On Golden Pond

Ten years ago, scenic views with abundant wildlife and an enchanting pond sold our young client on this otherwise dated 1980’s house.  A busy attorney, she purchased the property hoping to fully renovate it at some point in the future.

Full of excitement years later, she reached out to us to help manifest her vision for what the home could become.  Her wish list was not only extensive, but also ambitious.  In collaboration with Lionel F. Bailey AIA Architect, our team devised a plan which included carving out a new larger kitchen from the home’s existing footprint, redesigning all bedrooms and bathrooms, and constructing a newly designed open loft space on the second floor. One of the most dramatic changes involved vaulting the ceiling in the family room which nearly doubled the volume of space. To take full advantage of the beautiful views, the client asked us to re-design the exterior elevation on the pond-facing side of the property so the spectacular outdoors could be seen from the inside of the home.

Reconfiguring the interior spaces allowed for a more functional and comfortable layout but also created significant architectural sight lines. Every room in the house, completely re-conceived, embodies a retreat experience as guests have a view of either pool, pond or courtyard. The bold and dark, charcoal color chosen for the exterior modernized the home and helped set the tone for guests to anticipate the interior.

For the interior decor, we combined American mid-century modern and Scandinavia to create a seamless and unexpected contrast. American mid-century modern is known for its playful and whimsical appeal, while Scandinavia is regarded for its simplistic paired down elegance. The soft Scandinavian color scheme and light-filled spaces serve as the perfect backdrop for the client’s growing modern art collection. This collection takes center stage in an environment filled with custom furnishings and vintage finds. This home represents a grown-up version of mid-century modern that is less animated and more refined.  The resulting spaces feel contemplative and sophisticated, the perfect environment for reading, relaxing and entertaining.