Millerton House

Millerton, New York
2025

Nestled into the hillside and surrounded by cornfields, the Millerton House surveys sweeping views of the Taconic and Catskill Mountains. Its elongated gable form recalls the language of historic agrarian buildings, while reclaimed silvered barn siding and a hand-laid masonry base root the structure in its landscape. Partially embedded into the earth, the house feels like a discovery. Extended eaves, a wraparound deck, and expansive glazing introduce contemporary moments, softening the threshold between inside and out.

Designed as a retreat for a New York City–based family, the home’s main level is organized around open communal spaces oriented toward the landscape, while private quarters are sequestered at the opposite end. The sunken lower level comprises more introspective rooms: a den, a mudroom, and an office, each modest in scale and contemplative in spirit. Live-sawn oak is paired with rough plaster and warm stone throughout. Unlacquered brass plumbing fixtures and hardware are left to patinate naturally over time, contributing to a material palette defined by a subtle authenticity.

Guests arrive into a gravel courtyard framed by the house, a long stone wall, and a newly planted grove of honey locusts. Meadows gently encircle the property. Large stepping stones draw visitors toward the front door. While defined on three sides, the courtyard opens dramatically to the west, framing a long view of the Catskill Mountains and turning the landscape vista into the courtyard’s fourth façade.

A custom black walnut table, crafted from locally sourced lumber, anchors the dining nook. Its round legs breach the tabletop surface, creating an exposed joint that celebrates the act of making. Positioned along a south-facing window and generous upholstered banquette, the table creates a warm gathering space animated by changing light.

A pool is placed in the landscape past the gable end of the house. A garage entrance is discreetly integrated at the lower level. The base of the home is clad in hand-shaped fieldstone sourced from local farms, a nod to the historic dry-laid walls that define the region. Above, reclaimed barn siding envelops the structure in a well-weathered cladding, offering a new interpretation of the agrarian forms that inspired the project.