New Castle Historical Society Showcases 5 Local Houses

From cozy to lofty, and period to eclectic. This is the shortest way to sum up the five houses featured on Thursday's annual house tour conducted by the New Castle Historical Society. According to one tour docent, more than 200 people bought tickets for the tour.

But words like jewel-box, exquisite or tasteful hardly do justice to any of the homes, all of which were snapshots of both historic and modern times.

My tour schedule began with the home of a neighbor, whose yard and sunroom I had seen. Located on Orchard Ridge Road, the first house was a larger bungalow, with many arts and crafts, or prairie school elements, such as the windows and the cabinetry. It was built in 1922 and the owners remodeled the kitchen in the early 1990s, keeping with simple lines and a farm style sink amid the shaker cabinets. Throughout the house were antiques and collectibles purchased here and abroad; many were from East Asia, where one of the owners travels for business. Back doors led to a beautiful garden.

The second house was a country Tudor style cottage with a similar feel as the first. Built in the 1930s, it was renovated to include a beamed solarium with a country dining table for casual meals. The front was renovated to include a new kitchen and great room. Inside was a formal dining room with English and American antique furniture from around the early 19th century. A Meshed Persian and similar rugs were on the floor throughout the first floor.

From homes within walking distance to downtown Chappaqua, the tour led to a modern rendering of an Adirondack "camp" house. The cedar-shingled Adirondack overlooks a lush lawn in the front and a small lake in the back. The roof is slate, and natural touches inside include walnut-coffered ceiling; it is one of the many architectural details in the house. Native American and other lodge-like furnishings and art were throughout the home's first floor. In back there is an infinity pool and a small spa.

The elegantly rustic gave way to graceful elegance at the Georgian revival home on Cowdin Lane. Although the home looks as if it was built in the early 1800s, it is only a few years old. Its grand entrance has a winding, semi-circular staircase leading up to a reading area on the balcony. Cool blues are on the off-white trimmed walls. A mix of contemporary and Chippendale-style furniture makes the living room elegant and comfortable-looking at the same time. On the walls are modern art mixed with Chinese masks and antique sconces.

An early 1900s carriage house on the property serves as a garage and guest house.

The last house on my itinerary was an historic one. Known as the Kipp-Lambert house for its original and subsequent owners, it is on Hardscrabble Road. The white clapboard structure is a combination of styles as a result of the change in time and ownership. The Quaker-style farmhouse was built by Willett Kipp, whose family members were early settlers. After his death, the property was sold to Edward Lambert, a New York banker. Lambert built the Greek revival style home next to the farmhouse that was then connected and used for the kitchen area. Later, larger pillars were added outside, along with extensive landscaping.