Words by Yale Breslin
It’s often said, the best part about living in New York City is … leaving it. Temporarily putting the rat race behind you and escaping to a locale that offers all things that the concrete jungle doesn’t: greenery, sweeping landscapes, calm, and the opportunity (and space) to dream. For in-demand hairstylist Tommy Buckett (and his fashion editor housemate), their goal was a sense of serenity. They recently purchased a house in Copake, New York, that was modeled after a 1845 farmhouse that sits directly across the valley, mimicking the historic one it faces on the other side of the valley. Best part? It’s a short drive from where they live in the Big Apple.
Their mission was as grand as it was simple: Restore a unique property away from their city lives to help balance the chaos and noise of their complex professional schedules. And it makes sense. They’ve been friends for over 15 years, so they knew what they were getting themselves into. Their home, aptly called High Meadow Tree Farm, is nestled atop nine acres on a serene country road, directly across a tree farm with majestic views of the Taconic Range and valley as its background.
Their three-bedroom “countryside treasure,” as they call it, was completely restored while still preserving the structure and history of the farm. Their first step? “We just stripped it back. Way back. We slapped white on the walls and bleached all the wood and the floors to create a blank canvas,” he says. “This allowed us to create an entirely fresh start.” Here, we tour their unique abode and learn about their restorative (and handy) process and why working with a best friend has been their best endeavor yet.
How did you come to this idea of buying a property outside of the city?
I grew up in a small town in Michigan surrounded by nature and wilderness. Living in NYC for 20 years, I craved that. I wanted a simpler way of living on weekends and somewhere I could refocus. My housemate and I grew up very similarly. We had the same idea of what peace and quiet was and to share this with your best friend is great.
Can you tell me a little bit about the structure?
There was one owner before us. High Meadow Tree Farm was built to mirror a house that sits directly across the valley. It’s an 1845 Greek Revival farmhouse. What’s amazing is that we sit across the valley directly across from the house that we are copied from, so we are mirroring each other.
What are some of the key details that are important to the home?
The thing that I love the most is that there are windows everywhere – about two or three to one wall. We don’t have window treatments and it’s so nice to take it all in year-round and see the seasons change. We look outside at the tree farm on one side and we see a corn field on the other. There’s nothing better than the sweeping views of this magical tree farm perched on a hill above it. It really defines each season and the view is stunning.
What drew you to this property?
For me, it’s the views of the mountains. It reminds me of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.
What did you do to transform it?
We just stripped it back. Way back. Lots of white paint. Gallons and buckets. (laughs). We refinished the floors and we took down all the cabinets in the kitchen and put in open shelves and new appliances. We also changed all the lightning fixtures around the house and sourced all new furniture. And, I can’t forget, we gardened – a lot. It’s been very much on a budget, which makes it so great. It just proves you don’t need a lot of money for something to be beautiful.
What’s it like working with a friend on this project?
It’s very lucky we have the same taste in interiors. There wasn’t a lot of fighting or combative conversations. We were on the same page with what the house needed. We’ve gotten quite handy also. We find ourselves YouTubing projects and figuring out a way to do it. We’re very lucky. It was a great laugh to be honest. The tree farm – The High Meadow House – is a love letter to someone very special that we lost along the way. It’s a living love letter, and it has been great therapy. And we never get bored of blasting records in the middle of the night and trying paintings on of all the different walls.
The property is breathtaking. What inspired the aesthetic?
I think the interior design is white paint (laughs). We wanted it clean and simple. There’s a shaker style to it with a bit of a 1970s vibe. Golden colors and warm tones with textured fabrics and pillows. We wanted the home to feel comfortable and cozy and not too fussy. When it gets too precious, you don’t want to use it as much. For instance, the custom yellow shade of kitchen cabinets. We call it “Tawny Biscuit”. We just wanted things that were lighter and more fun. The whole point is for it to be comfortable. If something spills, it’s not the end of the world. Throw it in the wash and move on.
I’ve heard lots of people talk about the community in Upstate New York. It seems to be really special. What’s it like?
We used to stay with a group of friends who bought a house together, so we really fell in love with the community long before getting this house. Being here so often, you got to bump into your neighbors more and really got to know the people around you. In Copake, there are tons of age groups from young to older to retirees. It’s been a really lovely community.
What do you feel like when you’re away from the city?
Simply, I feel like I can breathe. It feels like returning home to myself. Living here reminds me of how my memories of childhood were. It’s exactly how I remember them feeling.
Do you have a favorite part of the home?
Hands down, it’s the tree swing, for sure. Right now, we have a fresh batch of trees. When we first bought it, it was full of Christmas trees but now it’s more leafy. The leaves just blow and shudder in the summer breeze. I also love the kitchen because it’s really special to me. People will sit around the fire while someone else is cooking. It’s quite a lovely way to spend a fall evening. There’s also light at all times and the light changes from the morning to afternoon to evening. I think it’s important that you take in the light and take the time where you can just relax and enjoy it. It changes and you see the seasons change. Spring buds into summer leaves into colors of the fall. It’s all around you and you aren’t covering it up.
What do you want people to feel when they’re inside your home?
Comfortable. And at ease. But also, it’s more of what they can hear: the frogs, the breeze and the corinthian bells.
Anything else you’d like to do to the house? Or, is it done?
I mean, I always have a restoration bug. I do this in the city and in Copake. I love to renovate. I love the process of ripping things out and seeing it all go back up. I would love to do the upstairs bathroom and I would love to add a large stone patio on the front with a pergola. There are always things you want – but right now – I’m very content with how the house is.
