The house that Kennedy built
Built in 1920, this once white, wooden, colonial
itional farmhouse from early last century, with larger
farmhouse lies just outside quaint Mount Kisco, an hour
windows for more sunlight. the visitor steps through a
from Manhattan. it was previously used as a vacation
quaint foyer onto a beautiful wooden floor made of materials
home by the Scribner publishing family and the award
rescued from the old house. Several flooring experts told
winning gardener Gladys Goldschmidt. the Kennedys
Mary that it was impossible to salvage. then, John Yarema
moved in full-time in 1984. however, a few years ago,
a master woodworker from the forests of Michigan, in the
record rainfalls inundated the property and created a
spirit of the whole project, simply invented a way using a
devastating flood and the family
patented laser and the artistic
returned from summer vacation
sense of leonardo daVinci. “John
to find a foot of stagnant water
is a genius and now forever part of
in their basement. Virulent mold
the family”, says Mary.
had turned the house exterior
the sitting room, bathed
black and spread throughout
in natural light, also has an
the interior, worsening the kids’
intricately
asthma. Mary realized she had
floor, a gift for Mary’s birthday.
to act. “i wanted to rebuild my
the whole floor was put in place
house as a model home that would
in only 16 hours, with youngest
provide a healthy environment
son aidan, 8, laying parts of it.
for our children, be energy
Mary explains that she never
self-sufficient, and that would
goes on any trip without trying
showcase the latest cutting edge
to bring at least one of the kids
green technologies. i wanted to
along, no matter if it’s to go
prove that you could build a
kayaking in chile, to visit Machu
‘green’ house with classic beauty
picchu in peru or to see a space
and elegance.” the Kennedy Green house project was born. Mary
disassembled
and
Aidan is a bright, energetic 8-year old, who also put in part of the living room floor.
recycled the old house, making
patterned
Yarema
shuttle launch. Generally, Mary always does things her own way. this is evident in the home’s floor plan:
sure that nothing went to landfills. as word of the project
it accommodates rollerblading. the children are the center
spread, friends signed on to help, contributing know-how,
of the household. conor, Kyra, Finn, aidan, their cousins
time and materials toward achieving Mary’s vision of
and friends roam the house at all hours. and even though
creating an innovative, healthy and lovable structure that
the rooms are full of valuable furniture and mementos,
could serve as an example and schoolhouse for others who
when something gets broken in an impromptu swordfight
wanted to adopt a green lifestyle.
or indoor football match, it’s mainly shrugged off as the
the new brick house built on the original 1870 foundation, is an architectural interpretation of a trad-
price of having kids. Mary grew up in large but close-knit irish catholic family, so that’s no surprise.
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