Chris Dembs experienced an amusing moment of validation recently when a passerby mistook his newly constructed home for a carefully restored historic property. Standing in his driveway at 4477 Cole Road on Onondaga Hill, Dembs watched as a car pulled up in front of his four-bedroom residence.
The driver rolled down the window and offered what he thought was a compliment about restoration work. "You did a great job restoring that old house," the driver said to Dembs. However, the comment was followed by a puzzled observation: "But I don't remember a house being there before."
This interaction perfectly captured the success of Dembs' architectural vision. His home represents a meticulous recreation of a 19th century New England-style farmhouse, built from the ground up rather than restored from an existing structure. The attention to authentic period details and traditional construction methods has resulted in a residence that seamlessly blends with the historic character of the Onondaga Hill area.
The four-bedroom home showcases the classic elements that define New England farmhouse architecture from the 1800s. These design choices reflect both aesthetic preferences and the practical building traditions that characterized rural American construction during that era, creating a home that honors historical craftsmanship while meeting modern living standards.
