Second Empire Style in the Hudson Valley

Everyone’s idea of a dream house is different. For some, it’s a penthouse apartment in a big city. For others, it’s a rolling country estate with wraparound porches and room to spread out. For me, it’s Hayes Clement’s home. Nine years ago Hayes left his job in magazine publishing, and an apartment in New York City, to buy this beautiful Second Empire-style home. Originally built in 1879 and designed by Calvert Vaux (who designed Olana in Hudson, NY and co-designed Central Park in New York City), Hayes’ home was originally intended as a weekend home. He’d been hunting for a country house in the more rural areas of the Hudson Valley when he stumbled upon this house in more “urban” Kingston while house-hunting with friends. Immediately drawn to the home’s stunning views of the Hudson River, Hayes’ friends decided that one of them needed to nab it and Hayes was the lucky buyer. After a few years Hayes decided to move to Kingston full-time, where he now works as a real estate agent. I can only imagine how many stunning homes Hayes must see on a regular basis working in the Hudson Valley, but I’m sure it’s safe to say that he owns one of the best the area has to offer. He’s created a home that feels modern and true to his personal style, but also true to the home’s original architecture. My goal is now to find a way to get invited to a dinner on Hayes’ beautiful porch – it’s the sort of setting that dream homes are made of. Thank you so much to Hayes, and his Jack Russell terrier, Susie, for welcoming us into their home. xo, grace

All photographs by Maxwell Tielman

Images above: The top image above is Hayes’ living room. People always ask Hayes if the gentleman hunter in the painting is a relative. Hayes says, “Sadly he’s not. I wish I had inherited that hairline.” The second photo above is Hayes’ collection of antique oval mirrors. He likes to hang disparate objects alongside each other because, “it helps me rationalize random and offbeat purchases.” The final image above is the living room, with a Mitchell Gold sofa Hayes bought at a tent sale for $200. The plaster arm behind the sofa was one of hundreds of sculpture models that used to be part of a frieze in the Metropolitan Museum that was dismantled and sold off years ago.

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Click through for the full home tour after the jump!

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