For years, retired attorney Dale Schreiber and his wife, Lois, planned to transition from New York City to the suburbs of South Orange, New Jersey, to be closer to some of their children and grandchildren. The couple are avid collectors of art and midcentury furniture, and when they came across a 1969 home designed by Herbert Beckhard, a business partner of Marcel Breuer, within walking distance of two of their four children, they leaped.

The Schreibers tapped local architect Cristina Ioana Graff of Graff Guild to transform the home into a modern family hub that would honor the structure’s history. Built on uneven terrain, the house is tucked away from the nearest main road and features a “binuclear” design composed of two wings connected by an entrance hallway. Working with Graff and their son-in-law Felix Aarts, a painter and set designer, the couple reconfigured the home’s compartmentalized layout to create flowing communal spaces while preserving privacy in the bedrooms.

To the right of the entry are the dining room and kitchen, the latter revamped in a U-shaped layout with new millwork, Corian countertops, integrated appliances, and a wood-clad skylight. Beyond the kitchen is an entertainment room, where the Schreibers enjoy spending time with their grandchildren.

The primary suite and the main living room, which houses much of the couple’s art and furniture collection, are on the opposite side of the house. Throughout, the team kept the cedar planking and feathered in new walls and floor panels that matched the home’s original elements.

The biggest intervention took place in the primary suite, which was enlarged to accommodate a gym and provide access to the outdoor terrace. “I just knew that if the workout station was in the basement, I would never go,” Lois says.

The exterior received a modest refresh that included the restoration of the front door’s iconic hue. “We kept trying to match the Breuer blue, and we got as close as we could with what’s available on the market,” Graff says.

“There was an art to the renovation. We wanted to bring the house into the 21st century while also paying homage to its history.”
—Cristina Graff, architect

With plenty of space for their grand-children to play, a backdrop for their art collection, and the ideal setting for their treasured furnishings, the Schreibers consider themselves incredibly lucky to call this historic place home.

“The house is like a gallery and an heirloom that brings the family together,” says Graff. “They appreciate it so much, and that makes it more special.”

Project Credits:

Architecture: Graff Guild & Cristina Graff

Builder & General Contracting: The Zorel Group Construction

Structural Engineering: KSI Professional Engineers

Landscape Design: The Slevin Group

Sound Engineering: ynVISION

Cabinetry: Millwork & More

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