Modern Architect-Owned House

About the Space

Welcome to one of those rare finds — a home that genuinely feels like you belong - no pretenses. Set on a wooded 2 acre property next to a bird sanctuary, this architect-owned residence is a striking blend of mid-century bones and modern design interventions, all wrapped in nature. It's 35 miles from Manhattan, easy to get to, and completely transporting once you arrive. The open plan house reads as open, airy, and sculptural. The main living area features soaring vaulted ceilings with exposed white-painted tongue-and-groove planking and dark steel structural beams that give the space its architectural edge. Warm oak hardwood floors run throughout. The centerpiece is a dramatic concrete fireplace surround — raw, textured cement rising to full height. The furnishings mix eras effortlessly: an Eames lounge chair and ottoman, a cane-back rocker, chrome-and-white leather dining chairs around a glass table, rich cognac leather club chairs in a sun-filled sitting room. Coffee tables are stacked with art books. Hats line a beam ledge. A telescope sits by the window. It all feels collected, lived-in, and cool without trying. One of the home's most cinematic features is the open staircase — dark-stained wood treads on a steel mono-stringer with frameless glass railings. It connects the main level to an upper loft and a lower level, and you can see straight through it. That transparency is a recurring theme: walls of windows frame the woods in nearly every direction, and the glass railings on the mezzanine level make the interior feel continuous, almost loft-like, even across multiple floors. The art collection is notable. Modern and 1500 etchings live side by side. A gallery wall of framed prints and drawings fills the study area. The whole place has a European or Latin American artistic sensibility running through it — warm, layered, and full of story. Outside, the property opens up beautifully. A large wraparound deck with two distinct zones — one with a dining table and benches overlooking a long lawn, another with deep-cushioned lounge seating, lanterns, and a Weber grill — looks out over a rolling lawn and dense deciduous woods. The pool area sits on a stone patio below, framed by a gorgeous flowering cherry tree in spring and surrounded by iron fencing with the bird sanctuary forest as a backdrop. Forsythia, tulips, iris, and azaleas bring seasonal color everywhere you look. The gravel driveway and flagstone walkways add texture. The vibe is accessibly sophisticated but not precious. Think: a creative couple's retreat where art, nature, and design coexist without pretense. Key specs: Pool, large deck, wooded lot, bird sanctuary adjacent, vaulted ceilings, open plan, art-filled interiors, strong natural light, ample parking on gravel drive