Barrett Oswald might’ve been asked to transform a New York City-based family’s lakeside retreat in Westchester County, but at the core of this relaxing respite is a careful balance between old and new. Since the residence is about 100 years old, it had to be grounded in history — but in the 21st century, modern comforts are non-negotiables.
To help bridge the generation gap, Oswald looked to the property’s foundation. “It already had a natural charm we wanted to preserve while weaving in more modern touches,” she describes. “The original wood floors and exposed beams became our starting points, helping shape the palette and material choices, while the lake and surrounding landscape influenced the tones and textures.”
While the home’s wooden accents might’ve informed its palette, the residence’s unique architectural details swayed the furnishings. “The vaulted ceiling really set the tone for the living space, so the furnishings needed to have grounding presence, generous scale and strong horizontality,” Oswald explains. “By introducing these concepts, we made sure the lower half of the room feels full and anchored, which lets the architecture above read as uplifting rather than overpowering.” In this multipurpose area, a low-slung sectional from RH, blue-patterned rug by Celerie Kemble for Chairish and a wooden coffee table sourced from 1stDibs gave the space floor-to-ceiling appeal.
Of course, not every part of the home was as easy to navigate as a vaulted ceiling. Oswald says one of the more demanding aspects of the project was the staircase’s narrow width. “Every piece destined for the second level had to be carefully considered to ensure it could make the journey upstairs unscathed,” she describes. Challenging? Sure, but Oswald notes it also provided a more thoughtful approach to sourcing the upper level’s furnishings. “Each item had to pass through several filters before earning its place,” she states.
Photography by Tim Lenz.
Like what you see? Get it first with a subscription to aspire design and home magazine.