Germantown House
Located in Germantown, New York, this Craftsman-style house from 1918 sits at the highpoint of a finger lot on the margin between an urban street and the rolling pastures of upstate New York. The house was designed with a strong focus towards the street, with a welcoming porch and sloping roofline defining the dominant face of the building. At the rear of the house an exposed two story facade was elevated from the landscape and shied away from impressive views over a bucolic valley.
As part of a full renovation, additional living spaces were formed by extending the roofline at the rear of the building to mirror the street facade, in turn balancing the building profile and making all faces of the building equally important. A new entrance anteroom steps down to meet the ground and provides a connection between the basement and reconfigured kitchen. The enlarged living room features a full-height glazed corner, providing access and views to a new planted patio and landscape beyond.
At the second floor, a trio of skylights interact with the primary bedroom, central staircase, and bathroom in unique ways, stepping down the sloped roof to create individual interactions with each space.
Custom cabinetry throughout the house is designed to connect rooms to the building. Oak wall paneling in the new entry area extends into and forms the kitchen cabinetry. The staircase is reimagined as a sculptural object crafted from hand-painted planar wood panels, and a built-in platform bed is nestled into the roofline.
- SectorResidential - Single Family
- StatusCompleted 2024
- LocationGermantown, NY
- TeamInterior DecoratorJamie Perez HerreraLandscapeLiz Pulver DesignStructural EngineerIDEAGeneral ContractorCB Design BuildPhotographyGabriel Zimmer
“This house now takes full advantage of the incredible landscape and skies of upstate New York. Previously inward facing, new spaces and openings are designed to embrace the environment.”
— Simon Arnold
Conceived as an interior porch, the oak-lined entry room sits beneath the extended slope of the roof. A frameless glass opening provides expansive views of the surrounding landscape.
Custom oak paneling and kitchen cabinets extend from the entry room to the adjoining living spaces.
A trio of new frameless skylights bring natural light to the upper floor staircase, bedroom and bathroom.
