Name: Jennifer
Location: Claryville, New York
I was a Manhattanite selling mortgage-backed securities, and we know how that story ends...So I moved up to my weekend fly fishing cottage, in the sticks (I mean the town actually dead ends), and started again. And boy am I glad I did!
Out of my 850 square foot (on a good day) little red cottage on a river, I run a vacation rentals company (RedCottageInc.com) that is not seeing any sign of a recession. Quite the contrary, I'm regularly approached by owners of fabulous homes who are carrying 2 mortgages and are willing to rent (usually it's to other New Yorkers), and I'm having a ball.
Although I'm only on an acre, there's a pretty pebble terrace off the deck that I, along with a beefy 14 year old neighbor, put in last year, and which is now surrounded by perennial borders. The headwaters of the Neversink flow out back, and the Adirondack chair along the rocky banks is the perfect spot to unwind after a busy day. Just had a party for 50 (mostly nearby weekenders and the bonfire in the woods is the perfect way to end a Catskills evening.
Thanks, Jennifer!
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Beautiful home. Sorry to hear you have "only" an acre. Must be hard :-)
House swap yours for mine?
Very cute place, must be nice indeed.
Your cottage looks SO Norwegian from the outside. Bigger surprise inside, spacious in appearance, great lighting and wonderful features. The fireplace, for one. Your decorating is spot on. May we have a house tour, please?
That fireplace is to die for. Nice. :-D
I don't know why you didn't live here before! It's beautiful.
spoiled rotten you are! perfect
It's so nice! I'm thrilled to see a fresh-looking space that breaks away from the mid-century modern vibe that's so big right now. In fact, this reminds me a little bit of the great interiors on Gilmore Girls!
Thanks so much for all the fun comments! Since a few people have commented on my fireplace (which throws off a huge amount of heat, while still being able to view the fire through the glass), here's the link to Wittus, the company from which I purchased this fireplace insert.
Great place. Charming, colorful and unpretentious. I am getting sick of mid-century too.
I had to go to the city a lot for business and I was frazzled by the end of a day- or two and just wanted outa there!
Lurv!! Are the walls wood? Did you paint them or were they already painted when you got the place? I have a place in the catskills that all wood and I'm hesitant to paint, but seeing your light-filled home...
The walls are sheetrock, but the ceiling in the living room and dining room are tongue and groove pine, painted. I'm a fan of painted paneling. If your floors are wood, it might be enough. Go for it!
Cool place!! So rustic and artful!
What a warm and inviting space!!!!! Would love to see more photos!
Red cottage, do you have a picture of your terrace? I'd love to see it!
Well, I must confess that the picture on my site was taken just a few weeks after it was "installed" last summer. I now have pretty well-developed perennial borders around the two sides, which I've been meaning to photograph. So in the meantime, here's the link above, and I'll post when the up to date shot is uploaded. Thanks for the interest!
Fabulous, lovely place. Just amazing array of colors and warmth. Will share with our readers as well. Stacey of Boston Consignment in MA. bostonconsigns.com
Wow! Love it in winter, it's like a postcard. A Norwegian postcard. Sorry to repeat myself, it's just so darned cute and wonderful!!! Love your little out building and the perennials are looking great!
Well it sounds like I should visit Norway! The winter shot shows the house before I added the 7'x7' vestibule on the front. It's been an incredibly useful space all year-round. Prevents all the heat in the house flying out the door as people say good-bye, and provides a handy spot for fly rods, muddy boots, etc. in summer.
Lovely!
house tour please!