Fittingly…
the exterior of this house sets the tone for what’s to come: Its white stucco surfaces are punctuated by dark window frames, dark shutters, dark gutters, leaders, and — almost as a kind of outline — dark roof tiles along each pitched gable. Maureen McDermott, of Winter McDermott Design, likes to work with neutrals, but not the white-on-white of so many recently renovated houses. Instead, she selects dark elements to frame and punctuate light surfaces.
Mentored…
by Vicente Wolf before opening her own studio in 2015, McDermott is based in Sag Harbor, Long Island, and is best known for her Hamptons houses. But one New York couple lured her up to Scarsdale, in Westchester County, where they bought this traditionally styled house on a wooded lot. Having left their apartment on the Upper East Side (pre-pandemic), they were looking for open spaces for themselves and their first child. McDermott tore out walls to give the ground floor a more open plan than is usually found in the suburbs. She also gave that floor a new focal point in the form of a curved stairway that dominates and shapes the entrance hall.
Dark neutral…
describes the stairway’s wooden treads and risers as well as the continuous metal railing, which at one point runs parallel to Lindsey Adelman’s Drop System chandelier. At the bottom of the stair, a sculptural Scoop chair from Stahl and Band makes a strong impression, welcoming visitors to a house where, it’s clear, both comfort and style are appreciated.
In the…
large kitchen a pair of bronze Surface sconces by Henry Wilson flank the range hood (where they vaguely resemble cooking implements). The stools at the kitchen island, with their symmetrical cutouts, were designed by Sami Kallio for &Tradition.
In the…
living room a custom sectional sofa in a Holland and Sherry fabric meets a Tired Man lounge chair designed in 1935 by Denmark’s Flemming Lassen. The fireplace of Arabescatto Corchia marble sets the tone for the room, where the stone’s ochre veining is echoed in brass and bronze trim. A pair of Agathos armchairs by Antonio Citterio faces a smaller fireplace in the family room.
Upstairs…
the owners’ new suite includes a large bathroom with a freestanding tub and a vanity made of dramatically veined marble. The mirrors on the wall were designed by Gio Ponti for FontanaArte in 1933, which explains their designation: F.A. 33. The mirrors’ curves make an important point: when you take color out of the equation, shape is everything!
Design: Winter McDermott Design
Photography: Eric Striffler
