Modern and Minimal in the Woods
A compact footprint, efficient layout, and custom built-ins keep this hillside home and studio feeling open, airy, and deeply connected to its wooded site.
Natural, wooded surroundings set the tone for this home and studio space’s efficient, modern design, and the scenery also acts as a muse of sorts for the artist who lives there. A pair of exterior decks—one 310 sq. ft. and the other 196 sq. ft.—add generous outdoor living space to the building’s 1800 sq. ft. of interior rooms on two levels.
The sloped site dictated the house’s spatial arrangement. The second-floor main living level is accessed directly from the driveway, and the entry leads to a de facto mudroom before opening up to the living, dining, and kitchen areas; the main bedroom is also on this level.
Accessed by an exterior stair, the art studio takes up most of the lower level, where there is also a flexible guest bedroom with a built-in desk and a bathroom. While all-important natural light streams into the studio through a glass garage door, wraparound glazing serves this purpose in the main bedroom and living room.
The home’s smaller footprint called for strategic built-ins like shelving, storage, and a window seat to keep the interiors uncluttered and in so doing uphold the home’s Nordic design based on simplicity and functionality. A neutral and natural palette of white walls and light wood further promote a minimalist but cozy aesthetic.
| Architect: Studio MM | Location: Kerhonkson, N.Y. ……………………………. |
| Builder: JHC Construction Services (project managed and supervised by Fora Construction) | Photos: Brad Feinknopf/OTTO ………………………………….. |
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