There’s always a kind of wistful beauty and grace with age, and when sensitively restored it can transcend time. A lifelong labor of love with a story that spans generations, this 18th-century former watermill has been transformed into a remarkable vacation home in New York. 

One of a handful of gems left in upstate New York's Hudson Valley area, we love the light modern transformation of the spaces that still gives life to the lovely old stones and the sights and sounds of the waterfall cascading outside.

Two hours north of NYC in the verdant Hudson Valley, this stately structure has stood the test of time and is one of the many mills and historic industrial buildings that have existed throughout the area for centuries.    

Abandoned for many years, the structure was a lovely ruin and a hollow shell except for the steel beams and the stone walls that remained standing. Discovered in the 1960s, the home became a lifelong project of an upstate family and the childhood home of the current owner whose architect and interior designer parents set about restoring and transforming it into the vacation home it has become.

Carefully preserving the foundations and existing stonework, the duo converted the borderless spaces into two smartly designed floors of living space. The ground floor living and dining area is centralized around the stone hearth with rustic plank floors, french windows, and lofty double-height ceilings. The design is modern without being austere and created with intimacy in mind.

There's a fully equipped eat-in kitchen with an additional breakfast nook and doors that lead to the gardens. Smartly but lightly decorated with a mix of vintage and antique pieces and original art from the family's collection, the home exudes warmth and effortless style. 

Upstairs the en suite master bedroom comes with its own wood-burning stove and double french doors leading to a small balcony. There are two additional double bedrooms, one with a loft bed perfect for kids and each with waterfall views. 

There's a cozy sitting room with a wood-burning stove and French doors leading out to the large deck and courtyard with a grill and dining space for ten. Here there are more remnants of the old stone structure with the original well surrounded by wild green landscape.

At the upper edges of the property is a peaceful pond that feeds the rushing waterfall and streams below in a serene and scenic tableau.  

THE HISTORIC HUDSON VALLEY

A couple of hours north of New York City in the Hudson Valley, Millbrook is a charming village of galleries and antique shops, cafes, and restaurants surrounded by verdant mountains and scenic natural resources for exploring. With some areas dating back three hundred years THE valley features many historical sites, old towns and villages and stately mansions to tour. 

Home to the Culinary Institute and a thriving locavore movement, the area is considered one of the country’s best gourmet regions where you can browse the very best at the local farmer's markets and pick-your-own farms. 

Nearby Rhinebeck is a historic village with a quaint small-town vibe and charming tree-lined streets dotted with unique shops and restaurants. The Hudson River snakes through the region and there are numerous scenic parks, lakes and countryside hiking trails to explore. Just across the river from Woodstock and Kingston, the town is within reach of the Catskills and sits halfway between Hudson and Poughkeepsie. 

LOCATION

Salt Point, Dutchess County, New York. Nearest Airport: All NYC area airports (2 hrs)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Upstate New York is great year-round to enjoy all seasons with milder temperatures in Spring through Fall