A Modern 70s Catskills Chalet with a Designer’s Eye and a Builder’s Hands

Vaulted ceilings, cedar paneling, and thoughtful design make this Parksville, NY chalet a quiet, intentional retreat.

Parksville, New York, is home to a quiet, design-led chalet in the Catskills, built slowly and on purpose. Owned by Peter and his wife Lauren from Greenpoint, Brooklyn, the house carries a modern 70s warmth—restrained, thoughtful, and unmistakably lived-in. It’s perfect for couples, small groups, or a weekend by the lake

The Backstory

Before this, there were a lot of weekends upstate—and a lot of almost-right houses. Places that looked good online but didn’t quite hold up in person. The kind where nothing is technically wrong, but nothing feels especially cared for either.

“You get there and you’re like… yeah, those pictures were taken 10 years ago.”

They started looking for something of their own. Not with a plan to rent it, just somewhere that felt alive, somewhere they would actually want to return to.

The house on Indian Lane wasn’t supposed to happen. Slightly over budget, already in demand, easy to assume it would go to someone else. But the first deal fell through, negotiations reopened, and eventually, it worked. It came with a rental history. But more importantly, it came with good bones.

The Design

The chalet’s architecture is the first thing you notice. Vaulted ceilings rise above the living room, drawing the eye upward along warm cedar beams. The wood paneling, untouched yet perfectly preserved, catches the morning light in soft honey tones. Windows frame the surrounding trees, letting nature inside without ever overwhelming the space. At the center, a wood-burning stove anchors the room, its handmade tile backsplash a subtle work of art, delicate and geometric, grounding everything around it. The lighting—carefully curated sconces and pendants—highlights the texture of the walls, the grain of the ceiling, the angles of the beams, revealing beauty in places most houses leave plain.

“The whole vibe is very 70s, but like a little bit of a more modern spin on it.”

Peter’s wife Lauren, a creative director in advertising, is the invisible hand behind the story the house tells. Every choice, from the rug that defines the seating area to the coffee table that threads vintage with now, reflects her impeccable taste. She has a way of making each object feel essential, as if it had always belonged. Peter implements, constructs, and builds—but the vision? That is all hers.

“She’s got more of a design sense… that’s all her. I’m the one who has to implement it.”

The changes are subtle, considered, and sometimes invisible to a casual eye. A lighting fixture swapped, a chair moved just so, a throw pillow that softens an edge. The house, already beautiful, is elevated into something that feels lived in, cared for, and inherently stylish.

For more homes that carry this same quiet insistence on detail, see our Catskills edit: https://www.locellestays.com/locations/catskills

The Tile

The previous owner, Marcy, is an upstate artist who lived in the house for years. Her handmade tile, behind the stove and in the bathroom, is delicate, geometric, and unique—a piece of art quietly integrated into everyday life. When it came time to design a logo for the chalet, Peter and his wife didn’t reinterpret the tile—they asked to use it directly, offering a weekend stay in return. It was a small gesture, but it connected past and present, giving the house a continuity that feels rare.

“It’s one-of-a-kind tile.”

Everyday Moments

Life at the chalet unfolds slowly, in the in-between moments. Mornings start under the extended roofline with coffee in hand, mist curling around the cedar trees. There’s just enough shelter to linger longer than expected, to let time stretch.

“Even if it was rainy… you could sit on the couch out there… and you’re covered.”

A short walk leads to the lake, a quiet stage for afternoons spent in stillness or in gentle movement. The rhythm is unhurried: kayaking, swimming, or just pausing to watch the light shift across the water. It is in these moments, simple and unforced, that the house truly feels alive.

For more homes that carry this same pace and design-led atmosphere, start here: https://www.locellestays.com

What Changed

They didn’t rebuild; they refined. The living room layout, the soft goods, and the kitchen were all reconsidered. The architecture remained intact—vaulted ceilings, wood paneling, and cedar beams—but furniture, lighting, and textures were tuned so that the space could finally breathe. It’s the kind of change that doesn’t demand attention but makes itself felt, as if the house had simply waited for the right eyes to notice it.

The Studio

Beyond the main house, an 11x11 studio sits quietly, tucked just beyond the garage. Simple now as a white space, it is imagined as a moody retreat or a second sleeping area.

This section is talking about the updates planned for the main chalet, not the studio

Practical upgrades, like exterior insulation, will protect the woodwork while keeping the structure’s character intact. The front deck is also on the radar, with plans to connect it more naturally to the lawn, softening the transition between inside and out.

“The whole interior is all cedar… so the idea is to re-wrap the house.”

How to Stay

The best way to experience the chalet is by reaching out on Instagram. Ask questions, see a few photos, and feel your way into the rhythm of the house. Most bookings are handled through Airbnb, though Peter and his wife are happy to coordinate directly for stays that feel right. It’s not about convenience—it’s about discovering the space slowly, intentionally, and on its own terms, exactly the way they enjoy it themselves.

The Hosts

Peter runs a construction company in Brooklyn, overseeing high-end residential projects across the city. His wife is a creative director in advertising, shaping campaigns for large, well-known brands. They live in Greenpoint with their two dogs, moving fluidly between city life and this quieter upstate rhythm.

“She’s got the design sense… I’m the one who has to implement it.”

Locèlle is to Airbnb what Cereal Magazine is to Expedia.

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