Kodama

Kodama: New York

If you’re heading to the Catskills, you want to be fully immersed in the wild greenery. This minimalist home is all glass and clapboard, surrounded by towering trees and secluded from the rest of the world. A wrap-around terrace lets you enjoy the silence of the forest while breathing in the fresh air, and there’s a sustainable garden brimming with vegetables and flowers amidst the pines. The real surprise is the infinity-edge pool and hot tub overlooking the trees, and a boxing gym and games room in the pool house. The architect has done a fantastic job of blurring the lines between nature and the building – it feels like you’re outdoors when you’re inside, thanks to walls of glass. Sleek minimalism is present, with a slate-grey Valcucine kitchen catering for cooks and a simple yet elegant living room set around a fireplace for chilly evenings. Those that enjoy their privacy can bag the garden guest house, which is fully self-contained. The area around here is laced with hiking trails into misty mountain scenery and along the roads, you’ll find secret live music venues in the middle of nowhere, roadside record shops and fine dining at the Red Onion a fifteen-minute walk away if you want to leave the car behind. The craft-brewery-packed town of Woodstock is an eight-minute drive away and ten minutes sees you at the peaceful shores of the Ashokan Reservoir.

Home truths:
*You might not get an in-person check-in, but there's a remote system that works very smoothly
*None of the bedroom windows have curtains – that's part of the aesthetic, but it might be worth bringing a sleep mask
*A dog usually lives here, and while it won't be around during your stay, it's worth knowing about if you have a bad allergy
*Central air-conditioning is available in the summer months only
*Power is courtesy of solar panels, but there's a generator in case of storms
*There is private parking with this home and having a car is recommended