Set within 400 acres of indigenous flora and fauna, the home rests amid rolling skies and ancient forests. Soft pale heathers, infinite shades of celadon, and deep evergreens echo the changing light above, as the sky’s reflections quietly drift across the land—season by season, moment by moment.

Designing a modern home that evokes the experience of stepping into an earlier time required the careful introduction of a few essential architectural elements. We began by lining the floors with beautifully patinated, 100-year-old hemlock planks, their wear speaking softly of time passed.

Three original 1860 fireplace surrounds were sourced and imported from Philadelphia, anchoring the interiors with authentic historical presence. Period lamps and lighting fixtures were layered throughout, alongside curated pewter artifacts placed intentionally within each room.

Custom-designed pieces were thoughtfully interspersed among both high and low antiques, creating a lived-in balance rather than a staged tableau. Vintage bath fixtures—salvaged from the newly renovated Mohonk Mountain House and dating from circa 1869 to 1910—completed the narrative, collectively evoking the quiet grace and simplicity of another era.

In shaping our clients’ story, we imagined that upon coming from Europe to America they would have carried their most treasured artifacts with them. The living room sconces, for instance, began their lives on a Venetian gondola—poled hurricane lamps once used to shelter candle flames from wind and water. Perforated tin and turned wood speak to the vernacular of the period, grounding the space in its time.

Even the fireplace screen carries its own history, depicting the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María—rendering it, in spirit and origin, truly pre-American.

The secret to creating authentic environments lies in knowing when not to intervene—when to honour what has already been masterfully considered. Many of the lamps, sconces, and chandeliers were originally designed for gaslight, while the magnificent wrought-iron and cranberry-glass goblets were meant to glow only by candlelight.

Rather than alter their intention, we chose restraint. By simply adding water to each goblet, we allowed floating candles to cast their quiet, ruby glow—revealing a light that could only be achieved by letting the original design speak for itself.

All internal passages were washed in the softest custom-tinted lavender, allowing sunlight to drift and dance along the walls and tray ceilings throughout the day. European chandeliers, opalescent mercury & sandwich-glass drapery pulls, and early American and Amish hook rugs lend warmth and quiet intimacy to the family’s more private spaces.

Each room was shaped with its own gentle colour palette, quietly reflecting the child who slept there. Vintage rope beds, quilted story-time armchairs, and hand-selected sheers—chosen with care to mirror each little soul—helped create spaces meant for rest, comfort, and dreaming.