Schafer & Company

Winter 2024

New Promotions at SBA in 2024

A woman with curly brown hair and a black dress sits smiling at a desk in an office. Behind her are shelves, a computer monitor, papers, and binders. She rests one hand on the desk and the other on her lap. The environment appears professional and organized.

A man with short brown hair and a trimmed beard, wearing a dark blue suit and white shirt, sits and smiles at the camera. He is indoors, in a room with framed pictures on the wall, wooden furniture, and books on shelves behind him.

A man with short brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a navy button-up shirt, stands with arms crossed and smiles at the camera. He is in front of a blurred background featuring architectural plans and green areas.

A smiling woman with long blonde hair sits at a desk in a modern office. She wears a black long-sleeve top and has her hands folded on papers. Large windows with an urban view are in the background.

A woman with blonde hair tied back smiles, wearing a black blazer over a white shirt. She stands indoors by ceramic pots and woven baskets, with shelves in the background. The setting appears organized and welcoming.

A woman with long dark hair, wearing a white sleeveless top, sits smiling at a desk with papers, a color swatch book, and a pen. Behind her are two computer monitors showing technical drawings and office shelves with books and files.

A person with short gray hair, wearing a light blue button-up shirt, sits at a white desk with papers. Behind them are shelves with books, folders, and a computer displaying design software. The person is looking at the camera and smiling slightly.

A young man in a dark blazer and striped shirt sits at a desk with architectural plans. Two computer monitors, desk lamp, and office decor are visible behind him. He smiles at the camera, seated in a modern workspace.

A woman with long blonde hair, wearing a black cardigan and a light top, stands indoors by a shelf. She is smiling at the camera. The background shows a lamp, framed artwork, a window with greenery outside, and a vase of white flowers.

A young man in a plaid shirt sits at a desk, holding a pen and smiling at the camera. Behind him are two computer monitors, a laptop, and papers on the wall. The workspace appears modern, organized, and well-lit.

Please join us in congratulating the following team members on their new promotions: Jahlay Rae, Studio Director of our Interiors Department; Michael Geller, Associate; Christopher Whelan, Design Associate; Rachel Reilly, Project Manager; Erin Burke, Interiors Project Designer; Amanda Arrizabalaga, Job Captain; Benjamin Shelton, Job Captain; Austin Proehl, Job Captain; Amanda Buehler, Senior Draftsman; and Thomas Assad, Senior Draftsman.

A large farmhouse with a wraparound porch sits atop a grassy hill under a clear blue sky. In the foreground, there is a pond and wild vegetation. Large white text reads AD100 in the sky.

AD100 2024

WHAT A THRILL to be included, once again, in Architectural Digest’s AD100 list for 2024. We are incredibly grateful to the editors for this recognition and to our visionary clients, brilliant collaborators and dedicated team, who make it all possible. Thank you!

Ornate powder room with blue paneled walls, gold-trimmed vanity, marble sink, gold-framed mirror, two wall sconces, intricate floral panels, and a hanging light. A vase with purple flowers and a framed painting decorate the space.

Four adults in business attire stand together in a light-filled office. Three men wear suits, one woman wears a burgundy blouse and skirt. They smile and interact casually, suggesting a friendly professional setting. Bookshelves and art decorate the background.

Design in Mind:
Unlocking the Mysteries of Place with Gil Schafer
A New Documentary Airing on PBS Stations Nationwide in December

A man in a suit sits at a desk covered with papers and blueprints, writing. Behind him, a wall is filled with various photos, sketches, and clippings. The well-lit office contains books, a computer, and various office supplies.

A man sits in an armchair being filmed by a crew. Professional cameras, lights, and audio gear surround him. The room has framed art, large windows, and beige decor, creating a cozy and professional interview setting.

A man in a blue jacket and beige pants walks alone on a dirt path through a lush, green park surrounded by tall trees and bushes. The weather appears mild, and the scene is peaceful and quiet.

Gil is honored to be the subject of a new documentary airing on PBS Stations nationwide beginning on December 1, 2023. Unlocking the Mysteries of Place with Gil Schafer is the newest installment of Design in Mind, a documentary series produced by the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art that takes viewers into the individual worlds of acclaimed architects, designers, and artists. In the film, Gil leads a behind-the-scenes tour of some iconic projects while offering insight into his design process, discussing the importance of classical American architecture and how it’s best adapted for contemporary life, and sharing how the power of memory is crucial in creating an unforgettable place. To view the documentary, please click here >

A sunlit, elegant sitting room with wicker furniture, patterned cushions, several potted plants, a fireplace, and large windows and French doors opening to a lush garden. The book title Home At Last and Gil Schafer IIIs name are prominently displayed.

Gil’s new book, Home At Last:
Enduring Design for the New American House,
coming in Spring 2024

Left: Rustic wooden shed with open barn doors, stone path, wicker chairs, and striped umbrella at sunset. Right: Cozy living room with wooden beams, fireplace, colorful abstract art, chandelier, rug, and dining table.

