Stonestill Lodge

As creative professionals in the music and entertainment industry, Harvey Mason, Jr., and Britt Burton Mason were searching for a property where they could get away from Los Angeles and relax with friends and family. Surprising many of their California colleagues, they found their escape in a rural Ohio home. Retaining a sturdy stone foundation and spacious floorplan, they transformed the existing house into a completely customized retreat with expansive window views.

Now known as Stonestill Lodge, the project harmoniously blends the old and the new. The fully remodeled home honors the property’s original structure and materials and amplifies both the surrounding beauty and the Masons’ modern lifestyle. It offers all the comforts of home with fresh opportunities to unplug and recharge.

Harvey remembered the conversation that launched their journey that eventually brought Stonestill Lodge to life. “We decided we wanted a change of pace. We wanted to have something outside of L.A. We would love to have a place to just go and relax, and invite our friends and family, too.”

Britt agreed and added, “In L.A., everything is going really fast. You’re constantly working. We never really have a time to unwind there because there’s always a dinner or an event or something to do. This is kind of going back to basics, putting family first, slowing down a little bit and carving out that time for us.”

Harvey, who spent his life in Los Angeles, never expected to fall in love with the Midwest. But after meeting Britt, who had grown up in Ohio, his perspective grew. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this place is incredible!’ Everybody was so nice, and her family knew everybody. I really love the people. I love the energy. I love the scenery.” As he explored the area with Britt, he also was struck by its serenity and the memories it held for her.

During a visit with her family, Britt’s brother suggested they take a look at one of his favorite properties that was up for sale nearby. Originally built in the 1940s by an architect that studied under Frank Lloyd Wright, the single-story house was situated on a peninsula with water on all sides.

The setting, the lake, the privacy and the proximity to Britt’s family all combined to heighten the Masons’ interest. As for the house itself, Britt acknowledged, “It was in a bit of a time capsule. We bought it from this lovely couple in their late eighties. They raised their family in this home. They put a lot of love and attention into this house. It was a beautiful layout. We saw the vision and what it could be for us.”

The Masons knew it would need a lot of work to realize their vision. Familiar with collaborating on other creative projects together, they accepted the challenge with an enthusiastic commitment to finding the fun in it together.

The Masons shared a desire to have a home that felt like it was a part of the landscape, not apart from it. The existing house already reflected this approach. Its distinctive stone was locally quarried, and its roofline had been oriented so as not to disturb an old growth tree.

Emphasizing this connection with nature, Harvey and Britt agreed that a significant focus of the renovation would be adding windows to optimize the light and views. Harvey explained, “Everywhere you look, we wanted to see glass. We wanted to see through into nature, see the lake, see the trees. We wanted to make sure the bedrooms took advantage of the views."

Originally built with smaller windows and darker interiors, the house was opened up by adding expansive windows and French doors. As planned, Stonestill Lodge is now filled with light, and its windows and doors frame sweeping views of the water and grounds.

The interior now supports a cohesive, connected floorplan. The garage was repurposed as living space and existing living space was creatively reconfigured. The three bedrooms in the guest wing each have their own bathroom and are separate from the owners’ suite and office. Common areas are generously proportioned, including a media room, a sunroom and an expanded kitchen.

While the renovated house feels much larger, the existing footprint was modified very little aside from a small addition for a grand foyer. “The original entry of the house was very understated. It was like a side door, not a front door,” Britt recalled. “We really wanted to make more of an entrance with focus on the beautiful view. That was a must-do.”

The new entryway makes an impressive statement with a Kolbe VistaLuxe AL LINE pivot door featuring expansive glass. From the moment they arrive, visitors are welcomed with a sense of openness and transparency. They are treated with uninterrupted sightlines to the back of the house, through the large windows and out to the water.

The front door’s glass opening is accentuated by narrow extruded aluminum frames. The muntin bars are finished in an Onyx color to match the framing, and the pattern of the performance divided lites complements the Kolbe Ultra Series windows and doors throughout the house.

The doors and windows were essential to achieving the Masons’ aesthetic vision. “We wanted to maximize the view and to be able to have flexibility where we could create exactly the look we wanted. We’re very lucky to have these windows,” emphasized Harvey. “You know the quality as you look through them. You feel the care that’s gone into choosing, sizing, installing and framing them. We wanted these things exact and we got them exact. With Kolbe, they were perfect.”

“You know the quality as you look through them. You feel the care that’s gone into choosing, sizing, installing and framing them. We wanted these things exact and we got them exact. With Kolbe, they were perfect.”

