A summer retreat for a New York couple, this home is more than a getaway. It’s an eclectic composition of music, memories, and meaning, designed for the art of living well.
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Meaningfully Designed
For a pair of New Yorkers who make their summer retreat in Jamestown, this home is more than a getaway. It’s a place to gather, to celebrate, and to live artfully. Known for their love of music, our clients escape the city each summer to attend the Newport Jazz Festival, inviting friends and family to join them in what has become an annual tradition. To support their love of entertaining, the homeowners needed a kitchen and dining space that was more functional and inviting. It should be designed for gathering, celebrating, and making the most of their time together in comfort and ease.
Challenges & Solutions
In the home’s original layout, a wall separated the dining room from the kitchen, making hosting larger parties challenging. The kitchen and existing scullery were dark and cramped, lacking sufficient storage and feeling disconnected from the rest of the home. The homeowners dreamed of an oversized island—a true centerpiece for entertaining—but space constraints made this a challenge.
Our solution was to thoughtfully reimagine the layout, removing the former dining room wall, and expanding the kitchen. Not only did this create a more open and welcoming flow, it meant the oversized island our clients had wished for was now possible. By extending the kitchen’s footprint, we also gained views stretching from the front of the house all the way through to the extensive gardens at the back, including a cairn sculpture and dahlia garden.
Dark cabinetry, painted in Farrow & Ball’s Railings, anchors the space, while quartzite countertops bring in a sleek yet organic feel. The homeowners’ curated collection of modern art finds its natural place here, seamlessly integrated into the design.
Solving the Scullery
One of the most transformative changes was in the scullery, a once-cramped space that has now become a favorite feature. By enlarging the opening and extending the space into the kitchen, we created a highly functional and flexible area. An unused doorway to the screened porch was replaced with a window, gaining valuable counter space while maintaining a visual connection to the porch’s activity. The sunporch, now directly connected to the kitchen, feels like an extension of the space—an open invitation to sit, sip, and stay awhile.
Designed to adapt over time, the scullery serves multiple functions. With the homeowners’ love of gardening, it now offers a dedicated spot for cutting fresh dahlias, as well as a well-appointed bar space for entertaining. This balance of practicality and elegance is what makes the space truly special; it evolves with their needs while enhancing their daily rituals.
Throughout the home, the unexpected details—the layering of sleek and cottage, the interplay of light and dark—create an eclectic rhythm, much like jazz itself. And just as a great piece of music tells a story, this home reflects the lives and values of its owners. Every collected piece has provenance, every space holds meaning. It’s a place where travel, family, and friends come together, year after year.
Currently, a second phase of the project is underway, set to transform the upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms, allowing the home to evolve, much like a well-composed jazz piece that builds in harmony over time.
Full Project Gallery
Photographer:
Nat Rea
