Hort and Pott, created by Todd Carr and Carter Harrington, is an agricultural haven and hidden gem for nature lovers and creatives alike. Information on this meticulously curated wonderland is scarce; the website and social media provide only glimpses of its eclectic offerings, including creative workshops, pottery, unique goods, and whimsical banquets. Visitors from around the country regularly make trips to immerse themselves in all that Hort and Pott offers – a space to find beauty in community, nature, and artistry.

What initially led you to starting Hort and Pott in the Hudson Valley? Could you walk us through your journey of establishing your space, from the initial idea to where you are today?

Hort and Pott was re-born from a previous incarnation in Kennebunk, ME when we chanced upon the opportunity to take a friend’s 19th century carriage house and breathe new life into it through the creation of gardens and an intimate collection of our craft. It began as a collected offering of both objects we had collected and created and the true focus and vision was coming into focus throughout the first year. It was the first holiday season that the true idea of working and celebrating the natural seasons and re-interpreting old traditions really came to be. For the next few years we continued building out the space and layering in a plethora of details alongside our growing repertoire of our hand-made goods and collected treasures for the home and the garden. We landed in our current location of Freehold NY when we decided that we had outgrown the original Oak Hill NY carriage house and needed to expand. Once again we started from near scratch, completely renovating a historic 1920’s boarding house and adding our own panache and style to create the moody atmospheric wonderland that served as a welcome space to visitors from near and far alike. We’ve since become known for our intimate and intricate seasonal installations featuring uncommon goods which we invite people to ‘ take part of hort and pott.’

What does the typical day look like for you at Hort and Pott? What projects are you currently working on for Hort and Pott?

Each morning we start with a brief conversation about what creative projects we will be dedicating our time to and to ensure that we’ve addressed any pressing business ideas, customer inquiries and other back of house tasks requiring our attention. Afterwards, we typically split apart and head to our separate studios to continue creating ceramics, concrete castings or even botanically driven arrangements, wreaths and other decor. On top of our studio work, there are spells throughout the year where we spend an intense amount of time in the landscape and garden; building out new beds, maintaining established gardens and of course exercising our love of exterior design- locating new containers designs, sculptures, water features or other objects to enhance the feel of the garden. That is, after all, one of the main driving forces behind our business. We love creating inviting and exciting outdoor environments and hope we can share and inspire others to do the same! But really, every day is a little different and our tasks, goals and desires evolve as quickly and just the same as the seasons….

In what ways is Hort and Pott a reflection of you?

For better or worse we’ve chosen and created the path that embodies our values, pursuits and talents in a way that is all a reflection of who we are and what we stand for. Because we love to garden, create spaces and build things, we want to share and offer that to other people. We enjoy and find so much value in story telling, so we continue telling stories. All of the gestures, both intimate and grand, all seem to create the mood board from which we strive to live by. It’s not always a seamless interplay, but it’s the ever growing goal to create that harmony between our ideals and the real world application. So, Hort & Pott could not be more of a mirror in many ways and we always want that true authenticity to speak loud and clear to our audience. We always stand behind what we do and are honest and true about the work, ideas and philosophy we communicate to the world.

What’s the one place in the Hudson Valley our readers should visit and why?

Innisfree Garden. It’s our favorite and was the first place in the HV that really captivated us. It’s both humble and grand and at the same time, and has such a point of view from a garden design perspective. The layers and thoughts behind its design are very provocative for us. And if something isn’t going to provoke ideas, emotions, responses, then really why?

Dean and Dahl, the husband and wife duo of designer Gabriel Anderson and his indispensable partner Brooke Anderson are creating a perfect storm of creativity and energy. Although their work can be seen in Manhattan at the venerable Tuleste Factory or gathering press from appearances at Collectible, there is no better display of their talent and eye than their home in Putnam Valley. The property seamlessly functions as both a cozy haven for their three children and a working studio, where prototypes of their designs transform the space into a living gallery. Though their home remains private, design enthusiasts should keep Dean and Dahl on their radar as they continue to turn heads with their use of plaster and push the boundaries of contemporary design.

What initially led you to starting Dean & Dahl in the Hudson Valley? Could you walk us through your journey of establishing your space, from the initial idea to where you are today?

