Mountain Modern
One Spruce Peak, Penthouse E
Whether the mountaintop is coated with snow, dotted with wildflowers, or ablaze in fiery foliage, soaking in Spruce Peak’s unparalleled natural beauty is a huge part of why you’re here. This streamlined, open-plan penthouse (which is under construction and set for occupancy next winter) maximizes your connection to the outdoors. “We focused on creating a seamless flow between the inside and outside, so you feel at one with the mountain,” says architect John Ashworth.
This connection with nature is accentuated by floor-to-ceiling glass that invites the trees and hillsides in. “It’s as though you are in the eagle’s aerie, overlooking Spruce Peak from a bird’s eye view,” Ashworth says.
As a floor-through unit, light streams in all day long—and if you winter in Vermont, you know that’s a game-changer when the sunshine is so limited. “Catch some morning rays as you sit outside and plan your ski day,” says Michael Langley, Spruce Peak Realty's Director of Sales. “In the evening, you can cocoon with your family in your jammies while the sunset makes the whole room glow.” (P.S. It’s a primo spot for watching fireworks.)
Two generous decks capture 360-degree views of the Front Four, Sunny Spruce, Spruce Peak Village, the skating rink, the golf course, and the Worcester Range. “We recessed the top floor to offer more outdoor space,” Ashworth says. “The roof functions like an umbrella, keeping the area covered and comfortable yearround.”
The landscape is also reflected in the natural finishings. Local materials abound, from the farmhouse dining island to the tongue-in-groove cedar planks stretching across the ceiling. The contemporary roof profile echoes the dramatic silhouette of Mt. Mansfield and creates a dynamic living space featuring vaulted ceilings that soar as high as 24 feet, crisscrossed with exposed post-and-beam construction.
Perched above the double-height living room, a lofted space (perfect for an informal family room or game room with) adds another dimension. “It’s almost like theater seating; you are set apart, but also able to overlook and interact with the action below,” Ashworth says.
The kitchen is adjacent to the gracious al fresco dining and entertaining space, uniting you with the outdoors while you cook. Even the master bedroom has a deck, endless windows, and enough volume to easily tuck in a home office.
Still, despite the interface between the interior and exterior, this penthouse maintains an extreme sense of exclusivity; an elevator opens directly into your own private vestibule and mud room. Simply put, there is not another home like this in the world. “You truly have your own fingerprint,” Ashworth says.