Carmel Lakeside Retreat

The Carmel Residence is a custom-designed, ground up modern family home located in Carmel, NY. Surrounded by trees on a 6.3 acre site, the property is bordered by protected watershed land and features direct access to Barrett Pond. Views of the pond and landscaped gardens were integral in determining the placement of windows and the orientation of the overall structures.

Studio Fōr worked closely with their clients through a series of meetings as well as observational visits to their main house in Riverdale, NY to glean insight into their family, how they currently live, and how they would like to live in the new property. This insight revealed that the couple, one of whom works in finance while the other has a career in the media industry, had differing aesthetics and desires. While one spouse wanted a modern take on a midcentury house, the other wanted a more rustic, Franco-style stone house. This resulted in two very different but complementary structures that seemingly intersect one another while sharing the same standing seam metal roof.

The site once featured a farmhouse dating back to 1923. While the original structure was demolished to make way for the new home, the foundation walls of the farmhouse were retained to create a protected garden and leftover materials salvaged from the tear down were upcycled and re-used to construct the foundation walls for the new house. The original stone from the farmhouse also served as inspiration for the single-story structure. Clad in stone with wood accents, this volume evokes a contemporary French country home aesthetic and houses public spaces including the kitchen and dining room. The more modern two-story structure of the house consists of wood siding with accents of bluestone panels and houses the private spaces. The area where the two structures intersect features a generous double height space anchored by a blue granite stone fireplace and chimney and a floating catwalk that spans the length of the volume.

To take advantage of views of the gardens and pond, the orientation of the house along with natural elements including wind and sunlight were deeply considered during the design process. Studio Fōr spent time observing and documenting the constant changes of these elements relating to the landscape to optimize views and placement of glazing. Oversized sliding glass doors open onto expansive decks off the living and dining rooms embedding the spaces within the terrain. Vertical windows at the floating catwalk and along the staircase frame additional views of lofty trees. Original bluestone pavers were reused in the new landscape design and a metal roof was installed to avoid heat gain in the home – two of many sustainable approaches incorporated into the overall design.

Additional spaces within the home include an upper level master suite featuring a wardrobe room, private home office, and walk out balcony, all connected to the rest of the spaces by the floating catwalk. On the lower level, two guest bedrooms, two bathrooms, a recreation room with an enclosed laundry room, and a walk-out library space complete the private spaces.

The residence is tucked away, surrounded by trees, low bushes, flowers, and plants. Stone walkways and gravel encircle the home, connecting the various outdoor and indoor spaces and invoking a serene environment by layering natural elements. The outdoor space has relaxing moments for private seating areas as well as space for entertaining family and friends.