This Catskills A-Frame Is a Woodsy Yet Modern Dream

When Dan Mazzarini, Principal Designer and Creative Director of BHDM Design, took on the renovation of this A-frame home nestled in the snowy Belleayre Mountain, he knew that designing the home to complement and capture the surrounding landscape was of the utmost importance. 

“We wanted to honor the architect’s initial vision of the home with a clean, minimal design," Mazzarini tells The Spruce. "The goal was to create an interconnected space that feels airy and is highly functional."

Check out how Mazzarini and his team transformed this 50-year-old A-frame into a modern and inviting oasis in the Catskills.

Designed With the Landscape in Mind

The home was originally designed in the 1970s by architect Ikuyo Tagawa and features an A-frame construction with twenty-seven skylight windows built into its steep roof, so you can capture glimpses of the stunning landscape from any room of the home. 

The interior is filled with natural wood tones, exposed stone, and other natural accents that complement the rustic landscape that surrounds it. BHDM Design aimed to preserve those key elements of the home while adding modern touches to elevate the space and bring it into the 21st century.

“We referenced the original build to inspire the materials and decor throughout the home,” Mazzarini says. In particular, preserving as much of the original wood paneling and flooring as possible was important to Mazzarini and his team. 

Ultimately, the design of the entire home is influenced by, and balanced with, the stunning landscape of the Catskills. The goal was to avoid pulling colors and materials that may compete with the mountains, says Mazzarini.

Balancing Historical Integrity With Modern Functionality

Heading into the renovation, BHDM Design aimed to preserve as much of the home’s original charm as possible while also making meaningful modern upgrades.

“It’s a careful dance when you’re bringing old and new together, but function always takes precedence,” Mazzarini says.

For example, updating practical items throughout the home such as faucets, fixtures, and appliances was at the top of the list. The key to ensuring that these modern upgrades didn’t take center stage in the home was choosing pieces that matched and complemented the existing vocabulary of the home: think plenty of neutral colors, sleek lines, and clean, modern design. 

Each room of the home strikes the perfect balance between its historical design and newly added modern touches. 

In the living room, an expansive banquet-style sofa provides ample seating in front of a large, stone fireplace. Natural light streams in through the numerous windows in the space and the decor is left minimal for a bright and airy feel. This minimalist approach was intentional, Mazzarini says.

When considering the color palette for the home’s upgraded design, he says that they only presented neutral options to their client.

“We wanted the home to be universal rather than pulling from the fall foliage or lush greens of summer,” Mazzarini says. After some consideration, they landed on a color palette that leaves as much wood intact as possible throughout the home, with pops of white to juxtapose its warmth, and black to add a modern flair. 

In order to prevent the neutral color palette from feeling stale, you’ll notice plenty of sculptural and grand, oversized pieces throughout the home. Take, for example, the oversized white couch, marble coffee table, and statement light fixtures.

The dining room features a large sculptural dining table and simple, minimalist decor. The mid-century modern style chairs are a nod to the home’s original 1970s design while sticking to the neutral and woodsy color palette of the home. 

The clean and uncluttered design allows one of the home’s most unique features to shine—its original end-grain wood floors. Prior to the renovation, these floors were weathered and in need of a facelift after nearly 50 years of use. The dark stain blended with the color of the wood-paneled walls and begged for some contrast and variety.

Refinishing and lightening the wood floors throughout the home allowed BHDM to embrace one of the home’s most unique quirks while simultaneously setting the stage for a more modern and functional design.

The small but mighty kitchen got a major upgrade with modern black marble countertops and black cabinetry, along with new appliances. These dark tones help to break up some of the wood tones in the space and give the kitchen a fresh, modern feel. 

No need for a backsplash in this A-frame home — large windows span the width of the back wall in the kitchen, which can be enjoyed while preparing and cooking meals. The white ceiling also helps the room feel taller, a natural choice for this home that features mostly tall ceilings and open spaces.

One of the most significant changes to the home’s construction is the glass and metal railings and doors that BHDM Design installed throughout the space - particularly on the second floor. Not only does this addition lend to the modern and simplistic design of the space, but it has a practical purpose too.

“The goal was to create an interconnected space that feels airy and is highly functional," Mazzarini says. "Glass railings and doors allow you to feel the volume of the space and help light flow between spaces."

It’s just another way to use the space creatively, something that is of vital importance when you’re working with an A-frame home. These homes offer a unique and exciting architectural experience, but spatial planning can become tricky, particularly as you move up in the home and the rooms get smaller, Mazzarini says.

“You have to get creative to live large in some of the smaller spaces,” he says. Using glass wherever possible helps to extend the sight lines in the home and make the space feel larger and more connected.

The small bathroom screams luxury and elegance with jet-black walls, black marble countertops, and brushed gold fixtures. A large window above the counter gives a straight view of the tree tops that surround the A-frame, providing year-round color and interest to the space. 

Just like the rest of the home, decor is kept minimal.

“We let the windows act as the art in the home to let the view take center stage," Mazzaarini says. "The decor and accessories are minimalistic so as to not overpower the landscape."

A few fresh sprigs of greenery help to bring a touch of the Catskills indoors while keeping the focus on the natural beauty on the other side of the windows.