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In his influential work The Seven Lamps of Architecture, the esteemed 19th-century thinker John Ruskin remarked that the true magnificence of a building lies not solely in its materials or grandeur but in its age and the deep connection felt through its history. This sentiment resonates with the enduring beauty found in buildings that have witnessed the passage of time and humanity. Although Ruskin’s reflections were predominantly on majestic ancient structures and cathedrals, the essence of his appreciation can also apply to more modest dwellings, such as a worker’s cottage in a historic whaling and shipping port.
The television room of this particular home features a custom walnut sofa with live edges, adorned with cushions crafted from antique Jajim rugs. Complementing this are a 19th-century English rolled armchair and an antique American cupboard sourced from Laurin Copen Antiques.
Takada Handy Broom with Japanese Cypress Handle
Designer Neal Beckstedt, a member of AD100, acquired a home dating back to around 1890 in the quaint village of Sag Harbor, located in the Hamptons, in 2014. He occupied the property for six years prior to undertaking a substantial renovation. This modest home once served as housing for laborers at the historic Bulova Watchcase Factory, which has since been transformed into luxury residences. “The house had a classic gingerbread shape, resembling the kind of dwelling a child imagines when drawing a house. I was captivated by its simplicity,” Beckstedt shares. He aimed to honor the working-class heritage of the home, inspired by his upbringing on a rural Ohio farm, where he spent his childhood exploring a barn.
When embarking on his renovation, Beckstedt was guided by a philosophy centered around subtlety and a desire for natural beauty that resonates with the home’s history and its surroundings. “I immersed myself in research, focusing on returning the house to its authentic 1890s essence as closely as possible,” he states. To achieve this, he recognized the importance of making careful and respectful updates. A significant part of this endeavor involved reversing past alterations that had masked the home’s original appeal. Beckstedt expertly restored the original windows, stripped the paint from the cedar siding, applied hand-cut cedar shakes to the roof, and exposed the house’s rugged brick chimney along with antique ceiling beams. He also revealed the original wide-plank pine floors, freeing them from modern plastic laminate. The only substantial alteration to the home’s architectural framework was a discreet addition to accommodate a new primary bedroom suite.
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www.architecturaldigest.com