New York architectural designer and builder Tom Givone is on a mission to explore “the contrast between historic and modern and play these extreme elements against one another.” Case in point: Givone’s four-year renovation of a dilapidated 1820 farmhouse in the Catskills that he describes as “a study in contrasts–fully restored to its period grandeur while featuring purely modernist elements.”
The Floating Farmhouse is situated at the edge of a waterfall, two hours from New York City, near the hamlet of Narrowsburg, and the good news is, it’s available for rent.
![the road to the farmhouse. 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tom-givone-floating-farmhouse-1-733x489.jpg)
![new (steel framed skyscraper windows) and old (traditional rockers on the 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tom-givone-floating-farmhouse-2-733x485.jpg)
![the kitchen resides in a modern addition that echoes the roofline of the origin 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tom-givone-floating-farmhouse-3-733x471.jpg)
![the kitchen\2\17;s hand hewn beams were salvaged from a \200 year old pe 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tom-givone-floating-farmhouse-4-733x489.jpg)
![bluestone countertops and lacquered cabinetry contrast with a vintage concrete 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tom-givone-floating-farmhouse-5-733x1100.jpg)
![the kitchen has a wood fired pizza oven faced with oxidized corten steel. for m 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tom-givone-floating-farmhouse-6-733x1100.jpg)
![the kitchen and dining room open out onto the floating porch. 23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tom-givone-floating-farmhouse-7-733x489.jpg)
![a row of lounge chairs face the water. 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tom-givone-floating-farmhouse-8-733x489.jpg)
![a vintage table and folding chairs for dining on the porch. 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tom-givone-floating-farmhouse-9-733x1100.jpg)
![the open plan living room/family room/dining room has its own steel front firep 26](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tom-givone-floating-farmhouse-10-733x435.jpg)
![in the master suite–one of five bedrooms–the bed is floated in fr 27](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tom-givone-floating-farmhouse-11-733x606.jpg)
![a shingled eave (featuring the house\2\17;s original cedar roof shingles 28](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tom-givone-floating-farmhouse-12-733x1100.jpg)
![an \18th century italian marble sink seems to hover, thanks to angled supports 29](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tom-givone-floating-farmhouse-13-733x489.jpg)
![an austere bathroom combines old and new elements. faucets from hudson ree 30](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tom-givone-floating-farmhouse-14-733x487.jpg)
![another bedroom is well suited for children or a pair of single travelers. 31](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tom-givone-floating-farmhouse-15-733x497.jpg)
![an old cast iron bed frame and a minimalist layout in a farmhouse bedroom. the 32](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tom-givone-floating-farmhouse-16-733x528.jpg)
![The Country Rental A Floating Farmhouse in Upstate New York portrait 6](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/fields/tom-givone-floating-farmhouse-upstate-remodelista-8.jpg)
![the farmhouse in winter. the house is available to rent at the floating fa 34](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/tom-givone-floating-farmhouse-17-733x585.jpg)
Looking for more rustic-modern inspiration? Browse our Farmhouse Style posts and have a look at Barn-Like Living (Only Better).
N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on November 12, 2012 as part of our Harvest issue.
Frequently asked questions
What is the floating farmhouse in Upstate New York?
The floating farmhouse is a renovated 200-year-old house that appears to float on a small pond in the Hudson Valley region of Upstate New York.
Who designed the floating farmhouse?
The floating farmhouse was designed and renovated by Tom Givone, the principal of the Manhattan-based design and architecture firm Givonehome.
When was the floating farmhouse renovated?
The floating farmhouse was renovated in 2015.
What was the inspiration behind the design of the floating farmhouse?
The design of the floating farmhouse was inspired by the traditional architecture of the Hudson Valley region as well as the idea of creating a retreat that blends seamlessly with nature.
What makes the floating farmhouse unique?
The floating farmhouse is unique for its location on a pond, which gives the illusion that the house is floating. Additionally, the house incorporates many eco-friendly and sustainable features.
Can you rent the floating farmhouse?
At the moment, the floating farmhouse is not available for rent.
Is the floating farmhouse open to the public for tours?
No, the floating farmhouse is not open to the public for tours as it is a private residence.
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