This 1960s Home’s Painstaking Renovation Is a Love Letter to Midcentury Design
"The house is like a gallery and an heirloom that brings the family together," says architect Cristina Ioana Graff. "They appreciate it so much, and that makes it more special."
"The house is like a gallery and an heirloom that brings the family together," says architect Cristina Ioana Graff. "They appreciate it so much, and that makes it more special."
For years, retired attorney Dale Schreiber and his wife, Lois, planned to transition from New York City to the suburbs of South Orange, New Jersey, to be closer to some of their children and grandchildren. The couple are avid collectors of art and midcentury furniture, and when they came across a 1969 home designed by Herbert Beckhard, a business partner of Marcel Breuer, within walking distance of two of their four children, they leaped.
Architect Cristina Ioana Graff worked with homeowners Dale and Lois Schreiber to renovate a 1960s house designed by Herbert Beckhard, a business partner of Marcel Breuer. They kept the building’s aesthetic intact while restoring the original hot tar and gravel roof and adding copper drip edges for a contemporary touch.
Photo by Christopher Testani
The Schreibers tapped local architect Cristina Ioana Graff of Graff Guild to transform the home into a modern family hub that would honor the structure’s history. Built on uneven terrain, the house is tucked away from the nearest main road and features a "binuclear" design composed of two wings connected by an entrance hallway. Working with Graff and their son-in-law Felix Aarts, a painter and set designer, the couple reconfigured the home’s compartmentalized layout to create flowing communal spaces while preserving privacy in the bedrooms.
Photo by Christopher Testani
To the right of the entry are the dining room and kitchen, the latter revamped in a U-shaped layout with new millwork, Corian countertops, integrated appliances, and a wood-clad skylight. Beyond the kitchen is an entertainment room, where the Schreibers enjoy spending time with their grandchildren.
"There was an art to the renovation. We wanted to bring the house into the 21st century while also paying homage to its history," says architect Cristina Graff.
Photo by Christopher Testani
See the full story on Dwell.com: This 1960s Home’s Painstaking Renovation Is a Love Letter to Midcentury Design
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