The exterior architecture of Scott and Jandell Herum’s house is modeled after old stone houses that dot the Wisconsin landscape. The exterior is covered in codiac sandstone, mined from the Wisconsin Rapids area. "It really shows its color in the early morning light and in the sunset light," Scott Herum says of the stone.

After they built their Mequon home three years ago, Scott and Jandell Herum got used to the stares. "We had a lot of people stop," Scott Herum says. "Some take pictures. Some just sit there and look and look and look."

As the architect who designed the house, Herum considers it a compliment of sorts. The 3,400-square-foot stone house, which was constructed by Sterling Hasey Co., stands out even among nearby spectacular builder’s showcase homes for its simple, symmetrical design. "I wanted a very simplistic architectural form that kind of recalls old farmhouse images," Herum says. "If you look around the Wisconsin landscape you’ll see a lot of stone houses, stone outbuildings, stone barns. That was kind of where the form started."

He also modeled the design after a smaller house he previously designed for the family in Akron, Ohio. He borrowed the circular window element from that house, a hint of the more contemporary floor plan inside the traditional-looking structure. The open plan is a departure from the chopped-up multiroom floor plan of older homes, he says. Herum mixes a holistic design concept with traditional architectural details and materials. "I’m drawn to interiors from older houses," he says. The fire box, for instance, is a Rumford fireplace, a design from the 1700s, which, due to a specially designed flue, spills heat up to 20 feet into the great room and dining area.

The interior spaces of the first floor flow together visually with a neutral wall color and wood floors. Cherry woodwork and cabinetry add to the visual consistency, providing a feeling of calmness throughout the space.

A large granite island is the focal point of the kitchen, which provides plenty of work surface for food preparation. "The kitchen always becomes the gathering place for the party, so the large island is nice for that because it always accommodates a good crowd," Herum says. M

	Herum used the same stone on the fireplace surround as he used on the home’s exterior. "One of the things I like to do in my architecture projects is not get too many materials. I think it is helpful to create some continuity by using fewer materials and using them in different ways," Herum says.
Natural light floods the dining room, located off the kitchen and foyer.
	The color scheme of the first floor started with the champagne verdi granite used on the kitchen counters and island. American cherry cabinetry complements the granite and creates a design continuity with the wood windows and floors.