A Dutchess County Retreat Blends Wild Landscapes with Playful, Family-Friendly Interiors

Designer Rafael de Cárdenas created relaxed interiors for Francesca Bodini's weekend home on her father's nearly 1,000-acre estate in Dutchess County, New York. The low-slung structure, designed by Raffaella Bortoluzzi Architecture, uses a restrained material palette to blend with existing outbuildings, while the landscape features only wild grasses per Bodini's specific request. The home prioritizes comfort and usability for her three children and dogs, avoiding a precious or museum-like atmosphere.

The project brought together several established design professionals: architect Raffaella Bortoluzzi handled the building's form, while de Cárdenas—whose commercial portfolio includes retail spaces for Skims, Cartier, and Nike—managed the interiors. Bodini's specific landscape directive resulted in a planting scheme of exclusively wild grasses, with no flowers permitted, requiring everything to grow independently without cultivation. The home's furnishings mix custom pieces with vintage acquisitions, including a circa-1972 Meret Oppenheim side table and a 1960s French chaise longue, alongside Allan McCollum's Collection of Ninety Drawings. The sunroom features personal furniture, Peter Beard's artwork, and ceramics by Kazunori Hamana and Yukiko Kuroda, reflecting Bodini's years of collecting.