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A Millbrook, New York, couple built a Greek Revival home to display the owner’s collection of primarily 18th- and early-19th-century English antiques. Completed in 2012, the house was designed to feel established in its Hudson Valley setting, with architect Cynthia Filkoff and designer Lynne Stair shaping its details and interiors.
A Millbrook, New York, couple built a Greek Revival home to display the owner’s collection of English antiques, much of which had been in storage while they lived in a smaller farmhouse. The house, completed in 2012, was designed to sit naturally among the trees and surrounding landscape, bringing together the antiques, art and architectural references that shaped the project.
The owner has collected primarily 18th- and early-19th-century English pieces for about 30 years. In the Veranda report, he says he once hesitated over an antique he wanted, only to find it gone when he returned. The experience now informs how he buys: he says he studies details such as carving, timber, proportion and craftsmanship to judge an object’s age and provenance, and is quicker to act when a piece appeals to him.
The couple initially considered building on another lot, but changed course after deciding they wanted to remain at their existing Millbrook property. The owner told Veranda that the alternative site was a treeless hilltop, which did not suit their preference for a house nestled into the landscape. The new home was placed at the bottom of a slope, behind large oak trees, with the aim of looking settled rather than newly built.
Architect Cynthia Filkoff of Di Biase Filkoff Architects drew on nearby and British precedents. She measured details of a circa-1848 Presbyterian church to guide the house’s exterior moldings and visited English country houses designed by Robert Adam, including Syon House. Designer Lynne Stair of McMillen Inc. worked with the owner to create a backdrop for his antiques and art without allowing the decoration to overwhelm them.
A Purpose-Built Setting for Antiques
The house shows how a private collection can shape a new home’s architecture, rather than simply being arranged after construction. The couple’s decision to build on their existing property also made the landscape part of the design: the home’s position behind mature oaks was intended to make it feel established in Millbrook.
For readers interested in historic interiors, the project offers a specific example of how designers combine period references with a modern house. The building was completed in 2012, not in the 19th century, while its proportions, finishes and rooms were planned to complement the owner’s English antiques. Its significance is as a documented design project, not evidence of a broader change in architecture or collecting.
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From Farmhouse to Greek Revival
The couple’s previous home was a farmhouse on the same property, which the owner described to Veranda as too small for their needs and collection. Some antiques had remained in storage as they considered what kind of house could accommodate them. The decision to stay on the land followed a morning conversation over coffee, according to the owner.
Architectural references were selected to help the new construction fit its setting and support the collection. Filkoff’s work drew on the scale and detailing of the nearby church and English country houses. Inside, the entry hall includes raised paneling, a carved stair railing and antique limestone floors. The dining room features Georgian furniture and a custom oxblood finish, while other rooms use different colors and materials to distinguish their roles.
Stair brought experience with English antiques to the interiors, including prior work at Christie’s and Sotheby’s, according to the report. She describes her role as creating a backdrop that would not overpower the pieces. The rooms include a study with a Regency-period desk, a morning room with de Gournay wallpaper and green drapery, and a bar and cocktail lounge created from a former porch.
““I learned my lesson the hard way.””
— The homeowner, speaking to Veranda
Details Beyond the House Tour
The Veranda report presents the homeowners’ and design team’s account of the project, but does not provide the couple’s names, the construction budget, the home’s square footage or a complete inventory of the collection. It also does not establish whether the house is open to the public or whether the antiques have been appraised independently. The owner’s and designers’ comments about their intentions and the home’s character are attributed descriptions, not independent assessments of its historical status.
No New Project Announced
The source report does not announce further construction, a sale, a public opening or another milestone for the property. The documented development is the completed home and its interior design, with construction finished in 2012. Any later changes to the house or collection are not described in the material provided.
Key Questions
Where is the Greek Revival home?
It is in Millbrook, New York, in the Hudson Valley, on land where the couple previously owned a farmhouse.
When was the house built?
Construction was completed in 2012. The owner told Veranda that the goal was for the new house to look as though it had long belonged in its setting.
What antiques does the owner collect?
The collection consists primarily of 18th- and early-19th-century English pieces, gathered over about 30 years, alongside an expansive art collection.
Who designed the house and its interiors?
Cynthia Filkoff of Di Biase Filkoff Architects was the architect. Lynne Stair of McMillen Inc. worked on the interiors and helped arrange the antiques and art.
Is the home open to visitors?
The source report does not say whether the private home is open to the public.
Source: veranda.com
