“Ever since me and my husband, Patrick—an architect—moved to New York from Chicago, we found ourselves spending lots of time upstate with friends,” says interior designer Liz Curry. “It often was our escape from the busy city life and a small Brooklyn apartment. When our daughter, Izzy, came along we sought to purchase our own slice of paradise.”
Their first home upstate was in a wooded area, but their shared dream was to be closer to Roaring Brook Lake. They found it in this 15-year-old diamond in the rough. “Not only is the house a quiet getaway, but it’s perfectly located for short excursions all around Hudson Valley,” she explains. “There are quaint towns, with Cold Spring being the closest, sprawling farms, lovely wineries, and endless trails. It’s a perfect place to be.”
Though the house was relatively new, it was dated from day one and in desperate need for repair. Liz and Patrick were the perfect couple for the job. “We proceeded to open up the main floor and create a flow between the vaulted living room, kitchen, and dining space,” she recalls. “All bedrooms were refreshed, and bathrooms redone. The lower level was converted into a kids’ hangout zone with a custom-built bunk room that sleeps 4, media room, and a full bath. There was not a single space that was not touched throughout the renovation process.”
The creative pair had a clear concept for the space but had to be realistic about the renovation as well. “From the moment I stepped into the house, I had a vision for it and perhaps the most challenging part was to figure out how to do it all on our budget,” Liz admits. “Certain things just needed to be done right away, and logistically, phasing was not an option. Despite some of those challenges, we’re so happy all the major work is completed and behind us.”
The designer—and leader at Liz Curry Studio—says that the process is very different when it’s her own home versus client work. “And I loved every bit of it!” she says. “I would do it all over again. It’s amazing to have the freedom to do whatever the heart desires and not have to explain, justify, sell. That said, there are plenty of things I would like to do and will continue to layer the interiors as long as we have the house.”
Take a tour in the slideshow.
