A Century-Old Abode In New York Gets A New Style All Its Own
A gem among Scarsdale’s stately houses, an over-100-year-old abode now has a style all its own.
Buying a circa 1917 Colonial Revival-style house was a surprising decision for a Scarsdale couple who prefer modern design. Initially planning to build a new home for themselves, their young children and their treasured collection of Southeast Asian contemporary art, the husband and wife changed their mind after viewing the distinguished old house, which was up for sale for the first time in years. While enchanted by the old-world curb appeal, some of the period details inside the house were not to their liking, especially its heavy crown molding and dark wood paneling. Recognizing potential nonetheless, the couple purchased the property with the intention of renovating it to suit their tastes.
Led by designer Luba Libarikian, architect Sid Schlomann and general contractor Ostap Vidov, the overhaul aimed to inject the home with modern perspective without entirely erasing its historical character. “I reminded my clients, ‘You fell in love with this house for a reason, so let’s not change everything,’ ” Libarikian recalls. Most of the exterior architecture was left intact, including its stone cladding, slate roof and an intricate Palladianstyle window. And when changes were made, they were designed to impact the original architecture as little as possible. In addition to replacing old windows with stylistically compatible new ones, Schlomann added an attached garage and upstairs primary suite at the rear of the house, thereby preserving the integrity of the classical façade. Even the paneled front door, which had reached the end of its lifespan, was replaced with an exact copy. “We did as much as we could to respect the history of the house,” says Schlomann.
Nonetheless, the inside received a complete makeover conducted with the homeowners’ pared-down aesthetic in mind. Having rid the interiors of their traditional architectural finishes, Libarikian replaced them with contemporary millwork and molding fabricated by Vidov and his team to her specifications. In the living room, simple cove crown molding, white-on-white wall paneling and a sleek stone fireplace create a clean backdrop for the room’s centerpiece: a geometric painting by artist Sayed Haider Raza. The one note of vibrant color in the otherwise serene space, the art inspired the circular plasterwork detailing on the ceiling. Another collaboration between Libarikian and Vidov, the eye-catching feature is indicative of their collaborative nature. “Luba is so easy to work with; she brings us her ideas and, because my partner, Ney Lozano, and I have been in this business long enough, we have a network of craftspeople who can execute them,” Vidov shares.
Home Details
Architecture:
Sid Schlomann, SI Design
Interior Design:
Luba Libarikian, Libarikian Interiors
Home Builder:
Ostap Vidov, Kova Construction
The home’s original Palladian window casts light into a room the owners dubbed the Whiskey Library. A carbonized-blackwood wallcovering by Maya Romanoff, an Anthropologie sofa and leather-and-walnut lounge chairs by Beam foster a nighttime atmosphere.
The kitchen’s cabinetry, including decorative nooks designed to display pottery, was designed by Today’s Kitchens. The island’s hardy Naica quartzite countertops were sourced from and installed by Dimensional Fabricators.
Designer Luba Libarikian chose to line the kitchen walls in photogenic glazed ceramic tile from TileBar. The pendant lights are by Schwung. Kova Construction crafted the hood atop the Wolf range to the designer’s specifications.
A newly crafted nook features arches and an antiqued-mirror panel for a less-confining enclosure. Seating includes a bespoke white oak banquette and chairs from Lulu and Georgia. A Currey & Company pendant light and artwork by Anjolie Ela Menon finish out the space.
The Whiskey Library’s built-in cabinetry, which houses the couple’s libation collection, was designed by Libarikian and built by S&S Wood Work Corp. A coffee table by Four Hands rests on a Crate & Barrel rug. The pair of mixed-media pieces are by Jitish Kallat.
The wife wanted a Hamptons look in the junior suite bedroom, so Libarikian used natural colors and organic-looking pieces, including a Theodore Alexander nightstand, Arteriors lamp and Loloi Rugs carpet. A Crate & Barrel bed wears a wool RH blanket.
The primary bathroom is wrapped in a mix of finishes, including Porcelanosa shower wall tiles and marble mosaic floor tile from TileBar. The cabinetry hardware is by LuxHoldUps and the faucet is Kallista. A Kohler bathtub stands inside the shower.
Uniquely 21 st -century needs dictated some design choices, particularly in the kitchen. Because the wife, who is a nutritionist, planned to use the space to film meal prep and other video content for her business, Libarikian chose camera-worthy finishes that also hold up to the family’s daily use. The Naica quartzite island can be used as an attractive surface for filming or serving countertop meals. When messy prep work is involved, the perimeter countertops, which are also made of quartzite, provide an out-of-the-way area to do so. The kitchen’s stylish functionality extends to a built-in dining nook, where open arches and antiqued-mirror paneling make the family’s everyday meals feel intimate and special.
The kitchen extends to a dining nook, where open arches and antiqued-mirror paneling make everyday meals intimate and special.
Throughout the house, natural light prevails thanks to Schlomann’s decision to replace windows with models that have more glass and less grillwork. Libarikian amplified that light by relying on soft white walls and creamy colored fabrics for most rooms, including bedrooms and bathrooms. One striking exception is the Whiskey Library. Named for the couple’s collection of vintage whiskeys, which are prominently displayed in wood cabinetry with glass fronts, the clubby room is designed for cozy entertaining and imbibing. Black faux-woodgrain wallpaper, dark green velvet curtains and a shapely black sofa offer a dramatic departure from the rest of the house. “I made the room dark because, when you see it from a distance, it makes you want to walk in and discover what’s there,” says Libarikian.
Given the interior alterations and the addition of modern amenities, the house has changed substantially, but its soul remains much the same. A century later, this Colonial Revival residence continues to be the gracious, inviting family home that it always has been.