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New English: A Falling-Down 1850s Farmhouse in Westchester, Transformed by a Pair of Designers

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New English: A Falling-Down 1850s Farmhouse in Westchester, Transformed by a Pair of Designers

March 11, 2022

We first came upon the work of New York-based design studio White Arrow when we profiled the row house they renovated for Buzzfeed’s very first employee, Peggy Wang. At the time, Wang was decamping to Queens in search of more space; several years later, it’s much the same reason that led the husband and wife team behind White Arrow, Keren and Thomas Richter, to embark on a renovation for their own young family: an 1850s farmhouse in Pound Ridge, Westchester County.

At first the farmhouse was only meant to be a second home, a place to escape from Brooklyn when the Richters needed a break from the city. Then the pandemic struck, and, like so many, the family found themselves leaving the city for full-time country life.

Fortunately, Thomas and Keren had rehabbed the place just in time, transforming it from falling-down “estate condition” (with all the linoleum tiles and badly outdated cloth wiring that implies) to character-filled and preserved, with much-needed modern updates and nods to English country houses.

Let’s take a tour:

Photography by Thomas Richter, courtesy of White Arrow.

the farmhouse, redone. the couple wanted to act as &#8\2\20;stewards&#8 17
Above: The farmhouse, redone. The couple wanted to act as “stewards” of the house and return it to its original character. Throughout the gut renovation, they excised modern additions, altered room proportions and returned the farmhouse to its original layout, shifted walls and windows to create symmetry, and introduced reclaimed wavy-glass windows. The generous wrap-around porch is another element that the duo reinstated.
in the kitchen, the couple designed the shaker cabinetry themselves and trimmed 18
Above: In the kitchen, the couple designed the Shaker cabinetry themselves and trimmed the walls in beadboard. The millwork is painted in a deep blue by Fine Paints of Europe, and the counters are Arabescato marble.
the couple sourced a secondhand white aga as the centerpiece of the cookspace. 19
Above: The couple sourced a secondhand white Aga as the centerpiece of the cookspace.
the dark and moody dining room, with a \19th century shaker cupboard and black  20
Above: The dark and moody dining room, with a 19th-century Shaker cupboard and black-painted dining chairs from the 1900s.
the family&#8\2\17;s snug living area features a sofa (a custom white arrow 21
Above: The family’s snug living area features a sofa (a custom White Arrow design) in blue linen from Élitis and a hallmark of the house: a whimsically patterned lampshade. (This one is done in a vintage French-printed cotton toile.)
the mudroom has doses of dove grey, with a painted shaker peg rail and an antiq 22
Above: The mudroom has doses of dove grey, with a painted Shaker peg rail and an antique shoe bench fitted with a custom linen mattress. The couple repurposed the house’s original flooring wherever possible when rearranging rooms and sourced reclaimed boards for the rest.
the efficient laundry room features a hanging sheila maid. (read more about the 23
Above: The efficient laundry room features a hanging Sheila Maid. (Read more about the history of this English workhorse in Object Lessons: The Sheila Maid Clothes Airer.)
in the main bedroom, a black painted spool bed from leonards new england is fla 24
Above: In the main bedroom, a black-painted spool bed from Leonards New England is flanked by reading lamps with toile-patterned shades.
an antique iron bed made up in mix and match patterns stands ready to welcome o 25
Above: An antique iron bed made up in mix-and-match patterns stands ready to welcome overnight guests.
among the couple&#8\2\17;s traditional meets modern amenities interventions 26
Above: Among the couple’s traditional-meets-modern-amenities interventions is the sumptuous main bathroom, with a luxe but classic Cheviot bath, Lefroy Brooks fittings, and a spot to keep a cup of tea within easy reach.
also in the bath: a charming and unusual footed shower basin. 27
Above: Also in the bath: a charming and unusual footed shower basin.
in another guest bedroom, more evidence that quilts are having a moment. 28
Above: In another guest bedroom, more evidence that quilts are having a moment.
a green tiled guest bath has plenty of old fashioned appeal, with a vintage ped 29
Above: A green-tiled guest bath has plenty of old-fashioned appeal, with a vintage pedestal sink and faucet and a sconce from Manufactum.
for the children&#8\2\17;s room, thomas and keren opted for twin white beds 30
Above: For the children’s room, Thomas and Keren opted for twin white beds from The Dormy House.
the room is done in a sweet william morris wallpaper, another nod to english st 31
Above: The room is done in a sweet William Morris wallpaper, another nod to English style.
as of press time, the richters are working from home in their bright, white pai 32
Above: As of press time, the Richters are working from home in their bright, white-painted studio with a freestanding project table and plenty of natural light.

For more redone farmhouses, take a look at:

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