It may come as a surprise that Jenni Kayne has always wanted a home in New York’s Hudson Valley. The designer, after all, is defined by her distinctive California-inspired minimalism—think a palette of whites, sands, creams, and sages, as well as materials like natural woods, leather, and boucle. Her furniture is named after Los Angeles neighborhoods like Brentwood and Topanga Canyon, as are her candles. Her coffee table book, Pacific Natural, is a staple in homes from Montecito to Marin.
But the rural East Coast region has always held a fascination for her, even as she resided over 3,000 miles away. “I just fell in love from afar—that feeling of being surrounded by farms and great restaurants,” says Kayne.
Photo: Michael Clifford Photography
After her friend bought a home in Tivoli, a Dutchess County hamlet famous for its wooden houses upon the Hudson River, Kayne decided to buy the house next door. After several months of renovations, it’s finally complete—and ready for Kayne (as well as her friends) to enjoy.
Kanye did take some cues from her past California projects with her farmhouse—especially her ranch in Santa Ynez, a place she describes as surrounded by “rolling hills and the vineyards.” There’s an emphasis on outdoor-indoor living: floor-to-ceiling windows look out onto a well-appointed deck, a pool, and the bucolic grounds include a greenhouse, sauna, and a lavender garden. (Head out to meander through them yourself, and you’ll likely hear cows nearby mooing.) “It’s all about looking out to nature,” says Kayne.