STILL HOUSE brings next-level contemporary design and a new kind of elegance to the Berkshires--quietly luxurious, exquisitely detailed, and made to be lived in. Minutes from the center of Great Barrington, this newly completed home of more than 5,000 square feet pairs the distinctive vision of acclaimed Brooklyn studio Me & General Design with superb craftsmanship and exceptional materials throughout. Four bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, a heated saltwater pool, bespoke spa and fitness spaces, solar energy and exceptional privacy make this as much a retreat as a home. Preserved stone walls from the original structure bring history, texture and character to the new architecture--and keep something distinctly Berkshire at its heart. Arrival at STILL HOUSE begins quietly, through an elegant stone entry of intimate, human scale. From there, the house opens into a kitchen, dining and living space of remarkable volume, with cathedral ceilings, two stories of glass, original stone walls and views deep into the lush landscape. The shift in scale is immediate, yet the warmth and materiality remain. The dining area, with a sculptural bronze chandelier by Studio Townsend, holds its own within the larger space; beyond it, the custom kitchen and living area open toward the deck and pool. The fireplace gives the living area a natural focal point, while treetops, sky and changing light become part of the architecture.
A separate everyday entrance creates an entirely different arrival--simple, practical and more intimate in scale. This is one of many examples throughout the house of function being treated as an essential part of good design.
The custom Porcelanosa kitchen is artfully designed as a joyful place to cook and gather, where beauty and practicality work hand in hand. Richly veined stone surrounds a substantial island where people naturally pull up a seat, while induction cooking, double ovens, integrated refrigeration and a microwave drawer make the kitchen effortless to use. A dedicated coffee station and breakfast nook offer a quieter counterpoint--a comfortable corner for coffee, breakfast and slower mornings.
The closer you look at STILL HOUSE, the more there is to discover. Custom millwork and cabinetry, beautifully selected stone and tile, sculptural lighting, carefully considered hardware and fixtures, and subtle shifts in texture and material give each room its own character while holding the house together as a whole. Me & General also considered how art would live within the house, preserving generous expanses of wall and creating places where large-scale art and sculpture feel entirely at home. Wide-plank European white oak floors by LV Wood provide a warm backdrop rather than a statement. Nothing clamors for attention, yet almost everything rewards it. This is luxury expressed through proportion, material, craftsmanship and detail rather than display.
The original stone continues beyond the great room into a second living room, where a restored working wood-burning fireplace and more intimate scale offer another way to inhabit the house. Warm, quiet and grounded, it is the kind of room that draws people in on a winter evening, with a fire going and nowhere else one particularly needs to be.
The main-level primary suite makes true one-floor living possible, with views into the lush landscape and doors opening directly onto the deck. A walk-in closet and private bath with exquisite finishes complete the suite. Upstairs are two additional bedrooms and two full baths, including a bedroom with its own private bath and deck. A fourth bedroom suite on the lower level gives guests a private retreat of their own.
At the top of the stairs, a library and sitting area with custom built-ins overlooks the great room below--a perch for reading, working or simply being slightly apart while still connected to the life of the house.
The light-filled lower level features radiant heat, and brings together the private fourth bedroom suite, home cinema, private office, and dedicated wellness area. A yoga and Pilates studio, spa, traditional Canadian red cedar sauna and full bath make exercise and restoration part of life at home. Guests can settle in with real privacy; work has a place of its own; and a movie after dinner is simply downstairs. Laundry completes a level designed from the outset as an integral part of the house rather than secondary space.
The same consideration extends behind the walls, with high-efficiency multi-zone heat pumps and solar energy designed to offset projected electrical use.
Outside, the heated saltwater pool is tucked against mature trees, with the privacy of the setting felt immediately. Decks and paths lead naturally between the house, pool and landscape, while preserved and newly built stonework gives the grounds a sense of permanence. An outdoor fireplace on the deck extends the season and becomes its own gathering place--coffee on a cool morning, drinks before dinner, or evenings around the fire. Landscape design by Windy Hill Farm gives structure to the setting without taking away from what makes it so appealing: trees, stone, water and the feeling of being away from everything.
And yet the center of Great Barrington is only minutes away. Lakes and mountains, abundant preserved land, exceptional hiking and some of the Northeast's finest cycling are part of everyday life here. Lake Mansfield is close by for swimming and paddling, while Monument Mountain and Ski Butternut put hiking and skiing minutes from home.
The Berkshires' cultural life is just as much a part of the experience. Tanglewood, Jacob's Pillow, the Berkshire International Film Festival, Barrington Stage Company and intimate organizations such as Close Encounters With Music are part of an extraordinary community of musicians, dancers, actors, filmmakers, writers and audiences. Here, internationally celebrated culture sits comfortably alongside lakes, mountains, farms and miles of protected land, and a weekend can move effortlessly from a performance to a hike, a swim or dinner with friends.
STILL HOUSE is made for both the fullness and the quiet of Berkshire life. There is space to gather family and friends for long weekends, holidays and summers, with enough privacy for everyone to find a corner of their own. People arrive from different directions, dinner stretches late, mornings unfold slowly, and everyone comes and goes at their own pace.
Then the house becomes quiet again--and feels just as good. There are intimate rooms, a wood fire to light, an early swim, coffee outside, trees beyond the glass and beautifully considered spaces that need no occasion at all.
STILL HOUSE is the inaugural residence of NUESTRA Collection, a series of design-led Berkshire homes created around a simple idea: exceptional contemporary design should feel as good to live in as it is to look at.