Living room with fireplace, black and white photograph on traditional white mantel, two facing black sofas, wood floor.
Dining room with wood floors, white walls, stone table with wood chairs, brick fireplace with yellow painting on mantel.
Large black painting on white wall of kitchen, white cabinet with glass front to left, black counter to right, wood floors.
Bathroom with gray walls, wood plank floor, green tile standing shower, crystal chandelier, window and white pedestal sink. Bedroom with brick fireplace and traditional white mantel, black painting, black armoire, taupe rug, bed with yellow cover.
Finished attic with white walls and ceiling, wood beams, seating area with black sofa ,wood bench with cushion and fur throw.
Federal style red brick house with white portico and white divided light windows. Front lawn with path and two large trees.

THIS FEDERAL STYLE THREE-BEDROOM HOUSE LOCATED ON SEVENTEEN ACRES IN THE HUDSON VALLEY WAS BUILT IN 1783. IN THE EARLY NINETEENTH CENTURY, IT WAS UPDATED IN THE GREEK REVIVAL STYLE OF THE DAY. THEN IN THE 1930s, THE MASSIVE FOYER WAS DIVIDED IN TWO, AND THE KITCHEN WAS RELOCATED FROM THE CELLAR INTO A SMALL ALCOVE ON THE FIRST FLOOR. WHEN THE HOUSE WAS UP FOR SALE, EVERY ROOM WAS PAINTED A DIFFERENT, INTENSE COLOR AND IT WAS FURNISHED WITH ANTIQUES THAT WERE VAGUELY PERIOD-CORRECT. THE CURRENT OWNER, MR’S FOUNDER, THOUGH DRAWN TO HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE, SET OUT TO BALANCE A RESPECT FOR THE PAST WITH AN ENVIRONMENT THAT FELT ROOTED IN THE PRESENT.

THE PROCESS OF REFINING AND ADAPTING THE HOUSE WAS GRADUAL. SINCE THE BUCOLIC SETTING WAS CRUCIAL TO THE HOME’S ATMOSPHERE, THE GARAGE SHED THAT BLOCKED THE VIEW BEHIND THE HOUSE WAS REMOVED. AND BEFORE MOVING IN, THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE HOME WAS PAINTED WHITE, WHICH FELT MORE MODERN WHILE HIGHLIGHTING THE AUSTERE BEAUTY OF THE ANTIQUE STRUCTURE. THE STAIRCASE WAS REBUILT, THE DIVIDING WALL IN THE FOYER WAS REMOVED, AND THE POWDER ROOM ON THE MAIN FLOOR WAS REPOSITIONED MORE SENSITIVELY IN THE FOYER. THE BACK HALL AND ALCOVE WERE LATER COMBINED TO CREATE A MORE OPEN KITCHEN, AND A WARREN OF SMALL ROOMS WAS TRANSFORMED INTO A PRIMARY BATHROOM COMPLETE WITH A FIREPLACE THAT HAD BEEN HIDDEN BEHIND A WALL. LASTLY, THE ATTIC WAS TRANSFORMED INTO A LOFT-LIKE DEN THAT DOUBLES AS A GUEST ROOM. FOR THE LAST PHASE OF THE PROJECT—THE FURNISHINGS—THE HOME WAS FILLED WITH FURNITURE, ART, AND BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN COLLECTED OVER THE YEARS.

PHOTOS: SIMON UPTON