The Clean-Lined Farmhouse: In Dutchess County, NY, an American Classic Gets a Modern Makeover

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Remember old-fashioned networking? It was through their kids’ NYC elementary school that Jill Porter met Alexandra and Brian Tart. The couple—she’s a social worker, he’s a publishing executive—mentioned that they have a farmhouse in Dutchess County, New York, and on learning that Porter runs her own architecture firm, filled her in on their longstanding hopes and dreams for their place. That’s how Porter ended up with a commission to usher the family’s beloved 200-year-old retreat into the 21st century—and how the Tarts ended up with the ultimate headquarters for riding out the pandemic.

“Although stately and proud,” Porter tells us, “the existing house showed its age: walls sagged, floors sloped, and an ill-conceived addition felt like a disjointed accessory. Perhaps most notably, the structure lacked any relationship to the beautiful property: it cocooned occupants in intimate, dark interiors that were charming on snowy days, but less so on glorious summer evenings.” Porter’s response was three-fold: she designed a new, two-story addition with a wrap-around porch; oriented all of the living spaces outward to the open fields; and fortified the existing structure “to not only stitch it to the addition but give it the structural prowess to last another 200 years.”

Photography by Amanda Kirkpatrick, courtesy of Jill Porter Architect.

the back porch, both screened and open air, serves as the family&#8\2\17;s 17 — Above: The back porch, both screened and open-air, serves as the family’s outdoor living quarters during the warm months. The parents’ new bedroom and bath is in the second-story addition. (Scroll to the end for a glimpse of the existing exterior and the house’s Before and After floor plans.)

porter gave the addition &#8\2\20;a modern hue&#8\2\2\1; by using black 18 — Above: Porter gave the addition “a modern hue” by using black-framed windows that came pre-finished from Marvin. In place of the old asphalt roof, she introduced matte-black standing seam metal, the architects’ favorite: see Hardscaping 101.

The newly fixed up tool shed is one of several out buildings on the almost four-acre property.

two ivy covered trellises lead to the family&#8\2\17;s vegetable garden. 19 — Above: Two ivy-covered trellises lead to the family’s vegetable garden.

porter injected the house with a clean lined, black and white refresh that, as 20 — Above: Porter injected the house with a clean-lined, black-and-white refresh that, as she puts it, “reflects a modern way of living while remaining deferential to the age and grace and layout of the existing home.”

The exterior is painted in White Dove, the doors are Hale Navy, and the trim Black Panther, all from Benjamin Moore. The porch is Douglas fir finished in Arborcoat Natural. The Windsor bench was passed down from Alex Tart’s mother and spray painted matte black.

the mudroom has purpose built storage for every member of the family: the tarts 21 — Above: The mudroom has purpose-built storage for every member of the family: the Tarts have twin boys who just finished their junior year of high school from the house. “The closed storage conceals the chaos often found in entries,” says Porter.

The runner is from Homegoods and the basket from H&M Home

porter describes the rooms as &#8\2\20;crisply detailed and furnished with 22 — Above: Porter describes the rooms as “crisply detailed and furnished with a light touch to create modern, airy spaces.” The living area has one of two wood-burning Stûv fireplaces that provide enough heat to keep the first floor warm in the winter.

the new setup is designed for open space living—the interior addition is 23 — Above: The new setup is designed for open-space living—the interior addition is 1,200 square feet, and the house is 3,200 square feet in total, not including the porch.

The pendants over the table and island are from Restoration Hardware. The interior walls are all painted Benjamin Moore Super White.

porter set off the kitchen with subway tiled walls and a carrara marble topped 24 — Above: Porter set off the kitchen with subway-tiled walls and a Carrara marble-topped breakfast counter. In lieu of upper cabinets, five windows frame views of an old maple tree.

The hood and range are by Viking. The black sconces are from Schoolhouse Electric.

the kitchen cabinets are from plain & fancy custom cabinetry in their flush 25 — Above: The kitchen cabinets are from Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry in their flush-inset Shaker style. The bridge faucet is by Waterworks.

Note the wide pine floorboards and the sloped paneled ceiling. “In both height and width, the addition never outcompetes the existing structure, and the materials selected compliment the feel of the existing home without relying on nostalgia,” says Porter.

the house retains its original stair (with a new railing in place of a sheetroc 26 — Above: The house retains its original stair (with a new railing in place of a Sheetrock wall) and extra-wide floorboards.

“There was a stair to the third floor above, so the renovation really opened this space,” says Porter, adding “As we started to peel away walls, siding, and floorboards, problems with the old structure revealed themselves. Our contractor had to reinforce floor joists, install tie rods to support to the roof, and repair the building envelope.” For more, see 7 Things Nobody Tells You About Renovating an Old Farmhouse.