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Not every client-designer relationship would have thrived under such extreme circumstances, but Dovey credits Sarah and Ben’s attitude for the project’s success. “They were observant and thoughtful, and really took the time to ask all the right questions,” says Dovey. “In the end, it went so well just because of the great relationships.”

In their query letter, Ben and Sarah were clear that they wanted a home that could accommodate all of life’s messes. “We don't want a white display kitchen that only looks good when it's clean and not in use. We want our kitchen to be able to work hard. We love to cook and when we do, there are usually lots of things on the go and a mess being made.”

Two Angle II Armchairs from TRNK sit below a quilt by Catherine-Marie Longtin.

The entryway and all of the communal living areas were situated on the garden floor. Deciding to turn the basement level into a rental unit, Hurwitz and Vogel replicated what a historic townhome would look like with a parlor-level entrance—with a few changes. Recreating a traditional vestibule contrasts with the more modern living and dining room at the rear. The staircase and utilities work like a spine around which the other rooms are organized.

A glimpse into the moody dining room from the hall, which is painted Benjamin Moore Barren Plain. The large artwork is from Sandy Klempner At Home, a local boutique in town. The couple scoured flea markets and vintage stores for the right furniture.

Walls painted Black Ink by Benjamin Moore set the tone in the dining room. The couple retained the original floors and beadboard ceilings, and left the woodwork as they found it. Nick built the table, which can seat 14, from a counter found in the barn, and the chandelier above it is from Rejuvenation.

The living room is dubbed the "Ladies Who Lunch" room. Benjamin Moore’s Chippendale Rosetone covers the walls, in rich contrast to the preserved wood ceiling, and a medley of vintage furnishings fills out the space. The rug is from IKEA and the chandelier is Schoolhouse Electric.

The backsplash is composed of Fireclay tile, the floating shelves are from Semihandmade, and the light above the island is by Andrew Neyer. The Virgin of Guadalupe painting that the couple picked up in a flea market in Mexico City is an ode to the home’s Catholic rectory past.

A bathroom is tucked beside the new sunroom behind the sliding barn door, which was found at Albany Architectural Salvage.

The graphic-patterned floor tile is a Wayfair find. "That was actually inspired by some original marble floors that we saw at the Vatican in Rome," says Nick. The sofa is CB2 and the rest of the furnishings are vintage. The walls are painted Benjamin Moore Ocean City Blue, and the lighting is Iacoli & McAllister.

There are six bedrooms in the home. The master bedroom skews neutral, with the large original windows serving as the focal point.

Next to a wood-burning fireplace is a setup for the family’s record player and albums. Instead of a standard television set, they use a projector.

The pool and surrounding landscape connect the architecture with the wooded park just beyond the yard. “We used the softer textures of ornamental grasses, Japanese maples, and perennial plantings to balance the rectilinear lines of the pool and the house,” says Josh Myers of Myers + Co. Landscape Architecture.

The house's simple palette gives it a streamlined and pleasant effect.

The dining room and kitchen are buffered from tall public housing blocks in the distance with abundant greenery.

Each cabin’s bathroom has a private toilet room, sink, and shower with a floor-to-ceiling window that can be opened while showering to let nature inside. “You can literally bathe in nature,” says designer Taylor Bode. A ladder leads to a loft with a skylight.

Pam and Frank recently tasked Light and Air Architecture with remodeling this loft in New York City to get better natural light. “That’s exactly what we were looking for, is light and air,” says Frank.

The fireplace had a faux stone facade under the mantel, which Lunt replaced with Heath Ceramics bowtie tile in a soft brown hue.