Mindful Updates Modernize A 1930s Brittany-Style Château

In the heart of Westchester, New York, lies a Brittany-style château so artfully built that it appears plucked from across the pond. With its brick facade, diamond lattice windows, and wood-paneled walls, this home strikes a regal cord. Designed originally by Charles Lewis Bowman, the structure caught the eye of Sam Charney, of Charney Companies, and his wife, Alexandra, who turned to Amy Courtney Design to lead an extensive renovation, taking into account their love for Scandinavian and Japanese minimalism, as well as salvaged antiques.

“Having grown up in Westchester, I’ve always admired homes with historic character, so the opportunity to reimagine a Brittany-style château with Tudor elements was genuinely exciting,” shares Courtney. “Our approach was to honor the home’s architectural history while introducing fresh, contemporary elements that let the space feel both timeless and current.” To balance old and new, Courtney gravitated toward subtle patterns and monochrome furnishings, enabling the homeowners’ impressive art collection to take center stage (think: Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Kaws, and Louise Nevelson). In areas that offered space for bolder hues, such as the powder room, the design team embraced color, opting for maximalist wallcoverings and energizing palettes. Whenever possible, original details were preserved, like the entry floor tile and wood paneling in key areas.

Reflecting the homeowners’ taste for the Japandi aesthetic, materials like light white oak are found in the kitchen and flooring. Scandinavian lighting by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen also compliments more layered materials throughout, such as onyx, used in the primary bedroom and bath. “The onyx brings a serene yet striking quality that aligns beautifully with the Tudor-style rooflines, offering a sense of richness and timelessness,” Courtney says.

Mindful Updates Modernize A 1930s Brittany-Style Château

In the refreshed 1930s Brittany-style chateau, windows were fitted with custom leaded glass from Rohlf’s Stained Glass.

One of the more intricate updates centered on the windows. To preserve the craftsmanship of the original 1930s home, Courtney ensured all the windows were fitted with custom leaded glass from Rohlf’s Stained Glass, the same studio that restored the glass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. “Each steel sash was painstakingly removed, sanded, refinished, and reglazed with this leaded glass before reinstalling them,” she said. “The wood paneling in the living room, intricate plaster ceilings, and central iron railing were meticulously brought back to retain its original charm.”

The other involved the roof, which includes 5,000 Ludowici terra-cotta tiles sourced from the Midwest—each carefully cleaned on-site before replacing cracked or broken tiles. “Additionally, we cleaned or replaced copper chimney caps and roof leaders, while repointing the entire granite façade, which had originally been quarried locally,” Courtney adds. The exterior also features an open-air patio and pool, surrounded by lush landscaping by Grain Collective. “Each step was a balance between honoring the home’s history and ensuring it endures for generations to come.”