When Geoffrey MacDougall decided to buy a quaint, circa-1815 farmhouse in the Catskills, he was standing in six inches of water in the basement, surrounded by its crumbling stone foundation and rusted-out mechanical systems.

“You could walk in from the outside through the holes in the walls,” Geoffrey says with a laugh—but the Canadian-born (now Harlem-based) fundraiser and activist was miraculously undeterred. He and his wife, art dealer and appraiser Powell MacDougall, approached the project with “trepidation” and “massive due diligence,” they say.

Before: Exterior

The pair initially planned to purchase land and construct a prefab retreat, but a deal fell through. “Then our real estate agent called us to look at a teardown,” he says. Upon first visit, they learned that the foundation was in dire straits—and remarkably, 200 years old. The pair thought, “we can’t tear it down,” Geoffrey says. “We fell in love, and it became a restoration effort.”

After: Exterior

The foursquare American farmhouse is located just outside Roxbury, New York, on a quiet and tree-protected four-and-a-half-acre parcel with a rolling meadow and buzzing wildlife. “It’s secluded and peaceful,” Geoffrey says.

Before: Basement

They believe the home had been torn down, likely in the 1900s, and updated with a more recent structure and interior finishes. The stone foundation, original to the 1815 construction, was still in situ. “There isn’t a part of the house that’s 200 years old anymore, except for the cornerstone, which we still have from the foundation,” says Geoffrey. “Someone had been working on the home, and making repairs on it, for the past 200 years.”

After: Basement

Before: Kitchen

Geoffrey and his family took on the interior demo and much of the renovation themselves, although they relied on the help of general contractor Christopher Plante to rebuild the foundation and construct the metal porch roof. “After his work was finished, Chris took my calls for two more years, answering questions long after the foundation was done,” Geoffrey says, noting Plante’s generous spirit and the community’s collective love for the home.

After: Kitchen

The industrious MacDougall family installed drywall, built cabinetry, and constructed railings using reclaimed materials where possible. Later, they decorated with repurposed and salvaged treasures from area antique stores and warehouses. They chose a punchy palette of pink, purple, teal, and orange, inspired by a sunset over their meadow and the vibrant Elli Popp wallpaper in their living room. They used the brand’s products throughout the home—including under the kitchen sink, where a galactic fabric conceals pipes and storage.

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

During the renovation, the pair managed to keep the original hardwood floors and reveal beams hidden away in the ceiling. They intentionally maintained the home’s original size and footprint while adding their own whimsical spin.

Before: Half Bathroom

The couple’s children, Colm, 15, and Audrey, 12, also contributed to the punch list—assisting with drywall installation and various projects. Audrey assembled the living room fireplace hearth using stones from the property. Colm, who plans to pursue a career in architecture, enjoyed collecting the vintage newspapers that fill the half bathroom’s walls as insulation—and also serve as wallpaper.

After: Half Bathroom

Before: Mudroom

After: Mudroom

Before: Upstairs Living Room

After: Upstairs Living Room

After four years, it’s now finished: bright and cheerful, outfitted with energizing colors, statement-making wallpaper, and a host of collected and salvaged treasures, each with a story. It’s an irreverent respite that the family fashioned an escape from their fast-paced city life.

Before: Bedroom

After: Bedroom

“It’s rewarding to have done the work ourselves,” Geoffrey says. “Every once in a while, we’ll get caught up telling stories of all the complications and all the work—all four years of the adventure.”

More Before & After stories:

Siblings Turn a Neglected Victorian Into a Dreamy Catskills Hotel

A Couple Crack Open a Cramped Brick House on a Washington Oyster Farm

A Designer Turns an Ugly Duckling Into a Luminous Catskills Retreat

Project Credits:

Designers/Builders: The MacDougall Family

General Contractor: Christopher Plante, (607) 437-5816

Plumbing & Heating: Harold Peters, (607) 435-9369

Electrician: Secure Electrical Contractors, (845) 596-7758

Insulation: Spray Foam Solutions, (607) 435-7930

Floors: Paul Murphy, (845) 532-6862

Foundation: Dean Hunter, (845) 663-3892

Fireplace: Mountain Flame Inc., (845) 586-2700