Ground-floor apartment with a porch and garden in a historic 1909 brick house on a quiet street in the Rondout section of Kingston. Uniquely decorated and furnished: fully equipped kitchen, fire, enormous sofa, fainting nook, bedroom with projector for movies on the wall; it's our home when we're in the US. We move out, you move in. Like a play. Not your standard 3-spoon tourist spot. It's a home, or a boat or a nest or something, and is much loved.

The living room is dominated by a leather sofa and gas fire, a peculiar Jetsons thing that makes for cozy winter nights. The walls are hand-collaged in the style of Joe Orton’s bedsit in Islington. Further in there's a built-in nook furnished with a day-bed, perfect for snoozing when somebody else is hogging the sofa. The nook is overlooked by a hutch full of books, the typewriter, some speakers and loads of poetry. 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 and drawers containing all the cups, saucers, plates, bowls and stuff you could possibly need, along with cards and glasses, backgammon and pasta makers, teapots, cocktail shakers and all.

The kitchen occupies the whole back wall; a wall-length salvaged sink, open shelves containing the stand-mixer, air-fryer, Instant Pot, donabe, food processor, Le Creusets, rice-maker, 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 and there's a bunch more shelves full of groceries, oils, herbs, spices, supplies. Also tea, coffee and all the essentials. There's a dishwasher and pseudo-vintage fridge.

An old door from a gun shop takes you into the bedroom, which is finished with oiled wood from a barn. There's a queen-size bed, more books, and a mounted projector and sound-bar which, at the touch of a couple of buttons, turns the bedroom into a louche, horizontal cinema. The Apple TV allows you to play stuff from any of your streaming services, or you can use our MUBI account. There's super-fast Wi-Fi throughout the house. The bedroom has its own door onto the back garden.

Another door takes you into the bathroom which has a claw-foot tub which doubles as a shower, a sink, mirror and lights from an old nunnery. The toilet squirts. There's loads of towels.

As well as the gas fire, the house has high-efficiency heat pump heating (splits). There's a washer/dryer in the basement.

A NOTE ON SOUND: the vibe is family, neighborhood, participatory. Winnie and Will work in restaurants and sometimes come home after 10. If you're looking for a place where you can be yourself and experience the cheerful life of a thriving beighborhood, it's for you. If you are hoping for silence, a nunnery or a farmhouse on 40 acres with hushed lambs and no evidence of human habitation, you're in the wrong spot. We have neighbours, there are passing cars, a restaurant across the back, people walking dogs. There's the plaintive sound of the freight train a few miles down the river. In the mornings there is birdsong and perhaps even a far-off dog barking. The house dates from 1909 and has 19th century sound insulation. You're going to hear Winnie and Will going about their lives. Nothing crazy, no late-night parties or indoor horse-riding. It's all gentle and friendly and inclusive. But if you're looking for a Trappist retreat, everybody will be happier if you decide it's not for you.

About This Lister

I live in Kingston but travel for half of the year, my kids live upstairs and down the street, and operate this building as a kind of family and community hub. Honestly, I'm honest and nice.