A 19th-Century Upstate New York Farmhouse Gets a Makeover—’90s Italian Villa Style

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For a coastal family, an 1870s farm in Germantown, New York, seemed like the best place to spend summers. The bucolic little town, with its artistic network and striking perspectives of the Hudson River, would offer a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. The only thing separating them from status and a satisfied July in the countryside is a complete renovation of the historic house.

The family turned to Tandem Design, the studio that had renovated their main apartment and two of their offices, to update the home’s classic interiors, but they gave no express instructions. “Our client said, ‘Surprise me,'” recalls founder Jessica Hansen, who assigned the task to her East Coast-based designer Shelley Young. “We built enough trust after working with them so much, so I let Shelley through. “

Shelley opted for the aesthetic of a ’90s Italian villa, while retaining as many original features as possible. She restored the nailed pine floors, the rustic wooden beams of the ceiling, and the ornate railing along the staircase. He also retained the old wood-burning stove, pedestal sinks, and clawfoot bathtub.

When it came to sourcing finishes and furniture, Shelley primarily purchased antique, local, Black-owned, custom-made products. “I try not to buy anything new or trendy unless it’s functionally necessary,” he says, bringing for example, the West Elm sofa bed into the TV room. “I tried to balance the comfort and luxury of a hotel with personal touches and wabi-sabi. When things turn out imperfect, that’s okay. Vintage lends itself to this: there are imperfections, but it provides warmth.

In the living room, Shelley juxtaposed an ivory-colored velvet Chesterfield sofa with postmodern jewelry like a Robert Sonneman Torchiere floor lamp, a glass-and-wood-look table, and a set of Zanotta lounge chairs with cushions that look like cookies. The Scottish lion had iron curtain rods and a coffee table dotted the hemp carpet with French wooden stools. “I didn’t need to invade the area with a huge room,” he explains. “They can be used to put cups, to sit, for children to color. There’s a lot of flexibility.

The adjacent kitchen is anchored through eye-catching and revolutionary quartzite countertops. Rust-toned graphic stone is paired with a natural zellige Clé tile backsplash and traditional maple cabinet fronts that Shelley adorned with mismatching antique steel handles and wood handles made from the original single beam. That had to be removed from construction.

Shelley selected an attractive dining room by hanging a ’70s Hustad-Leuchten pendant lamp above a traditional pine dining table in Brooklyn Zachary German. It is surrounded by six Kazuhide Takahama Tulu chairs from the 60s and two Baleri Italia chairs. “I love mixing and matching chairs, just to give it a little personality,” she says. “The ones at the ends of the table and at the headboards are different, but they’re all black leather and chrome, from the same era. “

Wood dominates the master bedroom, where antique root-wood bedside tables frame a traditional platform bed and a sculptural high-backed chair with handmade slats sits in front of a walnut-hued desk. A new wardrobe with an undulating red oak valance and dark-stained birch doors. Completes the earthy aspect. ” Birch is a fundamental wood, but I thought, ‘Well, we can respect birch. Let’s see if he’s well suited to the task. ” And it is,” he says.

The two kids’ rooms are youthful yet sophisticated. A vintage robot divider turned headboard, pyramid-shaped Yves Saint Laurent display shelves, and a 1970s Gijs Boelaars Lundi-Sit chair (that resembles a rocket ship) are the highlights of the primary-colored boy’s room. Meanwhile, vintage blue wicker beds, patchwork quilts, and a French armoire with a hand-painted bow make for a sweet girl’s room.

Both bathrooms evoke a Mediterranean spa, with brass accents and elaborate mosaics. Upstairs, giant terra-cotta tiles mingle with ’30s Herman Busquet sconces and a sumptuous shower made of arched windows and gritty bricks. At the bottom, matte and glossy zellige tiles are combined. to shape a fun checkerboard pattern. A traditional corrugated oak medicine cabinet adds to the fun.

Originally in Architectural Digest

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