Ten years ago, when we first met Takaaki and Christina Kawabata, they had just fled Brooklyn with their two young kids to live in an entirely open-plan cabin in upstate New York. The couple—he’s an architect, she’s an interior designer—transformed their modest 1960s retreat into a Japanese-style, minimalist farmhouse: see The New Pioneers: A One-Room Family House. The four continue to fine-tune their place—and since 2003, Taka and Christina have run their own firm, Takatina.
In recent years, we’ve featured eye-opening projects of theirs in Japan and Brooklyn. But Takatina’s latest commission is the closest to home in every way. With its ribbon windows, exposed framing, and wooden ceilings, the Hudson Valey house has a midcentury vibe. It was actually built in the 1980s and it latest owners, a creative couple based in NYC, use it as a weekend getaway. But several full-time months upstate at the start of the pandemic left them envisioning a far more pulled-together retreat.
Their request: an overall update, including a new kitchen, HVAC system, and an onsen-style bathroom addition overlooking the woods. Much of the house was preserved and celebrated. But the Takatina makeover introduced a new rustic-sophistication and harmony. Join us for a tour.
Photography by Man Photography, courtesy of Takatina.
Above: The countertop is limestone and the one-handled faucet is a Vola. 
Above: The living room’s spiral stair is original. The Audo modular sofa faces a pair of Barcelona Chairs and the large wood stove is from Vermont Castings.Learn about the sculptural lamp in Object Lessons: Noguchi’s Iconic Akari Lights.
Floor Plans
Here’s Takatina’s own house and two more of their projects:
- Modern Family Living in Tokyo: A Budget New Build by Takatina
- A Flood-Proofed Brooklyn Rebuild on a Budget, Ikea Kitchen Included
Have a Question or Comment About This Post?
Join the conversation