Upstate Curious’s Local Home Goods Picks for a Cozy Winter

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With several months of nesting on the horizon, the winter season brings a longing for comfort, warmth, and a refreshed curation of the home that will keep spirits high until spring. What better way to improve a home’s atmosphere during these cozy-making months than by adding a few inspired interior design finds and thoughtful products handcrafted by local makers or carried by one of the many independently owned boutiques throughout the Hudson Valley and Catskills?

“We have an amazing community of makers, artists, and indie businesses that offer carefully curated products,” says Megan Brenn-White, associate real estate broker and founder of the Upstate Curious Team at Compass. “These artisans and sellers are all part of what makes it so much fun to explore different towns around our region. You can visit these folks at their studios or get to know local shopkeepers—each offering a wealth of potential ways to spruce up your space.”

Brenn-White is no stranger to what makes a house a home. With a team of 23 agents covering 12 counties across the Hudson Valley and Catskills and more than 600 clients served, Upstate Curious has quickly risen to become one of the area’s most trusted real estate teams for buying and selling a home, which requires plenty of panache in the styling department.

“We represent listings with a high level of design, and our buyers have equally high aesthetic preferences,” she says. “We often help sellers make value-enhancing renovations, but we thought it would be a great idea to create our own Styling Library too—a resource from which to pull when homes just need a little extra something. It’s still a work in progress, but our goal is to build a collection of local, vintage, and handcrafted items categorized by design aesthetic, making it easy for our agents to curate from a large variety of items like pillows, throws, artwork, tableware, and more, and augment them with organic items like plants, fruit, and flowers that make a house feel more alive.”

Constantly crisscrossing the region to work with clients has given Brenn-White and her team a keen eye for items that are reflective of a diverse sense of place. From purveyors in always-hip Hudson to the rural rolling hills of Delhi, here are the Upstate Curious Team’s top picks for creating a cozy, welcoming vibe at home this winter.

Mugs from Lail Design

Catskill

Made by master ceramicist Brad Lail, these durable, hand-thrown ceramics feature a minimalistic design intended to remain timeless and original glazes that range from neutral to softly vibrant.

“Part of my morning ritual is making pour-over coffee and sitting in my favorite chair with my favorite ceramic mug, handmade by Lail Design. It’s one of those heavy, feels-good-in-your-hands mugs—that also holds a lot of coffee. Their pieces also make the perfect housewarming gifts!”

—Kate Quintard, licensed real estate salesperson

Maple Cardamom Soap from Phoenicia Soap Co.

Shokan

This plant-based body and face care line is made with oils infused with botanicals wild-crafted or sustainably grown in the Catskills, and without the use of harmful colorants and ingredients. Add a hint of delicious seasonality to the ritual of handwashing with this soap, which smells of warm baking spices.

Milestone Mill Beans

Kingston

Nothing says comfort like a pot of good, brothy beans simmering on the stove. Started as a project of the Hudson Valley Farm Hub, Milestone Mill is bringing sustainably grown, nutritionally complex grains back to the table. They also make flour, corn meal, popping corn, corn tortillas, and tortilla chips.

Catskill Cozy Tea from the Herbal Scoop

Narrowsburg

This top-selling tea is intended for digestive ease and promoting a sense of calm, and is made from a blend of chamomile, ginger, holy basil, linden, orange peel, maypop, and peppermint.

“As soon as the temperature drops, I’ve got the kettle on and Catskill Cozy tea ready to brew. There’s something about the smell and color that relaxes me even before I take a sip. The business owner is committed to high-quality ingredients and sources (or grows!) a lot locally, which also matters to me.”

—Megan Brenn-White, founder and CEO

Candles from Catskill Candle Studio

Tannersville

Founder Nicole Andrick combines her design sensibility with inspiration from the Catskills region to create fragrances reminiscent of wooded trails, fireside nights, and year-round botanicals.

“A really special, well-made candle is a go-to gift, and it makes me so happy that Catskills Candle Studio is local and woman-owned! Campfire + Fir Is my favorite for when I want to feel like being immersed in the mountains while wrapped up in a blanket on my couch.”

