My Houzz: Historic 1680 Fixer-Upper in the Hudson Valley
Old architectural details and new finishes mix beautifully in this creative couple’s renovated home
Rikki Snyder
19 November 2018
Houzz Contributor. Professional photographer and stylist specializing in food, products, still life and interiors. Contributing home tour photographer and writer for Houzz.
Houzz Contributor. Professional photographer and stylist specializing in food, products,... More
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Kat Howard and Aaron Quint; their two children, Magnus, 5, and Ronia, 2; and their 1-year-old Australian cattle dog and Labrador mix, Shadow
Location: Kingston, New York
Size: 4,100 square feet (381 square meters), five bedrooms, three bathrooms
Who lives here: Kat Howard and Aaron Quint; their two children, Magnus, 5, and Ronia, 2; and their 1-year-old Australian cattle dog and Labrador mix, Shadow
Location: Kingston, New York
Size: 4,100 square feet (381 square meters), five bedrooms, three bathrooms
“It felt like a musty museum when we bought it,” Kat Howard says of her family’s historic 1680 Dutch Colonial stone house. Only two other families had owned and lived in the 338-year-old house in Kingston, New York, before Howard and her husband, Aaron Quint, moved in during the summer of 2014.
Howard, a fiber artist, and Quint, the owner of a local microbakery called Kingston Bread Lab, found their house almost by accident. They were originally interested in the house across the street, because it was an 18th-century house that had been fully renovated, but when they arrived to look at the home, it was already under contract. Their real estate agent showed the couple their current house instead. It needed a lot of work, but the couple could not stop thinking about its potential.
Because only two other families had lived in the house for such a long time, the interior had been relatively well preserved. The last time it had been renovated was in the early 1930s, so the wiring and plumbing needed a lot of updating.
The couple started the interior transformation by gutting the kitchen and bathrooms. They also refinished all of the original hardwood floors and had the interior walls replastered and painted. The fireplace, windows and walls are all original. Some of the window glass even has visible ripples, because it was handblown.
Howard’s favorite piece in the dining room is the custom table built by their general contractor, John Yonnetti of Yonnetti’s Restorations Unlimited. The couple hired him to work on updating their home because of his expertise in historic renovation. “He worked on a local historic museum and was recommended by neighbors as a go-to for stone houses,” Howard says. “It was built with wood that was sourced from beams in an old warehouse in Coney Island. He worked with local blacksmith Jonathan Nedbor to hand-forge the legs. It’s thirteen feet long!” Howard says.
“The light fixture was found at an antique store in Troy, New York, and we painted it matte black to match the Schoolhouse Electric wall sconces,” Howard says.
Find a general contractor near you on Houzz
Howard, a fiber artist, and Quint, the owner of a local microbakery called Kingston Bread Lab, found their house almost by accident. They were originally interested in the house across the street, because it was an 18th-century house that had been fully renovated, but when they arrived to look at the home, it was already under contract. Their real estate agent showed the couple their current house instead. It needed a lot of work, but the couple could not stop thinking about its potential.
Because only two other families had lived in the house for such a long time, the interior had been relatively well preserved. The last time it had been renovated was in the early 1930s, so the wiring and plumbing needed a lot of updating.
The couple started the interior transformation by gutting the kitchen and bathrooms. They also refinished all of the original hardwood floors and had the interior walls replastered and painted. The fireplace, windows and walls are all original. Some of the window glass even has visible ripples, because it was handblown.
Howard’s favorite piece in the dining room is the custom table built by their general contractor, John Yonnetti of Yonnetti’s Restorations Unlimited. The couple hired him to work on updating their home because of his expertise in historic renovation. “He worked on a local historic museum and was recommended by neighbors as a go-to for stone houses,” Howard says. “It was built with wood that was sourced from beams in an old warehouse in Coney Island. He worked with local blacksmith Jonathan Nedbor to hand-forge the legs. It’s thirteen feet long!” Howard says.
“The light fixture was found at an antique store in Troy, New York, and we painted it matte black to match the Schoolhouse Electric wall sconces,” Howard says.
Find a general contractor near you on Houzz
“We looked at the house in February 2014, then closed May 2014,” says Howard, pictured here in the front yard by the couple’s roses. “Renovations started immediately until Thanksgiving and took a total of 4½ months. We lived in an apartment in Brooklyn the first month, then moved into the house in June.”
