A century of history, a modern vision: designer revitalizes rye tudor
Jessica Gersten didn’t just renovate a grand 1929 Tudor in Rye, New York; she unearthed its soul. The 10,000-square-foot home, steeped in nearly a century of history and once graced by a close friend of President Eisenhower, called for a delicate balance – honoring its past while embracing a contemporary sensibility. The result? A residence that feels both stately and utterly welcoming, a haven for a family eager to make it their forever home.
The weight of history, lightly held
Gersten, founder of her namesake firm after a stint at Ralph Lauren, faced a unique challenge. The house possessed a palpable “weight,” as she describes it, a sense of history that could easily overwhelm. Her goal wasn’t to erase that heritage, but to transform it into an invitation, not an intimidation. The clients, referred to Gersten by a previous patron, envisioned a space that blended contemporary design with handcrafted, organic elements – a quest for “soul” within the grand structure.
The home’s location, overlooking the Westchester Country Club's golf course, is part of a cluster of early 20th-century mansions originally built for club members. And, given the family’s passion for hockey – a sport embraced by the father and his two teenage sons, who maintain an outdoor rink each winter – functionality became paramount. The sunroom and living room were redesigned to facilitate the easy flow of activity between the outdoors and in, a constant stream of kids coming in off the ice, ready for pizza and laughter.
A dialogue between eras
The foyer sets the tone immediately, a “single, restrained move,” as Gersten puts it. A handcrafted table by Vasco Fragoso Mendes anchors the space, paired with a vintage Belgian stool and a striking stoneware vessel by Caroline Blackburn. It’s a conversation starter, establishing the aesthetic vocabulary that permeates the entire house. The living room, however, is where the contrast between the historic and contemporary truly shines. The original timber beams and Gothic fireplace surround stand in defiant opposition to patterned lounge chairs upholstered in a graphic Dedar fabric and a mosaic side table sourced from 1stDibs. “Neither is making a concession to the other,” Gersten notes, “and that unresolved tension is what makes the room so interesting.”
The dining room, Gersten explains, embodies the house “at its most itself”—formal yet inviting. Scenic wallpaper by Ananbo wraps the walls beneath the original decorative ceiling, a testament to preservation. Vintage finds, like a camera obscura photograph by Richard Learoyd and chairs from Gersten’s own Lusitano collection, add layers of texture and a touch of the unexpected.
Throughout the renovation, Gersten deliberately eschewed period-appropriate lighting, instead opting for modern fixtures that create a striking visual contrast. The final touches, vintage ceramics from Freeforms NYC and pieces from her own furniture collection, breathed life into the space, injecting a “different vibration” that transcends mere decoration. As Gersten observes, “You can feel it.”
The project demonstrates a commitment to nuanced design, respecting the home's history while fearlessly embracing modernity. It’s a testament to Gersten’s vision and the family’s desire for a home that is both beautiful and functional, a sanctuary where memories are made and traditions are celebrated.