The Bosun's Crack, Coziness in the Rondout

Eccentric ground-floor apartment with a porch in a 1909 house near the river. Uniquely decorated and furnished: full kitchen, gas fire, heat, a/c, books, stuff, daybed, bedroom with projector for movies on the wall; it's my home when I’m in the States. I move out, you move in. Like a play. It's not a hotel. It's a home, or a boat or a nest or something, and is human and much loved. Kingston License 012148 The space The downstairs apartment of a little brick house built by bootlegger and fireman John Worf in 1909. My daughter Winnie and her partner Will live upstairs. They are sweet and friendly. Come through the front door, salvaged from an old school, into the living room which is dominated by a leather sofa and gas fire. The floors are worn boards, roughly painted and scattered with old rugs, the walls are hand-collaged. There's a built-in nook with a day-bed, overlooked by a hutch full of books and some fancy speakers. Further in there's more books and a farmhouse table which has traveled through four homes and has the names of friends carved into it. Against the wall are haberdasher's shelves containing cups, saucers, plates, bowls, lots of stuff, along with cards and glasses, backgammon, teapots, jigsaw puzzles and pasta makers, cocktail shakers and all sorts of stuff.. The kitchen occupies the back wall; a salvaged steel sink and open shelves contain a stand-mixer, Instant Pot, donabe, food processor, Le Creusets, rice-cooker, loads of pots and pans, supplemented by a bunch more hanging on meat-hooks in the corner. The stove is a 22 year-old Viking that lights with a flame. There's more open shelves with groceries, oils, herbs, spices, supplies, as well as tea and coffee, moka pots and a french press. There is no microwave nor drip coffee machine. There's oil and sugar and salt and pepper and spices and all the essentials for cooking and staying. Nods to convenience include a dishwasher, washer/dryer and pseudo-vintage fridge. A repurposed door from a gun shop takes you into the bedroom, which is carpeted and rugged and has oiled wood walls from our friend's barn. There's a queen-size memory-foam bed with Muji bedding, a white-noise machine, and a mounted projector and sound-bar which, at the touch of a couple of buttons, turns the bedroom into a cinema. The Apple TV allows you to play stuff from any of your streaming services, or you can use our Criterion account. But honestly, you'll probably fall asleep. Fiber-optic Wi-Fi throughout the house. The bedroom has its own curtained door onto the back garden. The en-suite bathroom which has rough wood floors, and an old salvaged claw-foot tub which doubles as a shower. The sink, mirror and lights were rescued from a nunnery. The toilet squirts. There's plenty of towels. As well as the gas fire, the house has high-efficiency heat pumps for winter and air-conditioning for summer. There's a washer/dryer in the basement. PETS A dog is fine as long as it's not a brontosaurus. But please, not if you're planning on going out and leaving him/her at home or if there's the slightest chance of pee. There are cats upstairs and this seems to cause dogs left alone to howl and bark. The porch is yours, the garden is shared with our friends, but you'll likely be on your own. The Garage building next door is the hub of the community and houses many of our friends, one of whom runs a clothing shop and cafe, which is relaxing and handy. You can get coffee and baguettes. If you sit on the front porch people who pass by will chat as they pass. And there’s a pretty good chance I’ll be in the Garage apartment next door serving up movies and cocktails, so come by. A NOTE ON SOUND AND HOME COMFORTS. We get the loveliest people here and it's one of the main reasons we do it. Many keep coming back and have become friends. However, very occasionally somebody chooses to book despite not being comfortable in a stranger's home. They might prefer a hotel and we all end up wishing they'd shelled out for one. Honestly, we’re not begging anybody to stay. The vibe here is playful, easygoing, family. Winnie and Will, my grown-up kids, live upstairs. I have a white-noise machine beside the bed for early-birds and light-sleepers. If you're looking for a place where you can be yourself, relax and experience the life of a community, great. If you’re hoping for a hotel or facsimile of your own home, maybe not. There’s Dr Bronners soap in the bathroom, but no florid range of shampoos and conditioners. Bedding is good quality, but if you require unique fabrics, thread-counts, weaves, then yes, a hotel would be better. There's loads of parking and plenty to do nearby. Like loads of stuff. The town is really vibrant. We know everybody so can make recommendations. Shops and restaurants, bike routes, swimming, kayaking, the river is really close, the walk through the cemetery uptown, the beach and saunas at Kingston Point Park, rail trails, farmer's markets. No Guest access The whole downstairs apartment, as well as the porch, side yard and back garden. Registration Details 012148