Location: Hudson Valley, New York
Size: 3 bedrooms, 1,400 square feet
Years lived in: We’ve lived in the house full-time for about 8 months, but it’s been in my boyfriend’s (Patrick's) family since his grandfather, Harry Cooke, bought it in 1924. He used the proceeds from selling an invention and turned it into a camp for underprivileged city kids.
Who else lives here? My boyfriend Patrick, his sons Harrison and Logan, and Emily, our summer farm apprentice.
>>Enter Hudson Valley Fiber Farm Gallery
After Hudson Valley Fiber Farmer Susan Gibbs, a former CBS News producer, and Patrick Manning started the first ever Yarn CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) on Martha's Vineyard, they expanded to Patrick's family farm in the Hudson Valley. The couple currently goes back and forth from the Vineyard to the Hudson Valley managing their flock of sheep and goats...
The Yarn CSA works like a fruit and vegetable CSA — investors purchase shares of the Fall or Spring shearing, which helps the farm purchase hay and feed for the animals and increase the size of their flock. We felt incredibly lucky to get a peek into the workings of a fiber farm located less than an hour from midtown New York...
One of the Spring babies on the Hudson Valley Fiber Farm.
>>Enter Susan's Hudson Valley Fiber Farm
How many animals do you have?
100 sheep and angora goats, three dogs and one cat and a rabbit. Next year we’ll be adding a herding dog to the mix.
How would you define your style?
I’ve never really thought of it as a style; I just buy things that I fall in love with. I can’t stand clutter, so I try to have no more than one of two interesting pieces in each room. I also love mixing lovely old pieces with soft, comfortable new ones.
What is your greatest inspiration?
I am always inspired by the photographs of Amanda Soule’s house that she posts on her blog. Amanda’s house is full of light, color, beautiful old things and laughter. It’s everything I want my home to be.
What is your favorite element of your home/farm?
I love everything about my kitchen. It’s warm and cozy and it’s the room we spend almost all our time in. There is a fantastic view of the creek, waterfalls and pond, and our kitchen garden. It’s also the room with the most natural light.
>>Enter Susan's Hudson Valley Fiber Farm Gallery
What is the biggest challenge of your home/farm?
Our house was built in 1774, and, like all antique houses, it needs a lot of TLC. There is a list as long as my arm of projects that need getting to. Living in an old house means learning to find the charm in imperfection.
What do friends say about your home?
All our city friends comment on how peaceful and quiet our house is. We’re only an hour from Midtown Manhattan but it feels like a different planet.
What is your home's biggest embarrassment?
The house is very much a work in progress. We really wanted to have it repainted before our big Spring Shearing Day Celebration in May but the weather was uncooperative. When the day of the event arrived, two side of the house were painted and two were not. It looked ridiculous but everyone was very kind about it. I also wish we had a few more bedrooms. I long to be able to invite my shareholders to come stay for a weekend but we just don’t have the space.
What DIY project are you most proud of?
Logan’s tree house — Patrick and a friend worked on it every weekend for months and it
is amazing. It has cedar shake shingles and a screen door, and a large tree branch grows through the center of the room.
>>Enter Susan's Hudson Valley Fiber Farm Gallery
What is your Biggest Indulgence, when furnishing your home or purchasing things for the farm?
Probably the insanely expensive taxidermied rooster I brought back from an antique shop in France. I love him madly and I’ve never had a moment of buyer’s remorse about him.
Best Advice:
When you see something wonderful that you love, buy it right then and there. I learned this lesson the hard way.
Dream Source:
Oh golly! There are so many. I am currently lusting after the wool felt rugs from Filz Felt. Anna Marie Horner’s fabric. I’ve got crushes on several pieces from Maine Cottage.
As for the farm, a Sand Creek Post and Beam barn is at the top of my wish list. Their website is my porn.
Other Inspiration:
etsy is a constant source of inspiration to me. There are so many wonderful fine artists and inspired vintage sellers all in one place. I check the front page several times a day.
The U.K. edition of Country Living magazine is also a wonderful source of inspiration. My tastes fall right in line with their editors and keep all the back issues for when I needs new ideas.
Resources
Appliances: Wolf stove and ovens, Jenn Air Fridge (great for old houses with ceilings too low for Sub Zeros),Fisher & Paykel dish drawers.
