Home of founding Editor in Chief Amy Sneider and Publisher Steven Mandel. Timorous Beasties Iguana Superwide wallpaper, CB2 mirror, midcentury accent chair from Colonia Antiques, Hudson, NY; Flooring from Mafi.
There’s a phenomenon in real estate that may seem mystical to some but persists nonetheless: You don’t choose the house; the house chooses you.
It was a lazy Sunday in April 2007. Steve and I were perusing The New York Times’ real estate section when a listing piqued our curiosity – a small, affordable home in the Hudson Valley, not far from where Steve had grown up in the Catskills. To live among the mountains again would be a true moment of life coming full circle for him. I was raised in Newton, a suburb west of Boston but had lived in several New York river towns, and the proximity to the beauty of the Hudson was appealing.
The house faces west, creating an abundance of afternoon and early evening golden light. Gallery wall; Citron paint by Benjamin Moore.
Kitchen: Moderna black lacquered oak finish integrated cabinetry: Florense; Countertops and island waterfall: Calatorao Matte Sintered Stone: Neolith; Appliances: Thermador, Reno’s Appliance, Paterson, NJ; Kitchen sink and faucet: General Plumbing Supply. Bathroom: Steam shower hardware, vanity, medicine cabinet, and toilet: Kohler from General Plumbing Supply.
That same day, we headed north to the quaint town of Cornwall, New York, 50 miles and a world apart from where we were living in Bergen County, New Jersey. We parked on the charming and aptly named Main Street and ducked into a real estate office where Joe – postman by day and Realtor by weekend – greeted us with a welcome smile. After making acquaintances, we piled into his car to tool around.
Joe proudly shared highlights of the town as we explored, like the famous railroad trestle that spans Moodna Creek at the north end of Schunemunk Mountain. Already locally renowned, the trestle gained brighter star status when it was featured in the opening scene of the George Clooney movie “Michael Clayton.” We passed three gazebos and a big pond where swans drifted peacefully, adjacent to the town’s recreational tennis courts and swimming pool… The more we saw, the more we were certain we could get used to this picturesque community.
Our scenic tour complete, we were ready to check out homes for sale. We looked at five houses that day, and the very last one captured our hearts and turned our idea of moving to the Valley into a decisive bid. It was a humble, 1,000-square-foot home built in 1915. The Hudson River was within walking distance, the legendary Storm King Art Center just a stone’s throw away. We were sold. We made a bid and signed the papers that same day.
As any homeowner can attest to, a restlessness began to reveal itself over the years. Appliances required attention and the exterior paint was badly in need of a refresh. It was abundantly clear that if we wanted to stay in the house (and we did!), we had some practical considerations to face. At the very least, we needed a second bathroom and a more accommodating kitchen. And the fact that we needed more closet space hadn’t escaped us!
We arrived at our solution: a 400-square-foot addition to the back of the original house, plus the conversion of our front porch into a 200-square-foot vestibule, complete with closets galore! In lieu of the original front porch, a second-floor deck would be added directly over the kitchen/family room.
Buying our home was like approaching a mountain range – each peak represents a milestone in our journey, and with every step, you get closer to the breathtaking view of a place to call your own.
REVERSE ENGINEERING
Depending on the day, the backyard is where we hold the party and find our peace. The tranquil view from our new roof deck reminds us why we moved here.
Sources
Moderna black lacquered oak finish integrated cabinetry: Florense; Countertops and island waterfall: Calatorao Matte Sintered Stone: Neolith; Pavo large pendants in vintage brass and dark walnut: Jay Jeffers Collection; Appliances: Thermador, Reno’s Appliance, Paterson, NJ; Kitchen sink and faucet: General Plumbing Supply; Moroccan Zellige tile backsplash in Cognac Brown: Cemento; Artisan weave window coverings: The Shade Store; South African Zulu basket collection; Vintage metal bamboo and rope counter chairs.
Hazelnut laminate cabinetry: Florense; Oak Character Deep White natured floor Planks: Mafi; Beige Bamboo wallpaper: Phillip Jeffries’ Peak Chic Collection; 18th-century carved monks; Moroccan area rug: Newburgh Vintage Emporium; Beaded African head: Diana Garreau in Laguna Beach, Ca; Linen lamp: Hendley & Co; Chantilly Lace Paint by Benjamin Moore.
The original kitchen was converted into a bathroom. Steam shower hardware, vanity, medicine cabinet, and toilet: Kohler from General Plumbing Supply; Polished porcelain shower tile: Cavallo from Tilebar; Roman shade: The Shade Store; Early-20th-century hand-carved low cedar chair: Nuristan region of Afghanistan.
Les Forêts wallpaper collection in Ruban Pattern: Arte; Three-piece wood and rattan sofa and chairs: Newburgh Vintage Emporium; Chair fabric in Parterre – Golden: Suzanne Tucker Home; Sofa fabric in Dolcetto: Thibaut’s Sereno collection; Jute area rug: Foundry42 in Port Jervis, NY; Vintage bamboo snake plant holder.
Upstairs we kept all of the original woodwork. My grandmother’s runner; Primitive cabinet; Mexican folk sculpture; “Get Your Shit Together” art: John O’Hara; Embossed serigraph: Forsyth.
A door leads to the deck in this bedroom. French coverlet: Tinker and Nidge, Narrowsburg, NY; Portrait: arist Linda Hiwot; Volpi wallpaper: Quadrille; Yoshitomo Nara Walk On Flip Clock.
Photography: Mark Roskams and Torkil Stavdal.
Architecture: John E Till.
Contractor: Meridian Construction Creations, Inc.
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