Old Growth Modernists

At the heart of Brian Messana and Toby O’Rorke’s cottage in Livingston is a simple dining room table with an exceptionally long view into history. In 2001, the Manhattan-based architects had gone in together on a 1734 Dutch Colonial farmhouse and eight surrounding acres—which included six trailers, a cinder block motel-style building, and an ancient, overgrown apple orchard. “We really wanted to buy property to build on or renovate,” explains Messana. “It was also an opportunity to become general contractors so we could understand both sides of the process.”

Be careful what you wish for. . .