At home with Susan Marsh

Western Massachusetts is home to fertile soils, rolling hills, a seemingly endless string of centuries old small towns, and the Berkshire mountains. For years people have flocked to this area, be it to set up a homestead, to leaf peep in the autumn, or to enjoy the small town life. Many of these people often come from Boston, but for Susan Marsh the origin, along with her husband, was small midwestern towns. Their daughter, Jess, married a tenth generation farmer from the fertile valley of western Massachusetts and they soon felt the call to move from Michigan to Massachusetts themselves

“When we moved to be close to our daughter, I was determined to find a special place where my desire for authentic surroundings could flourish,” says Susan. Susan continues that the stars aligned and a house, with a barn and charming chicken coop set on a 28 acre wooded piece of hilltown heaven, presented itself like the best gift ever.” The home with handcrafted windows, doors, hardware along with plastered walls, ceilings and an abundance of hand planed wood walls, are some of the things that took their breath away. A walking tour of the rugged terrain was a magical “seal the deal” moment as they feel most comfortable in quiet natural places where they say they are entertained by owls having conversations with one another, and an occasional visit by bears. 

The home, a saltbox colonial era style design, was actually built in the 1980s by the previous homeowner who wanted to create a timepiece of the past. Using designs from the era she worked to bring the house together with details and craftsmanship that have long been lost by more practical and less decorative design trends and methods of the past two centuries. 

“The interior spaces of our house are a reflection of the serenity of the outdoors, its changing seasons, with a nod to historical interpretation. A calm color palette along with lots of texture keep a balance of peacefulness while being interesting. Light elements balance the darkness of wood, which has aged patina. The original owner rightfully boasts that there is not a single brushstroke of poly anything on the wood in the house. The presence of imperfection fits perfectly with the hand crafted history of our desire to make things rather than buy them. There are hints of a frustrated dog wanting into a space, claw graffiti and the most touching growth chart on an upright post, which we hope to carry on.” 

The home is one that feels timeless and comfortable, one that feels like living history, but still has its elements of modernity. With level floors, solar panels, and air conditioning throughout the home it is a house that feels like it could live on for centuries to come.