One of the oldest homes in the Hudson Valley, this exquisite example of Dutch architecture was commissioned as a parsonage in the 1720s for Johannes van Driessen, the first minister of the Dutch Reformed Church of Kinderhook. Today, the fully renovated home lies in the quaint village's historic center, with its stately brick facade and tucked-away grounds, making for a perfect town-and-country property.
The History
Known as the Heermance House since the mid-1800s, after the prominent local family purchased the home and converted it into their private residence, the property has seen three significant changes over its storied lifetime. First, just after the Revolutionary War, when the home got a Federal face-lift, including the addition of brick to the front and the conversion of the roof from a steep-pitched silhouette to the more romantic gambrel shape. In its next era, during the mid-19th century, the Heermances had the house expanded in the Greek Revival style, bringing more light and space into the house. Now, in its most recent years, the home's interior has been restored with characterful design interventions and a sincere respect for the history behind this icon of the local circa 1700s architectural vernacular.
The Home
Past the front gardens and a restored, historically accurate porch with built-in benches, the entry hall opens on the right to the formal dining room with a charming bay window and on the left to a cozy, light-filled living room. Both rooms have 10-foot ceilings, a rarity in this vintage, with original fireplaces and large beams. French doors lead from the dining room to the completely renovated kitchen with wide-board reclaimed pine floors, a distinctive burgundy range, Zellige tile, lots of storage, and a custom-crafted built-in breakfast nook.
The back half of the ground floor overlooks the property's coveted greenspace and is home to the mudroom, hearth room, library, second living room/media room, laundry room, and powder room. Cool-toned brick floors in a herringbone pattern ground the large mudroom, which also features an impressive amount of cabinetry and a custom entry nook with tongue-and-groove paneling, peg rails, and detailed woodwork, constructed by local artisans. The hearth was added to the house in the 1780s and has slowly become the heart of the home, especially during the colder months.
Upstairs are four well-proportioned bedrooms and two full baths. Three bedrooms lie in the guest wing, and share a beautiful view of the village and its most precious historic homes. The guest bath is a two-toned jewel, featuring a romantic bathtub, tasteful woodwork, and plenty of built-in cabinetry. The primary wing offers the primary bedroom, a dressing room, an office with a deep window seat overlooking the home's ancient Catalpa tree, and the beautifully reenvisioned primary bathroom. Farrow & Ball paint colors were chosen throughout the house to complement and enhance the natural light in each room, and careful attention was paid when choosing period-appropriate lighting and hardware.
The Grounds
Exiting the house through the mudroom, you arrive at the stone patio and dining terrace, which overlooks the property's utterly charming 18th-century barn and mature gardens. On just around 3/4 acre, the grounds are a healthy mix of open grassy areas perfect for a future pool, and well-cultivated plantings. The barn would be the ideal workshop or art studio, and with a complete restoration, it could be a well-fitting guesthouse.
The Surroundings
Heermance House is just a few minutes from Kinderhook's Village Green and all that this exceptional town has to offer—including, but certainly not limited to, a weekly farmer's market, delicious coffee and meals at Morningbird Cafe and The Aviary, the perfect farm store brimming with local produce at Samascott Orchards, provisions at the sweet OK Pantry, large-scale and always inspiring exhibitions at The School by Jack Shainman, and the Empire Rail Trail for biking and running. 15 minutes to Hudson and the Amtrak train station and less than 2.5 hours from NYC.
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Raj Kumar
Associate Real Estate Broker | Lead Agent
The Lillie K. Team
M: 201.689.0533
Email: raj.kumar@fourseasonssir.com