Photo by Kat Howard
Before: The existing kitchen had traditional-style cabinets and old appliances. “There was a dropped ceiling that we took out to brighten the space, dark upper cabinets that we removed and lots of excess couches and chairs that were put on the curb,” Howard says. “Once we saw the kitchen as a blank slate, we realized the space was quite large.”
She adds, “Since I’m an artist, the kitchen renovation project felt like an installation project, of seeing my ideas and contemporary designs come to life in an old space.”
Before: The existing kitchen had traditional-style cabinets and old appliances. “There was a dropped ceiling that we took out to brighten the space, dark upper cabinets that we removed and lots of excess couches and chairs that were put on the curb,” Howard says. “Once we saw the kitchen as a blank slate, we realized the space was quite large.”
She adds, “Since I’m an artist, the kitchen renovation project felt like an installation project, of seeing my ideas and contemporary designs come to life in an old space.”
After: Vaulting the ceiling added natural light. The kitchen was an addition to the house done in the late 1920s, and the couple kept the features from that period that had stood the test of time, like the butler’s pantry, breakfast nook, brass light switches and swinging doors.
“We also converted the stove from electric to gas, which was easy to do because our house already ran on gas heat,” Howard says. All of the lighting as well as the paint, Wolf cabinets, quartz countertops and island are new. The cabinet pulls and hardware are from Herzog’s.
“We also converted the stove from electric to gas, which was easy to do because our house already ran on gas heat,” Howard says. All of the lighting as well as the paint, Wolf cabinets, quartz countertops and island are new. The cabinet pulls and hardware are from Herzog’s.
The couple purchased the matte black hexagonal backsplash tile locally from Caliber Granite.
“I used Houzz as a design resource during my renovation, particularly for the kitchen and bathrooms. I used it mainly as inspiration for design ideas for the colors, light fixtures, counters and tile ideas I had for the kitchen and bathrooms,” Howard says. “It was brilliant to be able to see how other homeowners and designers implemented similar aesthetic choices that had been floating around in the back of my mind. I could really do a visual test-drive to see what matte black tile looked like, or how the Cambria Torquay quartz countertops functioned in real-life scenarios.” She adds that she likes how all of the photos are organized and indexed well. “I scrolled through and looked at what people were saying,” Howard says.
Browse kitchen design ideas
“I used Houzz as a design resource during my renovation, particularly for the kitchen and bathrooms. I used it mainly as inspiration for design ideas for the colors, light fixtures, counters and tile ideas I had for the kitchen and bathrooms,” Howard says. “It was brilliant to be able to see how other homeowners and designers implemented similar aesthetic choices that had been floating around in the back of my mind. I could really do a visual test-drive to see what matte black tile looked like, or how the Cambria Torquay quartz countertops functioned in real-life scenarios.” She adds that she likes how all of the photos are organized and indexed well. “I scrolled through and looked at what people were saying,” Howard says.
Browse kitchen design ideas
“My favorite part about my kitchen is the breakfast nook,” Howard says. “It’s a great holdover from the 1930s renovation, in addition to the adjoining butler’s pantry.”
The 8-foot-long island is from John Boos & Co., and the countertop is a blended walnut wood. “I wanted it to be really functional, almost like a prep kitchen, since there is never enough counter space,” Howard says. Quint started baking bread in their kitchen, then as his business grew, he moved to the bakery downtown.
Because the family lived in the house during their renovations, Howard says, they “basically ate out for a while, but we were new to Hudson Valley so used it as an opportunity to explore the restaurant scene.” She adds, “Since the renovations happened during the summer, we were able to be outside to grill.”
Browse kitchen islands and carts on Houzz
The 8-foot-long island is from John Boos & Co., and the countertop is a blended walnut wood. “I wanted it to be really functional, almost like a prep kitchen, since there is never enough counter space,” Howard says. Quint started baking bread in their kitchen, then as his business grew, he moved to the bakery downtown.
Because the family lived in the house during their renovations, Howard says, they “basically ate out for a while, but we were new to Hudson Valley so used it as an opportunity to explore the restaurant scene.” She adds, “Since the renovations happened during the summer, we were able to be outside to grill.”
Browse kitchen islands and carts on Houzz
Jars of spices are on display in the kitchen for both function and good looks. “We love to cook, and when we moved in, we wanted to have all of our bulk ingredients right on hand instead of tucked away in a cupboard, so we could access them for any recipe,” Howard says. “I often tease our houseguests and offer them a prize if they can name all of the dry goods and spices.”
