Rooted in Place, Reimagined in Light

When Hudson Valley natives Lowell Deutschlander and Jesse Meisler-Abramson founded Plum Design Group, a drafting and construction management studio, they aimed to create organic, locally referencing designs close to home. They didn’t realize, however, just how close to home their work would bring them. “I like architecture that tells me where I am,” explains Deutchlander of the studio’s inspiration. “That can mean fitting into the surrounding natural landscape, or the vibe of the existing built environment. We wanted to work within natural parameters without erasing the past.”

In 2022, the duo was approached by local builder Stuart Reitz to spearhead the potential remodel of a three-story, pond-side home facing the Shawangunk Mountains. Built by pioneering architect Isabella Gillon in 1989, the playful, rural modernist design was familiar to Deutchlander—like very, very familiar. “I grew up in another home Isabella designed,” explains Deutchlander. “She also designed many of the other homes in this neighborhood. So I spent lots of time in her houses, not just my own but also friends’ and neighbors’ variations. Her very distinctive style was a big influence on me.”

Photos by Nora Scarlett