SMA’s transformation of this mid-century residence gently subverts the 1950s design with contemporary interventions. Cutouts in the roof and oversized dormers improve the silhouette and give the house a full second-story instead of the one and a half stories typical of the ranch. The new front entrance, created by a cutout, is articulated with a cantilevered canopy framed by vertical slats. On the inside, the exterior interventions enhance space and light, and harmonize spatial flow.

The Bronxville property, accessed via a sloping driveway, sits on a one-acre lot of graceful lawn surrounded by mature trees. A striking rocky outcropping rises up at one end of the rear yard. Indeed, the materials chosen for the exterior evoke a pastoral rather than suburban vibe, and reflect the house’s architectural forms. The gray “weathered” ReSawn siding of the dormers and front entrance complements the porcelain tiled roof. The house’s side elevation is finished with a fresh white-painted exterior, while the street-facing façade features a rustic exposed red brick.

The new owners, with two school-aged children, wanted to open up and modernize the awkward interior spaces. The layout was reconfigured to bring in light and create an orderly flow. On the ground level, the kitchen, dining, and living areas were updated with generous windows that open to the rear lawn. A guest bedroom doubles as a lounge area. The primary bedroom acquires a dramatic cathedral ceiling—and a deck with a bird’s-eye view. A new gym has floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding-glass door. The long front dormer provides space and light for a kids’ study area. Two small rear dormers combine for more bedroom space and a rear stair linking the second floor to mudroom and kitchen.