A Perfect Harmony

Gracefully transitioning design from interior to exterior and then again across all the various outdoor spaces, this masterpiece is nothing short of function, balance, and style.

Words by Kimberly Hoover + Darron Andress    Photography by Philip Jensen-Carter

Twenty years after building their home along the scenic east bank of the Hudson River in New Hamburg, NY, these Dutchess County residents agreed that they’d like to take more advantage of the beautiful views their land offered. In particular, the family felt limited in the use of their patio during the summer months from the scorching afternoon sun.

Kim Hoover, Principal of Hoover Architecture located in New Paltz, NY, approached this undertaking with her value in understanding the function first. The homeowners’ primary goal was to have an attached covered pavilion that would accommodate their existing large scaled granite and iron dining table for entertaining alfresco, as well as maintaining their ample circulation space for family and friends to mingle. 

The proposed pavilion area would sit below their master suite, affording the opportunity for a large roof terrace; offering amazing—and intimate—views of the sunset over the Hudson Highlands. 

To allow a seamless “indoor meets outdoor,” design, the homeowners’ interior designer, FW Interiors located nearby in Wappingers Falls, NY, worked together with Hoover Architecture. The cohesive design approach started with the covered dining pavilion, which would serve as an extension of the homeowners’ kitchen. The design team of FW Interiors had previously designed a stately coffered ceiling constructed from walnut with copper tile inlay over the homeowners’ large scaled kitchen island. Carrying a similar detail outdoors created a connection of the interior to the proposed exterior space. The new-

coffered ceiling, along with a custom designed eight-arm iron chandelier from FW Interiors, gave the pavilion a subtle formality of luxury and warmth. In addition, brick piers added the proper structural and aesthetic scale to the home.

The master suite roof deck posed a challenge, as it needed to sit just under the second story floor level but not as to disrupt the view from inside of the kitchen below. To solve, Hoover incorporated steel structural framing that allowed for a thinner floor as well as the strength required for holding up the bluestone flooring of the balcony. To make the transition of the balcony to the master bedroom ascetically unique, FW Interiors proposed copper panels to finish the exterior along with a custom copper clad and mahogany patio door. These copper design elements were also included in the manors turret and on the octagonal roofline above the home office. New copper gutters were added, trimming the outline of the home and thus linking all the homes copper elements together. 

To complete the elegant look of the master suite deck, custom railings and finials were included from a local wrought iron worker. FW Interiors selection of lighting and neutral patio furnishings helped to complete this deck where now the homeowners could draw their gaze toward the stars in the evening or enjoy a warm cup of tea while soaking in the tranquil vista of the Hudson River. To ensure the pavilion’s dining addition was proportionate to the rear of the home, Hoover included a second smaller pavilion for a seating vignette. This outdoor area effortlessly links to th homeowners’ family room, affording the opportunity to create an additional extension of their interior to their exterior. FW decided to incorporate a smaller scaled replica of the custom chandelier used under the dining pavilion along with newly upholstered cushions for the homeowners’ existing outdoor furnishings. The addition of metal Asian frog tables along with the lighting and furnishings created an additional protected comfortable area for the family and guests to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the real show stopper: the Hudson River views. 

While this series of connected outdoor living spaces were under construction, the homeowners became inspired for an updated pool house. The original one had been built downslope towards the river and connected to the main home via a graduating stone stairway. This path allowed magnificent views of the river however it no longer matched the style of the newly renovated manor home. Over time, the pool house had become a rarely used structure even though some of the most stunning views come from its location. 

The first objective was to transform the pool house into an undeniably an indoor-outdoor room. Hoover designed two walls of the pool house to entirely open up. One wall for a full-height and full-length folding patio doors to face the pool and a second wall include folding patio windows to face the river views. To ensure design alignment with the rest of the property, brick piers and columns were added and the roof was replaced to match the newly installed DaVinci slate roof of the main home. Darkly stained tongue and groove mahogany was installed at the ceiling of both the covered porch and the interior space, uniting them.

Within the covered porch area of the pool house, FW Interiors positioned a cluster of teak lounging chairs, cushioned in oyster-colored, all-weather fabric, accented with provincial yellow rolled lumbar pillows; creating a central conversational grouping. For the interior of the pool house it was important to have a multifunctional yet informal atmosphere. It needed to be an inviting and comfortable interior whether coming out from the pool or simply relaxing and engaging socially with family and friends. 

For the interior walls, FW kept it understated using a board-n-batten application in an off-white color. The designers continued their neutral color palate with accents of provincial yellow throughout the interior. The designers created a custom multipurpose storage console, used for additional storage and finished it with a distressed antique yellow painted application. The designers use of mix and match furnishings, lighting, and accessories, created the appearance that furnishings where acquired over time, giving it a “lived in” warmth.

The most beautiful outdoor spaces and additions look as if they were always part of the original home. Hoover Architecture executed according to this principle. And in tandem with FW Interiors’ design philosophy of honoring the architecture of a home while facilitating homeowners’ needs, these two Hudson Valley design firms made it possible for the series of outdoor spaces at this English Manor to connect and serve multiple purposes. All this, while successfully creating the visual aesthetic that everything was built at once.

RESOURCES

Hoover Architecture, PLLC   845.598.4762   www.HooverArchitecture.com

FW Interiors   845.632.3735   FWInteriorsDesign.com

Philip Jensen-Carter   914-815-8239   www.JensenCarter.com

M.A. Day Engineering  845.223.3202