Design Diary: A Home for the Holidays in Hudson, New York

The Hudson Valley is digging out from an impressive early snowfall as it ramps up for the hectic holidays. Naturally, we turn towards parties, presents and pine, grateful for home and hearth. Brightened by a multitude of holiday traditions and solstice celebrations, December marks the end of another yearly cycle, and Design Diary is proud to celebrate our twelfth month of interviews.

Delighted with the array of unique dwellings we’ve had the pleasure of visiting over the last year, we’d like to give a shout-out to the many generous upstate residents who opened their well-designed homes to us. They were willing to offer personal stories and photos of house hunting, renovations and/or restorations, and eager to share how they each created a place that felt like a home. A special thanks goes to Lisa Green, Rural Intelligence editor, for her invitation to write about regional design — it's been a deeply rewarding journey.

December conjures equal parts nostalgia for holidays past and excitement for the coming new year. To combine these two moods, Design Diary followed a tip to a handsome1880s Italianate residence in the heart of Hudson. The current owners, Joe Freitas and Chris Getman, with Gracie, their 13-year-old Goldendoodle, were renters in 2016, but planned to build on a pretty lot they had purchased up on Mount Merino.

Then the fine Italianate house hit the market and the temptation to renovate a period home in this cool little city was too strong for the couple to pass up. They purchased that house in 2017 (and still own the piece of land). Getman shared, “This is a process we have lots of experience with, and one we both really enjoy.” Thus began the massive undertaking to secure a reliable contractor and appropriate architect to steer the project.

Freitas, formerly a technology VP for Merrill Lynch, and Getman, a retail executive for Apple and Manhattan’s fashion industry, had opted out of the city that never sleeps in 2011. They headed for Cape Cod, where they embarked on an entirely new career direction together, enjoying success as small business entrepreneurs in Provincetown. But after years of seaside living, these enterprising gentlemen were eager for a fresh challenge. Heading inland and upstate, they discovered flourishing Hudson, and knew they had found a promising new home town.

Their 2,600-square-foot house had been converted into a two-family residence in the 1940s, back to a single family in the '90s, and then four years ago split again into a two-family. The owners were committed to returning it to the elegant single family residence it originally was. Their vision for the house was deftly handled by Peggy Anderson Associates and Kim Ackert Architecture. Both companies have been featured in Design Diary previously and are established leaders in regional historic restoration, often adding bespoke design detailing by skilled local craftspeople.

Freitas and Getman, thrilled with their spacious home and inviting interiors, share an obvious mutual love of entertaining, fine art, and antiques. The 13-foot-high atrium, soaring over a custom stairwell, provides a dramatic focal point for the heart of the house, with a neutral paint palette from Farrow & Ball in Charleston Grey, used sparingly. The majority of the house is painted in matte, with bold gloss ceilings in Benjamin Moore Intense White. The combo keeps things merry and bright throughout.

Mid-century vintage light fixtures, most acquired from Hudson’s own Antique Warehouse, are the key to maintaining a soft brightness on both floors, in addition to the already abundant natural light available thanks to restored original windows by White Clay Kill Preservation. Three Christmas trees, minimally decorated but strategically placed, complement the artwork and decor. This is a welcoming home, filled with the warm hospitality and great taste of its inhabitants. The best of history is retained, leaving ample room for a promising future — a perfect home for the holidays.