Find Your Inspiration in This Columbia County Cottage, Renovated by Two Brooklyn Stylists

Nestled near the border of Massachusetts, this modest but stylish 19th century Columbia County cottage offers a bucolic setting with a bit of land and separate studio space for a complete retreat.

The house on the market at 42 Tory Hill Road in Hillsdale, N.Y. may date to the 19th century but it got a thorough overhaul when purchased by Brooklyn stylists in 2006. One is the founder of Brooklyn-based plant-based soap and cleaning company Common Good, and the house makes appearances in the company’s social media.

The photogenic house is located just outside of downtown Hillsdale, much of which is included in the Hillsdale National Register Historic District. The district has a number of Federal and Greek Revival period buildings, reflecting the growth of the hamlet after the creation of the Columbia Turnpike (now Rt. 23), which runs through the center of town and operated from 1799 to 1907.

Where this house, with a peaked side gable and three bay-wide street-facing facade, fits into the historic timeline isn’t clear, although it likely dates to the early to mid 19th century. The Columbia County land records simply give it a rough date of 1800, but a bit of digging didn’t turn up anything to verify that date.

According to the blog of the town historians, an 1849 fire destroyed many early town records. A house on this location does appear on an 1873 map of the town indicating it as the home of one Mrs. Scutt, and a Mrs. Betsey Scutt appears in the 1871 Gazetteer for Columbia County as a farmer in Hillsdale with two acres of land. Moving backward in time there is an A. Scutt near this location on a map of 1858.

By the time the current owners purchased the house in 2006 it was in need of major work, they told Country Living Magazine in a 2009 article about the renovation. There wasn’t a kitchen, all the plumbing and heating systems needed updating and the rotting floors had to be replaced. By the end of the project that entailed a lot of their own labor, much of the interior had been replaced. “There’s only one ceiling beam left from the originals.” they told Country Living. “It’s above the stairs — you hold on to it as you go up.”

While the interior was reconfigured for modern living, the finishing details were chosen with an eye towards a country house rather than a glitzy interior. There are new beams in the living room, painted wide plank floorboards, bead board paneling and a wood-burning stove.

The first floor holds a living room, kitchen and dining nook while upstairs there are two bedrooms and space for a home office on the landing. There is one full bath.

Behind the house is a window-filled studio retreat with its own stove, a small deck and views of the surrounding woods. The two-acre property also includes a wood shed that the listing photos show is next to a small creek with a gated bridge.

The property is close to downtown Hillsdale and just about a 10 mile drive to Great Barrington, Mass. in one direction and about a 17 mile drive to Hudson, N.Y. in the other, with plenty of scenic and historic sites in between.

The house sold for $120,000 back in 2006, county records show. It is now listed at $425,000 with Nicole Vidor of Nicole Vidor Real Estate.

[Photos by Alon Koppel Photography]

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