Art and Nature Converge at a Couple’s Glass, Cedar, and Stone House in New York

In a sense, this home was decades in the making. In the early ’90s, architect Carol Kurth designed a home for an art-minded couple. "At that time, they were just embarking on collecting," recalls Kurth, whose ensuing design, called Art House, included space for the couple’s growing ensemble. Then, some 20 years later, the clients reached out to Kurth again. Now facing retirement, they wanted to build a one-story home to accommodate all of their passions, including art, books, and nature.

For three years, Kurth and the clients searched for the right property for Art House 2.0, finally finding the ideal sloped and wooded lot in Pound Ridge, New York. The program was straightforward: "The first house we did had a lot of curves," says Kurth. "In this house, one of the very few brief items was ‘No curves.’ They wanted straight walls because they had a lot more art, and they wanted something that would feel more part of the land."

Kurth sited the rectilinear home on the crest of the hill, so a lower level could be tucked underneath. The upper floor is allotted to the main living spaces, including a study and two bedrooms, while the downstairs hosts a gym, workshop, and guest quarters. Key to the main floor layout was carving out space in passageways for bookcases, art niches, or both. A neutral palette of crisp white walls and porcelain tile floors underscores the gallery-like feel.