Tour this modern organic meets rustic industrial home
There’s an ever-growing focus on nature-inspired design. Bringing the outside into your interiors comes with an abundance of benefits, from mindfulness to enduringly stylish designs.
For most people, color, texture, and indoor plants are at the center, but interior designer Becky Shea took a different approach with this project, a newly built home surrounded by mountain views.
With a layout created to maximize the views of the surroundings to layered interiors that create a cozy meets modern organic feel, we take a look inside and find out exactly how Becky nailed the design brief.
(Image credit: Becky Shea Design/Jake Shea Photography)
‘This home is a brand new build, but before it came to life, it was this stunning, untouched two-acre plot of land. The property has this incredible natural beauty, perched on a ridge in Armonk with expansive views of the distant mountain range,’ explains Becky Shea.
‘That backdrop really set the tone for everything. It felt like the land was telling us what the house should become. We actually drew a lot of inspiration from the site itself – using the stone found right here for the exterior, which gave the home a really grounded, organic feel,’ she adds.
However, starting from scratch came with its own set of challenges – from the offset. While the mountainous location proved beautiful, the rocky terrain caused delays during the excavation process.
(Image credit: Becky Shea Design/Jake Shea Photography)
‘We did encounter a massive amount of rock during excavation. That definitely threw us a curveball, and the full dig took a lot longer than we initially anticipated. But honestly, it turned out to be such a gift. What could have been a setback became one of the most beautiful, defining elements of the home,’ says Becky, who saw the bright side of the challenge.
‘We took that indigenous stone and chiseled it away, using it to create the stunning stone exterior you see throughout the property. It became this unifying feature, tying the home to its natural surroundings, and it really shines in the design of the carriage house and garage structure. The whole process was a bit of a surprise, but the result was pure magic.’
The exterior design is truly something to marvel at. Becky describes it as a ‘labor of love,’ featuring reclaimed weathered wood sourced from the Hudson Valley and, of course, the locally sourced stone.
(Image credit: Becky Shea Design/Jake Shea Photography)
‘Each beam has its own story – pulled from old barns and factories, they’re solid and have this incredible weight to them. You can feel the history when you touch them. Every element of the design was so thoughtful and intentional,’ she explains.
‘The reclaimed materials really drove the overall vernacular of the space, influencing everything from the cozy textures and finishes inside to the way the home feels anchored to the land outside. It’s a home where warmth and authenticity are woven into every corner, and that’s what makes it truly special.’
With the build complete, it was time to focus on the interiors. While the natural environment provided ample inspiration for the design, it was important the space still felt cozy and lived-in – a brief Becky has nailed with a mix of interior design styles.
(Image credit: Becky Shea Design/Jake Shea Photography)
‘The style of the home is truly a beautiful balance of transitional design, blending organic modernism with a strong nod toward rustic industrialism. It’s one of those spaces that feels incredibly cozy and welcoming, yet it has such a powerful presence,’ she explains.
When it came to designing the interiors, creating as many nods to the landscape as possible while adding a sense of character and history were musts. So, plenty of windows were introduced to create ‘unique vantage points.’
‘Whether you’re in the kitchen, the living room, or even tucked away in a nook, you’re always able to peek out at nature and feel totally immersed in the surroundings,’ explains Becky.
(Image credit: Becky Shea Design/Jake Shea Photography)
And it’s that sense of indoor-outdoor living that stands-out. ‘The connection to the outdoors is something truly special here. The expansive exposure creates this seamless indoor-outdoor feel, which is something we were really intentional about. It’s amazing to be able to open everything up and have nature flow into the home.’
‘The windows frame the surrounding landscape beautifully, almost like artwork in every room. What I absolutely love is how the sunlight pours through each space – it’s pure magic. In the early morning, there’s this soft glow that washes over the home, and by late afternoon, the light shifts and adds warmth to every corner,’ she continues.
‘It’s one of those design elements you can’t quite describe until you’re standing in the space, feeling it. It makes the home come alive in a really unique way and is such a big part of what makes this place feel so inviting and connected to its environment.’
(Image credit: Becky Shea Design Jake Shea Photography)
The color palette used throughout the home also speaks to its surroundings. Neutrals, earthy hues, and pops of deep blue create cohesion throughout each room, balancing a sense of contemporary design with a more cozy, organic finish.
Each room has a layered feel to it, from the mix of materials and finishes to the thoughtful decor introduced into each room. But for Becky, it’s the kitchen and office lounge that stand out the most.
‘The office lounge is just extraordinary. It has 25-foot-high ceilings, brick walls, and these gorgeous shou sugi ban beams paired with reclaimed wood. It’s layered with furniture, blankets, and pillows that add this sense of warmth and coziness,’ she explains.
(Image credit: Becky Shea Design/Jake Shea Photography)
‘It feels like a warm hug when you walk in – a space that just invites you to sink in and relax. It’s perfect for unwinding or working creatively, and it really captures that comforting, lived-in vibe I always strive for.’
In contrast, the kitchen has a different feel to it. It’s the room where you really feel that sense of mixed styles coming together to create a unique, cohesive, and tailor-made scheme. It’s a lesson in transitional design, where the organic modern and more industrial elements really tie together.
‘The kitchen holds a special place in my heart because every single detail was conceptualized and designed by me. It’s large, functional, and yet so thoughtfully curated. The kitchen really embodies that balance between raw, natural materials and sleek, utilitarian design,’ she adds.
(Image credit: Becky Shea Design/Jake Shea Photography)
On the other hand, the mudroom adds something a bit different to the rest of the home. While it still sits within the color palette chosen for the project, this space is moodier and darker, with a real sense of coziness. Yet it remains entirely practical, too.
‘From the flooring to the storage we carefully planned, everything has a purpose. There’s even a hidden steel doggy door for Maggie, so she has her own space inside the house – it’s those little details that make the home feel personal and lived-in,’ says Becky.
‘And let’s talk about that antique bench we found – it’s older than time and adds this beautiful contrast to the space. Something so simple, yet so impactful, can completely transcend a room. For me, that’s the beauty of design – finding that balance between functionality and soul.’
From the rustic appeal of the exterior to the cozy, modern organic interiors, this home is a lesson in transitional design. And if there’s one lesson to take from the project, it’s that you can never go wrong with designing a home that pays homage to the surrounding natural landscape.
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