81 Highwood

Some homes speak the moment you walk in. 81 Highwood was one of them—a red-brick former church residence with craftsmanship you can feel in your hands. Thick nine-inch brick, original stables, an iron milk box built into the masonry for early-morning deliveries, horsehair insulation around old pipes, and newspapers from the 1800s whispered stories of the past. When I look for the perfect home to remodel, I focus on a few essential qualities: good bones, meaningful surroundings, and at least one historical element worth restoring. At 81 Highwood, we found all three.

This red-brick, three-story home originally belonged to the church up the street, and no expense was spared in its construction. It was built with nine-inch brick—practically unheard of today—and came with a two-car garage that once served as the church’s stables. Throughout the renovation, we uncovered remarkable relics. 

There’s nothing quite like stepping into a house and hearing the stories in its walls—feeling the weight of time and imagining the new stories you can create. That’s the magic of restoration. I knew I wanted to preserve the warmth and soul of the original structure while giving the home a bold new chapter. Blackened brick meets a steel-clad addition; the stables become an eclectic poolside cabana; and the steep backyard transforms into a serene wooded landscape, with a 50-foot concrete pool anchoring it.

Rather than tearing the house down, we chose to honor what existed—the charm, the craftsmanship, the energy that drew us in. We converted the basement into an expansive living level, complete with a cozy cinema room, laundry, sauna, full bath, office, wine cove, and gym. Wall-to-ceiling glass doors open out onto a Corten steel tiered courtyard that flows to the pool and a tiered, wooded landscape.

 

Inside, 5000 square feet of new space flow around structural steel and natural light. MOKA signatures—an open teak-bridge bath, suspended fireplace, terrazzo bathrooms, George Nelson lighting, and original Victorian staircases —blur the line between architecture and art.

It’s a sanctuary of contrasts: old soul, new energy, and a deep sense of calm just minutes from NYC.