When the season turned warm this past spring, readers asked for a glimpse inside the 1863 farmhouse that novelist Olivia Muenter shares with her husband Jake in the Hudson Valley. The couple welcomed us through screen doors that swing open to a river-kissed breeze, letting the cool air rush up the hill and instantly set the tone for a home that breathes history.
Every room tells a story. The entryway is painted Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams, the light reflecting off a West Elm pendant and a blue bench rescued from The Antique Warehouse. A vintage rug anchors the space, hinting at the layers of time that will soon unfold.
The library’s emerald statement
The library is perhaps the most striking space, its walls drenched in Yeabridge Green by Farrow & Ball. Olivia chose the shade before moving in, trusting her instinct despite occasional doubts. On sunny days the hue becomes an almost luminous green, prompting a contractor to murmur, “You know, I think I’m actually starting to like the green.” The room feels alive, framed by custom bookshelves and a ladder that echo a bygone era.
Vintage pieces complete the look: a jute rug from Rush House, a reclaimed chair, and a standing lamp sourced from Wayfair. Above the shelves hangs a landscape painting by Carol Meese, while floral candlestick holders from Angelina Bella add a delicate contrast. The library also preserves a fragment of the house’s past—exposed plaster bearing names and dates back to 1920, a reminder that each generation leaves its mark.
Personal layers of history
When Olivia and Jake stripped away layers of wallpaper and paint, they uncovered a timeline etched into the plaster. The discovery of signatures from former occupants felt like a conversation across centuries. Keeping those marks visible honors the house’s narrative while they add their own initials to the story.
Living areas and curated comforts
The living room balances English country charm with modern comfort. A Jitney paint from Farrow & Ball sets a muted backdrop for a gold standing mirror that allegedly arrived from New York City in 1900 on the back of a flatbed truck. Vintage sofas, striped pillows from Anthropologie, and a jute rug from Rush House create a layered, slightly cluttered aesthetic that Olivia describes as “the look of an English cottage.”
Evenings are spent on striped sofas, lighting candles, and binge-watching shows like Severance and Shrinking. A pet mutt named Winnie, adopted in 2017, adds a lively, if shaggy, presence. The kitchen remains a work in progress; vintage tables and chairs sit beside a wicker lamp from Target while Jake handles dishes and praises Olivia’s simple taco-bowl creations.
Private retreats and future visions
The primary bedroom, painted Moody Blue by Sherwin-Williams, features a thrifted dresser, vanity, and a dog painting that found its way from a secondhand shop. A hand-made quilt from Olivia’s mother-in-law rests at the foot of the bed, adding a tactile family heirloom. Olivia often writes notes to herself on the nightstand, a ritual that brings calm during anxious moments.
The guest bedroom, coated in French Gray, showcases a hand-me-down rug from her parents and velvet pillows from Article. Olivia’s hospitality philosophy includes a basket stocked with everyday essentials—Advil, Pepto-Bismol, a lint roller—ensuring visitors never feel they’re missing anything.
Upstairs, the untouched attic holds potential; Olivia imagines a future movie room, proving the house is an ongoing creative project. The detached cottage, once a chicken coop, now serves as Olivia’s writing haven, affectionately called “Kittenbrick Cottage” after a brick marked with tiny paw prints discovered during renovation.
Throughout the tour, the presence of previous owners is felt. Larry, who lived in the home for 20 years before passing away, is still spoken to in quiet moments, his love for big parties imagined in ongoing renovations. This continuous dialogue between past and present is what makes the Hudson Valley farmhouse more than a structure—it’s a living narrative.
