Description

Historic Shingle-Style Revival in Bronxville’s Hilltop Neighborhood - A Landmark Home Reimagined for 21st-Century Family Living

Perched atop a rocky rise in the prestigious Hilltop neighborhood of Bronxville, New York, this expansive Shingle-Style residence has been respectfully restored and modernized to suit the needs of a young Manhattan family relocating to the suburbs. Originally built in 1906 and once the home of Elizabeth “Libby” Custer, widow of famed Civil War General George Armstrong Custer, the house carries a rich architectural legacy. Its commanding site and storied past set the stage for a transformative design effort that blended preservation with performance.

This project represents a careful balance between historic restoration and contemporary upgrade, an approach that honors the architectural heritage of the residence while elevating it for luxury suburban living.

Preserving the Legacy: Exterior Restoration and Architectural Integrity

At first glance, the home’s most striking feature remains its original shingle-style architecture, an expressive, rambling composition of gables, turrets, and porches that embraces the contours of the rocky hilltop site. Over decades of deferred maintenance, however, many of its defining features had begun to deteriorate.

Our work began with a comprehensive preservation of the exterior envelope. The original slate roof and masonry chimneys were meticulously repaired, ensuring structural longevity while preserving their historic character. All cedar siding and trim were replaced in kind, returning the facade to its former richness and textural depth. The wraparound porch, which elegantly traces the rear turret, underwent significant structural restoration, including the addition of integrated planters along its perimeter railing—blending architectural ornament with purposeful landscaping.

Historic windows and doors—some original to the early 20th century—were carefully restored or replaced with period-appropriate custom fabrications, improving energy efficiency while maintaining the home’s authentic character.

Landscape as Architectural Frame

To fully reestablish the estate's relationship to its site, we collaborated closely with landscape architect Renée Byers, whose expertise helped weave the natural and built environments together.

Her site interventions included the repair and extension of original stone retaining walls and patios, reinforcing the terraced gardens that step down from the house toward the village below. New pathways were laid to improve circulation, while strategic screening plantings were added for both privacy and softness. The landscape now serves as a verdant frame to the house, seasonal, textural, and ever-evolving, while reinforcing its proud stance atop the hill.

Interiors: A Narrative of Renewal

Inside, the home required extensive intervention to meet the needs of a growing young family without compromising its historical richness. Much of the original interior millwork and spatial hierarchy remained intact, but systems, finishes, and livability required a complete overhaul.

At the heart of the renovation was the rear glazed porch, now transformed into a luminous year-round living space. Reimagined with new materials, insulation, and glazing, the space offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape while serving as a transitional zone between indoors and out.

Family bedrooms and bathrooms were refreshed with timeless yet contemporary materials, balancing the original proportions with modern comforts. Basement spaces, once unfinished and utilitarian, were fully finished to include flexible family areas and support spaces, making use of every square foot in a highly efficient footprint.

Behind the walls, HVAC and lighting systems were replaced to meet today’s energy standards and environmental performance goals, discreetly integrated to preserve architectural aesthetics. Throughout, the project maintained a clear respect for the original home’s intent, celebrating craftsmanship, spatial generosity, and the layered beauty of natural materials.

Architectural Style Meets Modern Function

This luxury shingle-style home renovation demonstrates how historic architecture can be sensitively updated without compromising its soul. The architectural language, shaped by its gables, turrets, porches, and shingles, is not only preserved but made newly relevant for modern life.

Every element, from restored woodwork to custom exterior millwork, expresses a commitment to craftsmanship and material integrity. And with its elevated perch above Bronxville and sweeping views over the village, the home remains a landmark—not just for its history, but for the design values it continues to uphold.

A Model for Historically Informed Residential Design

As more families seek the beauty and depth of historic homes with the livability of modern residential design, this project serves as a model for what is possible when preservation and performance are brought into balance.

More Information

You are invited to explore more of our work in Historic Home Renovations or view another recent Renovation project that blends architectural legacy with forward-thinking design at https://www.hiltonarchitects.com/renovations. For more information about our approach to designing Shingle Style homes visit https://www.hiltonarchitects.com/blog/tips-for-designing-a-shingle-style-home.