Yahoo Lifestyle This $5 Million Midcentury Home in Westchester County Was Reimagined by Architect Deborah Berke
Perched on a hilltop in one of the more coveted neighborhoods in Rye, New York, is a midcentury original that got a serious upgrade about a decade ago. Built in the 1950s, the house was reimagined between 2010 and 2011 by Deborah Berke and Noah Biklen of the award-winning international architectural firm TenBerke, and their handiwork shows in all the right ways—clean lines, smart materials, and a clear respect for the home’s natural surroundings. In fact, they liked the update enough that it was featured in Berke’s 2016 book: House Rules: An Architect’s Guide to Modern Life.
Now listed for $4.95 million with Judy Zhou and Stacey Rechler of Douglas Elliman, the not quite 6,500-square-foot spread sits on 2.41 acres and feels tucked away, even though it’s just a 35-minute train ride from Manhattan. The renovation didn’t just modernize the structure; it gave it room to breathe. A two-story addition expanded the original footprint, opening up formerly tight interiors and allowing the outdoors to take center stage.
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“Deborah Berke’s reimagination of this true midcentury home is an ode to indoor-outdoor harmonious living,” Zhou tells Robb Report. “Loved by only two owners in the past 56 years, the renovation brings nature to the center of this home, showcasing the lush greenery from a high vantage point that is rare in this part of lower Westchester. A home like this is more commonly seen perched atop Beverly Hills.”
That connection to nature is everywhere. Vast expanses of glass wrap the residence, framing views of the surrounding trees and bringing in light from every direction. The great room’s 14-foot windows draw your eye out to the landscapes fluttering tree canopies, climbing vines, and ever-shifting light. It’s calm, grounded, and, at the same time, transportive.
Mahogany siding warms up the exterior, playing off the existing concrete and stucco. The design choices are just as deliberate and understated on the inside, with each material, rosewood and acid-etched glass, for example, having a clear role without competing for attention. Sixteen skylights create a glow that shifts with the time of day, and more than 100 recessed fixtures add light in the evening.
“The property is an architectural masterpiece and sited with real privacy without feeling isolated,” adds Rechler. “The configuration of the house makes it a forever home. It can expand and contract with the needs of someone with a young family or empty nesters who want to enjoy open space and elegant living.”
The location also offers plenty. Rye’s downtown is full of restaurants and local shops, and the Westchester County waterfront adds to the town’s low-key, summer-is-always-close feel. Nearby, there are private clubs, golf courses, and three yacht clubs within minutes, and Rye Playland’s historic boardwalk is just down the road.
Click here to see more photos of the New York residence.
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