TL;DR
Get cleaning gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Aimee and Kevin Buccellato designed a new 6,000-square-foot farmhouse in Momence, Illinois, to appear as though it had long belonged to the rural property. The project also restored the site’s original 19th-century barn and corn crib; the architects describe the design as a response to the area’s agricultural history and the owners’ ties to the region.
A new 6,000-square-foot farmhouse in Momence, Illinois, was designed by Aimee and Kevin Buccellato to look as if it had developed over generations, rather than appearing as a conspicuously new build. The project also included restoration of the property’s original 19th-century barn and corn crib, tying the home to the agricultural landscape and the retired owners’ Midwestern roots, according to House Beautiful’s report.
The four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom home was designed by Buccellato Design and Architecture on a country road near the Kankakee River. The owners had grown up nearby and wanted the new house to feel as though the original farmhouse remained, subtly altered over time. Aimee Buccellato told House Beautiful that the clients hoped neighbors might believe the old house was still there, with only careful renovations and additions.
The designers used materials and details associated with older farmhouses, including antique white oak floors, salvaged beams, barnboards and traditional wall paneling. Interior colors and patterns draw on the surrounding landscape. In the kitchen, windows overlooking farmland and walnut trees take the place of upper cabinets; storage and food-preparation functions were moved into an adjoining dish room and larder.
Other rooms carry the historical approach through different design choices. A custom-tinted blue dining-room ceiling evokes the sky, while mural wallpaper references the nearby river. A tucked-away speakeasy was intended to recall the original farmhouse’s stone foundation. The report also describes a glass porch with views of the Kankakee River and a sitting room furnished with traditional pieces and antiques.
A New Build That Fits Its Farmstead
The project shows how new construction can be designed to sit within a place’s existing architectural and social history, rather than presenting itself as a sharp break from it. Here, the owners’ connection to the area and the retained farm buildings shaped the design brief. The result is not an untouched historic farmhouse: it is a new home with an intentionally old-fashioned character, set alongside restored historic structures.
That distinction matters to readers considering preservation, rural development or home design. The architects’ approach combines visual continuity with modern construction, while the original barn and corn crib remain part of the site. House Beautiful presents the project as a response to local memory and neighborhood character; the report does not establish how neighbors have responded or assess the cost or environmental impact of the work.
Products Worth Considering
Levoit Vital 200S-P Smart Air Purifier for Large Rooms up to 1875 ft²
Levoit Vital Pet Pro Smart Air Purifier for Pets, White
Levoit EverestAir-P Smart Air Purifier for Large Rooms
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Designing Around the Original Farm Buildings
The property had a farmhouse that was described in the report as a familiar landmark in the surrounding agricultural community. The clients, a retired couple returning to the Midwest, saw the site as both a connection to their past and a place to build new memories. That history informed the architects’ aim to make the completed home seem as though it belonged to the property already.
Kevin Buccellato said the design drew on traditional farm complexes, where buildings and additions accumulated gradually. The team restored the original 19th-century barn and corn crib while creating a new main house. House Beautiful identifies the design influence as Folk-Victorian farmhouse and agricultural buildings, but does not provide a detailed construction timeline or a room-by-room account of the restoration work.
“At the outset of the project, and throughout, our clients wanted the new house to feel like it had always been there, so much so that perhaps the neighbors could be led to believe that the original house remained intact, yet amended by skillful renovation and discreet additions.”
— Aimee Buccellato, co-founder of Buccellato Design and Architecture
Project Details Not Reported
House Beautiful’s feature does not state when construction was completed, the project budget, the name of the original farmhouse’s builder, or whether the farmhouse itself was demolished, substantially rebuilt or incorporated into the new structure. The article describes the house as new construction and says the barn and corn crib were restored, but does not explain the precise scope of work on each building.
The report also does not give details about permits, construction methods, energy performance or the condition of the restored structures. The designers’ comments describe their intentions; the article provides no independent assessment of how closely the finished project resembles an older farmhouse or how local residents view it.
No Further Milestone Announced
The source report does not identify a forthcoming construction phase, public opening or additional announcement for the property. The home and restored outbuildings are presented as a completed design project in House Beautiful’s feature. Further information about the build timeline, restoration work or the owners’ plans has not been provided in the material available.
Key Questions
Where is the new farmhouse?
It is on a country road in Momence, Illinois, near the Kankakee River, according to House Beautiful.
Who designed the house?
Aimee and Kevin Buccellato of Buccellato Design and Architecture designed the home.
What historic structures were restored?
The project included restoration of the property’s original 19th-century barn and corn crib. The report does not detail the restoration methods.
How large is the house?
The farmhouse covers 6,000 square feet and has four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms, according to the report.
When was the house completed?
The source material does not give a completion date. It describes the home as a new build but does not provide a construction timeline.
Source: housebeautiful.com
