What would it be like to live in the Hudson Valley?

A white house in the Hudson Valley, NY, is surrounded by a fence, grass, and long grass. There are trees in the background.

We have pondered this question many times. Currently, we live in Coastal Connecticut and are planning a move to Manhattan in the next year. However, we have thought about buying a farmhouse in the Hudson Valley. My husband and I both follow two real estate companies that specialize in the area, and the listings are pretty dreamy. Even if that’s all it is, it’s fun to imagine living in an old farmhouse with wide plank floors, creaky staircases, and kitchens that have clearly seen generations of meals. It’s easy to imagine a different rhythm of life in the Hudson Valley.

Upstate Curious

Buying Upstate – The Lillie K. Team

Open shelving full of tasteful pottery is above a counter with a bowl of fruit, a plate of pastries on top of it.

A stainless steel oven is with a large hood is the centerpiece of this kitchen.

Photos: @buyingupstate

The Town of Hudson, New York

Main street in Hudson, New Yorkl with old green Frod pickup truck.

Coffee, small floral rimmed plates with pastries and sugar bowl with packets, menu, on red marble tabletop.

The town of Hudson, in particular, has that quiet pull. It feels creative but grounded, historic but not precious. It’s the perfect day trip from Manhattan. About a two-hour drive from either Manhattan or where we live in Connecticut. There are beautiful shops, restaurants, and a handful of hotels for an overnight stay.

The Maker Hotel has a lovely restaurant that’s open all day and night. Perfect for just a coffee or a drink. And they have a pool in the summer!

The Hudson Valley Summer into Fall

Green fields full of wild flowers are surrounded by beautiful green trees.

The rolling hills just outside Hudson, NY, are surrounded by trees in peak foliage and leaves covering the green grass.

What to Wear in the Hudson Valley

This is a graphic of a woman's plaid shirt and skirt, a black leather bag, and black sandals.

This is a graphic featuring a rust-colored sweater, a denim skirt, a brown leather bag, plaid socks, and brown Paraboot shoes.

Left: Italian Leather Trapeze Tote from Quince // Market Check Cotton-Linen Shirt & Pleated Skirt from Toast // Pebbled-Leather Sling Bag // Slingback Sandals Right: Italian Leather Woven Tote from Quince // Socks // Skirt // Donegal Merino Cardigan // Markus Loafers from Sezane

The Hudson Valley feels a bit like Brooklyn, but in the country. People dress beautifully, but with an ease that never suggests they’re trying too hard—even though you’re surrounded by incredibly stylish people. One brand that always comes to mind is TOAST, which seems to capture that balance perfectly. I’ve put together two looks that feel very Hudson Valley to me—simple, thoughtful, and just a little bit rugged, as if they belong equally to a morning at the market or an afternoon in the garden.

Hudson Valley Interior Designers to Know

Christina Salway

Brooklyn-based designer Christin Salway is sitting a white and red checked sofa at her home in Huson Valley, NY.

Open shelving, copper pots hanging on a rack, are above the green range. A vase of fresh flowers sits on the countertop.

Brooklyn-based designer Christina Salway has been featured in Country Living, The New York Times, and House Beautiful, and her work feels especially at home in the Hudson Valley. Alongside her projects upstate, she and her husband purchased a modest house in Burgundy, which they are in the process of renovating. She shares updates on Instagram (@christinasalway). Her approach blends restraint with warmth, creating spaces that feel both personal and quietly refined.

Amanda Pays

Actress-turned-designer Amanda Pays has become something of a quiet authority on Hudson Valley living, thanks to her beautifully restored farmhouses featured in Remodelista. Working alongside her husband, Corbin Bernsen, she reimagines historic homes with a light touch—embracing imperfection, reusing materials, and allowing each space to evolve naturally.

Together, their work captures much of what draws people to the Hudson Valley in the first place: a slower pace, a reverence for history, and an understated, collected sense of style.

Have you visited The Hudson Valley? I would love to know what you thought!