After originally designing a home that would exceed the couple’s budget, McBride had an "aha" moment on the way to work one morning-what about prefabrication? "We had never done a prefab house before," he says. "It was made in a factory in Pennsylvania and assembled in just 24 hours." This kept costs 26 percent lower than that of traditional building, while the home, which is constructed of five boxes, still has a tailored feel.



Shiplapped red cedar was the Diamonds’ material of choice for their Berkshires home. The prefab home is also constructed with concrete and aluminum.



Alex Olson's Cast, which is oil and modeling clay on canvas, hangs above a vintage Swedish rug.



The master bedroom has 10-foot sliding glass doors which provide views 15 feet above the trees, as well as exceptional cross-ventilation.

From the front of the home, the left side is the children’s wing, while the right side contains the communal living/dining/kitchen spaces with stairs running directly in the center of the home, creating an "interstitial space that slices into the buildings so you can see the mountains all the way through," says McBride.

Inside, the home is finished with both warm- and cool-toned furnishings chosen by McBride’s wife, interior designer Kari McCabe. An oversized blue-and-green rug adds a cozy element to the living room alongside oversized white couches. This opens to a wooden dining table and a teak kitchen, which melts into the great room.



The color palette, inspired by the fall season, was chosen to blur the lines between indoors and outdoors.

"The idea was to deemphasize the kitchen and make it part of something larger," says McBride. "It creates this singular element with bookshelves and storage that runs the entire length of the room."



The kitchen is one of McBride's favorite architectural moments in the open-concept great room.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
News Roundup
Microsoft lost 2.5 millions users (French government) to Linux
Privacy Problems in Microsoft Windows OS
News roundup
Péter András Magyar and the Strategic Reset of Hungary
Hungary After the Landslide — A Strategic Reset in Europe
Meghan Markle Plans Exclusive Women-Focused Retreat During Australia Visit
Starmer and Trump Hold Strategic Talks on Securing Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Tensions
Unofficial Australia Visit by Prince Harry and Meghan Expected to Stir Tensions with Royal Circles
Pipeline Attack Cuts Significant Share of Saudi Arabia’s Oil Export Capacity
UK Stocks Rise on Ceasefire Momentum and Renewed Focus on Diplomacy
UK to Hold Further Strategic Talks on Strait of Hormuz Security
Starmer Voices Frustration as Global Tensions Drive Up UK Energy Costs
UK Students Voice Concern Over Proposal for Automatic Military Draft Registration
Rising Volatility Drives Uncertainty in UK Fuel and Petrol Prices
UK Moves to Deploy ‘Skyhammer’ Anti-Drone System to Strengthen Airspace Defense
New Analysis Explores UK Budget Mechanics in ‘Behind the Blue’ Feature
Man Arrested After Four Die in Channel Crossing Tragedy
UK Tightens Immigration Framework with New Sponsor Rules and Fee Increases
UK Foreign Secretary Highlights Impact of Intensified Strikes in Lebanon
UK Urges Inclusion of Lebanon in US-Iran Ceasefire Framework
UK Stocks Ease as Ceasefire Doubts in Middle East Weigh on Investor Confidence
UK Reassesses Cloud Strategy Amid Criticism Over Limited Support Measures
UK Calls for Full and Toll-Free Access Through Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Tensions
Starmer Signals Strategic Shift for Britain Amid Escalating Iran-Linked Tensions
UK Issues Firm Warning to Russia Over Covert Underwater Military Activity
OpenAI Halts Stargate UK Project, Casting Uncertainty Over Britain’s AI Expansion Plans
Starmer Voices Frustration Over Global Pressures Driving UK Energy Costs Higher
UK Deploys Military Assets to Protect Undersea Cables From Suspected Russian Threat
Canada Aligns With US, UK and Australia as Europe Prepares Major Digital Border Overhaul
Meghan Markle’s Planned Australia Appearance Sparks Fresh Speculation
Starmer Warns Sustained Effort Needed to Ensure US–Iran Ceasefire Holds
UK to Partner with Shipping Industry to Rebuild Confidence in Strait of Hormuz, Cooper Says
UK Interest Rate Expectations Ease Following US–Iran Ceasefire Agreement
Starmer Signals Major Effort Needed to Fully Reopen Strait of Hormuz During Gulf Visit
UK Fuel Prices Face Ongoing Volatility Amid Global Pressures and Domestic Factors
Kanye West’s Planned Italy Festival Appearance Draws Debate After UK Entry Ban
Smuggling Routes Shift Toward Belgium as Migrant Crossings to UK Evolve
Ceasefire Offers Potential Relief for UK Fuel and Food Prices Amid Ongoing Uncertainty
Iran Conflict Raises Questions Over UK’s Global Influence and Military Preparedness
Senator McConnell Visits Kentucky to Highlight Federal Investment in Local Projects
Kanye West Barred from Entering UK as Legal Grounds Come into Focus
UK Denies Visa to Kanye West After Sponsors Withdraw from Wireless Festival
Trump-Era Forest Service Restructuring Leads to Closure of UK Lab Focused on Kentucky Woodland Health
Foreign Students in the UK Describe Harsh Living Conditions and Financial Pressures
Reform UK Proposes Visa Restrictions on Nations Pursuing Reparations Claims
Public Reaction Divides Over UK Decision to Bar Kanye West
Calls Grow for UK to Review US Base Access Following Concerns Over Escalating Rhetoric
UK Indicates It Will Not Permit Use of Its Bases for Potential US Strikes on Iran’s Energy Infrastructure
UK Prime Minister Defends Decision to Bar Kanye West, Questions Festival Booking
×