New York studio BoND has “brought back the simplicity” to this modernist home on Fire Island by stripping away finishes from previous renovations and adjusting the internal layout.
The 1,100-square-foot (102 square metres), two-bedroom home is a Sears Modern kit house – the blueprints and building supplies for which were originally ordered from the American retailer’s catalogue.
The building is one of the oldest at the eastern end of the barrier island, which lays along the Atlantic Coast east of New York City.
It was bought in 2021 by an art collector who was “drawn to the building’s slim profile, with its gently peaked roof, inspired by California mid-century Modernism”, according to BoND.
However, the interiors were marred by a 1999 renovation and required updating and reconfiguring to bring the dwelling back to its original
“BoND’s aim was to de-complicate the interior and bring back the simplicity of the original design, while also blurring the boundaries of the rigid modernist floor plan,” said the studio.
Colourful finishes were stripped away, replaced with natural materials like cedar panelling installed both vertically and diagonally in the lounge.
White-painted walls, ceilings and structural beams help the space to feel light and bright, which is also aided by large expanses of glass.
Along the fully glazed facade of the building, fritted panels obscure the view between a bedroom and bathroom, and the saltwater swimming pool and deck outside.
Spatial moves included shifting the stovepipe fireplace by Wittus to the other side of the main living space, creating distinct areas for lounging and dining.
Removing upper cabinets helped to open up the kitchen, while the refrigerator and freezer were tucked away in a custom island.
Outdoor furniture from Hay, a Finn Juhl lounge chair, In Common With lighting, a Harbour table and chairs by Artek and Normann Copenhagen, and a blue Thomas Barger chair that matches the pool were all introduced.
10 of the most significant Modernist summer houses in Fire Island Pines
“The home is furnished with pieces that would both compliment the beach-centric lifestyle of Fire Island, yet still fit with the mid-century architecture,” said BoND.
The homeowner’s collection of queer-focused art was also incorporated, with pieces by Stephen Truax, TM Davy, Mark McKnight and Doron Langberg all displayed to celebrate the island’s history as a haven for the LGBTQ+ community.
Fire Island Pines is populated with many significant examples of modernist architecture.
Among other recently renovated homes on the island are two-storey, cedar-clad house designed in 1965 by architect Horace Gifford, and a bungalow that was opened up to allow views from the living space to the swimming pool and bay beyond.
Homeowners on the island themselves, Dvir and Rauchwerger founded BoND in 2019 shortly after overhauling their own apartment in New York’s Chelsea neighbourhood.
The studio’s previous commercial projects have included interiors for men’s apparel store Le Père and a showroom for Brazilian fashion brand PatBo, both in Manhattan.
The photography is by Chris Mottalini.
