Family home in northwestern New York with a bed in the shape of a cloud - breathtaking place!

"I always felt a little bit like a country girl, even when I was in big cities," says Rachel Pitach. "Moving to a small town felt like coming home to myself."

On the search for the perfect home:

I grew up in California, and this house reminds me of the craftsman homes there. It's a classic kit house from the early 1900s, and when I first walked inside, I thought, "Haven't I been in this exact model before?!" I love the hardwood floors, large windows, and the huge front porch.

About the family's dog:

Ramona is a mix of a Border Collie and a Pyrenean Mountain Dog, who came to us from a nearby farm. She is very sweet and emotionally attached. If you leave for five minutes, when you come back, she will be lying on the floor as if you had been gone for years.

About favorite places in the Hudson Valley:

We are very lucky to live near Gaskins, a wonderful restaurant in Germantown. There are also great shops like Luddite, Alder & Co., and Mary MacGill within walking distance. Yesterday, we rode our bikes to Tivoli General, a cute little market that prepares lunches and sells groceries. Nearby is Tivoli Mercantile. And Rose Hill Farm is a cider house on a large and beautiful property in Red Hook.

Living room

Sofa: Article. Rug: The Rug Shop. Cushions: H&M. Armchair: vintage, similar. Coasters: Preti.cool. Vase: Crate & Barrel.

About a friendly children's environment:

The first floor of the house has a circular layout, which is perfect for a small child and a dog, as they can run in circles while we cook or relax.

Coffee table:

a missionary-style table like Grandma Rachel's. Toy storage: Ikea. Triangular floor rug: Amazon. Painting: Tanya Merrill. Sheepskin: Saipua. Hand-painted Moroccan tiles: MoroccanTileShop. Wood stove: TrueNorth. Chair: vintage folding chair, similar.

About replacing the TV:

I believe that wall-mounted TVs are visually distracting - they take up too much space! A projector helps avoid this. Moreover, there's a certain showmanship to the whole process that I enjoy.

Cafeteria

Candle holders: Luddite Antiques. Dining table: estate sale, dining table chairs: Safavieh. Salt shaker: Busted Ceramics, fruit bowl: Terra Délicat Bowl by Athena Calderone.

On the policy of open doors:

We have wonderful neighbors, so we often invite them over for cocktails and then spend time together while the kids play. I enjoy spontaneous gatherings. Recently, I came home to find 15 people here, and my husband said, "I felt like making a lot of burgers."

About stress-free entertainment:

My main advice is to prepare food that doesn't need to be hot or super carefully cooked to be beautiful and tasty. Grain salads are perfect for this - they can be made in advance, and you can add greens and dressing just before sitting down at the table. Roasted chicken can be quite delicious at room temperature. I learned a lot while working at events with Chef Sean Rembold, where he created menus that worked even if 150 guests never sat down when you wanted them to. (He and his wife Karon now run Inga's Bar restaurant in Brooklyn).

Vintage dryer:

Rachel's grandmothers. Print: Mike Paré Four Horsemen 2020, Bar towel: Molly Baz for Crate and Barrel. Face cups: Maya Strauss.

About family heirlooms:

We use a vintage drying rack as a bar cart. Like many of our furniture pieces, it belonged to my grandmother. She collected beautiful items, and when I was growing up, she would say, "One day you will have this in your home." She passed away in 2019; we happily live with her belongings. She had a great energy and a vibrant personality.

About the cat Basilio (on the windowsill):

I own a company that produces blackcurrant liqueur C. Cassis. Last summer, we went to pick up the spirits from our distillers, and they said, "There are just born kittens under our porch, would you like to meet them?" We immediately fell in love with Basilio. Now he and our dog are inseparable. They wrestle and play like best friends.

Kitchen

Paint: Benjamin Moore in the color Simply White.

About the birth of a business:

When I was pregnant, I experimented with low and non-alcoholic drinks that had the same flavors I enjoy: earthy, yeasty, herbal, but not sweet. Remembering the fresh black currants from the time I spent on a farm in France, I delved into this topic and started making very small batches of black currant liqueur for friends, joking that it could turn into a business.

Tile:

Tilebar. Grout: Permacolor Saltillo. Pendant light: Allen + Roth.

On perfected drinks:

The simplest thing you can make with C. Cassis is a spritz. There are endless variations, but here’s my favorite recipe: 30 ml of C. Cassis, 30 ml of dry vermouth, 120 ml of soda, 2 olives, and 1 slice of orange. Just mix everything with ice and enjoy.

Son's room

Paint: Benjamin Moore in the color Simply White. Pillow with elephants: Puppy Pillow. Bed: made by Rachel and Steve. Blanket: Pendleton. Mushroom pillow: Myfawnwy.

On the creation of a cloud bed:

When Theo outgrew his crib, I asked him to describe his dream bed. He said, "Like a cloud, but with water, and low enough for my animals to climb up and down." I drew up a design, he approved the plans, and my husband and I made it out of plywood. It's a simple platform with two wavy edges, and we all love it.

Bookshelf:

Made by Rachel and Steve. Painting: John Pitach (Rachel's father). Children's workbench: Tender Leaf Toys.

About small hobbies:

Theo is into pirates, Lego, baking, costumes... and Black Sabbath. He constantly sings and performs Black Sabbath songs. My husband also loves Black Sabbath, but right now he says, "I'm tired of this song," while Theo says, "I'm not!"

Writing desk:

Ikea. Print: William Scott Creative Growth. Wooden printing box: antique, similar. Curtains: Crate&Kids.

On the use of real tools:

We bought a workbench for Theo when he was much younger and couldn't use real tools yet, but still wanted to pretend. Since then, he has learned to use some tools, like a hammer, and he handles them very responsibly.

Master bedroom

Bed frame: Wayfair. Stools: from Grandma Rachel, similar ones. Painting: John Pietach. Water pitcher on the nightstand: Ichendorf Milano. Sheets: Bed Threads.

About flowers in the bedroom:

Yellow is my favorite color; I find it uplifting yet calming.

Bathroom

Wallpaper: Work + Sea.

About relaxation:

At the end of the day, I try to take some time for a quiet activity alone with myself, whether it's reading, taking a bath, or watering the garden.

Office

Bookshelf: Ikea. Chair: Design Within Reach. Writing desk: made by Rachel and Steve. Flower vase: Group Partner.

On the balance between work and personal life:

Raising children makes working at a company difficult, as you often have to work long hours. "How will I be able to do this?" became my biggest question when I was pregnant. At C. Cassis, I try to keep the work schedule reasonable; employees work from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, four days a week. It's important to be able to finish the day at a time when you still have the opportunity to take a walk, meet friends, or do something for yourself.

Backyard

Chairs: Wayfair. Table: made by Rachel and Steve.

About another business model:

Earlier in my career, I worked hard and for a long time on other people's projects. I craved experience and knowledge. This way, you learn a lot, but at the end of the day, it's not yours. With C. Cassis, we are exploring paths of collective ownership. I want to make sure that our growth also benefits my team.

Chairs: