After visiting their friends’ house in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, Benjamin and Emma Kemper couldn’t help but dream about what it would be like to have their own weekend home as an escape from their apartment in Brooklyn. Having fallen for the forested hills and cultural attractions of the area, they became focused on finding a long-term lease.
Despite their best efforts, however, “there wasn’t really anything available,” said Ms. Kemper, 36, the founder of Emma Beryl Interiors, a design firm.
After months of searching for a rental, their real estate agent came up with a different idea. “One day he texted and was like ‘I’m moving to Italy. Would you ever buy my house?’” Ms. Kemper said.
When they saw the property, in West Stockbridge, Mass., along the New York border, it had many elements they liked. Over two floors, the 1980s house offered 1,300 square feet of living space, including three bedrooms. It had a finished basement with an additional 450 square feet, which provided plenty of space for their family. It was also situated on a hillside lot of more than eight acres that offered complete privacy.
“It’s unique in that it has good access to town but you still feel like you’re isolated in the woods,” said Mr. Kemper, 37, who works in technology sales.
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The post In the Berkshires, Changing the Floors Was Only the Beginning appeared first on New York Times.
