Georgian Residence on the North Fork
Set on two acres of lush meadows surrounded by woods, this new house and barn are situated near a bucolic inlet that leads out to Shelter Island Sound, giving it the sense that it’s miles from anything else. The homeowners, a couple with grown children that visit often, wanted a country house that appeared as if it had been on the North Fork for generations. A white-washed finish was given to the tailored brick cladding to mimic the effect of a century’s worth of weather, thus the house appears to be much older than an edifice of its actual age.
Rather than build an unnecessarily large residence that might overwhelm the natural landscape, the house is designed to be relatively compact. It feels expansive because of its organized layout and ample windows and doors which flood the interior with natural light. The interior is enriched simply with wide-plank oak flooring and antique mantelpieces in lieu of the expected cornices and liberal built-in cabinetry typical of houses of this caliber. The house strikes a balance between austere and luxurious, a balance that feels right for a year-round house in a rural setting.
