project overview
The quiet hills of a small Kentucky town—where the homeowners met in college—offered the serenity and space they craved. A naturally sloped site with wooded edges and a gentle depression hinted at what could be. AMDG leaned into the topography, creating a pond where the couple’s two children now fish, paddle, and play freely.
The homeowner had long admired the craftsmanship of old mills, and when an ancient flour mill became available across the Ohio border, he acted. What started as a plan to build a rustic outbuilding for entertaining transformed into something more enduring. Seeing a deeper opportunity, AMDG together with the homeowners, reimagined the reclaimed structure not as an annex, but as the heart of the home itself. Original timbers now frame the living space, their weathered surfaces telling silent stories of generations past. The millstone, once used to grind grain, is now set into the foyer floor—a lasting symbol of roots, resilience, and renewal.
While the site’s natural features were helpful for incorporating the pond, it’s limestone-rich soil posed significant structural challenges related to the foundation of the home. If not addressed properly, the ground could erode and give way to sinkholes. AMDG partnered with local engineers JMP Inc., exploring the terrain in depth and using alternative backfill material known as flowable fill—a self-leveling, rapidly hardening material that filled underground voids, creating a rock-solid foundation. Just as the home honors the craftsmanship of yesterday, it is built on the engineering innovation of today.
Designed around the past, with foundation for tomorrow’s memories, the home reflects the family’s vision for a life well-lived. Warm, inviting spaces encourage everyday togetherness, framed by sweeping views that welcome the outdoors in. Here, where timber meets time and water meets sky, a legacy takes root—patient, enduring, and full of possibility.
