The Easton Residence, a mid-century modern home built in 1984, exemplifies a critical dialogue between architectural preservation and contemporary reinterpretation. Situated on an expansive 18-acre site overlooking a private pond, the house originally featured a spatially generous, light-filled interior with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, an indoor pool, and an open-plan arrangement reflective of modernist principles. The recent renovation by Stewart-Schafer, who assumed both the roles of designers and homeowners, sought to amplify the home’s existing strengths while embedding a design language that aligns with contemporary aesthetics and lifestyle needs.
The Easton Residence Technical Information
- Architects1-2: Stewart-Schafer
- Location: Easton, Connecticut, USA
- Area: 400 m2 | 4,300 Sq. Ft.
- Original House Completion: 1984
- Completion Year: 2022
- Photographs: © Alice Gao
The key to the design of this space is staying true to the soul of the home.
– Stewart-Schafer Architects
The Easton Residence Photographs
The Easton Residence Spatial Qualities
Rather than impose a drastic transformation, the renovation maintains a deep respect for the home’s original architectural integrity. The intervention integrates Scandinavian minimalism with Japanese-inspired elements, forming a cohesive narrative that balances restraint with warmth. The project underscores a conscious effort to refine material relationships, enhance spatial fluidity, and introduce bespoke details harmonizing with the existing structure.
A central challenge in the project was ensuring that spatial reconfigurations complemented the home’s original intent while adapting to contemporary functional demands. The approach eschews unnecessary ornamentation, favoring spatial clarity and an interplay of textures that enhance the home’s existing modernist qualities.
Kitchen: A Dialogue Between Past and Present
One of the key spaces, the kitchen, retains its original 1984 cabinetry and Gaggenau appliances—an intentional decision that reinforces the home’s historical character. Introducing a terrazzo floor and lighter countertops creates a bridge between past and present, subtly enhancing material continuity while modernizing the space. Rather than completely replacing elements, the renovation employs a strategy of selective intervention, ensuring that new insertions do not overshadow the home’s mid-century identity.
Family Room: A Multifunctional Retreat
A more substantial transformation occurs in the family room, where a previously vacant bedroom is reimagined as a communal gathering space. The room’s design prioritizes flexibility, allowing it to serve as both a social hub and a place of retreat. A 600-pound European fireplace becomes the room’s focal point, anchoring the space functionally and visually. The surrounding furniture, designed with a dual-sided orientation, fosters interaction while maintaining a sense of openness.
Careful attention was paid to architectural thresholds to further enhance the spatial experience. The deliberate separation of walls from the roof introduces subtle visual breaks, generating an illusion of greater expansiveness. This design approach extends to the horizontal window in the living room and the partially elevated bedroom wall, both of which underscore the project’s commitment to spatial layering and volumetric articulation.
Materiality and Craftsmanship: A Study in Contrast and Harmony
Materiality is a primary vehicle for negotiating the relationship between the home’s original elements and the contemporary interventions. The selection of white oak, in contrast to the home’s dominant red-toned wood, offers a refined yet understated warmth that aligns with the Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic. This decision exemplifies a nuanced approach to material contrast that does not negate the original palette but rather introduces a complementary counterpoint.
Millwork plays a crucial role in defining the renovation’s architectural language. In the family room, the custom-built cabinetry integrates a black metal portion that functions as both a visual anchor and a practical storage solution for fireplace tools and wood. The meticulous attention to veneer matching and cabinet detailing reflects an adherence to craftsmanship that extends beyond surface aesthetics, reinforcing the home’s artisanal quality.
The renovation’s approach to textures also warrants examination. The interplay between terrazzo, custom furnishings, and the existing architectural envelope generates a tactile complexity that deepens the sensory experience of the spaces. The project exemplifies how a carefully curated material palette can enhance a home’s spatial coherence without resorting to overt stylistic impositions.
Broader Context and Architectural Significance
This project contributes to the ongoing discourse on mid-century modern renovations by proposing a model of architectural sensitivity that prioritizes material honesty, spatial clarity, and contextual harmony. It also underscores the importance of designing for longevity, resisting trends favoring enduring craftsmanship, and considering spatial organization.
Beyond the main residence, the Scandinavian-inspired guest house embodies these principles on a smaller scale. By reinvigorating an overlooked structure, the designers extend their architectural ethos beyond the primary dwelling, demonstrating a holistic approach to site-wide cohesion.
The Easton Residence Image Gallery
About Stewart-Schafer
Stewart-Schafer is a multidisciplinary design studio specializing in architecture, interior design, and bespoke renovations. Known for their meticulous attention to materiality, spatial refinement, and a seamless integration of contemporary aesthetics with historical integrity, the studio approaches each project with a balance of functionality and artistic vision. Their work often blends Scandinavian and Japanese influences, prioritizing clean lines, natural materials, and a thoughtful connection to the surrounding environment.
Credits and Additional Notes
- Site Size: 18 acres (784,080 ft²)
Building Levels: 2
