Right before the pandemic, two New York City corporate lawyers—a husband and wife originally from Australia—finally found a weekend home to make their own. Rather than a typical, traditional upstate charmer, they wanted something modern. A long-ish search turned up an amazing house (built in 2004) in Millerton framed around a Dutch barn, with tons of windows to flood the space with natural light and a mostly open floor plan. A summer breezeway convertible into a winter garden by way of roll-down glass doors sealed the deal.
Soon after, the couple hired interior design pro Todd Raymond, who specializes in modern interiors. His task: furnish the main rooms and guest bedrooms on the double, since the new homeowners decided to take up residence indefinitely when Covid hit, and they wanted some new things. “As the project progressed, the clients really fell in love with the process, and the scope of work increased and increased,” says Raymond. “Eventually we also ended up renovating and decorating the guest house, too.”
When talking through plans for the interior, everyone agreed that the nicks, dings, and divots in the copious wood helped tell the story of the setting and added character. Marks from over the years also reiterate that this home is a place to relax and have fun, according to Raymond. “Nothing is too precious here,” he says.
A big issue right off the bat was that all the existing millwork—in the kitchen, and doors, shelving, and wall paneling—was an unattractive yellow maple. “We stripped everything back and painted it black, which acted as a nice backdrop to the gorgeous barn beams throughout,” says Raymond.
Expanding on that concept, he based his overall design on a neutral palette of creams, grays, and black. “Generally, we use black as an accent neutral,” shares Raymond. “But these homeowners really love it, so we leaned in.” That said, he aimed to make sure the furniture wasn’t too sleek or urban and would feel at home in the Hudson Valley. “At the start of the project it was fun to get them to think about how they might want to use the spaces and come up with possible furniture layouts,” recalls Raymond. “They entertain quite a bit, so we created zones, using the beams to help define and center spaces, as well as strategically placed lighting and rugs.” The designer and his team generally source furnishings from all over the world, and this project was no exception. Pieces chosen by the homeowners include finds from the U.S., Europe, and the land Down Under, a nod to their heritage. Putting it all together took about two years, start to finish. It was certainly time well spent.
Meet the Designer
Before he studied at Parsons School of Design and worked at several premier New York City interior design firms, Todd Raymond waited tables at Manhattan’s Jean-Georges. He says it was a master class in engaging and satisfying high-end customers. His eponymous company offers services including interior architecture and design, art consulting, and furniture procurement. Raymond and his husband split their time between homes in New York City and the Hudson Valley. Follow him on Instagram @studio.todd.raymond.
DESIGNER TODD RAYMOND CREDITS HIS WORK IN A MICHELIN-STARRED RESTAURANT WITH HIS KEEN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW PHYSICAL SPACES CAN POSITIVELY INFLUENCE PEOPLES’ EXPERIENCES AND OVERALL JOY.
