Architecture Wednesday: 1800s Farmhouse

This 1880s farmhouse feels like a discovered treasure, tucked away in a secret hillside meadow of wild apple trees in the rolling terrain of the Catskills. And yet the eleven acre estate is minutes from town and less than two hours from Manhattan.

You enter through the mudroom into an open plan kitchen, dining, and living room that flows as one continuous space. The chef's kitchen—designed by the owner and restaurateur—centers on a Viking range within an oversized island, complemented by a farmhouse sink and butcher block countertops.

In the dining area, open to a side porch, reclaimed pine wide-plank floors unify the entire ground floor while the living room is centered around a wood-burning stove, with a short hallway leading to a shared first floor bathroom featuring a walk-in shower; a guest bedroom is located on the ground floor with its own wood stove for cozy evenings and a convenient desk space.

Upstairs on the second level, the three bedrooms share a bathroom with walk-in shower and soaking tub. The primary bedroom has been upgraded to include three closets and a work from home space; in fact each bedroom features generous closet space, uncommon in historical farmhouses. A finished third-story game room and home theater caps the layout—sizable in footprint yet tucked away, perfect for movie nights or creative projects.

Outside a classic wraparound porch captures sunlight throughout the day, while wisteria climbs the pergola. Just outside the kitchen is an outdoor dining table, flanked by stone walls built into the hillside.

A custom fire pit area and seating area is carved into the meadow’s gentle slope with a meandering path leading upward to a wood-fired hot tub. Beyond this, the parklike meadow preserves a wild apple orchard that leads to a large barn—the property's creative crown jewel. The lower level houses a Polaris ATV—included in sale—and provides perfect storage for outdoor gear, motorcycles, and more. The main floor features a statement plexiglass wall that floods the space light and making the barn ready for transforming to a guest space or work from home area.

It's updated, yet historic, peaceful and yet close to New York City.

Dwell