This NYC-based architecture firm takes on design projects including custom homes and hospitality – plus provides educational tools for all

Based in New York City, The Up Studio‘s team of architects and designers have been hard at work — mostly within the three hour radius of their NYC headquarters. Building mainly in the Hudson Valley and Long Island, this boutique firm works on the entire process of home design from start to finish.

Since its founding in 2010, The Up Studio has earned awards from the likes of the AIA, Builder’s Choice, and GRAY. And though they’ve managed a handful of national projects, they’re most passionate about their home state of New York.

In the Hudson Valley’s village of Irvington, the gravity-defying Flying Bend is just halfway to completion, but already won the hearts of many – including an upcoming spot on CBS’ America ByDesign. In Sag Harbor, Harbor Hideaway fetched nominations and awards from the AIA (ARCHI Award) and ArchDaily (Building of the Year nominee); it was also a Gray Awards finalist.

Their newest project – sure to turn heads and earn its own awards – is Twisted Ridge, just outside Hudson, NY. Read on for a deep dive into this unique home, plus check out some tools The Up Studio created for anyone thinking about building their own dream house.

The main house, left, and guest house, right, share a courtyard with a pool and incredible views of The Catskills. Photo: Julian Bracero

When Grace, their Twisted Ridge client, initiated the project with The Up Studio, she described herself as “a recovering interior designer.” Ready to turn the page into a new career and life path, Grace wanted the home to be her last big project. Prepared with some of her own ideas, concepts were brought to life by The Up Studio, who handled the architecture and interior architecture*, from concept through construction administration. The end result was a home that reflected her style and personality.

(*as partner/designer Jeffrey Ramirez recently defined interior architecture to Escape Brooklyn: “picture a dollhouse, turn it upside down; anything that doesn’t move is interior architecture of a home.”)

The guest home, and main home, share exterior materials, a courtyard with a pool, and dramatic Catskill Mountain views. Photos: Julian Bracero

Twisted Ridge was completed in summer 2024, and is the newest “complete build” addition to The Up Studio’s portfolio. From the start, the Hudson, NY home was designed with a few key points: maximizing views, its signature twisted roof (more on that below), and a multi-use guest house.

Above all else, the gathering spaces at Twisted Ridge are designed to soak in the beauty of the surrounding landscapes. A wall of floor-to-ceiling sliding doors in the great room opens up to unobstructed views of Catskill Mountains; its westward orientation frames magical sunsets. Every bedroom in the main house – along with a home office – also captures this same line of sight. There’s also an element of surprise: even areas that are often tucked-away, like the stairwell, have windows that offer unexpected, sweeping views of the mountains.

The roofline was designed in a way that easily sheds snow, and maximizes solar panel exposure. Dancing up and down, it now mimics the local mountains. Photo: Noah Kalina

The landscape in the Hudson Valley transforms dramatically with each season, as do the exterior spaces at the home. In the summer, the pool area becomes a sanctuary for soaking up the sun, while autumn immerses the home in a vibrant display of color that feels like living art. In winter, the home’s design really goes to work: its roof pitch was specially crafted to slide heavy annual snowfall off the roof with ease. Once the roof pitches were calculated, more surface area for solar panels was added by twisting the ridges. As a result, Twisted Ridge’s roofline dances up and down in a way that mimics the local mountains.

Interiors from the main home at Twisted Ridge. Check the gallery at the top of the page for a full tour. Photos: Julian Bracero

The interiors are thoughtfully tailored to reflect the character of each space at Twisted Ridge. (See the full gallery at the top of the page for a tour.) In the reading room, a cozy retreat nestled away from the expansive views uses dark, moody wallpaper and rich furnishings to create an intimate nook. In contrast, the main gathering spaces are filled with sunlight, use more natural tones, and have playful furnishings with soft, tactile surfaces. The tones and materials in each space create atmospheres that feel distinct, yet cohesive.

The guest house, left, shares a courtyard and pool with the main house. Both homes are designed with the same materials to blend harmoniously, and both enjoy west-facing views. Photos: Julian Bracero

Last but not least is the stunning guest house. Designed as an accessory dwelling unit for longer visits from friends and family – or short term rentals – the guest house enjoys the privacy of its own entrance while capturing the same incredible mountain views as the main home. The space features two bedrooms, a cozy kitchenette, and a den that feels immersed in the woods – providing a tranquil retreat for guests and renters.

Though Grace’s interior design experience was helpful, The Up Studio welcomes all levels of design experience, even if it’s just to chat. Plus, before pulling the trigger on an initial conversation, they’ve created some helpful tools to empower the general public – not just clients – about designing and building a home. As designer/partner Jeffrey Ramirez told us, “Intentional and personalized home design can dramatically change the way people live. The Up Studio wanted to create tools that make that design process more approachable – maybe even joyful!”

In no particular order, here’s a short list of some of those great tools and resources:

• Custom Home Calculator: have you ever wondered what a new home build would cost? Answer seven simple questions and get a ballpark estimate in minutes.

• Home Design Glossary: a great go-to list of (dozens of) home features, for your home building consideration, or just to keep handy. Related: Sustainable Home Design Glossary is also great to bookmark.

• Personal Space Card Game: designed by The Up Studio, this card game helps you build a custom wish list based solely on your unique personality. Play with a partner, friend, or family member – you’ll be able to pinpoint where you align, and as a warning, also where you don’t! Note that this is a physical deck of cards, priced at $29. (The ultimate *hint, hint* dropper!)

For those ready to begin the process, check out this video series of what it’s like to work with an architecture firm, and reach out anytime to The Up Studio via their contact page.

The rest of us get to be on the lookout for more forthcoming tools, and some projects EB x The Up Studio can’t wait to share, in 2025.

For transparency, Escape Brooklyn is a real estate advertising service and may have been paid for this ad. We carefully curate potential paid advertisers; all features are hand-picked and thoughtfully considered.