“My favorite part about the living room is the ancient fireplace,” Howard says. “Fall, winter and spring, there’s usually a roaring fire there. We love having all of our friends and family gather around.” There are two fireplaces downstairs and one upstairs.
The couple painted the fireplace surround blue. “We were lucky that the bones of the house had been preserved by the two families that lived there before us over the past 300 years, and what was mainly needed were cosmetic updates,” Howard says.
The couch on the right was custom-made. The vintage coffee table is from a Hudson Valley estate sale, and the throw blankets are from a Turkish friend.
All paint by Benjamin Moore: Harwood Putty (walls); Bruton White (window trim); Washington Blue (fireplace surround)
Find an upholstery or furniture repair professional near you
The couple painted the fireplace surround blue. “We were lucky that the bones of the house had been preserved by the two families that lived there before us over the past 300 years, and what was mainly needed were cosmetic updates,” Howard says.
The couch on the right was custom-made. The vintage coffee table is from a Hudson Valley estate sale, and the throw blankets are from a Turkish friend.
All paint by Benjamin Moore: Harwood Putty (walls); Bruton White (window trim); Washington Blue (fireplace surround)
Find an upholstery or furniture repair professional near you
This office nook behind one of the couches features a gallery wall of collected artwork.
Howard’s Swedish heritage and love of history and texture inspired her interior decorating style. “To showcase the beautiful architectural details of the house, I stuck to a palette of warm wood, white plaster walls and gray trim,” Howard says.
Howard’s Swedish heritage and love of history and texture inspired her interior decorating style. “To showcase the beautiful architectural details of the house, I stuck to a palette of warm wood, white plaster walls and gray trim,” Howard says.
The bathroom on the first floor came with a pedestal sink, which is Howard’s favorite piece in this space. The sink “is from the first time the house was ever renovated since it was built in 1680, in the early 1930s,” Howard says. “I was so fond of it that I designed the rest of the bathroom around it.”
She chose nickel finishes and a white ceramic-framed mirror to complement the sink. “When we moved in, we removed a massive closet that darkened the room, refinished the floors, repainted and installed a new shower,” Howard says.
She chose nickel finishes and a white ceramic-framed mirror to complement the sink. “When we moved in, we removed a massive closet that darkened the room, refinished the floors, repainted and installed a new shower,” Howard says.
“My favorite part about my home is my studio space,” Howard says. “The beams were left exposed in the ceiling there, and there’s spectacular light that filters in through the oak trees on our corner. It holds all kind of magic for me.”
The family has a 1-year-old dog, Shadow, who is an Australian cattle dog and Labrador mix. “He follows me constantly, so he is most frequently found in my studio or sitting on the main staircase, waiting for me to take the hint that it’s time to get to work up there,” she says.
The family has a 1-year-old dog, Shadow, who is an Australian cattle dog and Labrador mix. “He follows me constantly, so he is most frequently found in my studio or sitting on the main staircase, waiting for me to take the hint that it’s time to get to work up there,” she says.
Howard’s work as a fiber artist addresses how the female body has been viewed throughout history, with a raw, direct approach to narrative and an emphasis on texture. “I have an MFA in poetry and an MFA in studio art, so in my practice I like to merge my two backgrounds and create visual poems with tapestry and hand-woven techniques,” she says. This particular fiber art piece on her desk was inspired by the idea of catching the moon in a net.
“Having my studio in my house gives me the opportunity to dip in there whenever I have a spare moment. With two young children, this accessibility is imperative to my art practice,” Howard says.
“Having my studio in my house gives me the opportunity to dip in there whenever I have a spare moment. With two young children, this accessibility is imperative to my art practice,” Howard says.
“I adore the old floors in my studio space. They’re from 1780, when they were replaced after the British tried to burn our house down during the American Revolution,” Howard says. “It’s amazing to think of the craftsmen who built this home with only hand tools.”
Howard loves that her studio includes an original fireplace. “It’s the only room upstairs that still has a fireplace, which keeps me cozy throughout the chillier months.”
Hanging above it is a letterpress drawer. The piece came from a family member who used to be a printer.
Hanging above it is a letterpress drawer. The piece came from a family member who used to be a printer.
The upstairs landing felt dark and crowded before the couple gave it an overhaul by removing yellowed wallpaper and touching up the plaster walls.
The chandelier “draws the eye up from the ground floor to the second floor without looking too contemporary in our 17th-century house,” Howard says. “I also had our contractor install custom bookcases on either side of the landing. In my experience, you can never have enough space for books!”
