In Print: From Brooklyn to Woodstock: Cabin Home and Living, Spring 2023

Spring 2023 Issue of Cabin Home and Living featuring a Woodstock oasis. Words by Lisa Marie-Hart.

If you have met me you know that I’m basically obsessed with homes, and I fall in love with most of the ones I meet (even haunted ones). This home was originally photographed for a short-term rental, and quickly became one of my favorite stories.

The previous owners of this home had been architects and contributed greatly to the design and layout of the home. They also left a lot of the furniture and decor, including the yellow couch above.

One of the things that makes a photoshoot particularly magical and memorable is the experience of being in the home on the day of the shoot. This particular day was a good one as the homeowner and the property manager were both really enjoyable to work with, and I ended up sitting at that sweet outdoor table for a while after the shoot, just lingering, chatting with the owner, and getting to know her and the home a little more. I won’t deny I was also really enjoying that beautiful and serene setting.

The kitchen was charming but challenging to shoot. A puzzle I am always up for solving. For this shot I stood outside a sliding glass door on the deck behind me. Everything felt hand-made in a good way and had a special and personal feel to it. There were dog foot prints pressed into the terra cotta tile.

Photoshoots usually have to change for the weather often during the summer season in the Catskills, but the mountains create fickle and unpredictable clouds and passing storms, so it’s not always possbile to change plans last minute. This shoot was planned for a humid summer day so I had to shoot the pool without bright sun, but instead that kind of glowy hazy light we get upstate in the middle of summer. I think it works really well for summer photographs during the day, as otherwise the light can be too contrasty. The house was surrounded by wild white Dogwoods which were in full bloom.

I really fell in love with the bedroom, which has a full wall of windows with wooden screen doors, opposite a wall of library shelves.

It was the perfect space to relax: Endless books and a border of bluestone and fragrant wild flowers, with a mini-waterfall!

Photos by Winona Barton Ballentine

Words by Lisa Marie-Hart

Thank you Lisa Marie.