“We wanted another challenge,” say Danielle and Ely Franko, the husband-and-wife team behind The Hunter Greenhouse, a home in the Catskills now available for rent on Airbnb. “The Greenhouse was renting well, and it was time to take on a bigger project.”

Based in New York City, the couple—she’s a physician’s assistant, and he’s a software consultant—were on the hunt for another home in need of TLC when they stumbled on an 1845 hay barn that had been converted into a home in Jewett, New York, about two hours north of the city. They were immediately enamored with its high ceilings and aged wood beams. Though the house had seven other offers, fate was on their side, and the new project they’d longed for was finally underway.

$1,400 Sink & Tub Refinish	$7,500 Refinishing Wood Floors	$11,500 Windows & Doors
$350 Kitchen Sink	$17,850 Tiles	$7,299 Range
$1,400 Kitchen Cabinets	$1,500 Paint & Stain	$900 Outdoor Hearth
$4,500 Hardware Store Trips	$750 Dining Table & Bench	$625 Adirondack Chairs
Grand Total: $55,574

Wide-plank hemlock wood flooring runs throughout, which the couple had professionally refinished (one of the few elements they didn’t DIY)." layout="wide" credit="Courtesy of The Hunter Barnhouse" photoUserId=""/>

Danielle and Ely had initially planned to spend half the week at the site to work on the renovation, and half the week in NYC so Danielle could be at her job. COVID-19, however, prompted the couple and their one-year-old daughter, Elie, to move into The Barnhouse in March, allowing them to complete the work faster and enjoy the space more fully—though living in the construction zone (during a pandemic, no less) did pose its challenges.

“The Barnhouse was definitely neglected when we purchased it,” say the couple. “We don’t think anyone had been living there for about six years prior.”

In addition to addressing practical matters, such as updating the plumbing and electrical systems, Danielle and Ely sought to create a balance between rustic and refined elements. Faced with walls of rough-cut wood, they painstakingly smoothed each board with a random orbital sander before treating them to a coat of Sherwin Williams paint in Pure White, which reflects light streaming in from new windows and doors. The couple coated the unpainted wood in a satin polyurethane for a more polished look.

Over the course of seven months, Danielle and Ely demo’ed the home, built a new kitchen and dining area from budget-friendly lumber from the hardware store, created four Instagram-worthy bedrooms and three bathrooms, and outfitted the backyard with a new deck, outdoor hearth, and fire pit.

Having learned from their previous renovation, they prioritized furnishing the living and dining areas, capping off each day’s work with some hard-earned wine, charcuterie, and tunes from the record player.

Aiming for maximum comfort and style, Danielle and Ely brought in West Elm furniture, lighting fixtures from Hudson Valley Lighting Appliances, Parachute linens, Marshall speakers, Fireclay tile, and Tuft & Needle mattresses to furnish The Barnhouse." layout="" credit="Courtesy The Hunter Barnhouse" photoUserId=""/>

The Hunter Barnhouse is available to rent on Airbnb.

Related Reading:

Budget Breakdown: Weekend DIYers Renovate a Dated Catskills Retreat for $201K

Project Credits:

Danielle and Ely Franko, The Hunter Houses / @thehunterhouses