“Colors present themselves in continuous flux,” said Josef Albers in his 1963 treatise Interaction with Color, “they’re constantly related to changing neighbors and changing conditions.” Rode Barns, a 13 acre riverside compound in Stuyvesant, New York, was born of this idea, and how meditating on this phenomenon has a way of changing those who slow down enough to witness it. Three show-stopping stables lie at the center of the property, notched into rolling hillsides and wildflower meadows. Each is painted a vivid hue of red inspired by Albers’ theory. The 1840 three bedroom farmhouse sits at the forefront of the compound, painted black it is perched on the banks of the Hudson River just two and a half hours north of Manhattan. Renovated top to bottom, the main living space has soaring ceilings, anchored by a two-sided fireplace separating the living room and large chef’s kitchen. The kitchen walks out onto a large deck that overlooks a heated, gunite pool lined in bluestone, several outbuildings and the organic vegetable garden. The living room has french doors that swing open to a front porch overlooking the river. Three bedrooms upstairs include a spacious master suite, and a gym and home theatre make up the lower level. Pops of brilliant color play throughout the home, and out of each window is a beautiful view of the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains beyond. The pool house has two bedrooms and a sauna and across the pool an indoor-outdoor kitchen structure has accordion glass doors that open onto the lawn. Follow a meandering gravel road to the eastern edge of the thirteen acres and you’ll find a guest house tucked in under a large maple tree. It’s been completely restored with a full kitchen and two bedrooms. Rode Barns was designed for enjoyment, for coming together, enjoying good meals and good company in a spectacular setting that transports you away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. 15m to Amtrak, 2.5h to NYC.