Now a showcase for reclaimed, salvaged, and recycled materials, including wood from a local barn, this early 1900s Craftsman home on Long Island, the site of some of the world’s finest homes, spent most of its life in the 1980s. stripped of original character.
“The client, a musician, wanted a rustic bachelorette spot,” said Kathryn Hunt of Kathryn Hunt Studio, who was brought in to work on the project. Originally purchased as a main residence, it is now used as a weekend getaway and has a rustic, modern farmhouse feel.
The project was a complete gut renovation that took seven months. “We wanted to stick to the original footprint of the house, so we didn’t expand,” says Kathryn. “Since the house is small, we looked for ways to maximize the living space. We opened up the wall from the kitchen to the dining room to create an open floor plan. The structure didn’t support a large beam, so we ended up with the columns. I like that you can see through the house.
“We had a very tight budget for the construction and interior, so we looked to use reclaimed materials,” continues Kathryn. “We had Burger Custom Home, the contractor, take apart an old local shed and reuse the wood for most of the antique interior wood. Many items in the house are vintage or salvaged. The final layer of decoration includes the owner’s art, antiques and musical instruments.’
corridor
Credit: Conor Harrington
Kathryn’s hallway ideas include making a statement against the neutral backdrop and wooden floors with black steps and banisters. “I like the stairwell and the moodiness of the black steps,” she says. ‘The sofa was made by my grandfather in the 1950s.’
living room
Credit: Conor Harrington
The centerpiece of the living room is the grand piano. Ideas for the living room include mirrors made by a local artist placed on the walls at intervals. “The client wanted to be able to see the space while sitting at the piano,” explains Kathryn.
The neutral scheme provides a calming feel, while character is added with paneling made from wood salvaged from a local barn and an antique daybed on trestle. A woven rug adds texture.
Credit: Conor Harrington
The wood around the fireplace came from a local barn. A leather armchair provides a cozy place to sit by the fire.
kitchen
Credit: Conor Harrington
Kitchen ideas include using recycled and salvaged finds to create a scheme with character. “We found two chicken wire hangers at Brimfield, an antiques market in Massachusetts, and I had a friend, Peter Huszagh, who reused them with one rod,” says Kathryn. ‘The stools were old industrial stools from RH that we found second-hand.’ In addition, the kitchen cabinets that the customer found and Kathryn reclaimed were second-hand, and the wood on the ceiling and island was salvaged from a local shed.
kitchen diner
Credit: Conor Harrington
The kitchen walls have been broken through to create an open plan kitchen diner. “It’s a really cool casual space for this musician. He often has small intimate dinners that end in him playing the piano or the guitar,” says Kathryn.
Credit: Conor Harrington
Kathryn’s favorite space is the dining room “because of the natural elements and the pop of the fabric against the wood,” she says.
Dining room ideas include creating a rustic floor from bricks from the old local brick factory, using planks reclaimed from a local barn. Peter Huszagh designed the striking lamp above the dining table. Kathryn likes to mix and match old and new, which is why she combined antique chairs with a Roost dining table.
Bedroom
Credit: Conor Harrington
Bedroom ideas include creating a statement ceiling for this cool and casual scheme. “We opened up all the ceilings up to the framing and painted them white and added the beadboard between the rafters for added character,” says Kathryn. The oversized pendant, a flea market find, draws attention to the ceiling.
Bathroom
Credit: Conor Harrington
Bathroom ideas include injecting character with rustic wood paneling and a vintage vanity. The artwork, by Mary Batthany Art, is of a local scene in New Suffolk.
Interior Design / Kathryn Hunt Studio
Photos/ Conor Harrigan
Stylist / Anna Molvik