The Hudson Valley has long been a source of inspiration for artists and writers, and we were captivated by its unique contrast: being close to one of the largest, most vibrant cities in the world while living in the heart of an enchanted forest. This natural setting offers a kind of inspiration that only comes from being deeply immersed in nature.

We bought our home and studio sight unseen while still living in Utah. The house is a quirky blend of add-ons from its previous eccentric owners, and from the moment we moved in, we began infusing it with our own style.

Our studio is nestled on a three-acre lot, tucked deep in the woods on the side of a mountain. Every renovation we’ve undertaken has been with the goal of grounding ourselves within this breathtaking landscape.

What does the typical day look like for you at Dean & Dahl? What projects are you currently working on for Dean & Dahl?

As parents of three children (ages 9-13), our days are a constant juggle of school drop-offs, sports, and other kid activities. We carve out studio time whenever possible—be it in the early mornings, late nights, or in the gaps throughout the day. While balancing family life with our creative work is challenging, it keeps us grounded and inspired.

Lately, much of our focus has been on our new furniture line, available through Tuleste Factory. We’re also creating custom pieces, including one-of-a-kind plaster and champagne gold leaf tables for the VIP lobby at The Venetian in Las Vegas.

In what ways is Dean & Dahl a reflection of you?

Given that we’ve been married for 19 years and have worked together for most of that time, the lines between our personal and professional lives are deeply intertwined. Our home is both our sanctuary and our studio, and our business partners are family, making it difficult to separate work from life. Every conversation can easily shift from dinner plans to design ideas, and our shared vision is constantly evolving, shaped by both our personal relationship and our professional ambitions. While this can sometimes make it hard to switch off, it also fosters a unique sense of unity and purpose in everything we do.

What’s the one place in the Hudson Valley our readers should visit and why?

Art Omi is our favorite sculpture garden. Set within an incredibly peaceful landscape, it features a diverse collection of contemporary works of art that beautifully interact with the surrounding nature. Highly recommend it!

From the outside, Available Items checks all the boxes of a stereotypical gift shop you’d stumble into on your small town retreat: quaint, locally run, full of character, and a hidden gem. While these descriptors are accurate, they don’t quite capture the full beauty of what the store brings to Tivoli. Founded by design industry veterans Chad Philips and Kristin Coleman in 2022, Available Items has quickly established itself as a community staple and a Hudson Valley must-visit.

Behind its residential facade, the design store stocks an immaculately curated collection of locally designed furniture, an impressive art book selection, a rotating gallery for contemporary art, and an array of eye-catching trinkets. Beyond its physical offerings, Available Items brings life to the Hudson Valley through its commitment to community workshops and local events. Perhaps most importantly, Available Items’ story is just beginning.

What initially led you to starting Available Items in the Hudson Valley? Could you walk us through your journey of establishing your space, from the initial idea to where you are today?

In terms of what led us to the Hudson Valley, we have somewhat of a typical pandemic story… We were living in Brooklyn and bought a (very reasonably priced) house in Germantown as a country retreat six months before COVID emerged. When it became evident that the pandemic was still a long way from being over, and our jobs allowed us to work remotely, we gave up our apartment and moved into the house that summer.

We spent that first year fixing up our house and fantasizing about all of the different businesses we could potentially start. We noticed there weren’t many stores in our area carrying contemporary design so when our friends told us about a building for sale on the main street of Tivoli (a charming, artsy village that’s only a 5-minute drive from our house) we jumped at the chance and opened Available Items in the summer of 2022.

Despite the fact that it was a student rental for over a decade, the building was in surprisingly good shape with lots of character so we mostly left it alone (besides painting of course). We were also inspired by places like 8 Holland Street in London and wanted to lean into the homey charm of the house.

Even though Available Items has only been open for a little over two years, it’s gone through many iterations. In the beginning, we mostly had vintage pieces – from mid-century modern to (maybe too much) rustic and primitive furniture – and a handful of contemporary designers like Office of Tangible Space and LikeMindedObjects. And we would host occasional exhibitions or pop-ups in one of the rooms, from our first exhibition “Going to Country” to a collaborative show with our friend Susan Wechsler of South Road Antiques.

