This Three-Story Home in the Catskills Is Modeled After a Watchtower
"I’ve always envisioned the home being available on Airbnb, where unconventional houses really stand out," says Austin Griffith of his recently listed property, Hudson Lookout, which is nestled in New York’s Catskill Mountains. "After a long design process in collaboration with my amazing architect, Kimberly Peck, I arrived at this sort of modern watchtower concept."
The owner of this Airbnb listing calls it Hudson Lookout, referencing the home’s monolithic, towerlike form.
Hudson Lookout is located on two acres of wooded land and offers spectacular natural scenery, especially in wintertime.
Having spent his childhood roaming the outdoors in Michigan, Austin felt an instant connection to southeastern New York’s open spaces when he first visited the region. "I started looking for property in the area around 2015—one of the first dates with my girlfriend was spent hiking at nearby Kaaterskill Falls and looking at vacant land, and I’m sure she thought I was out of my mind," he laughs.
A gas fireplace heats the dining area, which doubles as a movie projection area.
Crazy or not, he bought a parcel that hit all the marks, with just the right acreage and a well already in place. "When the previous owner told me that his family used to run a resort on this piece of land in sixties, I knew there was a special history here to continue," Austin says. It’s possible to hike, swim, shop and ski nearby, but he understands if visitors do nothing but "stay in and watch a family of deer grazing from the living room."
A central staircase eliminates the need for long hallways, maximizing the views on each floor. The main living area includes a Floyd sofa and midcentury leather lounge chairs from Poly & Bark.
The deep soaking tub and rain shower in the primary bedroom suite offer a view of the woods.
The layout of the three-story home—which positions all the bedrooms on the first two floors, clearing the third floor for shared living spaces that look out onto breathtaking scenery—lends itself well to mingling with family and friends. There's also a welcoming roof deck equipped with a telescope for stargazing.
The two-bedroom home is modest in size but well outfitted for short or long stays. The kitchen features an induction cooktop.
"You can cook a meal, watch a movie with our projector in the living room, cozy up with a fire, or just relax," Austin says. The latter is easy to do, with other amenities such as heated terrazzo floors and a deep soaking tub in the main bedroom suite.
Austin says that deer and other wildlife can routinely be seen grazing nearby.
The picture window in the primary bedroom frames views of Hudson Valley and The Berkshires across the river.
"I love the fact that this all started as a file on my laptop and now, after driving up on weekends for over a year to work on it, it’s finally a real home," Austin says. "People say the view from here is like a painting, and most importantly, that they can’t wait to return."
Read more about the contest Dwell held to find the next must-visit listing on Airbnb and why this listing won.
Learn how easy it is to become an Airbnb host.
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