About the Listing HOULAW45 - 73023

Up a long drive lined with 16 mature apple, cherry, maple, oak and majestic elm trees, ending at a landscaped circle, one finds not just a beautiful home, but a very private retreat. Constructed originally in the 1820's as a barn for livestock, the building was moved in one piece from the original location to the current setting in 1965. The original barn's roughhewn and pegged beams and vaulted ceilings have been transformed into a luxurious, but very livable, contemporary home. Inside the double front doors with iron-strap hinges, one enters a soaring two-story, beamed space with a living room and dining room, and a two-story South facing window wall bringing in all day light. The windows focus on and frame a deep view-shed toward the mountains. The heart of the living space is a massive field stone wall with an oversized wood burning fireplace for fall and winter enjoyment. The chef's kitchen is designed for efficiency and clean lines. A counter depth Liebherr refrigerator, a Bertazzoni gas stove with a convection oven, and a Bosch dishwasher are state of the art for today's farm to table dinners. The white porcelain farm sink, ample pantry storage and granite countertops make working in this kitchen a dream. Just beyond the soaring entrance space is an intimate retreat, ''a snuggery'' to use as an office or library or for watching movies and television. A small corridor leads to the ground floor primary suite. This bedroom bathroom is designed for comfort with woods facing windows and a spa en-suite bath with a clawfoot soaking tub, a custom vanity with a Jerusalem limestone counter, and seamless glassed-in shower with nickel fixtures and a walk-in closet. A laundry room with ample space for all laundry tasks connects to the garage for covered entry into the house in inclement weather. An open staircase with decorative railings specially crafted for the space leads to a balcony giving a commanding and expansive view to take in the beautiful ground floor. There is a sitting area off the top of the stairs with a high, horizontal window for wonderful light. This space would make a fine study or library area with a view of the full beamed ceiling. The balcony corridor connects to three bedrooms with windows at the floor line just under the roof. A full bath with glass shower and clawfoot tub and a marble vanity with double sinks gives this shared hallway bath a very luxurious feeling. There is a two-car garage with polished concrete floor and a dry and tight basement. Systems include a Bryant 100k BTU gas fired furnace which is integrated with a Carrier Heat Pump which provides both AC and heat during the ''shoulder'' months of Spring and Fall. The Bradford White Hydrojet 50 gallon hot water heater is energy efficient making this property exceptionally easy to maintain. The shake shingle roof suits the building and has been well maintained and coated with a material that protects its longevity. Outside the house is surrounded by mature Oak, Hickory and Elm trees and the grounds are well planted. The long, gently sloping field in front of the house supports a deep view-shed, and brings in a big sky experience maintaining the privacy of the property. This property is a close commute to Albany, Saratoga Springs, Bennington, Williamstown, and Columbia County. It has a Troy address but is part of the small township of Brunswick and is in the Brunswick school system It's a beautifully designed, well-maintained home made with the finest materials and fixtures with high quality craftsmanship, just right for modern living in a country setting.

Listing Highlights