An open book displays a house surrounded by palm trees on the left page and a pool area with palm trees, lounge chairs, and stone steps on the right, with lush, tropical landscaping in both images.

Gil’s long-awaited third book, HOME AT LAST: Enduring Design for the New American House, is being published by Rizzoli in the Spring of 2024! Featuring eight residences located across the country—from Florida to Maine, Vermont to the Hudson Valley—Home At Last is a celebration of modern life seen through the lens of tradition to reflect the distinct stories, tastes and style of our wonderful clients. To learn more, pre-order a copy, and find out where you can see Gil on book tour, visit the book page here >

Annual Team Field Trip

Three people stand in a partially constructed room with wooden walls. One woman smiles and gestures while holding her phone. Two men stand nearby, one facing her, the other looking outside through an open doorway with greenery visible.

People walk around a backyard pool with lounge chairs and red-striped umbrellas. A small pool house with large windows sits at the end. Trees and greenery surround the area. Some people stand, while others stroll or look at the pool.

A man in a black polo shirt and jeans stands outside a building under construction, holding a black notebook in one hand and gesturing with the other as if explaining something. The background shows unfinished wooden walls and a window frame.

A large group of people of various ages smile and pose together on a stone pathway in front of a house with white columns and large windows. They wear casual summer clothes and stand close together, some with arms around each other. Shrubs and flowers line the entryway.

Two people stand talking on a stone path bordered by tall grass and bushes outside a gray building with large windows. Water and distant land are visible under a cloudy sky. The scene suggests a peaceful lakeside or coastal garden.

Four adults stand side by side on a stone path in a garden, smiling at the camera. The two women in the middle wear black dresses; the man on the left wears a white shirt and khaki pants, and the woman on the right wears a navy dress. Trees and greenery are in the background.

Our annual team field trip took our team to the Hamptons this year, where we started the day in Sag Harbor at a waterfront house we are renovating for a stylish young family. From there, we traveled to Southampton to visit the site for a new Shingle-style house we are designing in collaboration with Rita Konig for interior design and Ed Hollander for landscape design. We stopped for a fun lunch at the Union Burger Bar before heading to the last project, a new family compound on the water for longtime clients in collaboration with David Netto for interior design and Miranda Brooks for landscape design.

New Press

Black, uppercase serif text reads ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST centered on a plain white background. There are no other visual elements or graphics in the image.

Blue text reads TRADITIONAL BUILDING over a faded, intricate architectural illustration featuring classical scrolls and leaves, all framed by a thin white border. The design evokes historic and elegant construction styles.

WE WERE DELIGHTED to have Architectural Digest feature our recent Montecito renovation — to which we brought a light touch, adding back some character and charm that had been lost over the years — done in collaboration with interior designer Michelle Holland in August. In September, Galerie interviewed Gil about some of his favorite finds at the San Francisco Fall Show, one of his must-visit shows of the year. The 20^th edition of The Classicist, which came out in late Fall, includes our new guest cottage in coastal Maine, and we are honored to be named as one of Ocean Home’s “Top Coastal Architects,” as featured in their October/November issue. New Old House explores the New Stone Country House we designed in the Hudson Valley in their Winter issue, with a lengthy feature of the property and interiors.

Last but certainly not least,Traditional Building interviewed Gil, Aimee, Kevin, and Lou for a feature in their December issue about the joining of our teams to create Schafer Buccellato Architects and also offered a sneak peek into Gil’s forthcoming book, Home At Last. To see these pieces and see other recent media stories, visit our Press and Online Media Sections >

ICAA National Conference

A man gives a tour to a small group in an elegant room with a chandelier, large window, and antique furniture. The group listens attentively; some have lanyards. The room features a plant, wooden floors, and cream walls.

A rectangular pool surrounded by brick paving, potted plants, and manicured hedges. Lounge chairs sit on the lower patio. Trees and greenery enclose the courtyard, with a veranda on the right and a garden house at the far end.

A bright hallway with orange walls, white trim, and a wooden staircase. A large window lights a white statue on a pedestal. A wooden chair sits by the window and a leafy plant is near a marble-topped table. A hanging lamp is centered on the ceiling.

WE WERE PROUD to be one of the sponsors of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art’s first national conference, which was held in Charleston during the first weekend of November. As part of the conference, Gil led a tour of our award-winning restoration and renovation project, The William C. Gatewood House, which seemed especially well-suited to the conference’s theme, “Enduring Places.” [Photos courtesy of the ICAA]

A man in a tuxedo stands at a wooden podium with the Harvard Club of Boston seal. The room has paneled wood walls and lit candles in a sconce behind him. The man looks to the side and appears to be speaking or addressing an audience.

A wooden house with white trim sits quietly among tall, dense pine trees in a sunlit forest. Moss and shadows cover the forest floor, and sunlight filters through the branches, creating a tranquil, green woodland scene.

A sunlit wooden entryway features a green door, woven rug, staircase, dresser with lamp, baskets, hats on hooks, potted plant, and a window with views of trees outside. The decor is rustic and inviting, with natural wood and warm light.

