1 House Front Harleen McLean

CATSKILS NEW YORK

The original house was built in 1780, a simple rural structure with a working stable attached. Around 1850, an addition was constructed on the south side, which is now the main living room — the heart of the home.

On the opposite side of the house stood the old stable, which has since become the apartment’s dining room. Above it, the loft where the stable boy once slept now forms the apartment’s bedroom. Every beam and angle still carries the quiet memory of its past life.

We jumped into the unknown!
We spent a year renovating it,
everything had to be made
whole again.
Everyone asked “Have you
heard of the movie
The Money Pit”?

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Over five months, the entire property was re‑imagined and restored into a three‑apartment biophilic retreat, blending heritage architecture with natural materials, soft botanical palettes, and restorative spatial flow. The project involved full project management and refurbishment, honouring the building’s history while opening it to light, texture, and the calming

Hand‑Crafted Tiles Inspired by River Systems & Spring Florals
Every tile in the bathroom was designed, hand‑painted, glazed, and fired as a bespoke artwork. The flowing patterns trace the local river system, while the playful colour palette draws from spring florals — a deliberate choice to bring brightness and joy into the home during the long, often gloomy winter months.

The process took two weeks from templating to final firing, with each stage done slowly and intentionally to honour the building’s heritage and the landscape around it. The final firing was completed at a local ceramic technical school, supporting community craft and ensuring each tile carries both artistry and place.

The result is a bathroom that feels alive — water, colour, and fractal patterns weaving the outdoors into the heart of the home.

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BEFORE

AFTER

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Dinning Kitchen Harleen McLean
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Cloackroom Harleen McLean
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Each apartment now offers:

A sensory connection to the surrounding landscape

Thoughtful materiality inspired by the home’s agricultural origins

Restorative, contemporary comfort layered over centuries of story

It’s a place where history and biophilic design meet — quietly, beautifully, and with intention.