When I’m a designer Louise Copeland Elizabeth Brown, the company’s senior vice president, was the first to partner with the client. holly huntwhich was supposed to buy an apartment in bustling Manhattan, but the Browns ended up buying a mid-19th century farmhouse in New York’s Germantown instead. An alumnus of Stephen Gambrell’s eponymous design firm says she was already on board at this point, and although a Gothic Revival project didn’t seem to be architecturally in her wheelhouse, Copeland was excited about the challenge with this historic gem.
“What’s interesting about this house is that it’s almost 200 years old, and the Brown family is only the sixth owner of it in that time,” Copeland said. “The person who built this building in the 1830s was a sea captain who built a dock on the property, which is the highest point in the area where all the ships come in. Then a naturalist bought it, followed by a garden manager. So everyone owned the land for a long time and added their own personal touches to the house and the landscape.”
But as older homes evolve, Copeland said, they are typically modified by each owner to suit their individual needs. By the time the Brown family acquired the place, many of the original elements of the house were gone and the layout no longer made much sense. The designer likened it to a warren of rabbits. Needless to say, the client’s initial hopes of just redoing the kitchen were dashed by the end of the first meeting with the architect. chip ball We supported doubling the size of the house to create the ultimate idyllic retreat. Copeland now Really Her job suited her perfectly.
A spacious kitchen is an addition to the home and also includes a butler’s pantry and breakfast nook.
First, Copeland needed to strategize how to bring the house into the 21st century without losing any more of its originality. Instead of removing the 1830s front porch, which faced away from the street toward the river, she added a new front porch that mirrored the original and faced the street, creating a new entrance hall. This gave the owners another option other than a mudroom to make their guests feel warmer and more welcoming.
“The kitchen was really small and dark, so we added a whole new aspect to the house. It’s so beautiful with the kitchen opening out to the meadow and pool, and the water garden surrounding it,” says Copeland. “The existing rooms were all very small, so we also added a proper master bedroom above. It’s not a grand bedroom because it doesn’t fit with the spirit of the house, but it’s cohesive and functional.”
When it comes to determining the “spirit of a home,” Copeland says she often can’t find the words to articulate the emotions she wants a project to evoke. The key is to adapt it to the context and make it look more collectible than designing a mix of old and new. But everything started to fall into place when she kept finding great antiques that were made around the same time the original house was built.
“As I learned more about the history of the house and its previous owners, the design began to take shape in my mind. As I progressed through it, I wanted it to feel less cluttered and to give a sense of what each owner had left behind over the years,” she says. “In keeping with the age of the house, we focused on early 19th century antiques. For example, there’s nothing in the dining room that was made after 1890.”
But it was also important to Copeland to mix young antiques with new upholstery, as well as stock contemporary Holly Hunt pieces, to ensure the comfort of a young, modern family. The designer says she’s lucky to have great clients who are not only proactive and willing to try new things, but also have an impeccable sense of style. The Browns were also collectors, and after purchasing land in the Hudson Valley, they began collecting works from the historic Hudson River School of Art, which is no longer in operation. By the time the project was complete, the Browns had a great collection of local art that perfectly matched the aesthetic of their home, and a place to display almost every piece.
“What I’m most proud of is the spirit that everything in this house creates,” says Copeland. “It feels like it’s been there forever, while still having all the perks of modernity we need today. The house is definitely quirky, but we didn’t want to over-revise it, so it still feels quite old.”
The landscaping demonstrates the owner’s love of English gardens and pays homage to the previous owner’s care for the property.
When it came to landscaping, it became a passion project for the Browns, and they teamed up with Brown’s Judy Murphy. old farm nursery Create a lush layered garden. One of the original owners was a naturalist, the other a horticulturist and rosarian who worked at botanical gardens in New York and Brooklyn, and like the house itself, the owners breathed new life into the outdoor space, making it the most dreamlike space ever, with intentionality and integrity, complete with an original alley and chicken coop that are enchantingly valuable.
Openness and adaptability were the theme of the day for a project undertaken during a pandemic, and Copeland says this was actually a win-win for everyone. As work was forced to be phased out, more unique items were discovered. For example, the 150-year-old reclaimed mantel Elizabeth discovered was “so imperfect and perfect,” Copeland says, that it completely changed the design and feel of the living room. There was even more time to find the perfect antique and vintage items for young and old alike to illustrate the roots and character of the home. Copeland says her work technically took two years, but it’s a project nearly 200 years in the making, and that concept is reflected in every aspect of the house.
exterior
This expansive Hudson Valley mansion was first built in the Gothic Revival style by a sea captain in the 1830s.
kitchen
A bright and airy kitchen has been added to the home. Pendant lighting, Urban Electric Co. island table, Robuck Antiques.
breakfast corner
This cozy, well-stocked breakfast nook is the perfect place for your family to gather each morning. Kitchen cabinets, plain English.
study
A variety of antiques and plenty of natural light make this den the ultimate afternoon retreat. Lamps and Shades, Penny Morrison. The desk, desk chair, and flush mount are antique. ”
powder room
This charming powder bath is covered in wallpaper by Michael Smith for Jasper Fabrics. Faucet, water supply.
primary suite
Drenched in light and filled with antiques, this room was part of an addition to the house and is still in keeping with the spirit of the house. Bedside lamp, Holly Hunt.
The private bathroom is illuminated with a Rejuvenation pendant. Plumbing and waterworks studio.
boy’s room
This idyllic children’s room will always feel cozy and cozy thanks to Twigs wallpaper.
Guest bedroom + bathroom
Left: Sister Parish wallpaper fills this delightful guest bedroom with a soothing pop of color. Bed, Cornish Bed Company.
Right: Fireclay shower tile enlivens a chic guest bathroom with Hector Finch sconces and J. Tribble vanity.
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