VERMONT MAGAZINE Winter 2021 | Page 68

In the rolling hills of Weybridge , Vermont , a striking and sophisticated home stands in the midst of a charming bucolic clearing . As you approach the house from the road , the vibrant color tones of the Douglas Fir wood panels on the outside of the home blend seamlessly with the surrounding mountains and trees . Stepping inside , winsome wooden floors and walls are illuminated by an overabundance of natural light from a long row of tall windows .

Although this fashionable and tasteful home is both smartly appointed and expertly designed , it is by no means the product of lavish expenditure . Silver Maple Construction President Sean Flynn built this two-bedroom / two-bathroom , 1,380 square-foot house at his Weybridge property to serve as the inaugural prototype of Silver Maple ’ s newest line of affordable pre-fabricated homes . By merging rustic and elegant aesthetics with energy-efficient and cost-effective modern design , Silver Maple Construction has created an iconic contemporary gem in Addison County that serves as an exemplary blueprint for the future of their sustainable housing program .
Sean first started honing his carpentry abilities when he began working as a handyman at Timberlock Resort in Indian Lake , NY at the age of 15 . Sean says that the quick learning curve that came with the job incentivized him to develop a wide range of valuable skills at a rapid pace . “ It was an incredible opportunity that allowed me to expand my knowledge-base to include a multifaceted range of trade skills . I did a little bit of everything there . I dabbled in guest relations , and I also did some work as a lumberjack , a plumber , and a carpenter . The people who ran the resort were incredibly self-reliant . They really inspired me to pursue a career in building and carpentry . From there , my fascination with building slowly continued to grow . I would take a job from time to time during the years I attended college and also go back to Timberlock to work there in the winter . Over time , I branched out into larger remodeling projects .”
After spending time in a number of different locations in his early adulthood – including a stint in Burlington , Vermont – Sean found his way back to the Green Mountain State in 2001 . He then began to work for a high-end builder in the Addison County area by the name of Alex MacDonald . Sean says that the work he did for Alex MacDonald allowed him to “ really cut [ his ] teeth in the world of high-end construction . Working on a team like that helped me to understand what true craftsmanship was . About two years after that , my best friend Mike Steele and I founded Silver Maple Construction together . We started off just as two guys in a pickup truck . These days , we ’ ve grown the operation to 52 guys in multiple pickup trucks . We ’ re coming up on our fifteenth anniversary this year in 2021 . Through all of the growth , we ’ ve been able to maintain our reputation by focusing on providing exemplary service and craftsmanship to all of our clients .”
As the proprietor of a highly-rated construction firm that is well known for delivering outstanding results in a timely manner , Sean believes that “ true craftsmanship ” requires much more than a specialized set of artisan skills . “ The way I see it , I know a whole lot of carpenters who can spend years putting together one exquisite piece or project when there are no time limits or cost constraints . Many people can do a fantastic job with that without any real difficulty . I think what defines a true ‘ craftsman ’ is their ability to produce work at a similar level of quality within the constraints of a budget and a production schedule . That ’ s what we strive to accomplish with every project that we
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