Demolition at new residence
New Residence
Two Homes, Bridged by Family History
This is a saga about transitioning from a beloved family estate to an arresting, urban space - a seventeen-month odyssey that began in a lakeside country hamlet and concluded on a cobblestone city street next to a dramatic river gorge and its waterfall.
First, the story of the country residence, Second Empire in style and named “Liberty Hall” by its first patriarch, a place “Where,” he declared “you can do as you please.” Five generations enjoyed the home, first as summer residents, and then for several decades as a year-round family home. The three-story brick house, with its tall windows, high ceilings and massive chandeliers is situated on acres of formal gardens designed by landscape architect Fletcher Steele. From the time it was acquired, it was a home meant for entertaining – everything from outdoor symphony concerts or raucous barbecues in the summer, to treasured and grand family holiday celebrations. As time passed, infants were brought home to this house. Guests came for an afternoon, an evening, a weekend, and a few occupied the third-floor guest quarters for months at a time. And, the story of Liberty Hall is incomplete without mentioning its ghost, Stella and a marble muse, Antoinette both of whom looked down upon it all protectively and with tenderness.
The decision to sell the house was a momentous one, followed by months of sorting, packing, donating, selling and distributing to family members what many generations had collected and contributed to the singular beauty of the home. Massive furniture pieces were sent for reupholstery or restoration, and rugs collected for cleaning and repair. The chandeliers, originally from a landmark city office building, were dismantled - scores of crystals individually wrapped and coded, and the fragile glass core structures packed into custom crates so large they did not fit through the doors of the house. Antoinette was lifted from her arched alcove on the spiral staircase and lovingly packed for the move. And Stella – it was left up to her to decide whether she would remain in the house, or accompany the family to their new home.
One autumn day, the moving vans arrived. They departed to deliver boxes, furnishings, books and art into storage; and they returned the following day for an encore. As the family artifacts and treasures were removed from the house, its grandeur and tranquil dignity remained. The house became not so much empty as it was silent, its burnished presence intact. As the family departed at last, right along with them went their storied history with family and friends – the most vivid treasure of all, and one that remains very much alive and deep in their hearts.
Forty minutes away, a new chapter in the family’s history begins to take shape and it, too has familial ties. A three story, 19th century industrial building that the owners acquired fifteen years ago contains a pied-a-terre that was renovated six years ago, and two offices. It is about to be merged with the building behind it, which they have recently purchased. In the 1980’s the owners’ brother, an architect, bought this one-story brick factory that had been destroyed by fire. He transformed what was a charred and burned out shell into the offices for his firm. The building was eventually sold. When it became available again in 2017, the current owners purchased it and began making plans to occupy the merged buildings as their residence.
The building occupies a corner at the intersection of a cobblestone street and a quarter-mile long walking bridge over the river. An old mill race was revived that runs parallel to the street along its entire length. For three seasons of the year the race’s illuminated waters dance and then recede at intervals, giving a liveliness to the street at all times of the day.
Renovation of the building began with fundamentals – a complete demolition and a new floor plan; as well as taming moisture problems on the lower level, improving mechanicals and organizing storage space. During this phase other sections of the lower level were improved as a playroom, a craft room and a wardrobe room.
The main level took shape as a collaboration between the visionary and creative owners, the architect James Durfee, the interior designer Elizabeth Butler and contractor Sean Lewis. There is a sculptural quality to the interior with its multiple levels and walls in phantom-like, pale and gently metallic hues that quietly complement the brick exterior walls. The eye is rewarded with many textural and tactile points of interest in every detail. The owners commissioned a feature window by stained glass artist Nancy Gong. Zeller Woodworks fabricated the kitchen cabinetry. Lower cabinets of sapele with copper detail are paired with glass-faced upper cabinets in a powder-coated metal that was created for the project by Paley Studios. Countertops of many different materials, including glass, were considered – ultimately an uncommon granite was discovered and selected. The finish for the interior’s chosen color palette was developed by Rick Muto. The chandeliers brought from the country house are stunning focal points set in the center of ornate and oversized picture frames designed by the owner and the architect; and built by Gateway Picture Framing. Ten oversized, arched windows on the two exterior walls are fitted with custom-made shutters with a metallic finish developed for the project by Shutterworks.
In December 2018, the moving vans arrived. Much like a puzzle, the artifacts from the country house took up residence amidst the sophistication of the newly created city dwelling. Antoinette took her place in an arch on a new staircase. The tradition of entertaining that began in the country was revived. The grandeur of holiday family life began anew with the arrival of the home’s first Christmas tree. This is the story of transition at its very best, with magical charm from beginning to end. And Stella the ghost, if she is there among it all, seems quite content indeed.
Architect: James B. Durfee, JD Architect LLC
Interiors and Move Coordination: Elizabeth Butler
General Contractor: Sean Lewis