Hardware and Cabinets: Plain & Fancy
Furniture: ABC Carpet and Home
Lighting: WAC Lighting
Rugs and Carpets: ABC Carpet and Home Garnet Hill
Window Treatments: We have none! With the small rooms and low ceilings I want as much light to come in as possible.
Beds: Rose Furniture in North Carolina
Artwork: Storyopolis in Los Angeles
Paint: Benjamin Moore
Flooring: Brazilian Hardwood
Update: If you have a latent desire to have your own flock, be sure to check out the Fiber Farm blog (You could also sign up for Shepherding Camp!)
Dirty Little Secrets of Tidy Families
Hillary & Michael's Refined Roost
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Nomade Express Slee...
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
My Staple Summer Cocktail Recipe: Campari & IPA Spritzer
Looking at that yarn makes me wish I had more time to knit and spin yarn:( I've read about the yarn CSA and I think it's a great idea! This is my dream-to own a house on a farm and raise sheep to process their wool. Very cute house!
SO COOL. love.
Every home tour should include photos of baby farm animals.
EVERYTHING is adorable.
Wonderful tour, thanks for sharing!
Your kitchen is beautiful, the colors are really relaxing.
and your animals lovely, all of them. YOur place is perfect, throw that list away!
what a wonderful place!! and i LOVE the fiber farm!!! i'm a textile artist, and have been involved in the textile community here in vancouver for about 13 years, and we really need a farm like yours. beautiful house....
jealous!
Love the baby animals! And the house has obviously been updated yet retains so much charm. Beautiful!
Lovely, and I love the colour palette in your kitchen, the "strong colours slightly faded" look really gives a bright but old fashioned look.
It's not much of a House Tour, is it. Unless these people sleep, bathe and lounge in their kitchen.
Not that it isn't a charming kitchen - I covet the taxidermed chicken. But presumably this house has other well-decorated rooms that aren't kitchens.
Just bought 5 rural acres. You are living my future dream life. When I tell people I'm planning on sheep and chickens - they look at me like I've lost my mind. Since I must not be explaining it well - I'll just direct them to your house tour and maybe they'll understand. I just regret not having done this when my kids were younger since I was raised a country girl myself. What a great place to raise kids. Thanks so much for sharing - I love it all.
Even at Disneyworld, I had the most fun sitting in the goat pen. Will be visiting you someday.
@Blandwagon --
It's certainly more of a "Farm Tour" than a House Tour. I also photographed the living room area, and the little store, which is located in the house. The family spends most of their time in the kitchen and outside. It's definitely a different type of tour, but I think it's a lot of fun. Particularly since the outside is "decorated" with the blue animal pens, cute little signs, the chicken coop and lots of animals! It's perfect for Outdoor Month! And nice to have something a little different.
This was a fun tour. The house itself really caught my interest...being at work, I couldn't post a comment...restrictions, unfortunately...so I had to wait until I got home. This house is right up my alley, although I don't farm and don't know a thing about it. I really like what was shown of the interior, the kitchen and living room. I would have liked to have seen more. The animals are adorable! The lambs and goats look so sweet and gentle. You've done a great job on the outside grounds and pens. From looking at all the yarn (in wonderful colors!), you have a very busy life there. The green color of the house is a great choice! Thank you, AT, for featuring these homes.
Built in 1774! Wow the history I love historical places.
i haven't even LOOKED at the tour yet, but i'm in love with this idea! it's been one of my dream plans for as long as i can remember to go to new zealand and wwoof on a farm that does the soup to nuts treatment of textiles: goat and sheep herding all the way to production. i don't knit, but i'm a mixed media installation artist and have always been fascinated by these kinds of processes.
it's so super exciting to know that someone, anyone, is doing this sort of stuff and i don't have to go halfway around the world! (or rather, that i could try it out first before choosing to head to new zealand anyway!)
So this is an ad for your farm, right? Great use of AT to promote your business. Can't wait to see future postings of home-businesses. ho hummmmmmm.
betty33, I'm not exactly sure what I did to offend you. Several months ago, Amy from AT email and asked if she could do a farm/house tour at our home. As an AT reader, I was excited and said yes. Just before the piece ran Amy sent me the same set of questions to answer that they send everyone and I answered them. I had nothing to do with the editorial content of the piece.