Bluegrass SERENADE

A STURDY KENTUCKY HOME SWAYS TO THE RHYTHMS OF NATURE AND THE REGION'S RICH HISTORY AND BELOVED TRADITIONS

- JODY GARLOCK

Having grown up on a farm, and now a landowner himself, Atlanta architect Tim Adams has always felt a special connection to the outdoors. To him, nature-with its fields, trees, and ponds-is like art that becomes part of the story when he's designing a home. "People tend to think that architecture is just about the structure, but being able to engage a house with the property is really, really important," says Adams, whose farm has served as a sort of training ground for arranging and working with large tracts of land for clients.

He was in his element when collaborating with a couple to create a family homestead on a 300-acre property outside of Versailles, Kentucky. The land, set in the heart of horse country, was in raw form, with old barbed-wire fences, overgrown fencerows, and dilapidated barns. Conversely, it inspired with its mature trees, picturesque ponds, and rolling countryside and pastures. As Adams drove and walked the property to develop a master plan, he saw endless opportunities and knew the house would need to be noteworthy to honor the setting.

Foyer The architectural design emphasizes the outdoors, evidenced by abundant glass at the front entry. Study An English walnut burl writing table contrasts knotty pine walls. "The pine pays tribute to the farm," designer Ashley Gish says. Trimwork brings a refinement to the rustic wood, finished with hand-rubbed wax that accentuates the knots.

Previous pages The new house gives the impression of having been added onto over time; wood-sided wings break up the volume of the two-story limestone core. A breezeway connects the carriage house.