At first glance, this sprawling home in the Catskills appears to be over 200 years old. But, at over 11,000 square feet, this family residence is unmistakably new – yet it feels as though it has stood among the mountains for generations.
This sense of permanence is actually a carefully constructed illusion. Completed in 2023, 'Owl's Nest', as the owner nicknamed it, was designed by Lichten Architects with the help of interior designer Anne Chessin to feel as though it had an old soul.
Set within a storied community, where more than 70 houses share a distinct architectural style, the goal of this house design wasn’t to stand out – it was to belong.
Designing a new build is one thing; designing a new house that feels as though it has always existed is another.
From the outset, that ideal defined the brief for the home. Set within a private neighborhood shaped by more than a century of architectural precedent, the project demanded sensitivity not just to the landscape, but to the residents, too.
'The home is located in the Catskill Mountains within the private Onteora Club community. It is a brand new home in an established community with a combination of shingle-style and Adirondack homes,' Kevin Litchen explains.
'We’ve been fortunate enough to have already worked on a dozen homes within this community and are very familiar with the architectural language. It’s still a challenge, though, to build a new home that looks and feels established, especially when the home has a large footprint.'
'We deliberately tried to be a good neighbor to the already established vocabulary of the homes in the club,' he continues. 'We have an intuitive sense of what makes Onteora homes unique. It’s neither Hamptons nor the Adirondacks.'
Because of this consideration for the surroundings, the project required what Kevin describes as 'strong organizing elements'.
'Rarely does an architect get to design a house of such grand proportions with such clear direction from the client. Yet the house had to settle in its neighborhood without challenging the accepted language. A serious challenge,' he explains.
Designer Anne Chessin, who was brought into the project later in the process, also saw this as essential to the project’s success. 'The goal was to capture the quiet simplicity of the Catskills, where nothing feels overly ornate,' she explains.
The brief from the homeowners, Anne explains, was to create 'a space for relaxation and connection.'
'Designed as a city escape, the home serves as a retreat for our client, her two children, and their pug, as well as a welcoming gathering place for family and friends,' she continues. 'The clients were a young family with a strong sense of sophistication and style, and I wanted the home to reflect that. There needed to be what I call a "relaxed formality".'
Because she joined the project a little later on, many decisions had already been made, so changes needed to happen quickly.
'The interior wood elements had originally been specified in dark tones, which didn’t feel right to me,' she explains. 'I wanted it to feel light and bright – celebrating the natural beauty and grain of the wood rather than hiding it. The first change I made was updating the stain throughout the home to a light honey tone.'
Anne saw the use of wood as essential to preserving the home’s connection to place. 'I wanted to bring the outdoors in,' she explains, noting that the finishes and color scheme subtly reference the landscape.
Kevin agrees that nature ultimately shaped the design: 'We’re out in the country, not in the fancy city. Wood is the default material of choice whenever we are creating something from scratch. And it’s beautiful.'
'Achieving an authentic old-world character in a new build starts with the finishes – the very first layer sets the tone,' Anne explains. 'Many elements were crafted by hand onsite or sourced locally, allowing natural imperfections to become part of the character.'
What ultimately gives the heart of the home its soul is the client.
'The homeowner is an author and professor with two teens at home,' Kevin explains. She loves to cook, so we made sure the kitchen has east-facing light with an outdoor view and can handle her making wonderful meals for the children and their friends on weekends.'
'Because cooking plays a central role in how she entertains, the kitchen became the heart of the home, featuring a generous banquette, an oversized kitchen island, and ample room for hosting,' Anne adds. 'To subtly reference the Catskills, we worked with a local cabinet maker to craft the kitchen hood from reclaimed beams.'
'She also collects books, and this home has a mix of gathering spaces and cozy spaces to curl up with a book,' Kevin adds.
As well as an author and professor, the homeowner is also a devoted collector, and approached the project with a clear vision, and nowhere is that more evident than in the library, which doubles as her home office.