The biggest change came this year when we converted one of the rooms into a dedicated gallery space to host exhibitions, giving local artists and designers a place to showcase their work on a larger scale. We also grew our collection of contemporary furniture and art and plan to incorporate more design shows in the future.

What does the typical day look like for you at Available Items?

First we’re often grabbing lunch from Tivoli General – an amazing little market and eatery down the street. Then we’re watering the plants, filling the dog bowl with water, vacuuming, and generally prepping for the day. During store hours, we’re mostly talking to people. Friends will often stop by or some folks will be visiting from out of town. Since we’re a small business, during slow days we’re also photographing products, posting on Instagram and updating our website, or hanging out on the porch (and occasionally sneaking off to get ice cream at Fortunes).

In what ways is Available Items a reflection of you?

Our adult lives have always been intertwined with design. Chad has been making weird lamps for over a decade and we’re always building something at home. We have lots of design friends and love that we can use the store as a platform to showcase their work. We also want Available Items to feel like a home and the space is often filled with kids and dogs. It’s amazing.

What’s the one place in the Hudson Valley our readers should visit and why?

Opus 40! It’s awe inspiring and combines nature and art in the best possible way. At the center is a giant environmental sculpture built by one person (Harvey Fite) out of dry stacked bluestone from the property. It took him 38 years! They also have lots of trails and great programming in the summer.

Studio Tashtego emerges as a serene sanctuary in Cold Spring, where Julia Caldwell’s curatorial vision brings together exceptional ceramics, furniture, textiles, and sculptures. After starting her practice as a dealer in NYC and then running an online store from Beacon, she opened this Hudson Valley storefront, where collectors and design enthusiasts now make pilgrimages to enjoy the space and assortment. Named for a character in Melville’s Moby Dick, the gallery has been transformed into a minimal yet profound environment where each piece commands attention. The space’s quiet elegance serves as a perfect backdrop for its thoughtfully assembled collection, from locally crafted vessels to intricate Japanese ceramics.

What initially led you to starting Studio Tashtego in the Hudson Valley? Could you walk us through your journey of establishing your space, from the initial idea to where you are today?

Initially, I was selling contemporary ceramics out of a storage unit in NYC. I didn’t have a space, only a minimal website and an email address. When I moved up to the Hudson Valley, I noticed there weren’t many design shops or galleries and felt that what I was doing could really complement the burgeoning arts scene in the region. I found a small space in Cold Spring during the pandemic and figured I’d just open it on the weekends to visitors and use it as a space to display the vast collection of contemporary ceramics I had at the time in storage. But as the gallery grew and people showed appreciation for what we were offering, I decided to move into a larger space where we could add a design shop (alongside our gallery program) with pieces that visitors could easily walk out with (vs a large sculpture or piece of furniture that must be specially packed/shipped).

What does the typical day look like for you at Studio Tashtego? What projects are you currently working on for Studio Tashtego?

Currently we are in the midst of planning ceramic artist Natalia Engelhardt’s Fall solo exhibition and some other exciting presentations happening in 2025.

*Natalia Engelhardt’s exhibition is on view now, October 19 – December 1 2024

In what ways is Studio Tashtego a reflection of you?

Studio Tashtego was born out of a love and appreciation of the decorative arts. I’m always searching for interesting pieces and artists that will fit in with the program at the gallery or shop. But I’m also curious about works that wouldn’t necessarily find their way into our gallery, like antiques or vintage pieces. Studio Tashtego is just one perspective on a whole world of design/art that is intriguing from many different curatorial standpoints.

What’s the one place in the Hudson Valley our readers should visit and why?

Stone Crop Gardens in Cold Spring. I first became aware of Frank Cabot via the documentary “The Gardener” which profiles his gardens at Quatre Vents in Quebec. Stone Crop Gardens is Cabot’s other spectacular home/project located right in Cold Spring.

Recently moved to a loft in Kingston, BCMT gallery evolved from the studio practice of designer and sculpturist Joshua Vogel and partner Kelly Zaneto. Their collections display mastery across a range of craftsmanship, providing a space for designers investigating the natural world and materials such as Samuel Aguirre, Nettie Summers, Ann Swingler, and others. The gallery itself is simultaneously welcoming and imposing – a grand medley of natural textures, earthy tones, and delicate shapes. Most importantly, BCMT challenges the notion that art galleries must be formal, austere spaces with friendly personnel and a planned exhibition of youth artwork.

