You may not believe the home you’re about to tour is a renovated 100-year-old carriage house (but we saw the ‘before’ pictures that prove it). The Art of Building created this warm and minimal home with the intention of providing a private, comfortable, and unique dwelling. Learn about the pivotal choices they made to take this space from bygone to beautiful.

From the designer… Originally a Carriage House, the building is set just feet off the adjacent roadway. To create privacy and preserve the interesting second floor roofline the decision was made to build a “flipped plan” where the kitchen, living, and dining areas are on the second floor and the sleeping and bathing quarters occupy the first floor. This allowed the second floor to remain open floor-to-ceiling (except for the addition of a small powder room). On the lower level, the area immediately adjacent to the roadway was designated as a hallway and stair enabling the bedrooms and bathrooms to be kept to the rear of the home affording much more privacy.

Rounded edges, textured plaster finishes, and soft curves, including a custom site-built staircase, were designed with the objective of creating a soft and minimal feel. French oak floors and trim details paired with warm brown/grey washes on the cabinetry and window sashes add a level of warmth and some subtle contrast, especially as the daytime sun shines in.

Although the building had fared well in its prior 100 years of life, things like the lack of a footing and framing members set directly on the ground were starting to take a toll. Early on the decision to add a full basement under the structure which originally had a simple dirt floor, was made. To accomplish this, the building was supported and lifted off the ground high enough that machinery could drive in and out to excavate for footings and a full finished basement. Once the foundation walls were poured the building was set back down and rotted portions reframed. On the exterior original public-facing doors were recreated but made nonoperable in lieu of more human scale doors elsewhere on the building.

Like what you see? Take a peek at the talent behind the story… Designer & Contractor: The Art of Building · Photography: Catskill Image · Flooring: The Hudson Company · Cabinety: Cabinet Designers · Lighting & Furniture: Hundred Mile