FEATURES

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Elsewhere on the property, a tear-shaped gravel area dubbed the "Jean Arp patio" (after the famous French sculptor) contrasts with the more rigid geometry of the house. It also functions as a safe haven in the middle of the woods. "It's like a small island," he says.

"The white gravel lights up the forest, and the whole thing gives you a feeling of safety and support."

Meanwhile, the interiors required very few structural or cosmetic changes. "We moved a couple of walls, gave it all new paint and added the pivot doors," says Wolfgang. The real transformation came as the couple fashioned spare, monochromatic living spaces designed to allow natural light and the resulting shadow play to take center stage. Noting that sunlight pours in through five skylights, French doors and undraped windows everywhere, the owners intentionally left the walls bare. "There is always something going on—squares of light on the chair, shadows of the trees on the wall," says Wolfgang, who even refrained from displaying his own photography. "White is the perfect platform for all of this because white reflects the color of the day."

Throughout the house, the mostly 1920s and 1930s furnishings are classic, timeless and, of course, white. "We just love white and non-colors like black, sand and gray," says Antonia, who says the apparent simplicity of the interiors belies the effort it takes to create this kind of environment. "The more minimalist you are, the more precise you have to be. Anything you add in has to be just right because it will definitely get noticed," she adds.

On the main level, the living and dining rooms flow together, while the kitchen is tucked behind a half-wall. A guest room and home office can be closed off completely from the main living area by two sets of doors that pivot a full 360 degrees.