Intrigued by an article featuring gorgeous and inexpensive 19th-century houses in New York’s Catskills, Gotham magazine lifestyle editor, Jason Oliver Nixon, and decorator John Loecke decided to check out the area’s real estate websites. To their amazement, they found a Federal-style former schoolhouse listed at $30,000. Three hours later they were exploring the 900-square-foot structure–a neglected rental with no closets, second-floor ceilings so low they couldn’t stand erect, and multiple layers of wallpaper and paint. Convinced that a little renovation and decorating would revive the c. 1840 building, they purchased it. One week after the closing, pipes burst and the ceiling caved in. Undeterred, they began a gut renovation, doing much of the work themselves alongside Jason’s uncle Lary and father, Jary. A year later, the house was transformed into a weekend retreat they call Monkey Cottage, full of color, bold prints, and a playful spirit.
Jason: “We call it Monkey Cottage because it’s a place to monkey around. In the winter, we enjoy the snow that accumulates. And on summer days, we just putter around the garden.”
John: “I love the fact that we were able to give this old house a longer history. Everything that we’ve done to bring it back to life is in keeping with the original architectural style, but we’ve also managed to make it our own.”
Jason: “We call it Monkey Cottage because it’s a place to monkey around. In the winter, we enjoy the snow that accumulates. And on summer days, we just putter around the garden.”
John: “I love the fact that we were able to give this old house a longer history. Everything that we’ve done to bring it back to life is in keeping with the original architectural style, but we’ve also managed to make it our own.”
Via Elle Decor)
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