Four years of renovation to preserve every detail of this Hudson Valley home
Designer Nick Spain spent four years renovating this historic Hudson Valley home in Columbia County, interior design and architecture
This 19th-century farmhouse proves that renovation can be an act of faith. Located on Route 9J between Hudson and Stuyvesant, this Hudson Valley home was renovated over the course of four years by designer Nick Spain. On this historic road, lined with old colonial farms, open fields, and century-old trees, it stands as if time had no hold on it.
Columbia County, where it is located, has been attracting New Yorkers seeking space and authenticity for the past twenty years. Architects, designers, and artisans are settling there. And some of them are transforming two-century-old homes into something truly remarkable.
The house has a name: the Garrett Stickles House. It dates from the early 19th century and belongs to one of the families that shaped the region. With a floor area of approximately 1,772 sqf, spread over two levels, it features a central-corridor layout with classical symmetry, including six six-pane windows on the front facade. All of this sits on a vast, wooded lot.
Nick Spain, a New York designer with a background in theater, spent four years on this project. Not four years of planning: four years of actual work. He overhauled the roofs, chimneys, electrical system, and septic system. He reinforced the structure’s stone foundations. A thorough renovation to breathe new life into it, and it’s as if it has stopped aging.
The first step in a good renovation is knowing what not to touch. Spain preserved the original wide-plank hardwood floors. He kept the leaded-glass transoms in the entryway and the small-paned windows frame the light just as they did in 1810. Its two wood-burning fireplaces in the living room and dining room still work. The entryway retains its period proportions: a central hallway, symmetrical rooms on either side.
This classic layout, typical of American colonial homes, is effective. Each room is independent, and movement flows easily.
This is where Spain made his most delicate contributions. In the kitchen, he installed a floor-to-ceiling bay window that offers a bird’s-eye view of the garden. Light thus floods generously into the room throughout the day. The contrast between the old woodwork and the contemporary glass is a deliberate choice by the designer. It is a bold move, and the hallmark of talented, inventive professionals who respect the roots of old homes.
In the dining room, Spain has placed a contemporary wood-burning stove in an alcove. He did not seek a replica, but rather an element from one era placed in a space from another.
If one had to choose a room to encapsulate the project’s spirit, it would be the bathroom. Spain selected raw brass fixtures without varnish or a glossy finish: the metal will age as if it had been installed in the 19th century and develop an authentic patina. A choice that may not suit everyone.
Artisans laid the tiles by hand. The house’s original wooden structure remains visible. The overall design strikes a difficult-to-achieve balance, bringing together the raw and the refined.
This project doesn’t aim to please everyone. And that’s probably its greatest strength. The designer didn’t furnish the house for the sake of appearances or social media approval. He created a project he wanted to be authentic, preserving the best of the 19th century while bringing 21st-century comfort to this Hudson Valley home, without shocking the visitor. The color palette is understated, featuring natural wood, off-white, brass, and concrete.
A few design choices deserve special mention. The integration of a contemporary stove into the historic dining room is exactly what you’d expect from a designer accustomed to staging theatrical productions. Its bay window in the kitchen is a risky move in such a historic home, but its orientation toward the garden fully justifies it. The house has been featured in interior design magazines, and it’s clear that this is due to the quality of Nick Spain’s work.
Columbia County has long been a haven for gallery owners, ceramicists, and architects. Hudson, 15 minutes from the house, has become a must-visit destination for architecture and contemporary design. Kinderhook, the neighboring historic village, attracts visitors for its antique shops and tranquility.
Access to Manhattan by train from Hudson (thanks to the famous Amtrak) in just over two hours has further enhanced the region’s appeal. Many live here full-time, not just on weekends.
This is a major renovation, carried out over four years, by someone who understood that the value of this house lay in its original details. The contemporary additions are evident, such as the glass wall, the raw brass, and the built-in stove, but they do not detract from the building.
This Hudson Valley home is for sale by clicking on this link
Columbia County, where it is located, has been attracting New Yorkers seeking space and authenticity for the past twenty years. Architects, designers, and artisans are settling there. And some of them are transforming two-century-old homes into something truly remarkable.
A colonial farm with respected roots
The house has a name: the Garrett Stickles House. It dates from the early 19th century and belongs to one of the families that shaped the region. With a floor area of approximately 1,772 sqf, spread over two levels, it features a central-corridor layout with classical symmetry, including six six-pane windows on the front facade. All of this sits on a vast, wooded lot.
Nick Spain, a New York designer with a background in theater, spent four years on this project. Not four years of planning: four years of actual work. He overhauled the roofs, chimneys, electrical system, and septic system. He reinforced the structure’s stone foundations. A thorough renovation to breathe new life into it, and it’s as if it has stopped aging.
What the designer preserved and why it matters
The first step in a good renovation is knowing what not to touch. Spain preserved the original wide-plank hardwood floors. He kept the leaded-glass transoms in the entryway and the small-paned windows frame the light just as they did in 1810. Its two wood-burning fireplaces in the living room and dining room still work. The entryway retains its period proportions: a central hallway, symmetrical rooms on either side.
This classic layout, typical of American colonial homes, is effective. Each room is independent, and movement flows easily.
Contemporary additions and their masterful play of contrasts
This is where Spain made his most delicate contributions. In the kitchen, he installed a floor-to-ceiling bay window that offers a bird’s-eye view of the garden. Light thus floods generously into the room throughout the day. The contrast between the old woodwork and the contemporary glass is a deliberate choice by the designer. It is a bold move, and the hallmark of talented, inventive professionals who respect the roots of old homes.
In the dining room, Spain has placed a contemporary wood-burning stove in an alcove. He did not seek a replica, but rather an element from one era placed in a space from another.
The master bathroom encapsulates the project’s spirit
If one had to choose a room to encapsulate the project’s spirit, it would be the bathroom. Spain selected raw brass fixtures without varnish or a glossy finish: the metal will age as if it had been installed in the 19th century and develop an authentic patina. A choice that may not suit everyone.
Artisans laid the tiles by hand. The house’s original wooden structure remains visible. The overall design strikes a difficult-to-achieve balance, bringing together the raw and the refined.
Our take on the design choices
This project doesn’t aim to please everyone. And that’s probably its greatest strength. The designer didn’t furnish the house for the sake of appearances or social media approval. He created a project he wanted to be authentic, preserving the best of the 19th century while bringing 21st-century comfort to this Hudson Valley home, without shocking the visitor. The color palette is understated, featuring natural wood, off-white, brass, and concrete.
A few design choices deserve special mention. The integration of a contemporary stove into the historic dining room is exactly what you’d expect from a designer accustomed to staging theatrical productions. Its bay window in the kitchen is a risky move in such a historic home, but its orientation toward the garden fully justifies it. The house has been featured in interior design magazines, and it’s clear that this is due to the quality of Nick Spain’s work.
Hudson Valley: Why This Region Remains a Benchmark
Columbia County has long been a haven for gallery owners, ceramicists, and architects. Hudson, 15 minutes from the house, has become a must-visit destination for architecture and contemporary design. Kinderhook, the neighboring historic village, attracts visitors for its antique shops and tranquility.
Access to Manhattan by train from Hudson (thanks to the famous Amtrak) in just over two hours has further enhanced the region’s appeal. Many live here full-time, not just on weekends.
What stands out
This is a major renovation, carried out over four years, by someone who understood that the value of this house lay in its original details. The contemporary additions are evident, such as the glass wall, the raw brass, and the built-in stove, but they do not detract from the building.
This Hudson Valley home is for sale by clicking on this link
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