Inside Christene Barberich’s Hudson Valley Retreat

Tucked between the Catskills and fields of wild grasses, Christene Barberich’s upstate escape is a masterclass in intentional living. What began as a 1960s brick doctor’s office has grown, slowly and thoughtfully, into a low-impact retreat centered on sustainable design, vintage finds and the beauty of small spaces. We caught up with the writer, editor and founder to learn more about her eco-conscious approach to building (and living) in harmony with the land.

Q&A with Christene Barberich

Kassatex: What was the initial vision or inspiration behind your Upstate New York home?
Christene Barberich: Well, the property we bought was a small brick 1960s doctor’s office, complete with a 20-spot parking lot behind it! We loved the lines of the mid-century building, and given our affection for smaller spaces (and the creativity they can spark), we knew we could do a lot with it. But beside the building and also part of the property was a giant mowed lawn…like this blank canvas. So, we decided before we do anything to the doctor’s office, we could build a small sustainable straw-panel cabin while also rewilding the mowed grass and land. My husband is an architect and he’s always wanted to work with straw panels, which are essentially compressed planks of straw, a material that naturally absorbs carbon and wicks moisture. The cabin is only 650 sf, and it’s taken us three years to build on a budget, literally paycheck to paycheck, but now that we’re finally living in it, it’s kind of wild. Someday we will renovate the doctor’s office and that will be an incredible project, too, but right now, we’re enjoying this small passive house and hosting friends there this summer, too.

Kassatex: How does sustainability influence your design choices throughout the house?
CB: A lot. Both our budget and also the simplicity of basic long-lasting materials was really important to both of us. We love plywood that can age and patina over time, and I wanted to avoid painted surfaces to keep any maintenance at a minimum. So far, we’ve not had any additional heating or cooling, the structure regulates the interior temperature itself, keeping it comfortable year-round. Also on the topic of small spaces, they just demand a lot less natural resources…before my daughter was born, my husband and I shared a studio for six years. And then we moved into a 750 sf apartment here in Brooklyn where we live with our daughter and cat and often host friends overnight, too. It’s small, but it never feels that way. I think that’s why I wanted my newsletter to be called A Tiny Apt. Because it’s the idea of where things begin…starting small, allowing an idea to develop over time and often grow into something entirely new. Our spaces are always shifting and adapting to our lives and needs, and creating flexibility in a small space is just a great hallmark of LIFE…sometimes limitations or restrictions can spark so much innovation and expansion as a result.

Kassatex: Were there any vintage or second-hand pieces that helped shape the aesthetic of the space?
CB: Of course…I’m always collecting and giving things away and researching new things that inspire me. I found a vintage wool camp blanket a few years ago and from the moment I saw it, I knew it would become a core piece in Raffi’s room. The colors and the scale of the blanket are perfect. I also thrifted the IKEA lamps in our bedroom, which I love, as well as a pair of vintage Charlotte Perriand style tables we will eventually install as shelves or side tables, I’m still deciding. Best of all, over our bed is a vintage needlepoint Kevin’s grandfather made of his favorite cattle brands in Texas. It is one of the beating hearts of this home.

Kassatex: What materials or elements do you look for when designing with the environment in mind?
CB: For me, it always starts with textiles, which congruent colors or textures play off each other well or in a weird/unexpected way. Art also plays a big role for me…my friend who lives nearby Anne Schaefer is one of my favorite artists and she made two pieces in the house, which I love more than anything. Her work is incredibly moving and energizing to me…it plays off the plywood beautifully, too.

Kassatex: How did the natural surroundings inform your color palette or layout decisions?
CB: Great question. My husband designed the building in harmony with the lines of the land. We are surrounded by the Catskill mountains and farmland, so building a small modern structure loosely inspired by a barn, using cedar and industrial metal siding, felt right to us. Now when we see the cabin rising out of the meadow of wild flowers and native grasses we planted to restore the natural environment for bees and birds, etc. the connections of it all make me really happy.

Kassatex: Which paint colors helped elaborate on your design vision?
CB: We worked with my friend Hallie Goodman, an interior designer, in choosing three different shades from Farrow & Ball for a few small anchoring spaces…India Yellow for the three doors in the hallway, Romesco red for the stairs to the loft, and Skylight for the loft platform. Each has a presence on its own, blends well with the concrete floor and plywood walls, and sort of talk to each other in an interesting way. Hallie helped me get out of my comfort zone and see color amid all the wood in a way that was pleasing and additive as opposed to gimmicky.

Kassatex: What are your favorite decorative accents that bring a sense of calm or joy to the home?
CB: Always vintage quilts or pillows you can layer in fun ways, a mix of new and old artworks, and something reflective like a metal side table or shiny chrome fruit bowl.

Kassatex: How do you balance form and function when curating pieces for an eco-conscious lifestyle?
CB: I think the embodiment of form and function IS sustainability. Choosing things that are beautiful and also do a job, are enduring and can shift and flex as you and your life changes. I am always moving things around, seeing things in different rooms, under different light…it keeps a space fresh and also allows you to notice when something isn’t working anymore and needs to move on to its next life. I love seeing my home as that space, everyday, to renew a contract with myself—what do I love, what do I need to do the work I’m here to do…and also, is this who I am now?

Kassatex: What are your go-to shops, markets, or spots in the area when you’re upstate?
CB: Always the local Goodwill, Restore in Albany is fantastic, my friends and I hit Brimfield at least a few times over the summer, Public Sale, my favorite local auction house, Holler & Squall is always a revelation…and eBay/etsy/1st Dibs of course.

Kassatex: A typical day in the summer starts with…..
CB: Coffee, feeding the birds, checking the garden, getting my daughter prepped for camp—and ends with…..listening to the birds at sunset (I love this hour of birdsong, like they’re coming out to say goodnight), getting dinner ready, usually with lots of vegetables from the local farmer’s market, finishing up writing and maybe sitting outside with my husband with a glass of wine after our daughter goes to bed.

Kassatex: What advice would you give someone looking to create a thoughtful, sustainable retreat of their own?
CB: Start small! Whether it’s a new rental, an old fishing cabin on the market, or a camper/Airstream, a retreat offers comfort and also an escape from our everyday lives and patterns, so a smaller space can allow us to discover the natural world outside in more active/meaningful ways. I mean, I’m obsessed with smaller homes and all the amazing things small space dwellers can do with them…and how much they love them. Less space can not only be better for the environment, it can be more than enough for living richly, too.

Kassatex: Three designers who inspired your new home’s design?
CB: Charlotte Perriand, Alvar Aalto, and my husband…he is the designer in residence :).