A nearly 200-year-old Hudson Valley farmhouse—with a sweet tie to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry—has been relisted for $1.59 million, a $605,000 price slash from its original $2.195 million asking price.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom abode belongs to celebrity photographer, Alexi Lubomirski, who captured the engagement and 2018 wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Lensing the royal nuptials is far from the only impressive feat on Lubomirski’s resume. The photographer, director, and author kicked off the early days of his career as an assistant for Mario Testino.
His work has graced the pages of publications including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and GQ, and he’s photographed several other A-listers—Julia Roberts, Cynthia Erivo, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Gwyneth Paltrow, to name a few.
The property, named Half Moon Farm, sits on more than 3 acres in Mahopac, NY. It’s a historically registered residence that’s been carefully updated to preserve its original character, which dates back to 1812.
“The reason it’s called Half Moon Farm is because that was the name of the boat that brought people up the Hudson to this area,” Alexi shared in a video tour of the property, in which he noted that the home was the first to be built in the area.
Alexi and his wife, Giada Lubomirski, purchased the home while residing in New York City, looking for a “quick getaway” within an hour “to escape at the weekends.”
Half Moon Farm was the only listing they looked at, and Alexi immediately fell in love with it upon noticing the incredible light in the kitchen. But they’ve found much more to gush over in the 15 years they’ve called the property home.
Lovingly referring to the Hudson Valley retreat as the family’s “zone of comfort and joy,” Alexi said that one of the most charming aspects of the interior of the home is its circular layout that allows visitors to easily pass through all of the rooms on the first floor.
There’s also a newly updated kitchen, which is equal parts rustic and sophisticated and boasts custom cabinets, butcher block countertops, sleek stainless steel appliances, and an expansive pantry.
The dwelling is bursting with personality, from built-in storage to original hardwood floors. But the most storied part of the property seems to be the outdoors, where the lush landscape contains trees estimated to be up to 300 years old.
“You just sit here, you eat some grapes off the vine, you eat some berries off the bushes, you watch the butterflies fluttering around, the hummingbirds … it’s a paradise,” said Alexi.
The situation he described is not hypothetical. The backyard—which he referred to as a “sun trap”—is filled with fruits and vegetables, and it was common for his kids to jump out of the pool and grab a natural snack before diving back in.
“It’s kind of ridiculously idyllic. I sound like I’m making it up when I talk about it, but it’s pretty cool,” he continued.
Out back, there’s also a potting shed that has served as a “haven” for Giada, who is a nature lover and ecology activist.
“When we moved in here in 2011, the last owners had obviously used all sorts of generic pesticides and herbicides,” Alexi explained. “My wife knew that it was going to take seven years to restore the health of the garden.”
From there, the family began to use organic produce on the grass and vegetable garden.
Intentional choices were made in the yard to invite wildlife, such as honeysuckle planted along the entrance to the garden to summon hummingbirds.
There’s also an organic herb garden with rosemary, oregano, thyme, basil, lavender, dill, chives, sage, lemon balm, as well as roses and butterfly bushes.
“Lo and behold, exactly seven years after we moved in, all of a sudden, we had two screech owls move into the tree,” he continued. “We started to see rabbits, we started to see tortoises, we started to see deer coming through, and the turkeys coming through.”
A gunite pool was added in 2012, built within a former sheep paddock. Inspired by Giada’s Italian roots, they opted for a dark color for a “grotto feel.”
Fairy-tale features aside, the home is also equipped with practical additions for functional living.
The finished lower level has heated floors, a recreation space, and direct access to the yard; perfect for families.
Alexi’s famous subjects, Harry and Meghan, are making moves, too. The couple have ditched life in California for a return to the U.K., and are on the hunt for their next dream home, though they plan to hold onto their $14.65 million Montecito mansion.
Get real estate news in your inbox
