As Dorothy repeated, “there’s no place like home,” over and over again in The Wizard of Oz, most of us adhere to those same sentiments where our own homes are concerned. Whether we live in a city row home, a suburban mid-century, a modern condominium, a country farmhouse or a historic structure in a small town, home is where we raise children, entertain friends, celebrate the holidays with family and simply enjoy puttering around. Our homes reflect who we are. 

Taking pride in our homes is something Lancaster has long been known for. A friend and I used to laugh over her memory of having to pull weeds from the cracks in the sidewalk in front of her Cabbage Hill home. “My mother was adamant that no weeds would grow on her section of the sidewalk!” she recalled of her Saturday morning assignment. As for me, I remember that it drove my mother nuts that my dad insisted on mowing the lawn at least twice a week.  

Fortunately, the county is blessed with talented architects, designers, tradespeople, builders and remodelers who have been making dreams a reality since the first settlers arrived in Lancaster County. That tradition continues. On the following pages, you will meet Alyssa Hayes, a designer with Paradise Custom Kitchens, who created a primary bathroom in an attic for clients whose home dates to the 1840s; members of the TONO Group, whose modern marvel, Treetops, is nestled on a hillside in Southern Lancaster County; and Dwight Graybill of Cocalico Builders, who created an outdoor living area for clients using barnwood that is over 100 years old. Incredibly, all three companies are celebrating significant anniversaries this year.