The Inn’s original stone structure was built back in 1773 by Revolutionary War General John Hathorn. Our design concept pays homage to the building’s history while simultaneously exuding a modern, luxurious feel where guests want to linger. The idea was for the Inn to incorporate a variety of inviting spaces that envelope guests as they enjoy a crafted cocktail or delicious meal. According to Anderson, it looks like we hit the mark. She writes, “A walk through the Old Stonehouse Inn and its grounds is a lesson in history itself.

One of the crowning layers of the Inn’s design is the whimsical use of color throughout the rooms. It’s wonderfully reaffirming to see that this powerful element resonated with Anderson, who noted:

“The bar itself commands attention – a beauty of handcrafted mahogany wood created by a friend of the owners. There’s a surprising pop of teal in the wood trim around the bar and in the main dining room behind it – courtesy of interior designer Marina Case of The Red Shutters in Warwick.”

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The design’s intentional use of powerful hues actually starts with the Inn’s red front doors. We chose this shade because a red door is a welcoming early American tradition: if a home had a red front door, tired travelers would know it was a place they could seek rest. Given this structure’s historical background, and the owners’ wishes to welcome guests to their home, red was the only way to go!

As you step inside the Inn, your eyes are immediately drawn to that teal trim. It pops beautifully against a neutral grasscloth wallcovering that, as Anderson described, “glimmers with gold bits.” The contemporary colorful hue combined with the mahogany custom bar, patina flooring, and traditional paintings brings balance to the space.

For consistency, we carried this concept over into the main dining room, complete with two Vermeer paintings and other artwork painted in the same vein by the owner’s uncle in homage to the area’s Dutch heritage.

Wind your way to the front staircase and you’ll happen upon the Tropical Room. “This dining room has the same warm wood floors and teal trim, with a vibrant floral wallpaper,” says Anderson. We’re glad she approves of the consistency and patterned wallcovering. While we decided to aesthetically maintain flow from room to room with the wood and teal, here we chose to evoke a more lively vibe.

A stroll around the first floor of this Inn wouldn’t be complete without showing off the amazing “Ralph Lauren Restroom”. “It’s an explosion of gorgeous tile and large splashes of gold – 24-karet gold leaf, to be exact, even on the ceiling,” notes Anderson. 

There are two additional powder rooms, each with their own unique style.

Guests can also enjoy the second floor relaxing with a glass of cabernet in a cozy nook, chilling with a cocktail in the Lounge or enjoying a bite to eat as they go back in time in the History Room. Whichever room they choose, we designed each space to envelop guests with fabulous hues infused with history with style.

Standing in the History Room today, it’s hard to imagine what it looked like 248 years ago in 1773! The room displays art and artifacts to tell the story of the original Hathorn family. We used the Indigo Talavera wallpaper from Brunschwig & Fils to pay homage to its Hudson Valley provenance. It was originally discovered under multiple layers of successive wallpapers during the renovation of a historic home in a house in the Hudson Valley around the same period in 1812. Since wallpaper was often used by the educated and wealthy in the 18th and 19th centuries, we decided to continue the tradition and use it throughout the house to create a story that elevates this restaurant to one of our favorite #historywithstyle projects!

John and Elizabeth Hathorn launched their lives in this period home complete with gun ports and a birthing room. The birthing room was next to the warm fireplace and was usually where the sick, pregnant or elderly could be easily cared for. This would have been a key room for them since they had NINE children.

Even the office evokes a vibrant and whimsical feel.

The Old Stone House Inn & Restaurant is one of three incredible renovations on a historical compound in Warwick, New York, owned by Arek Kwapinski and Sylwia Kubasiak. This amazing couple has truly created a welcoming hospitality space in the heart of a town steeped in history. And the best part is, they didn’t simply build something new; rather, they lovingly preserved landmarks while updating them into true sought after destinations. We’re proud to be part of such a special restoration.

The Inn is flanked by other two buildings on the site (Warwick’s White House and The Red House) which, if we do say so ourselves, are the most inviting Airbnbs. We had the fortunate pleasure of assisting with the interior design of all three buildings.