MODERN FARMHOUSE #2
MARBLETOWN, NY

“Robin captured in her design what we were looking for in our home. Her ability to remain open-minded and flexible throughout the design process was instrumental to the success of this project. We had absolute trust and confidence in her talents and were impressed with her vision, creativity and pragmatism in devising solutions to the various reconstruction challenges. Her focus on every detail allowed us to feel comfortable throughout the construction process.”

Modernism blends with tradition in this complete rebuilding and expansion of an existing 1980s country house, located on a wooded hilltop in the Catskills. The two-story, 5,000-square-foot structure consists of a reconfigured core and two new wings, designed to encompass views of the woods and fields. The rebuilt core contains a classically proportioned foyer, library hall, living room with fireplace, expanded master bedroom suite, and home office. The south-facing kitchen/dining wing has a second story with a media room and guest suite. A spacious yoga room with a vaulted ceiling and mountain vistas occupies the north wing.  

The gabled exterior echoes the clean, functional aesthetic of barns and vernacular farmhouses, while the Spanish cedar doors, square windows and other crafted accents lend warmth and character. Custom finishes include the tongue-and-groove cedar siding, which is Forest Certified from Canada. In the interior, the clean, minimalist treatment of the materials and a Japanese aesthetic convey serenity. The elegant foyer leads to a more casual open plan, in which the horizontal flow of space is played off barn-like volumes. Symmetry alternates with asymmetry, creating a pleasing rhythm; wide passageways and great rooms with soaring ceilings are juxtaposed with cozy, contemplative nooks. Built-in walnut cabinetry enhances the functionality of the space. Remnants from the walnut cabinetry were repurposed and laminated into hand-crafted walnut composite beams, an artisan touch.

Ease and comfort are combined with energy-efficient features: the house has a mostly hidden 7 KW solar-energy system, radiant heat, a high-efficiency boiler, sprayed-in foam insulation, and a controlled HVAC system calibrated to read the outside temperature. Sun visors over the windows provide shade in summer but allow light to flood in during the winter. 

Eminently suited to the clients’ relaxed lifestyle in the country, the Modern Farmhouse balances elegance and comfort, serenity and playfulness and is integrated into its natural setting, with covered porches paved in bluestone connected to stone terraces and walkways. The gabled, cedar-sided structure of the new, stand-along garage echoes the design of the house. Large stone pavers and river rocks on the property lead to the forest, creating a seamless transition between the buildings and wild nature. Further enhancements are planned by Andrade Architecture, which is designing the landscaped grounds and guest quarters as a harmonious complement to the house. The play of textures and Zen-like simplicity of the terraces and plantings reinforce the minimalist theme of the interior and establishes the house as a place apart, in dialog with nature.