2003 - Best Mixed Use Project - Silver Award

The Finest Image Photography Studio is a husband and wife enterprise run by Kevin and Ann Macy, who are known throughout the state of Vermont and beyond, for the excellence of quality and service that they offer.  The way that the Finest Image Photography Studio delivers their multitude of photographic services with courtesy and sincere professionalism has allowed Kevin and Ann to grow their business to the point that they needed a new facility!

The Macys found a spacious piece of land in Essex Center that had great access to Route 15.  They then hired Bickford Construction Corporation to design and construct their new facility, which was to not only house their business, but also was to contain their living quarters.

To complement its rural location, the building was designed to look like a residence from the exterior.  The white clapboard siding and black shutters on the windows were used to reflect the look of an existing house located on the property closer to Route 15.  To help contain cost and to reduce maintenance, these exterior finishes were vinyl rather than painted wood.

Spacious covered porches adorn both the front and rear elevations of the first floor studio, offering the Macys great outdoor settings in which to conduct their photography.  There is also a large second floor deck on the back of the building, for the Owner’s private use.  The site around the building is beautifully landscaped and is equipped with several stations for outdoor photography.

The ground floor studio is beautifully decorated and is equipped with three camera rooms, including a natural light camera room, which is a first for our area.  There are also four dressing rooms, a presentation room, his and her bathrooms and an office.  The reception and waiting areas, as well as the common hallways are painted in deep colors and are well lit to provide the optimum conditions for displaying examples of their photography.  Flooring is a combination of ceramic tile, commercial carpet and hardwood maple.

The private living quarters is located on the second floor and is accessed through both a stairway leading directly to the exterior and a stairway to the studio.  This bright and open residence has approximately 2,200 SF of living space, which includes three bedrooms, two baths, a galley kitchen, a dining room, a computer niche, a laundry room, a huge family room and plenty of attic storage.  Maple hardwood floors were used throughout the kitchen, foyer, living room and dining room.  Use of efficient lighting, equipment and ventilation qualified the residential portion of this project as an Energy Star Home.

The large basement provides great storage and production space and is accessed by both stairs from the studio and a handy ramp to the garage, for wheeling equipment in and out.  The two-car garage can also double as an extra camera room during the busy seasons.

Click here to see photos of this mixed use facility.