Gilded Age

Distinguished by four weighty columns and classic architectural detailing, the home’s reimagined interior now lives up to its grand facade.

Warm Venetian plaster walls by Artgroove, custom moldings and an intricate hand-stenciled pattern on the hardwood flooring elevates the quintessential foyer in this Federal-style Tuxedo Park manse.

An antique Oushak rug inspired the palette for the formal living room, where the owner’s contemporary art collection lives peacefully alongside a mix of antiques and custom upholstered pieces.

A gold patterned wallcovering by Twigs Fabrics and Wallpaper plays off the gold leaf groin vaulted ceiling in an intimate bar area that doubles as a corridor.

A hand-knotted area rug with soft blue notes by Warp & Weft and an intriguing array of patterned fabrics soften the library’s wood paneling.

An etched metal pendant from Visual Comfort adds a touch of modernity to the kitchen, which is outfitted with pale gray striated cabinets, organic marble countertops and top-of-the-line appliances.

A modern Oushak rug from Galerie Shabab complements the apple green Venetian plaster walls in the formal dining room, where an antique crystal chandelier illuminates the homeowner’s existing mahogany dining room furniture.

A gold-patterned wallcovering from Twigs Fabrics and Wallpaper complements the Italian onyx floor in the spa-like primary bath. The custom vanity chair is by Schneller.

Adorned with a custom embroidered headboard by Penn & Fletcher and bedding from Casa Del Bianco, the hand-carved bed makes a big statement in the primary bedroom.

Resembling dragged plaster, a textural wallcovering from Schumacher fosters a cozy milieu in a second-floor family room furnished with a plush tufted sectional sofa and accent tables from Bunny Williams Home.

Multiple patterns contribute to the layered aesthetic in a comfortable guest bedroom furnished with an upholstered bed by Charles H. Beckley, Inc. covered in fabric from Cowtan & Tout.

A colorful Claremont fabric wallcovering and matching draperies add visual interest to the guest bedroom. The four-poster bed is from Mrs. Howard Atlanta. 

Boxwoods and other evergreen shrubs complement the Federal-style home’s symmetrical architecture and simple black and white color palette.

Mirrored by a pool house on the other side of the water, a cabana designed to complement the main house creates a pleasant, shaded area for poolside hangouts.

A custom screen by John Rosselli & Associates enlivens the corridor leading to the swimming pool. The ceiling lanterns are from Charles Edwards.

“It was time to give her dream house a new lease on life with a higher level of finish and customization.” —Elizabeth Lawrence 

Sitting opposite the cabana, a pool house surrounded by outdoor tables and chairs beckons for casual, al fresco-style meals. 

DESPITE ITS LACKLUSTER interior finishes, a stately Federal-style manse in Tuxedo Park captured the heart of a young mother known for her fabulous soirees. Years later, after her children had their own families, she commissioned architect Charles Heydt of Pak Heydt & Associates and interior designer Elizabeth Lawrence, partner at Bunny Williams Interior Design, to reimagine it for a new era. “It was time to give her dream house a new lease on life with a higher level of finish and customization,” says Lawrence.

To better showcase the hilltop home, landscape architect Richard Anderson eliminated a prominent mound that obscured the front porch when viewed from the street. Boxwoods and other simple plantings add color and soften
the front facade. “The goal was for this house to look like it’s been here forever,” he explains.

Flanking the swimming pool, a newly created pool house and complementary cabana in the home’s original style enhances the effect. “They balance the overall facade,” says Heydt. 

The interior transformation is equally well-considered. For example, the walls are covered in shimmery Venetian plaster applied by skilled artisans in a weeks-long process. The same care went into the hand-stenciled patterns on the hardwood flooring in the grand foyer. Clad in reflective gold leaf, a groin vault ceiling likewise elevates a passageway that also serves as a luxe bar. “In many respects it’s a new house within the envelope of an old home,” says Heydt. “This kind of project requires a special client who is passionate about the details.”

The project’s extended timeline also gave Lawrence time to hunt for the sort of rarified objects a house of this caliber merited, combing through antiques shops and European flea markets. Displayed atop identical marble columns, a pair of white and blue terracotta vases acquired on one such excursion perfectly accents the dining room’s apple green walls. “We don’t find things like that often and I knew they had to have an important place,” explains Lawrence.

The designer also commissioned key pieces such as the handmade metal chandelier with a leafy motif in the breakfast area—a fitting companion to a Gracie wallcovering with hand-painted branches. And a team of craftsmen contributed to the intricate hand-carved four-poster bed in the primary bedroom. “She wanted a very feminine space, and it’s kind of a princess bed,” says Lawrence, pointing to the embroidered headboard and tasseled valance.

According to Lawrence, the result is a dream come true for the owner, who enjoys hosting both formal dinner parties and low-key visits with her grandchildren in a gracious and interesting home that’s finally perfect for both. “This house is formal but comfortable; grand but not overwhelming,” says Lawrence. “Exactly what she wanted.”

INTERIOR DESIGN Elizabeth Lawrence, Bunny Williams Interior Design, (212) 207-4040; bunnywilliams.com ARCHITECT Charles Heydt, Pak Heydt & Associates, LLC, (404) 231-3195; pakheydt.com Landscape design Richard Anderson, Richard Anderson Landscape Architect, (404) 791-9100; richardandersonla.com