SOPHISTICATED AND FUN IN SCARSDALE

A Family of Four Spreads Out in an 11-Bedroom Home

When 5,000 square feet isn’t enough space for a family of four, it’s time to move on. A young couple who were longtime residents of Scarsdale, NY, decided they needed to upsize after the birth of their second child. They wanted to stay in Scarsdale, with a preference for the Murray Hill area.

Located less than 25 miles from Manhattan, Scarsdale is one of the most desirable villages in New York City’s suburbs. Murray Hill, its most sought-after neighborhood, is the oldest part of the town. With its own zoning laws, it has estate-like homes sited on unusually large lots measuring between one and four acres. Many of the single-family houses built on those spacious properties are Georgians, Tudors and Colonials, with more modern styles such as Mediterranean represented by more recent construction.

To guide them through their new project, the homeowners turned to Jan Hiltz, the principal designer of Jan Hiltz Interiors, who had helped them renovate the home in which they were living. Jan has more than 25 years of interior design experience, with a large portfolio of luxury homes spanning the globe, including London, Greenwich, CT, and Manhattan. Known for her exquisite taste and easygoing nature, she is the go-to designer when a home renovation is needed.

Jan works with her daughter-in-law, Christine Hiltz, who, with over two decades of experience in high-end residential interior design, is also a highly respected designer. In addition to offering a wide range of design services, the two have the knowledge and experience to manage projects from initial concept to finishing touches. Because of their track record and willingness to add house shopping to their list of services, the pair was the perfect choice for this project.

Renovate, Build or Bust

“There are very few opportunities to buy property to build on in Scarsdale; developers own most of the available land,” Jan explains. “I know my clients well enough to understand that renovating wasn’t for them.” The solution was to purchase a newly built home. “We found a house in Murray Hill on a cul-de-sac, with only two other homes nearby.”

The 10,000-square-foot contemporary Colonial featured 11 bedrooms and eight bathrooms. The house was designed by the acclaimed architectural firm Choura Architecture, recognized for its classically accented style with a generous use of space and fluid lines. Fortunately for the buyers, many of the finishing details had not yet been completed, so with the advice of the design team, all work was halted as soon as the new owners signed on the dotted line. “The house had a very dark, Mediterranean feel to it, which wasn’t the right aesthetic for my clients,” Jan recalls. “I knew from the work I’d done for them on their previous home that I had to go in a different direction.”

Scope of Work

There was much to be done to turn the rambling Colonial into a fun and functional family home. Jan and Christine spell out the laundry list of items included in the scope of the project. First came the demolition work, which included gutting the bathrooms, tearing out the closets in the master bedroom, ripping out the main staircase, removing the fireplace in the family room, and deconstructing the entire foyer.

“When my clients purchased it, the house was very streamlined,” Jan says. “New construction doesn’t include all the beautiful details unless it’s a custom build. My clients wanted more pizzazz.” With her work cut out for her, she designed custom millwork all the way down to lower level in the foyer, foyer, and all the details on the raised paneling on second floor. The design team completely rebuilt the staircase and added tray ceilings in the dining room and breakfast room, kitchen to help delineate and give more personality to the spaces. The lighting scheme for the entire home was redesigned to include recessed lighting. In the foyer, raised paneling and large black-and-white marble square floor tiles “a la Audrey Hepburn” make a dramatic statement when greeting guests.

The designers also selected all the finishes used in the home, including lighting, floors, wallpaper and paint colors. “We wanted to make it modern,” Jan says. “When I helped my client’s parents with their house in Scarsdale a while back, I created an industrial look. We used black accents throughout the house, even though black wasn’t ‘in’ yet.” Although industrial was not the look sought after by these clients—whose style Jan describes as “Park Avenue glam”—they were so taken with the black used in the parents’ house that they wanted to repeat it in theirs.

Fun and Fabulous Interior Design

Jan describes the overall look she and Christine created as “fun but sophisticated,” as evidenced by the design of the playroom off the kitchen, so that it wasn’t constantly piled with toys. “We used touch-latch concealed cabinets, built out at 14 inches, which looked like paneling,” Jan explains.

Another example of the lively but elegant decor can be found in the design of the long hallway that runs from one side of the house to the other. “It looked like the inside of a train!” Jan exclaims. “So we put raised paneling on the bottom half of the walls, and sparkly wallpaper that looks like rain on the top half.”

To add even more character, the designers used a golden white foil resembling clouds on the ceiling.

Jan was able to repurpose every single piece of furniture and all the drapery from the clients’ existing home. “Integrating the existing furnishings and accessories with new ones was a big part of the work we did,” she says. Adds Christina, “We integrated the new with the old so no one would know the difference.”

Creative Use of 11 Bedrooms

Jan smiles when she explains how a family of four could occupy 11 bedrooms. “There is a designated guest room with a private bathroom on the ground floor,” she explains. The lower-level guestroom was converted into a spa room, an extra bedroom on the second floor into a home office, another bedroom into a TV room, and yet other bedroom into the girls’ second playroom.

Oh, and the “golf simulator room” advertised by the developer was turned into an elegant and clubby suite for the husband to entertain his friends. “We opened up the walls around the fireplace to create a wet bar, and added high-topped tables, a media area with a big loungey sofa and ottomans, and a custom poker table,” Jan explains. “We converted what were little spaces into a beautiful man cave that all his friends are jealous of.”

Beyond all expectations, and even with last-minute changes to accommodate the clients’ vision and enthusiasm, all the work was completed within five months.

Wait Till You Step Outside

The work on the exterior of the home began after the family moved in, but unfortunately coincided with the height of the COVID pandemic, creating a logistical challenge for the designers. In addition, what began as a fairly simple outdoor project ended up being a complete redo of the spacious lot, which had already been landscaped by the builder.

“We started by covering the patio with a pergola,” Jan explains. “Then it became a double pergola.” From there, the plan kept mushrooming. The family decided they wanted a full kitchen, complete with dishwasher, refrigerator and icemaker. Then came the fireplace and outdoor TV. “Every time my clients called, they had another idea in mind,” Jan recalls with some amusement. “Finally, it was the pool. Roma Pools did an amazing job.”

With the help of Morano Group landscapers and Walpole’s louvered pergola system, the family ended up with a gracious, beautifully designed and landscaped outdoor space they can use practically year-round, thanks to the addition of heaters as well as the fireplace. Explains Jan, “Everything is on a system that can be controlled remotely, including fans, lighting, heaters and blinds.”

Transforming a new build into a customized, fun but sophisticated family home with 11 bedrooms is a daunting task, but for interior designers Jan and Christine Hiltz, it’s one of many outstanding projects they have done for a very satisfied community of family and friends. As a result of their incredible work, a young family has a special house they will continue to grow into for years to come.

Resources:

Interior Designer: Jan Hiltz Interiors

21 Bridge Square Westport, CT 06880 203.331.5578 janhiltzinteriorsllc.com

Architect: Choura Architecture

1 Barker Avenue, Suite 270 White Plains, NY 10601 914.686.7774 choura.com

Landscaper: Morano Group 543 Halstead Avenue Mamaroneck, NY 10543 914.698.4065 moranogroup.com

Swimming Pool: Roma Pools

7 Pineview Drive Brewster, NY 10509 845.279.7530 romapools.com