True confession: I love HGTV, especially the transformation shows — the ones in which a run-down home is shined — or gutted — to a glowing, enviable, increased-value luster. Sometimes I enjoy the mid-show chatter about “builder-grade” and “character.” (Two words for an HGTV drinking game, as my husband and I joke.) But I also sometimes fast-forward through the fake set-ups (I know — they already bought the house!) and manufactured dramas (How will we make it open concept after finding the main stack there? Note: It’s always the main stack). I stop at the last three minutes, where someone gasps or has their eyes fill with tears as they say something like, “This is beyond anything I could have dreamed.” That moment, the reveal, as it’s called, gets me every time. The diamond from the rock, the beauty from the beast, the cookie cutter to the custom—basically evidence that change (architectural, emotional) is possible.
In that spirit of fast-forwarding to the good stuff, I’ve collected some of the homes for sale in Hampshire County that are “afters” — or very close to it. The properties that for whatever reason make my own jaw drop for their charm, clean lines, cool colors, or indeed, their character. Please ogle along with me.
Oh my color-blocked glory! One of the stars here is the exterior, made of wood slats and crimson and azure painted cement board, with windows set at fascinating angles. But also, this three-bedroom house is on more than 20 acres, and has a wide-open floor plan, high ceilings, hardwood floors, and huge windows. The walls are 10-inches thick to buffer you from the New England weather. An adjacent studio is meant for art or yoga or performance, or as the listing so poetically says, “watching the light and shadows dance through the day.” Sigh. It’s $795,000. Jim Molyneux at Molyneux Realty, (413) 238-5324.
This ridiculously cute two-bedroom bungalow is close to Smith College. Built in 1900 and renovated, the huggable house has wood floors, a charming wood stove, and a kitchen with a major pantry. Upstairs is maybe my favorite thing about the place: a mustard yellow cast-iron tub. A little storage building has solar panels (as a solar wife I’m all about those panels). The yard is also lovely, with two tiers of wood decking, a weeping tree, and garden beds. It’s $399,000. Alyx Akers with Five College Realtors, (413) 320-6405.
Set on nearly half an acre not far from downtown, this five-bedroom, 1860 Gothic Revival Brick house has had a recent, stunning renovation. The drool-worthy kitchen with craftsman details includes soapstone counters, maple cabinets, and quality appliances, and the re-done mudroom has heated slate floors. (So smart!) Downstairs is an ensuite bedroom with a freshly done bathroom. Upstairs has four more bedrooms and laundry. The exterior holds many original details, plus leads to an L-shaped yard with garden and a lawn that seems to go on forever. It’s $660,000. Mark Carmien at Maple and Main Realty, (413) 320-1162.
Ok, this one kind of blows my mind. It’s an epic 2014 estate on nearly 60 acres. There’s a new six-stall horse barn! Plus riding ring and fenced pasture, natch. The house itself has five bedrooms, an open plan, and a 24-foot wall of glass that’s basically an ode to Pioneer Valley views—soft waves of blue and green hills undulate ahead. The main living space has vaulted ceilings with exposed wood trusses. Downstairs is a game room that opens to a generous pool and patio and the fields beyond. It’s $3,449,999. Robert J. Naumowicz with Taylor Agency, (413) 695-3490.
If Don Draper had a luxe country house in western Mass, this would be it. Though it was built in 1994, this deep homage to mid-century architect Frank Lloyd Wright is evident in everything from the cantilevered decks to the built-in furniture designed by the home’s architect John Bednarski. The three-bedroom house is on a 13.4-acre lot and makes use of many materials from the natural world, including a slate roof, cedar siding, and cherry wood floors. The smoothly updated kitchen is a kind of Zen-modern heaven, with hexagonal stools and flat-faced cherry cabinets. It’s $849,000. Rachel Simpson with Goggins Real Estate, (413) 386-823.
If you love historic, landmark houses, this farmhouse, built circa 1750, is going to hit your sweet spot with all its original details. If you don’t love all of the quirks of historic houses, you’ll be glad that this one has been renovated to modern standards of comfort and ease. Across the street from the Connecticut River, the sweet, yet stately five-bedroom home is chock full of historic treats like the three fireplaces and wide-plank floors. An addition is a beautiful living room with a vaulted, cherry-planked ceiling. The property itself has a Goshen stone terrace, large lawn, gardens, and fire pit—plus a four-car garage with a studio upstairs. $1,175,000. Holly Young, Delap Real Estate, (413) 320-8025.
Valerie Dawn Reiss is a freelance writer based in Northampton. Read more of her work at valeriereiss.com.