Create an ideabook for your next remodeling project!
Browse more than 1,000,000 photos from top designers and save your favorites
Houzz Tour: Modern Farmhouse in the Hamptons
An architect's son brings a lifetime's worth of lessons into play in this sleek, spacious farmhouse-style home in New York
As his Houzz profile shows, Jeff Chmielewski is an architect's son. Growing tired of what he saw as lackluster design in the Bridgehampton community of Long Island, New York, Chmielewski designed and built the farmhouse he now shares with his family — all without formal design training. He attributes its success to his decades of exposure to all things architectural and, of course, a little bit of help from his father. "I spent months drawing and laying out the residence," he says, "faxing my sketches to my dad and getting CAD files back in return."
Chmielewski is proud of his home, a farmhouse perched at the top of a field near Bridgehampton's Main Street. Built with traditional bones and modern shapes, it's filled with items that reflect his discerning taste. "I wanted to be very conscious of the surrounding environment — the Bridgehampton Historical Society is located on the other side of the field that the house sits on. But at the same time, I love the light and openness of modern architecture and needed a compromise," says Chmielewski.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jeff and Angela Chmielewski and baby Chase
Location: Bridgehampton, New York
Size: 4,800 square feet
That's Interesting: Chmielewski is writing a book on home design and building called The 80/20 House.
Chmielewski is proud of his home, a farmhouse perched at the top of a field near Bridgehampton's Main Street. Built with traditional bones and modern shapes, it's filled with items that reflect his discerning taste. "I wanted to be very conscious of the surrounding environment — the Bridgehampton Historical Society is located on the other side of the field that the house sits on. But at the same time, I love the light and openness of modern architecture and needed a compromise," says Chmielewski.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jeff and Angela Chmielewski and baby Chase
Location: Bridgehampton, New York
Size: 4,800 square feet
That's Interesting: Chmielewski is writing a book on home design and building called The 80/20 House.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Chmielewski sited the windows of the main living spaces on the southern side of the house, allowing plenty of light to warm the space. The passive solar heat generated by the southern exposure helps keep the house warm in the cold winter months. In the summer, the house stays cool in the shade of trees surrounding the property. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
The house is clad in cedar shingles, divided-light windows and a metal barn roof in homage to Bridgehampton's potato farming and agrarian roots. Chmielewski chose cable railings for the balconies because they disappear into the shingles when seen from afar and don't obstruct the view.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| A single potted orchid provides the only flora inside the house, which is surrounded by vegetation. Chmielewski bought the vintage Scandinavian chair from a brocante store called Guéridon. "The chair is one of a pair; it doesn't have any labels or markings, but they are similar to the Falcon Chair by Sigurd Resell," he says. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Chmielewski retreats to this reading nook during his downtime. "It's a great place to read a book and enjoy the view," he says. Each window panel has two independent parts; the bottom sections open and allow the breeze to cool the space in the summer months. Windows: Lincoln Windows |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The kitchen's open floor plan, unadorned windows, and floating cabinets and shelves, plus the clean, simple lines of the décor, enlarge the space visually. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
"We have guests visit us almost every weekend," says Chmielewski. "Our kitchen is open and visible from the dining area, living room and screened porch, so no one ever feels left out. From May to November we buy all of our produce from the local farmers' stands." He and his wife have never had a get-together catered. "We do our own cooking and try to get everyone involved."
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| A reclaimed wood table with a modern glass top and antique chairs occupy the dining room. Chmielewski, a self-professed math geek, designed the wood-burning fireplace as an expression of the golden ratio, widely considered the most aesthetically pleasing proportion. Browse thousands of fireplace designs |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| "How the light hits the home throughout the day, how the floor plan flows from room to room, and how each room relates to one another — getting these elements right will make more of a difference than anything else when you design and build a home," says Chmielewski. Wife Angela (above) reclines and watches over their baby, Chase, as dusk approaches. Beanbag: Roche Bobois; pumpkin sofa and rug: Ligne Roset; mounted photograph: Jeff Chmielewski; stools: Eames Walnut Stools |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| When asked about the stark and clean interior spaces of his home (bathroom and bedroom images above), Chmielewski waxes philosophical. "It's important to leave unadorned spaces in any new home. We have our whole lives to gather beautiful things, and you need to leave some places to add the things you find along the way." More Houzz Tours: Modern Beach House in the Hamptons When an Architect Designs for Himself Bright, Polished Vermont Cabin |
Ideabook published on March 27, 2012.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
basements · bedrooms · dining rooms · entries · family rooms · garage and sheds · halls · home offices · landscapes · laundry rooms · powder rooms · wine cellars and more.
Thank you for sharing :)
~koolbeanzzzz
Jeff, our copyeditor was saying yesterday that your white Ligne Roset rug is just asking for spit-up stains from Chase... ha!
My wife and I purchased the French Industrial 'bar' from a store in town called Schorr and Dobinsky. (http://www.schorranddobinsky.com) In a past life, it was a locker in a French train station. Someone actually offered to buy it from me when I was picking it up from the store, and almost every one who comes to our house asks about it. She does get them in from time to time, so it might be worth giving her a call. She had one last in the window last week.
Can you tell me where to find the counter stools in the kitchen?
Oh, and I love the long bubbly sofa, too. Very cool :-) Beautiful home!