“When [the client] called on architect Ralph Mackin to build a carriage house near the pool that sits on their four-acre Bedford property, they wanted their stand-alone addition to reflect their passion for Craftsman style, famous for its emphasis on simplicity, craftsmanship, sparse ornamentation, and the use of high-end materials. “This artistic movement’s focus is on quality materials and a wealth of understated details,” Mackin says. “The whole point here was to show off the work of the artisans—carpenters, metal workers, and masons—that the contractor [Bill Hoadley of H & Y Construction in Brookfield, Connecticut] hired to create the design.”