My Houzz: An Updated 1850s Farmhouse Gem in New York

House at a Glance
Who lives here: Bette Hestle and her cats, Mr. Miller and Claudette
Location: Great Valley, New York
Size: 3,008 square feet (279 square meters); three bedrooms, three bathrooms, on a 100-acre property

Bette Hestle looked past the poor condition of her 1850s farmhouse in Great Valley, New York, and fell in love with it, even though parts of the home were falling apart.

“It was just an old beauty waiting to be restored. There were no windows upstairs. A hole in the roof had poured water in for years on the cherry staircase. No siding, no yard, and a very small and old front porch that was falling off and dangerous,” says Hestle, owner of Golden Hill Studio, a hand-painted glassware and home decor business. “I saw the potential of this lovely lady, and through the years, I have restored it … all with careful attention to detail.”

The first thing Hestle did was put on a new roof, install new windows and add insulation. After that, she moved in. Since moving day in 1977, she has been molding this fixer-upper into a true gem, little by little.

Hestle spends most of her time in her kitchen — which, when she first moved in, wasn’t even functional and had holes in the floor. In 1998, Hestle added on to the space to make it larger and installed new cabinets. The design in this room was influenced by Hestle’s many travels to Europe and beyond, so she wanted cabinets that reflected what she describes as “casual and worn” old-world charm. The cabinets are by Wood-Mode. “I wanted the cabinet doors and drawers to be flush, a style that one finds in old cabinets,” Hestle says.

My Houzz: Lush, Wooded Setting for a Live-Work Home

The dining room off the kitchen has remained almost the same. “There was a picture window, but I changed that and put in a bay window. The walls were dark pine, and after much thought, or years, I painted them. I have never been sorry for one moment,” she says. “It makes the room so much brighter and inviting.” The wood beams also were added as a decorative element.

The handcrafted and hand-painted buffet is a Habersham piece. “Their furniture is so lovely and unique. They are about the only new pieces which I have, with the exception of the couches and overstuffed chairs,” Hestle says. “The rest of the furniture, lighting and some of the artwork are antiques in this space. The other framed artwork is from the custom-framing and art gallery that I owned for 20-plus years.”

The combination living room and sunroom (this photo and next two) is off the kitchen. Hestle designed this space and had it added on in 1992. She worked with general contractor Joe Crisafulli of Allegany, New York, for the additions to the house.

“He learned his trade from his father, who was an old-world craftsman. His father retired after they did my sunroom addition. Joe’s son, Kyle, now works with him,” she says. “They are all excellent craftsmen with extreme attention to detail. Joe and I really do not work from formal plans. I just showed him pictures of how I want it to look and the size, and he made it work.”

“My favorite part, besides the light from the windows, is the fireplace. I found it in an old barn in the area and restored it. It had about 10 layers of paint on it and was missing some pieces, which I had made,” Hestle says.

The abundance of windows in this space allows Hestle to relax and take in the beautiful views of the surrounding landscape that she holds so dear.

Browse traditional floral area rugs

A second room where Hestle spends much of her time is her studio. Hestle owns Golden Hill Studio and sells hand-painted glassware and other home decor products like throw pillows and accent pieces. She also works with local artists who paint the glassware that she designs.

This studio workspace didn’t exist when Hestle bought the house. “I love the painting area, and it faces out to the patio and the field and woods behind,” she says. “So much wildlife to see and that makes me smile. Watching the seasons come and go are magical from here. I spend probably 85 percent of my time in the studio during the week. The weekends, I tend to be in the living and sunroom more.”

This master bedroom suite was originally three rooms and had no windows. “I tore down the walls and made it into a master bedroom suite,” she says. “I love the size and airy feeling. The views are wonderful, as it overlooks the hills.” The space is complete with its own sitting room and spacious bathroom (next two photos).

Most of the furniture in the sitting area of the master bedroom suite are family pieces from Tennessee, plus purchases from antiques stores and flea markets over the years.

A door from the master bathroom leads to a rooftop patio that’s directly over the first-floor living room-sunroom. Hestle loves this special spot, which allows her to soak in the surrounding views.

She also loves the western New York area where she lives. “It is remote and almost a lost part of the world,” she says. “It is quiet and serene, and the rolling hills are so lovely. Every season has its own beauty, and to be able to see the changes year in and year out is a blessing beyond words!”

The second bedroom in the home was originally two rooms divided by a closet. Hestle knocked down the closet and made them into one large room. “I love the way it looks out at the garden and barn,” she says. “All of the furniture is from my great-grandparent’s house.”

Chandelier: Lamps Plus; see similar chandeliers