'There are countless favorite spaces, but the library stands out for me,' says Anne. 'Serving as my client’s office, it reflects her life as a professor and writer, surrounded by her extensive book collection.'
'Initially, we considered painting the library red, reminiscent of her former London home, but Lichten Architects wanted to avoid painting the knotty pine to preserve the warmth and beauty of the wood grain. Instead, we chose a rich red stain that gives the room depth and character,' she explains.
Lined with custom-built-ins and filled with the clients' extensive book collection, the room is layered with prints and antiques that tell a story. 'While the client appreciated the patina of antiques, functionality remained essential, and her remarkable collections made it equally important to integrate abundant, well-considered display moments throughout the home.'
The biggest design challenge of this home was the vast 'great room', at over 1,000 sq. ft. with 20-foot ceilings; it was hard to maintain a warm and inviting ambiance.
'To make the space feel intimate, I created multiple seating areas, linking them through patterns and colors to establish a natural rhythm and flow,' Anne explains. 'Lichten Architects designed a stunning fireplace and ceiling built from stones found on the property, while massive windows frame breathtaking mountain views.'
'The result is a series of inviting vignettes where you can curl up with a book, never feeling overwhelmed by the room’s scale. While many dream of expansive spaces, achieving them is one thing – making them feel cozy and welcoming is the true challenge for a designer.'
That sense of coziness flows upstairs, too. Across the bedrooms, the palette softens while still maintaining the richness that defines the rest of the house.
Warm wooden floors and pine millwork remain, while gently layered textiles create an atmosphere that feels restful rather than overwhelming, reinforcing Anne's guiding vision for 'relaxed formality'.
'From the outset, the vision was clear: to celebrate the character of the existing pine and plaster walls while layering in a curated mix of antiques and contemporary pieces with soft, relaxed lines,' Anne continues. 'The result is a thoughtful balance – rooms that feel composed yet never overdressed.'
The bathrooms continue the home's dialogue with the outdoors, most notably in the guest bath.
'The Maude Made tiles in the guest bathroom capture the flora and fauna of the area. This home has incredible views of the surrounding landscape throughout, and these botanical tiles help bring the outdoors in even further,' says Kevin.
Even at their most playful, these spaces remain refined. 'Nothing demands immediate attention; rather, details reveal themselves as the eye moves through each space,' Anne explains.
'Because the rooms are generously scaled, the goal was cohesion rather than a single standout moment,' Anne adds. 'Instead, I focused on creating refined layers that flow seamlessly from room to room.'
'Timeless and livable are guiding principles in all of my designs,' she continues. 'Each space begins with a classic, neutral foundation – warm oak floors and plaster walls – layered with enduring furniture pieces mixed with antiques and thoughtful reproductions.'
'Patterned antique rugs with rich color, a mix of solids and patterns in varied textures, warm lighting, and soft metal finishes reinforce the palette of warm earth tones used throughout the home, creating a sense of harmony and continuity.'
The more practical spaces in this home are treated with the same care as its grand rooms, beginning with the mudroom – a functional zone elevated with thoughtful detailing. A room designed for real life, it's been painted in a deep, woodland green with built-in cubbies to neatly organize coats, boots, and outdoor gear.
'Lighting also plays a crucial role, with thoughtfully selected fixtures that complement the overall aesthetic,' Anne adds.
Equally in the powder room, this moody space leans into a sense of intimacy that some of the larger spaces miss. Wrapped in a richly botanical wallpaper, the compact space feels layered and jewel-like, its palette of warm browns and ochres deepened by burgundy paint and brass fittings.
In the end, what makes this home so memorable isn't just the scale but the warmth, sense of place, and craftsmanship that's been poured into it. And, rather than establishing itself as brand new, it settles into its surroundings with ease.
The sense of belonging is no accident. It’s the result of an architect fluent in 'local language', a designer attuned to timelessness, and a homeowner whose personal passions shaped the spirit of the rooms. Together, they have created something truly rich.
