Blacksmith House, Ghent, NY

Built in 1790 as a blacksmith shop named “The Town Ax," converted to housing for the town schoolteacher and later turned into a barn, Blacksmith House was comprehensively rebuilt in the early 1990's by a local builder to become his own family's home, and renovated by the present owners in 2017. The interior is constructed on three levels: on the first, a cozy living room with original stone fireplace, a country eat-in kitchen and full bath; on the second, an airy master bedroom with a vaulted, paneled ceiling, skylight windows and private outdoor deck, a second bedroom, full bath, and laundry closet; and on the third, a sleeping/meditation loft with more skylights. The roughhewn beams of the original structure are exposed in every room. Approached by a grand stone staircase, set in a lilac-lined hamlet with plantings, surrounded by wildflowers, furnished with antiques and primitive Americana, Blacksmith House radiates tranquility and graciousness with its full-width front porch and classic proportions. Across the lane is a broad lawn surrounded by tall trees, perfect for a garden party or a wedding reception under a tent.

Just down the road from the Omi International Arts Center and The Fields Sculpture Park. Ten miles from Chatham, Kinderhook, and Hudson shops, restaurants and Amtrak. Twenty miles off exit B3 of the Mass Pike. Twenty-five miles from Bard College. Thirty miles from Tanglewood. Amidst rolling hills and pastures, Blacksmith House exists in a space all its own, surrounded by blooming nature by day and stars and fireflies at night.