Known affectionately to the family as “Bag End” in homage to Tolkien, this Sands Point home is less an address than a vessel of cherished memory — a place of weddings, books, and refuge. Nearly a century after its creation in 1921 on Alexander Forman’s Gold Coast estate, our task was to preserve that spirit while carefully adapting the home for modern life, ensuring its playful character and layered history remain alive for the next generation.

When Alexander Forman’s daughter Kathryn married in 1928, he built her a house on the estate while she was away on her honeymoon — modeled after a Garden City home she admired. What began as a father’s gift became the setting for generations of family life, carrying both personal devotion and the spirit of the Gold Coast era, when neighbors included the Guggenheim, Belmont, and Gould families, each building their own grand compounds.

The clients approached us with this remarkable inheritance — a home that had sheltered British sailors during the Second World War and witnessed the authorship of more than forty books. Their goal was to preserve that legacy while adapting the residence for modern family life. We responded by restoring historic details and proportions while opening interiors to light and gardens, introducing thoughtful millwork, finishes, and systems so the house retains its patina while living fully in the present.

Interiors in collaboration with the Owner and Cheryl Baghosian at Gilbert Design