2023 Bulfinch Awards

WE ARE HONORED to receive two 2023 Bulfinch Awards from the New England chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art.

Our New Guest House in Maine won for Residential New Construction Under 5,000 SF. This charming new cottage, part of an expansive family compound on the coast of Maine, was designed to look as if it were a converted carriage house or chauffeur’s cottage that had long been standing on a historic estate. The interiors were created in collaboration with interior designer Tom Scheerer, who has worked with the clients for many years, and the landscape was designed by Cecilia de Grelle.

Our New Family Compound on Block Island was the winner in the Residential New Construction Over 5,000 SF category. Located on the site of a former dairy farm that had been a scenic icon of the island for generations, we took our aesthetic cues from the shingle-style architecture of early 1900s New England to reimagine the property into a contemporary family compound. We collaborated with Miles Redd for interior design and Deborah Nevins for landscape and were lucky to work with such inspiring clients whose devotion to the land and preservation was a key part of this project.

SBA Studio Director Carl Carfi accepted the award on behalf of the firm at the awards ceremony on October 28, 2023, at the Harvard Club in Boston. [Award Acceptance Photo Courtesy of the New England Chapter of the ICAA]

2023 Palladio Awards

A curved wooden staircase with dark handrails and balusters, cream-colored risers, and wooden treads ascends alongside a beige wall. The floor below features a light tile with black square accents. Sunlight creates shadows on the stairs.

A smiling woman with glasses and a black-and-white jacket holds a dark ornate award. She stands indoors in front of a mural of trees. There are magazines stacked on a table nearby. The setting appears formal and celebratory.

A classic white marble mantel with a blue and white vase holding leafy green branches. Part of a gold-framed painting and a picture of a figure in Turkish attire hang on a yellow wall. The black fireplace and architectural details add elegance.

A stone house with large windows and two chimneys sits beside manicured hedges. Autumn trees surround the house, and rolling hills stretch into the distance under a clear blue sky. Sunlight casts long shadows on the green lawn.

On July 11, 2023, SBA Studio Director Laura Welsh attended the Palladio Awards ceremony, held at The Mansion at Oyster Bay, to accept the 2023 Palladio Award for Interior Architectural Design, which we were honored to receive for our New Stone Country House. To read more about the Awards, please click here > [Project photos by Eric Piasecki]

In November, Gil joined Peter Miller, host of Traditional Building’s “Building Tradition” podcast for a conversation about his forthcoming book, Home At Last, the role that studying precedent has played in his work and personal design philosophy, and the exciting evolution of the firm into Schafer Buccellato Architects. Listen to the interview wherever you get your podcasts, or click here to learn more >

A man in a tuxedo stands indoors, smiling and holding a silver award plaque. There is a piano and podium in the background, with another person speaking. The atmosphere suggests a formal event or awards ceremony in an elegant, dimly lit room.

Gil was honored to be recognized by the French Heritage Society, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect the French architectural and cultural legacy in France and the United States, at their annual Gala Dinner Dance, held on November 16, 2023, at the University Club inManhattan.To learn more about the French Heritage Society’s mission and their annual gala, please visit their website here > [Photo by Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images]

Notre Dame Thesis Presentation

In November, our South Bend office hosted a group of Notre Dame students for a workshop on what makes a great thesis. Three of our talented architects — Associate Julian Murphy, Job Captain Rachel Reilly, and Draftsman Thomas Assad — presented their own thesis projects and offered career advice as the attendees look toward their next steps. Education and mentorship are important parts of the SBA culture and we were thrilled to invite these students into the studio.

Eight people gather in an office, discussing architectural plans and renderings posted on a wall. A man in a red sweater gestures as he speaks, while others listen attentively. The group is surrounded by work materials, drinks, and decorative objects on tables nearby.

Office gathering with about 35 people socializing, eating, and holding drinks in a bright room with bookshelves, plants, and computers. Some people are standing in groups and chatting, while others are near tables with food. Overhead lamps hang from the ceiling.

A group of people faces a man giving a presentation in a bright room. Architectural drawings and images are displayed on the walls. Most attendees stand, listening attentively, while one person sits. The atmosphere appears focused and professional.

Two children sit at a table covered with architectural plans, highlighting and drawing with colored pencils and markers. The boy wears a blue bow tie and vest, and the girl is in a light pink outfit. Pencil cups and school supplies are on the table. An office is in the background.

Special Guests

We’ve had some special guests visit the office in the past few months as part of our “bring your children to work” days. If we were the betting type, we’d put our money on these kids as the next rising stars in the architecture field!

A runner in a black tank top, shorts, and cap smiles while crossing a blue finish line at the Chicago Marathon. The bib shows B 23105. Another runner is visible behind. The year 2023 and event branding are printed on the ground.

CONGRATULATIONS to SBA team member Jack Calvert, who ran the Chicago marathon this fall, and Matt Leonard, who ran a half marathon in Zion National Park in the spring!