With its rolling hills, majestic mountains, bucolic vistas and significant place in shaping American history, New York’s Hudson Valley is dotted with scenic and historic towns. Distinct and diverse architecture characterizes the region with centuries-old buildings, antique and modern farmhouses and mountaintop retreats that add to the region’s allure. From the quaint villages of Rhinebeck and Millbrook to river towns like Cold Spring, there is retreat for everyone to call home. If you’re looking for a picture-perfect abode that’s a far cry from city living, you’ll be all about these country-chic dwellings.
Built in the 1700s, Red Mill Farm in Wallkill, New York, radiates history and an old-world charm that will transport visitors back in time. Lovingly restored and comfortably outfitted for today’s homeowner, horse enthusiast or hobby farmer, the 70-acre estate is punctuated by a historic Dutch stone farmhouse and buildings of the same period, including an original barn, carriage house, icehouse and smokehouse, all found on the National Register of Historic Places. Original architectural details include wide-board floors, beamed ceilings and fireplaces in almost every room in the house. Privately set off the road at the end of a tree-lined lane overlooking two ponds and a stream, the home is a rare find.
Millbrook, New York, located in the scenic Hudson Valley 1.5 hours north of New York City, is home to horse farms, quaint village life and some of the best antique shopping in the region. This country retreat, a rare offering in one of the most sought-after areas of the Hudson Valley, is surrounded by 178 acres and sited high on a hilltop at the end of a long driveway with scenic mountain views. Designed by noted architect Paul Gleicher in the Arts and Crafts style, the home is cozy in the winter with a log-burning fireplace and ideal for summer living with its wide, cool porches. The large master suite on the second floor with a private balcony looks south to a layer of distant hills and vistas.
For those seeking a private and serene upstate abode, this recreational family compound has it all. Chestnut, maple, oak and almond trees share the sweeping lawns adorned with perennial lilacs, hydrangea, peony bushes and wisteria. Completing this picture is a large pond with six additional ponds set on 60 majestic acres. The lovely period farm property features a main house, guest house and barn apartment with three-car garage, heated gunite pool, tennis court, vegetable garden, greenhouse and potter’s shed. The main house’s updated kitchen leads out to a large slate terrace, perfect for entertaining, complete with built-in pizza oven and smoker. There is plenty of room for work and play or just to enjoy fabulous family holidays. With quick access from the Taconic Parkway and easy drives to Red Hook and Rhinebeck, farm-to-table shopping, boutiques, music at Bard College and skiing at Catamount, are all at your fingertips.
Like many would-be homeowners searching for a place of their own in the country, the Hudson Valley serves up idyllic dwellings with rustic charms and plenty of acreage. Sited on 13-plus acres on one of Dutchess County’s scenic roads, “Whimsy Woods” in Millbrook, New York, is a gracious country property hidden at the end of a long driveway, across a stone bridge spanning one if its ponds. This light-filled home evokes relaxed but modern European excellence with flexible living: it features a charming guest apartment with bath and kitchenette, minutes from Millbrook village and Historic Rhinebeck, where local restaurants and Main Street boutiques greet hikers as well as culture lovers from New York City.