What initially led you to starting BCMT in the Hudson Valley? Could you walk us through your journey of establishing your space, from the initial idea to where you are today?

We started BCMT Co. back in 2008 and really launched into it in 2010. Prior to that though, BDDW (past company JV co-founded) moved up to Shandaken out of Williamsburg because they needed more space & the further north you went, the more economical space was (which made it manageable for artistic business to actually work) Around 2007 BDDW moved to Philly & JV and I stayed here in the HV to really root in & bring back the tradition of making things with your hands in the USA & selling them. It’s called cottage industry & it is the support arm of an artists who isn’t necessarily selling a sculpture a day. It’s been an evolution & journey but I love to think and feel we helped to bring this tradition back to the US. Reciprocity is important to us, if there is a lonely, vacant space…breathing some love and life into it is a good thing but running out the preexisting community is not. We definitely tried to be more mindful & community oriented. As I said, artists just want to make work & they need space to do so.

What does the typical day look like for you at BCMT? What projects are you currently working on for BCMT?

BCMT Co. is a diverse craft business. We make everything (right here in Kingston NY) from our small, cottage industry goods such as our cutting board oil, serving boards, butcher blocks, and move into our furniture line of stools (step & sitting) dining tables, coffee tables & custom pieces. We also house JV’s fine art / high craft under the same roof so there is a lot of sculpture / carving, etc. happening too. So much creation!

In what ways is BCMT a reflection of you?

We are very true to our work ethic. We live in a hand-made house and we support smash businesses (the last time I made a purchase on Amazon was the end of 2018). We prefer to “spend a little more up front” rather than “spend a lot over time & create a lot of waste”. We really do our best to practice what we preach.

What’s the one place in the Hudson Valley our readers should visit and why?

There are many, but I’d have to say Opus 40. We haven’t been in a while but need to get back…

North Front Gallery stands as Kingston’s beacon for avant-garde design enthusiasts. Inside, masterfully curated spaces unite contemporary and historical works, where Rick Owens’ bold furniture finds harmony alongside Le Corbusier classics. Hidden gems throughout the gallery are the work of founder Björn Markus Sheffler himself—his charred ash chairs and stained maple daybeds completing his vision of brutalist elegance.

What initially led you to starting North Front Gallery in the Hudson Valley? Could you walk us through your journey of establishing your space, from the initial idea to where you are today?

My journey started when I noticed an available loft like space with a beautiful store front in Kingston upstate NY one weekend in 2019. I visited the same day, fell in love with the space and opened North Front Gallery about three months after. Since the beginning I propose a selection of collectible furniture and my own designs which are crafted locally, art, objects and books which resonate with me. This initial idea never changed until today. I am fortunate that my clients respond to it.

What does the typical day look like for you at North Front Gallery? What projects are you currently working on for North Front Gallery?

I love re-arranging the gallery space and windows with new inventory, researching furniture, interior design and architecture which I share on my Instagram accounts @studio.northfront and @northfront.interiors. There are other projects and new furniture pieces I’m working on, but it’s still too early to share them.

In what ways is North Front Gallery a reflection of you?

To some degree the gallery is an extension of my living room. Furniture, art, objects and books, playing music over my audio system and having my two dogs around who are always with me. To me it’s a very pleasant and personal environment where I love spending my time.

What’s the one place in the Hudson Valley our readers should visit and why?

The two classics: Dia Bacon & Storm King.

With years of experience in fashion photography and post-production, Stephen Ellwood has brought his distinctive taste to Hudson Valley through A.Therien, an outpost of collectible ephemera where discovery, curation, and timelessness reign supreme. Named after a woodsman in Henry David Thoreau’s writings, the store reveres each piece and story, embodying gravitas and history within its walls.

A.Therien, housed in a reclaimed barn in Cairo, is a must-visit destination for fashion and art enthusiasts alike. The space brims with vintage furniture, rare books, found objects, and curated exhibitions—all carrying a patina earned over time, shaped by Ellwood’s expertise in visual aesthetics. As a personal touch, each purchase includes a custom-designed print by Ellwood himself—a favorite detail for us.