Easton Residence by Stewart-Schafer Explores Scandinavian Minimalism

Easton Residence is a mid-century modern-style home that was built in 1984 and features four bedrooms and four bathrooms. Stewart-Schafer describes the property as an “architectural gem”, with contemporary glass walls, an indoor pool, and it is situated on 18 acres (7.3 hectares) overlooking a scenic pond.

The interiors are tailored and sophisticated, highlighting Scandinavian minimalism with Japanese-inspired undertones. Stewart-Schafer created custom furniture and a tonal palette, resulting in a look that is both fresh and timeless.

An overarching theme of the design interweaves the modern lines of the mid-century aesthetic as a personal narrative of comfort and functionality, for Stewart-Schafer.

“A primary focus centres on the renovation of specific areas, with a particular emphasis on transforming the family room into a multifunctional haven,” the team told.

It is designed to celebrated the space with their immediate and extended family.

These modern furnishings were offset by built-in millwork crafted from white oak, which Stewart-Schafer created to deviate from the home’s prevailing red-toned wood.

Stewart-Schafer sculpted the kitchen as a testament to timeless craftsmanship with the original 1984 cabinetry and Gaggenau appliances that became a canvas for the contemporary expressions.

The team updated a terrazzo floor with lighter countertops that reference the thick white walls of the home.

The family room’s transformation from a vacant bedroom to a cozy, multifaceted retreat preserves the home’s warmth while introducing a contemporary layer.

“A focal point of our renovation is the fireplace in the family room, which stands as a meticulously chosen investment,” the team said.

“The dual-sided design of the furniture around the fireplace enhances family interactions, creating a central hub for diverse activities.”

The incorporation of a black metal portion in the millwork served as a functional storage space for tools and wood, and was installed alongside a 600-pound (272-kilogram) European fireplace dating back to 1984.

The designers also left the ceiling beams exposed and worked with the 1984 glass walls to open up the space, playing with its height and visual separation.

“Whether it’s the horizontal window in the living room or the partially elevated bedroom wall, these architectural nuances showcase the subconscious brilliance in the architecture,” they said.

The intentional separation of the walls from the roof provided visual breaks and illusions of spaciousness and the team worked with the architecture by keeping the lines of the wall heights in the design of furniture and millwork.

“We followed a budget-conscious yet sophisticated approach,” Stewart-Schafer shared.

Stewart-Schafer previously paired mid-century modern principles with elements of sophisticated Brooklyn design for the interior of the Orient Express’ 14th car.

The residence also includes a Scandinavian-inspired guest house in the woods, which the designers said offers a “tranquil escape” for visiting friends and family.

Separate from the main home, the secondary structure presented them with the opportunity to create a new chapter of the property’s narrative.

Their choice of white oak millwork introduced a subtle warmth to the spaces, harmonising the contemporary aesthetic aspirations of the larger home with the surrounding landscape of the forest.

Stewart-Schafer renovated the existing structure, enhancing its architectural features, enhancing the property overall.

In addition to the main and guest house, a freestanding studio on the property can serve as a fitness space, gardening equipment storage, or additional office space.