🏋️🏃♀️Work It Out
Drinkin' water, eatin' fruits, takin' care of my body
In a time where I’m so physically removed from friends and oftentimes mentally removed from my body, having an Apple Watch has been a saving grace. What was once a minor annoyance has turned into a moment of connection, getting a tap on the wrist and seeing my friend’s name pop up on the screen. It makes me happy to get a tiny glimpse into a friend’s life and know that somewhere out there they are surviving and making time to take care of themselves. I’m just as excited seeing an Outdoor Walk pop up as High-Intensity Interval Training, and it’s been a nice reminder that no matter how small the effort, it’s something worth doing.
It’s inspired me to start taking better care of myself in a way that’s actually caring. Instead of browbeating myself into a 30-minute run every morning before work, I’ve been taking the time to listen to my body. Is it very San Francisco of me to say? Sure. But it works (and also I live there, so what did you expect?). I’ve also been working on making my workout space a place that actually makes me enjoy spending time there, not just the endorphin high after. It made me wonder what kind of workout spaces other homes have.
Here are the best houses on the market with dedicated workout spaces.
The Pueblo Revival Compound
Location: 3364 Paseo Segunda, Santa Fe, NM 87501
List Price: $6,500,000
Listing: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3364-AND-3365-Paseo-Segunda-Santa-Fe-NM-87501/2077760539_zpid/
This property is actually three separate homes set on 104 acres up against a state park in one of the prettiest parts of the country. The main house is the most noteworthy.
If the trapezoidal front door didn’t pull you in from the very start, I’m not sure what would. This Pueblo Revival home is a stunning geometric experience that still feels very much connected to its location. The ceiling in the living room feels like the kind of jagged rock face you would find in the mountains nearby.
This home has a brilliant combination of organic shapes and finishes that contrast nicely with the sharper, modern elements. I’m particularly in love with this bedroom with a built-in bed and its sculptural headboard that mimics the shape of the mountains in the distance (even though I wish the bed was facing out towards the view instead).
This compound has what looks like a small building dedicated to yoga and pilates. The blond wood beams, bright windows, and calming monochromatic palette make it seem like a very peaceful place to workout.
The Contemporary Lakehouse
Location: 53 Twin Glens Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850
List Price: $1,950,000
Listing: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/53-Twin-Glens-Rd-Ithaca-NY-14850/32826565_zpid/
This contemporary home overlooking Cayuga Lake brings me so much joy. I love its barrel ceiling with its voluminous height and all of the extra windows it affords the space. The house plays with height and space in interesting ways. Despite being an open floor plan with all white walls and blond wood flooring, there are distinct feelings to each space with slices of views between rooms and creative layouts that keep things from feeling too flat and rectangular.
There are also several round elements in the house that mimic the ceiling and further create interest without contributing visual noise in the otherwise minimalist space.
Un the lower level, there is a dedicated workout space with bold blue carpet that also enjoys views of the surrounding trees and a high ceiling height. It is unclear if the cow is included, or what the cow is used for.
The Bronx Tudor
Location: 404 W 246th St, Bronx, NY 10471
List Price: $3,500,000
Listing: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/404-W-246th-St-Bronx-NY-10471/29852635_zpid/
This Tudor Revival is one of my favorite recent examples of a mullet house. If you haven’t heard the term before, it’s pretty self-explanatory. They’re houses that look traditional from the front but have modern renovations or additions on the back. Some of my all-time favorite houses are mullet houses, like the house that inspired this newsletter in the first place.
And this house is no exception. The front part of this house is beautifully maintained and has lovely touches like wood-beamed ceilings and arched window and door casings. The back of the house mirrors the front by using the same materials in a modern application. The living and dining area at the back of the house is so peaceful. It’s easy to imagine myself pulling a book out of the library and sitting by the floor-to-ceiling windows to read.
In the other levels of the house are charming secondary spaces with cute touches like nooks and angled ceilings. I squealed with delight when I saw this bedroom in particular because of its pentagonal bay window. I’ve never seen anything like it!
The workout space in this house is located in the turret, which I find so fun and also of course you would. What else would you put in a room with high ceilings and small windows? You could make such a vibey workout space here with some interesting lighting and some bold paint choices.
The Brooklyn Edwardian
Location: 459 E 19th St, Brooklyn, NY 11226
List Price: $3,195,000
Listing: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/459-E-19th-St-Brooklyn-NY-11226/30668373_zpid/
This recently renovated Edwardian in Brooklyn caught my attention because of the clear effort they put in to maintain the old while still injecting a heavy dose of the new. They created a beautiful, bright and open space that still has a lot of the original touches that give the house character. I love the intricate wood floors and the details in the staircase.
This house has a juxtaposition of the old and the new that keeps it interesting. It doesn’t feel like every modern renovation out there, nor does it feel like a pristinely maintained original.
The basement in this house also has the biggest, most professional gym feeling that I’ve seen outside of a multi-million dollar, newly constructed mansion. It’s the kind of space that would inspire me to work out more. I also love that it has surfboard storage in case you want to catch some waves at Rockaway Beach a straight shot away. After a hard workout downstairs, you can relax and unwind in the steam room or sauna upstairs.
Bonus
Obviously, you’ve never needed a full room to workout in, but especially now with compact machines like Tonal, Forme, or Nordic Track’s Vault it’s easier than ever to get the full gym experience without having to dedicate a whole room to working out, or compromising on the room’s aesthetics.
This home in Connecticut with a basement gym and an actual observatory: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/147-Whispering-Woods-Rd-Guilford-CT-06437/58902174_zpid/
I can’t imagine a more pleasant place to workout than a dedicated room on top of a townhouse built out of glass bricks with skylights: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/72-Middagh-St-Brooklyn-NY-11201/30567315_zpid/