Ceramist Sunshine Thacker Builds a Dream House in Upstate New York, Blending Memory and Modern Design
In the Hudson River Valley of New York, ceramist Sunshine Thacker has brought her dream to life with a modern home. The structure incorporates glass, iron, and wood, showcasing a modular grid of garnet-red steel, inspired by Jean Prouvé. The interior, influenced by California’s Case Study houses, features a bas-relief panel of Lilith, a ceramic mural paying tribute to Hokusai, and bathroom tiles designed from her son Ace’s artwork. The living room is adorned with a painting by Kim Dreyer, which influenced the selection of upholstery. Furnishings include a Chippendale-style chair, a Liam Lee felt bench, and a 1970s Danish lamp, complemented by artworks from Ali Wiesse and ceramics by Ron Meyers, creating a nostalgic atmosphere.
Key facts
- Sunshine Thacker is an internationally renowned ceramist.
- The house is located in the Hudson River Valley, upstate New York, surrounded by maple trees and apple orchards.
- The design was inspired by a dream and features glass, iron, and wood construction with a south-facing orientation.
- A painted steel skeleton references Jean Prouvé’s Demountable House (1944) and House of Better Days (1956).
- Thacker was inspired by California’s Case Study houses for their industrial components and assembly practicality.
- The living room’s design was influenced by Kim Dreyer’s painting The Party Is Over Darling.
- A ceramic mural headboard in the primary bedroom pays homage to Hokusai and symbolizes family fidelity with two cranes.
- Bathroom tiles are inspired by Thacker’s son Ace’s childhood drawings.
Entities
Artists
- Sunshine Thacker
- Jean Prouvé
- Ron Meyers
- Kim Dreyer
- Liam Lee
- Ali Wiesse
- James Smolleck
- Dominique Pouchain
- Isamu Noguchi
- Nikki Pettus
- Tom Million
- Hokusai
- Luke Malaney
- Marsden Hartley
- Mark Alexander
- Ace
Institutions
- LA Studio
Locations
- Hudson River
- New York
- United States
- California
- Nepal
- Italy
- Scandinavia
- Japan
- Denmark