ceiling

PH SUPERÍ

PH SUPERÍ

Stairway

Oak Woodland

Oak Woodland

The kitchen countertops and backsplash are Carrara marble slabs, while the cabinetry is crafted from vertical-grain white oak, which adds warmth while contributing to the brightness of the interior palette.

Although the original layout largely made sense, the low ceilings and choppy spatial divisions inhibited cohesion and flow, according to homeowner Tamara Murray. “The biggest areas of the home that were not working were the segmented family, kitchen, and dining rooms,” she says. “We really wanted to be able to move seamlessly between the rooms.”

The view back into the kitchen frames the inset wood shelves, and allows one component of the work triangle, the stove, to stay tucked out of sight.

A marble-clad, central fireplace divides the living room from a formal dining area, while stone tiles line a wall near the main entrance.

The kitchen now opens out to a courtyard and outdoor dining area thanks to large glass doors.

Living Room

The wooden ceiling above the dining nook is one of the few remaining features from the home's midcentury past.

To accommodate a young family leaving New York City, design firm Stewart-Schafer revamped the kitchen and living areas of an outdated upstate home in just three months.

The main living spaces open directly onto a grand exterior patio shaded by wooden screens.

“Dan and SAW came up with a brilliant way of opening up the kitchen, family, and dining rooms by creating a diagonal kitchen and island,” shares Tamara. “It took me several looks at the design to be convinced of going with something that seemed so unconventional, but I’m thrilled,” she says of the unorthodox design solution.