The restful core of this vintage 1960s house was the gorgeous skylighted atrium, which gave the whole house a sense of spaciousness.
This garden room was literally the center of this home, with eight rooms and four “garden courts” created around it in a squared geometric pattern.
But in this family room space, the edges were curved. The deep, sculptured feeling of the circular skylight was intensified by the round garden pool, the focal point for the furniture arrangement.
The pool was just six inches deep, but at its center was a bubbling fountain that flowed constantly, providing both a mesmerizing look and a beautifully natural sound that echoed gently within this space.
In keeping with the sharp, clearly defined lines of this central living room, the furniture and accessories were simple, yet functional.
Matching wrought iron sofas faced each other across the pool, their yellow cushions repeating accents of the living room and dining room. A pair of black wrought iron side chairs, trimmed with yellow cushions on their seats only, completed the grouping.
A Melaleuca sapling and two evergreen privet plants in tailored pots contrasted with the unadorned architecture — and helped screen off the adjoining rooms from the conversation area.
Muted green walls formed a subtle background for the non-representational oil paintings, which lent a sense of proportion to the otherwise severe walls.
This beautiful home was designed by architect Edward Durell Stone as his entry into the “House of Good Taste” for the New York World’s Fair in 1964/1965.
