A Neighbor, A Wedding and a Compliment
Behind my home and property, across my pond, through my woods, I designed, built and sold a house to David and Pedro bank in 2008 or so. It's Cottage 23, so right in about that time of Cottage 21, 22, and 24.
Our homes are important to their Owners - generally - but a decision to get married there really articulates the affection well. And it's a true compliment not just the fact that they wanted to get married at their little cottage in the woods, but that they invited me and my son.
They live on Catskill Farms Drive.
So we got gussied up ...
Walked past the old stone barn foundation remnants...
To their 8 acre spread. A little Tiffany's Box. Pedro spent most of the week pressure washing and cleaning and trimming the grounds.
Rain threatened all day and the clouds circled, and it was a bit southernly humid, so we were resting on the porch.
David is some fancy smancy (like many of our clients) broadway music legend so we were treated to not only a professional 3 piece orchestra pre-wedding, but a lot of who's who's of Broadway, which left me at a distinct advantage since I didn't know any names thus failed repeatedly to be impressed by that person or another. Good old fashioned country ignorance. Charming in a way, unless taken too far, which it always is.
Pedro's an architect.
Pianist accompanying the cellos, inside the Home.
The First Dance with an 11 piece swing band played/filtered over an instagram-like old fashion slightly scratchy radio microphone.
And that's that. Our homes have provided a palette for many life events over the last 12 years - some large, some small - it's an extraordinary place to be, to be very aware of the layered fabric of life that happens inside our homes each and every day, homes that are fixed and creative as life blurs and speeds along. A jumping off point, for a weekend, or a lifestyle or a retirement.
About 30% of my clients are same sex, and it was interesting to take Lucas to his first wedding, where even in his young mind a marriage was subtly somehow between a man and a woman - but, you know what - truth be told - I think he was just fine with it. Probably a little confusing, but nothing that little man couldn't handle.
Autumn, A Farmhouse and a Modern
First signs of Autumn are arriving with this impotent looking plant...
This Red-themed charmer...
And these delicate ferns, always the first to come and the first to go.
Farm 28, in the flesh, all cleaned up.
A Saturday Sunlight Shot.
This home is a collaborative effort of 2 sisters, a boyfriend and college friend, all of Google and Facebook fame. It's an expanded Ranch.
Ashokan Reservoir.
Cottage 46 - SOLD - Narrowsburg NY
Well, another successful project finishing up - on time, on budget. Either our clients are getting younger or I'm getting older, that's for sure. These young guys knocked it out of the park with a true respect for creative simplicity.
Our typical 5+ acre wooded lot with underground electric serving it.
Our typical green grass growing flourescently.
Our typical ready to go, turn key experience.
This Cottage 46 has been inspirational on many levels - starting with Denzils and Carolyns back on Lake Ridge Rd a few years back, then up to Saugerties, now back down to Narrowsburg. Farm 16 and 27 even were inspired by it, enlarging this and that to create new functionality.
Few items to point out - the black radiator, cable rail, white washed planks, jacobean-stained wide plank floors and even a sliding and hinged cross buck.
Dining room to deck.
Schoolhouse and Barnlight electric lighting.
Lots of light of course.
To the basement.
1st floor powder room/mudroom.
Light-filled 2nd floor landing.
5 panel doors.
Walk-Out Basement door
Foundation and chimney clad in stone for the real polished and finished look.
Another family just beginning to enjoy the pleasures of the (mostly) trouble-free weekend getaway. Good job guys.
