After years of stark minimalism, residential architecture is finding its way back to warmth. From whimsical wallpaper to built-in banquettes, homeowners are rediscovering the joy of spaces that feel their own—and where every element of design is attuned to their daily lives. For Quatrefoil, the Staatsburg-based design-build firm led by construction professional Mike Whitman and architect Kathryn Whitman, thoughtful personalization and customization is the cornerstone of every project.
For the renovation of a 1920s Craftsman in the heart of Rhinebeck, for example, the Quatrefoil team approached the project with both reverence for historic details and imagination. Working within the original footprint, they infused the traditional structure with new vitality that reflects the homeowners’ aesthetic sensibilities and lifestyle needs: millwork restored to its former glow, playful color palettes and detail-rich finishes that reinterpret Arts and Crafts designs, and a cohesive plan that adds space with a thoughtfully integrated private bedroom suite and rear addition.
“Some of our choices were unexpected, but they still operated within the home’s traditional motifs,” says Whitman. “It resulted in a mini estate design that is fun and modern, but retains significant historic integrity.”
The property also presented an exercise in ingenuity through the limitations of its petite lot size. A new carriage house now serves as a poolhouse and recreation space adjacent to the new inground pool in summer and a garage in winter, while a carefully designed parking court maximizes flow without sacrificing green space. The result is a comfortable and quietly luxurious design that embraces the needs of modern living.
At the other end of the spectrum, a contemporary redesign of a 1980s home farther afield in Dutchess County reflects the firm’s modernist precision and commitment to energy-efficient design. The project began as a dated “butterfly plan” house, partially buried in the hillside. The clients wanted to preserve what they could of the original concrete structure, but Whitman’s redesign amounted to a near-total reinvention. “To make the home truly energy efficient, we basically had to rebuild it from the ground up,” Whitman says.
Completed in 2019, the new composition, a trio of individual volumes, presents a modest profile from the driveway, yet unfolds dramatically as one descends through the space. Large triple-glazed Austrian windows and sliding glass doors flank the center court, flooding the ground floor with light and offering expansive views of Stormville Mountain. A metal and wood staircase from Acadia Stairs with custom-cut glass panels for the railing, constructed on-site, continues the transparency. The house feels bright and modern, with new flooring, fixtures, and finishes throughout selected by the Quatrefoil team.
Unlike standalone architecture or construction firms, Quatrefoil specializes in integrating the two voices from the start, which is key to the firm’s enduring appeal. Their projects seamlessly move between architectural periods and stylistic languages, prioritizing spaces that feel grounded in homeowners’ needs and that offer a dose of design delight around every corner.
To explore Quatrefoil’s portfolio or begin a design conversation, visit Quatrefoil.us.
