It’ s functional, safe for the children, and beautiful, he says.“ There are a few things I insisted on. The siding was one, and the staircase design was the other. Overall, we wanted everything minimal, comfortable, and functional.”
Cooney and her team worked together with Reo and Katy to make that vision a reality— and even Reo’ s mother couldn’ t be happier with her own suite in the walk-out basement.
“ She really loves cooking, so she cooks half a week, and that means I get leftovers for my lunches that I take to school,” Reo says. Although she can’ t speak English well and her grandchildren don’ t speak Japanese, they enjoy hanging out together downstairs and watching TV.“ The kids love to chill out with her,” says Reo. He and Katy couldn’ t be happier about that and about their home. The same goes for Cooney. n
The home has the authentic shou sugi ban( or yakisugi) siding— a Japanese environmentally friendly wood preservation technique that involves charring, brushing, and oiling timber( traditionally cedar). Stone mason Gareth Morrow chiseled Goshen stones individually to make the front porch.
NEW! CLOSING SOON!
TECHNOLOGIES OF RELATION
On view now
North Adams, MA | massmoca. org
VINCENT VALDEZ JUST A DREAM...
On view through April 5, 2026
North Adams, MA | massmoca. org
Morehshin Allahyari, Speculations on Capture, snapshot from film, 2024, courtesy of the artist and V & A
Vincent Valdez, So Long, Mary Ann, 2019, Oil on canvas, Collection of Mike Healy and Tim Walsh
Spring 2026 BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE // 57