Entry

Tom Crane

Entry Stair Hall with gallery wall, view to Living Room with gilded citrus peel wall sculpture. Interior Architecture + Design by Lisa Tharp. Photography by Michael J. Lee

Cedar Cove Modern benefits from its integration into the landscape. The house is set back from Lake Webster to preserve an existing stand of broadleaf trees that filter the low western sun that sets over the lake. Its split-level design follows the gentle grade of the surrounding slope. The L-shape of the house forms a protected garden entryway in the area of the house facing away from the lake while a two-story stone wall marks the entry and continues through the width of the house, leading the eye to a rear terrace. This terrace has a spectacular view aided by the structure’s smart positioning in relationship to Lake Webster. The interior spaces are also organized to prioritize views of the lake. The living room looks out over the stone terrace at the rear of the house. The bisecting stone wall forms the fireplace in the living room and visually separates the two-story bedroom wing from the active spaces of the house. The screen porch, a staple of our modern house designs, flanks the terrace. Viewed from the lake, the house accentuates the contours of the land, while the clerestory window above the living room emits a soft glow through the canopy of preserved trees.

After receiving a referral by a family friend, these clients knew that Rebel Builders was the Design + Build company that could transform their space for a new lifestyle: as grandparents! As young grandparents, our clients wanted a better flow to their first floor so that they could spend more quality time with their growing family. The challenge, of creating a fun-filled space that the grandkids could enjoy while being a relaxing oasis when the clients are alone, was one that the designers accepted eagerly. Additionally, designers also wanted to give the clients a more cohesive flow between the kitchen and dining area. To do this, the team moved the existing fireplace to a central location to open up an area for a larger dining table and create a designated living room space. On the opposite end, we placed the "kids area" with a large window seat and custom storage. The built-ins and archway leading to the mudroom brought an elegant, inviting and utilitarian atmosphere to the house. The careful selection of the color palette connected all of the spaces and infused the client's personal touch into their home.

Amanda Kirkpatrick Photography

Photo by Read McKendree

The clients bought a new construction house in Bay Head, NJ with an architectural style that was very traditional and quite formal, not beachy. For our design process I created the story that the house was owned by a successful ship captain who had traveled the world and brought back furniture and artifacts for his home. The furniture choices were mainly based on English style pieces and then we incorporated a lot of accessories from Asia and Africa. The only nod we really made to “beachy” style was to do some art with beach scenes and/or bathing beauties (original painting in the study) (vintage series of black and white photos of 1940’s bathing scenes, not shown) ,the pillow fabric in the family room has pictures of fish on it , the wallpaper in the study is actually sand dollars and we did a seagull wallpaper in the downstairs bath (not shown).

Mudroom with Dutch Door, bluestone floor, and built-in cabinets. "Best Mudroom" by the 2020 Westchester Magazine Home Design Awards: https://westchestermagazine.com/design-awards-homepage/

The room that gets talked about the most is the mudroom. With two active teenagers and a busy lifestyle, organization is key. Every member of the family has his or her own spot and can easily find his or her outerwear, shoes, or athletic equipment. Having the custom made oak bench makes changing foot gear easier. The porcelain tile is easy to maintain. Photo by Bill Cartledge

Time Honored Modern

Pinnacle Mountain Homes, Collective Design + Furnishings | Kimberly Gavin