Home tour | A restored century-old house in Westchester County, New York
I often talk about homes with a sense of place – homes that are firmly rooted in the surrounding landscape and the local architectural tradition, while also reflecting the tastes and lifestyle of their occupants. And the house I’m showing you today is a perfect example. Located in an early 20th-century neighbourhood of Croton-on-Hudson in Westchester County, New York, it’s been renovated and extended by architect Ravi Raj, whose approach was grounded in respect for its setting and the area’s vernacular.
The original structure, built from local stone, has been expanded using matching flagstone sourced nearby, preserving the historic character of the house. This is offset by white lap cladding on the upper levels, adding a lighter, crisper expression while maintaining harmony between the newer and older sections of the building. An existing 1980s extension has also been reimagined with a further storey, its steeply pitched roof and dormer windows giving a nod to traditional residential forms and visually integrating it into the house as a whole.
Inside, the mood is calm, refined and timeless. A restrained palette of natural materials – lacquered wood, honed marble, soft textiles – runs across the various rooms, creating a cohesive thread that connects the interior to the landscape outside. Gentle curves form another note of continuity, appearing in arches, smaller details and even the sweeping, sculptural staircase – Ravi’s reinterpretation of the house’s former spiral stair.
To one side of this staircase is the kitchen – an elegant galley space that incorporates subtle plays on contrast. Here, classic off-white Shaker units are paired with striking dark-veined marble worktops, the clean lines of the cabinet doors balanced out by curved upstands and wall lamps with swooshing stems. There’s also an inviting breakfast nook with built-in banquette seating, a circular table and a glazed door looking out over the garden.
Curved motifs appear again in the main living room, which encompasses a dining area at one end and a lounge space at the other. Boxy, low-slung canvas easy chairs and built-in shelving sit alongside a chimney breast and sofa that both feature gentle curves. Running along the entire length of the room is a cushioned window bench framed by an arched portal, with views over the garden and pond to woodland beyond. Two sets of black-painted double doors and black accents in the accessories, artwork and lighting add depth and structure to the serene neutral scheme.
Located in the oldest part of the house is the principal bedroom, whose rafters have been exposed and painted deep green. Beneath them sit antique wooden furniture, a restored fireplace clad in dark soapstone, and quietly luxurious textiles such as thick linen curtains and a snuggly upholstered chair. It all makes for a restful cocoon with layers of texture and patina.
The bedroom stands in deliberate contrast with the adjoining ensuite bathroom, where white-painted wainscotting and hexagonal mosaic tiles create a bright, airy atmosphere. A freestanding white-enamelled tub, dual-aspect windows and a walk-in shower with a frameless glass screen enhance the sense of light and space.
The lower ground floor serves as the main entryway to the house. It encompasses a foyer and a mudroom, both with limestone flooring, board-and-batten panelling and subtle earthy hues that echo the natural surroundings. The mudroom also features a custom-made farmhouse sink in the same dark soapstone as the bedroom fireplace.
An elevated deck and a stone-flagged patio extend the living spaces outside, with a built-in BBQ and a burnished metal firepit encouraging year-round use.
This is a home that bridges inside and out, past and present. There’s a continuous dialogue with the landscape and a beautiful blend of old and new, the more contemporary finishes mingling seamlessly with historic details. It’s great to see a period property being transformed into a sophisticated and enduring home with such sensitivity.
Photography by Sarah Elliott, courtesy of Ravi Raj
