In the fall of 2006 a meeting took place on a 5 acre site in Millneck, NY. Standing in front of the 1970 built white stucco contemporary residence, were our clients (husband and wife in their late 40s, who had 3 teenage daughters), a real estate agent, and our clients construction manager. Much to the real-estate agent’s surprise the discussions taking place were how we can renovate and add to the home to accommodate the family needs. The agent truly believed that considering the poor condition of the home, its very abstract minimal modern style, and the spectacular water views, we were here to discuss the demolition of the home to construct a more traditionally influenced mansion the agency was very aware our clients were seeking to sell their current home a 1920s country cottage.
By winter of 2007 construction began on the additions and renovations now approved by the local building jurisdiction. The difficulties to overcome were the fact that the original home was designed for an art collector and though almost 5000 sq ft only contained a master bedroom and a house keepers/guest suite. The kitchen was small and isolated, and the garage (completely on the opposite end form the kitchen area) was reached by going down a 3’ wide spiral stair, and then down a long cavernous concrete vault. This same stair accessed a small study lot above the master suite and if one continued spiraling upwards you arrived at a widow’s perch extending out of a 35 high cylinder that enclosed the stair. And though there was plenty of wall space for art, there was a great shortage of storage for a family of 5 with a live in housekeeper.
Other elements that needed to be addressed was a poorly constructed early 80s addition to the master closet/bath area, that added a postmodern roof line and eyelid window.
One of the most attractive elements of the original configuration was how the house wrapped around a court yard on 2 sides and a privacy wall enclosing such and separating it from the parking court. It was our desire to not lonely to maintain the court yard but also not compromise the beautifully cherry and magnolia trees it encompassed.
The key element to adopt our clients family needs to this unique home was to make the difficult decision to remove the cylindrical tower (we also removed the cylinder from the freestanding guest house which is maintained behind the main structure) incorporates an atrium space with a “modern” inspired stair that would be the pivoting point to attach a new main floor mudroom/maid’s room/garage addition; a 2nd floor 3 bedroom suite wing for their daughters, the original study loft, and access to the original garage area converted to a recreation/ media area (this room as it turned out has some of the most dramatic water front views).
The new garage and bedroom wing replaced one of the courtyards enclosing walls without any compromise to the trees. The remaining stucco facades were repaired and all the new construction is sheathed in stucco to match. Attachments points of the additions were critically studied so as not to compromise the more significant (and to remain) glazing areas and details. Other refinements made are the incorporation of roof terraces off all the bedrooms and a modified roof line to create more emphasis to the understated front entry.

The interior of the home maintains the basic white paint palette, but to soften the impact new storage areas and millwork are fabricated out medium toned mahogany. Other than the living rooms wood floor that was refinished the balance of the homes public space floors were covered in a terracotta title, the original manufacture of this tile was found; this allowed us to seamlessly integrate the new floor areas into the original.