 

 

“Every single window in our house was a custom window. No windows were standard sizes,” elaborated Britt. “The windows were so important to us. We really wanted to get them right because this house has a ton of windows. Without the windows, it wouldn’t be the same. Everyone, when they come in, is like, ‘Oh, what amazing windows!’”

One of the most striking features of Stonestill Lodge is its stonework. The enduring material is not just a physical foundation, but also a symbolic one, grounding the house in its past and solidifying its future. The Masons’ choice to preserve the original stone while modernizing the rest of the house was central to the project.

To capture the lakeview, some of the existing stone needed to be removed with surgical precision to accommodate the new windows. The extracted stone along with some additional stone was used to construct a retaining wall for landscaping. Britt reflected, “We didn’t want to knock it down and make some huge mansion. We wanted it to feel comfortable and homey, like it was meant to be here.”

“The stonework was incredible,” added Harvey. “We wanted to keep it pretty authentic, to look like it was from the original home built in the 1940s.” To preserve this integrity, the Masons relied on local contractors, specialized craftspeople and family-owned businesses.

Like any large-scale renovation, Stonestill Lodge presented a few unexpected hurdles. The house required extensive updates. “We basically redid everything,” said Harvey. “We kept the stone. We got new electrical, new power, new water, new plumbing, new roof, new everything.”

These challenges, while sometimes daunting, gave the couple the opportunity to customize the house exactly to their liking.

Beyond Stonestill Lodge’s structural and architectural renovations, the Masons' personal touches were what made it their home. Harvey and Britt took a hands-on approach, selecting every detail themselves. “We weren’t going for any kind of style or trend,” said Harvey. “We were doing things that we thought were cool and said, ‘Yeah, we like this. It feels comfortable. This feels like us.’”

Among their many inspired decisions was what to do with the two pools in need of repair. The one furthest from the house was upgraded to retain the amenity. The one closest to the house was reimagined as a sunken outdoor living room with a grill and firepit. This solution presented a usable “fun zone” for multiple seasons and an aesthetically interesting space within immediate view.

In summer, the Masons enjoy spending time with family and friends, swimming, kayaking, boating, paddleboarding and more. Throughout the changing seasons, the windows offer views of the lake, trees and wildlife from a comfortable interior. “I’ve really loved it,” said Harvey. “A lot of people don’t know how important windows are. With this much glass, we’ve had no problem heating or cooling the home. I’m so happy that we found Kolbe because it is a difference-maker.”

“A lot of people don’t know how important windows are. With this much glass, we’ve had no problem heating or cooling the home. I’m so happy that we found Kolbe because it is a difference-maker.”

 

 

He continued, “We’re pretty specific about everything. The way the windows line up to the floor and the roof, the trim – we were very intentional about it. If you notice those little details, these windows make a massive difference to the quality of the house. You might not know exactly what it is, but you’ll feel it.”

“We tried to put ourselves in the whole house, in every corner and in every detail,” reiterated Harvey. The Masons infused their playful and artistic nature throughout their home. Dinosaurs and space aliens appear in surprising spots from toilet paper holders to the closets’ wallpaper.

“These little, fun, weird things show that extra pop of personality. It reflects us,” explained Britt. “Upon first glance, we appear polished and put together, but underneath we have these little quirks.”

Another unique example Harvey highlighted was the artwork. Several paintings were created by Britt using existing photography and AI technology. “Britt has been pretty deep into AI since the beginning of it and we use it in our work. It’s a bit of a statement of what’s happening in the world, especially in our world.”

Harvey noted a similar artistic theme in their house renovation – blending existing with new to create a custom, contemporary home by them and for them. “It was really personal, from the heart and built from passion.”

Today, Stonestill Lodge exemplifies the Masons’ creative vision and hard work. The house feels both timeless and contemporary, a space where historical craftsmanship meets modern living.

For Harvey, the house is not just a place to live but a place to create lasting memories. “We wanted a special place where we could come, relax, invite friends and family, and have a place we’re really proud of. And I think we did it.”

For Britt, the house deepens her connection to her Midwest roots and recharges her creative energy. “This is very much a forever home for us,” she said.

The Masons’ journey with Stonestill Lodge is a story of visionary preservation and transformation, where the past and future converge in a home that is uniquely theirs. From the solid stone walls that reflect the region to the expansive windows that invite the outdoors in, every aspect of the home reflects their desire to create a space that feels both universal and personal—a place to purposefully “stand still” in a fast-paced world.