Granit House

Granite House — Mid-Century Rediscovered

It takes a certain kind of optimism to walk into a neglected mid-century home and see not only what it once was, but what it could become again. Granite House had that effect immediately. “The bones were extraordinary,” recalls the project’s lead. “But decades of deferred maintenance and a few unfortunate renovations had buried the architecture under layers of distraction.”

The home sat quietly on its wooded hillside, facing a private landscape of rolling meadows and distant treelines. The plan was modest but honest: a multi-level mid-century structure with generous glazing, oak floors, and a double-sided fireplace anchoring the center of the house. Time, however, had not been kind. Layouts had become choppy, finishes had aged without grace, and the architectural logic had dimmed. “It felt unsettled,” the team says. “You could tell it wanted to be good again.”

Gutting to Reveal the Structure

The renovation began with a full gut back to the studs. Walls came down, dated finishes disappeared, and the original geometry re-emerged. Bedrooms and bathrooms were reconfigured to establish a new, more coherent program: five spacious bedrooms and three baths, along with two living rooms divided by that sculptural double-sided fireplace.

“We wanted the rooms to breathe,” says the designer. “Mid-century homes are incredibly sensitive to proportion. Once we opened things up, the architecture started working again.”

The kitchen followed the same ethos. Rather than erasing the past, the team selectively retained and restored portions of the original oak cabinetry, pairing it with new millwork, contemporary appliances, and slender hardware. “We didn’t want a theme kitchen,” they explain. “We wanted continuity — a modern kitchen that still belonged to the house.”

Downstairs Becomes the New Hero

On the lower level, a once-dark basement was reborn as a dramatic new bedroom suite that opens directly to the outdoors. Large doors now step out to the newly constructed pool deck, transforming what had been secondary square footage into the emotional center of the summer living experience.

“Expanding the relationship between the house and the landscape was key,” the builder notes. “The views were always there, but the old floor plan never allowed you to enjoy them. Mid-century homes were built for connection, so we gave that back to it.”

New fencing and landscape circulation were introduced to frame the pool area and define zones for lounging, dining, and quiet retreat.

Light, Views, and the Luxury of Restraint

Much of the project’s success lies in what isn’t overdone. New oak floors run throughout the upper levels, and a series of new windows illuminate the previously shaded corners of the house. The effect is both contemporary and faithful to the home’s origins.

“It wasn’t about adding more,” the team says. “It was about letting the house be itself — but better.”

Mechanical upgrades brought Granite House into the present day: a full HVAC replacement for year-round comfort, updated electrical and lighting, and modern insulation strategies to support long-term operation. “Good hospitality is comfort,” they add. “Without it, design is just scenery.”

A House Meant to Be Lived In

Today, Granite House is not only architecturally revived but actively lived in. With five true bedrooms, two living spaces, and strong indoor-outdoor flow, the home lends itself naturally to gathering. It has also translated successfully into the hospitality market, where its mid-century bones and layered view corridors have resonated with guests seeking an authentic upstate retreat.

“It’s incredibly rewarding when a house earns its second life,” says the builder. “All we did was help it rediscover itself.”