When designer Kathryn Scott and her husband, Wenda Gu, a renowned Chinese installation artist, bought a country house in New York’s Hudson River Valley, its design evolved to
reflect their cross-cultural heritage, as well as their artistry. Though built in 2002 by the previous owner, the house was designed “almost like a turn-of-the-century Dutch stable,” says Scott. “It was intended to fit well with the older houses in the area.”
The 30-by-19-foot living room is a study in contrasts: The walls are paneled in pine stained a dark walnut brown to echo the wide-plank floors, but tall windows and French doors on three sides let in swaths of light and verdant views.
Scott designed the curved-back settees, as well as the more modern armless sofa. She set ancient Chinese terra-cotta slabs, which once lined tombs, on metal frames to form coffee tables. The large-scale ink painting and the watercolors in the room are by Gu. The circa 1700s pianoforte belonged to Scott’s grandmother, and the antique rug came from family friends. “When you bring together pieces from different eras and places, it makes a home come alive,” says the designer. The judges concur: “A lot of thought was given to the selection of the pieces,” says
Deborah Griffin. “It’s a nice mix of contemporary and traditional.”
Kathryn Scott, ASID
Kathryn Scott Design Studio
ASID member Kathryn Scott made a name for herself in the art world before embarking on a career in interior design in 1980. Her paintings, china patterns, and 12 Fabergé egg designs attest to her artistic talents. For more than 25 years, she has designed everything from corporate offices to synagogues and private yachts, reflecting a design philosophy that’s also won her several Home Book Design Excellence Awards. She created this year’s winning living room in partnership with her husband, renowned Chinese artist Wenda Gu. A Southerner at heart, Scott was born in Houston. Her firm is based in Brooklyn, New York.
718/ 935-0425
www.kathrynscott.com