Find a general contractor near you to build custom bookshelves
The chandelier “draws the eye up from the ground floor to the second floor without looking too contemporary in our 17th-century house,” Howard says. “I also had our contractor install custom bookcases on either side of the landing. In my experience, you can never have enough space for books!”
Find a general contractor near you to build custom bookshelves
Pictured here are the other bookshelves on the other side of the landing. The couple’s library includes nonfiction reference books that Howard draws upon for her art practice as well as books of poetry.
After living in a smaller place in Brooklyn for years, the couple was excited to have a large master bedroom. “It feels luxurious to have space on either side of the bed,” Howard says. “I love the warmth of the 200-year-old floors. I wanted the bedroom to feel calming and grounded, so I kept it white and bright.”
The side tables are from an antiques store in the San Francisco Bay Area. The blanket is from family in Ireland, and the photograph is from an artist friend, James Maher. The old wooden bench came with the house.
The side tables are from an antiques store in the San Francisco Bay Area. The blanket is from family in Ireland, and the photograph is from an artist friend, James Maher. The old wooden bench came with the house.
Originally there were two smaller bathrooms, which the couple combined to create their master bathroom.
“I’d always dreamed of a double slipper bathtub, which is perfect for those chilly Hudson Valley evenings,” Howard says. “I really like the open marble vanity, with the nickel finish. It feels like a balance between minimal contemporary design and a throwback to traditional aesthetics.”
Browse marble-top bathroom vanities
“I’d always dreamed of a double slipper bathtub, which is perfect for those chilly Hudson Valley evenings,” Howard says. “I really like the open marble vanity, with the nickel finish. It feels like a balance between minimal contemporary design and a throwback to traditional aesthetics.”
Browse marble-top bathroom vanities
“In my artistic palette, neutrals reign supreme, so it was fun to introduce touches of color into my kids’ rooms,” Howard says. “Before moving in, we refinished the floors, painted the rooms a crisp white and changed the light fixtures to Schoolhouse Electric sconces.”
She adds, “In my son’s room, I think it’s great how his books have pride of place, next to his truck collection, of course.”
She adds, “In my son’s room, I think it’s great how his books have pride of place, next to his truck collection, of course.”
“I love the botanical prints and rocking sheep in my daughter’s bedroom, which used to be the housekeeper’s room once upon a time,” Howard says.
“I often use the plaster wall in my foyer to display my artwork before it heads out to a gallery or a client,” Howard says. “This piece is called Medicine Woman and was inspired by oral tradition and the feminine power of the matriarchal Cherokee people.”
“One of the benefits of living in the Hudson Valley are the amazing antiques you can find up here,” Howard says. “Every back road is riddled with treasure troves. You just have to keep your eyes peeled for the diamonds in the rough.”
The three miniature landscape paintings are Hudson Valley vistas that Howard found in local antiques shops. The mirror is a 19th-century papier-mâché find from the Black Barn home store in High Falls. Howard found the empty picture frames on walks through Kingston as discarded items. A family member hand-painted the framed tintype.
The three miniature landscape paintings are Hudson Valley vistas that Howard found in local antiques shops. The mirror is a 19th-century papier-mâché find from the Black Barn home store in High Falls. Howard found the empty picture frames on walks through Kingston as discarded items. A family member hand-painted the framed tintype.
The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, so the couple are not allowed to change the exterior. They did, however, have some overgrown ivy removed, since it can quickly take over, and trimmed back some plantings. The original stone exterior holds the charm of this historic home. “The shutters were already green, but we repainted them because they were chipped,” Howard says. “The local historic society provided the exact color, so we matched the exact green with a custom Benjamin Moore blend.”
Howard loves that Kingston is an artistic and creative community. “It’s a small enough city where you really feel like you know your neighbors, and there are lots of opportunities to connect with other creatives,” she says. “Walking through town, you’ll find an eclectic mix of 17th-century stone houses and contemporary murals. It’s a truly unique place.”
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Other Resources on Houzz
Find a kitchen designer
Get kitchen design ideas
Shop for kitchen products
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Other Resources on Houzz
Find a kitchen designer
Get kitchen design ideas
Shop for kitchen products
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Bravo! Unbelievable!
Absolutely bright, beautiful, but still cozy. Love your home.
So much to love here! The gloriously restored wood floors, the clever use of space, and the innovative design concepts that honor the old yet bring in the new.