Open-concept kitchen and dining area with wooden cabinets, a large kitchen island, and a dining table surrounded by benches and chairs. The room has hardwood floors, multiple windows, and pendant lighting.

Birdsall Residence

Armonk, NY

This is the architect’s own residence, and we moved in March of 2020 after combining two separate households. The house is 30 years old, and appealed to us because of its first floor primary bedroom suite. Prior to our moving in, the kitchen and primary bathroom and closet areas needed to be redesigned.

  • 01: The existing kitchen contained French Provincial cabinets and dark green tile. The layout was awkward and inefficient. Moving the door to the garage facilitated the creation of a cook’s kitchen, with a functional central island and extensive counter space.

  • Living room with gray sofa, black armchair, red rug, glass top coffee table with stacked books, fireplace with wooden mantle, wall-mounted TV, sliding glass door opening to a porch with trees outside, shelves with decorative items.

    The existing fireplace was centered in a full, solid wall of cabinets and bookcases. We had a desire to open up the walls to create a visual connection from the living room to the family room/kitchen.  Ceiling mounted glass shelves enhanced the opening of the walls and allowed for the display of pottery and sculpture.

  • Modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, white countertop, center island with bar stools, built-in oven, microwave, sink, and a window over the sink, wooden floor, and artwork on the wall.

    03: The central island contains a new cooktop with downdraft vent.  The space between the counter and the island allows simple turning from food preparation to cooking.  The island seats 4 for informal dining and conversation.

  • Dining area with white oval table, four gray chairs, built-in window seat with cushions, large windows revealing greenery outside, wooden cabinet, and a pendant light hanging above the table.

    04 - The corner of the kitchen has wrap-around windows and views out to the forest and a nature preserve. Adding benches with storage beneath, along with custom made cushions, created a cozy place for grandchildren or curling up with a good book.

  • Wooden kitchen island with a white marble countertop and drawers with metal handles, in a spacious kitchen with hardwood floors.

    05: The central island has an integral cooktop and downdraft vent, designed with storage for pots and pans, as well as bowls and larger serving pieces. 

  • Dining room with a wooden table, eight chairs, window view of trees, a modern hanging light fixture, and decorative items on the table.

    06: A semi-custom pendant fixture complements the glass central panel of the dining room table.

  • Bathroom with a glass-enclosed shower featuring marble walls, a built-in bench, and a dark tile floor, adjacent to a toilet, with artwork on the wall.

    07: The original bathroom had a small shower, with three solid sides and a small glass door.  A new, larger shower with integral marble bench is surrounded by clear glass.

  • A bathroom with two vanities, mirrors with lights, a window with blinds, and a skylight ceiling, reflecting a bright and airy space.

    08: The original bathroom had a large oval tub set in a raised deck below the skylight.  We preferred a larger shower, and used the existing bay window  geometry to create two separate vanities with integrally lit medicine cabinets. The existing window sill was at the perfect height for a new make-up counter. Master Suite redesign:  there were inadequate and awkward closets in the original bathroom, as well as having the sinks outside the bathroom.  By removing the excessively large tub, the bathroom was reduced in size to create a dressing area with two large, walk-in closets between the bedroom and bathroom.