—Hillary Kolos, licensed real estate salesperson

Arc Throw from Minna

Hudson

Designed locally and handwoven by artisans in Momostenango, Guatemala, the pillows, rugs, and wool throws sold by Minna are made from handspun wool with sustainably crafted dyes. This throw features an extra-cozy felted look, perfect for chilly mornings.

Vito the Cat Pillow from The Falls

High Falls

The Falls fuses found fashion with artful embellishment to create distinctive and limited-run pieces that are inspiring and unexpected. This embroidered, natural linen throw pillow is sure to lift the mood during the coldest months of the year.

“Sometimes the best decor is the type that doesn’t fit one aesthetic, but just makes you happy. This one is probably the single favorite item in my house because it cracks me up.”

—Megan Brenn-White, founder and CEO

Beginner Crochet Class with Cal Patch

Virtual

There are few things more cozy than wiling away the winter making knitwear. Learn all about the art of crochet with Accord-based clothing designer and teacher Cal Patch while snug at home. This online class teaches everything from yarn and hook selection to foundation stitches and finishing off.

Sheepskin from LoveLamb

Hamden

Farmer and fiber artist Jess Ludwicki sources wool locally from fiber farms across New York and New Mexico to create LoveLamb’s sheepskins and fleeces. Many of LoveLamb’s cruelty-free fleeces are made by piecing together shorn fleece by hand using ancient felting techniques.

Candlesticks from Hort & Pott

Freehold

The uncommon goods and fantastical botanicals at Hort & Pott will definitely lend some drama to a home’s interior design. Find decorative statement pieces including candleholders, vases, and more, including vintage and artisan-crafted items.

“Their one-of-a-kind pieces, especially the stunning seasonal candlesticks, are my go-to for creating a cozy atmosphere, and it’s an easy way to change things up at home!”

—Jocelyn Justiniano, licensed real estate salesperson

Sipping Chocolate by Fruition Chocolate Works

Shokan

Rich, velvety, and locally made, Catskills chocolate mavens Fruition Chocolate have elevated traditional hot cocoa with a sipping chocolate crafted with their signature Dominican origin dark chocolate and Tanzanian cocoa powder.

“There are few things more cozy than hot chocolate, and Fruition makes the finest. Top with locally made Hudson Valley Marshmallow Co. marshmallows for a truly indulgent cup.”

—Megan Brenn-White, founder and CEO

Hot Tub from Hudson Hot Tubs

Tivoli

Created by John Cox, the founder of Quercus, a barrel and tank cooperage, these rustic yet sleek hot tubs are made with a similar design used in crafting barrels and tanks for the craft spirit industry. These handmade red cedar hot tubs can be customized to meet a diverse range of lifestyle needs.

Library Lamp from Quittner Lighting

Germantown

 

Founded as an antiques boutique by Benjamin Davidson and Pippa Biddle, Quittner has become a haven for lighting and homewares rooted in traditional form while providing a distinctively heritage aesthetic. Snuggle up with a good book under this porcelain and brass lamp.

Apple Brandy from Klocke Estate

Claverack

Klocke Estate Distillery is fairly new to the region, but already garnering scores of loyal visitors thanks to its high-quality brandy and vermouth, fine dining restaurant, and picturesque facility and grounds. Its first product, an apple brandy, is a limited-batch spirit made with apples grown on-site.

Spectre Robe from Great Indoors

Sullivan County

Raw materials developer Amina Iman and designer and musician Connor Mikita operate Great Indoors from their homebase in the Catskills and work with manufacturers in Portugal to produce their organic terry robes and towels. These graphic green-and-white robes are eye-catching and size-inclusive.

Shaker Grill from Wittus

Pound Ridge

This indoor stove can unite a space with coziness and light, a panacea for dark winter nights. Made from black steel, the sleek design fits in any sized home. Sit close to the fire with loved ones or set the spirit for holiday parties. Find it and other European-designed hearth products at Wittus Stove.

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