Images by Lyndsay Hannah and styling by Wanda Furman.
Final time our buddy Abbey Nova invited us into her dwelling, she was dwelling in an Higher West Aspect house along with her husband Tim and toddler son, Alex. Now, 13 years later, Abbey, Tim, six-foot-tall Alex, and her youngest son, Ben, dwell within the northwest nook of Connecticut, in a house with studying nooks, colourful art work, and so many vegetation. Right here’s a glance inside…
LIVING ROOM
Sofas: Lee Industries. Espresso desk: Customized. Lamps: Hackeny Ground Lamp. Aspect desk: comparable. Rug: Loloi.
On taking time: I’m a gradual decorator and can maintain shifting a chunk of furnishings round, and even change the aim of a room, till it feels proper. After we lived in New York, I may get our flats wanting the best way I wished immediately. However this home is educating me that some rooms take time. If a room feels off, I consider that over time, I’ll discover the correct structure, piece of artwork, or no matter that factor is.
Amaryllis: Van Engelen Inc.
On brightening winter: I grew up in an remoted a part of Vermont the place winters have been darkish and chilly and it was straightforward to get snowed in. However my mother did a very pretty job of surrounding herself with magnificence, particularly throughout that dreary season. She grew amaryllis bulbs January via March. As we speak they’re a winter survival instrument for me, too.
Portray: Michael Abrams. Dollhouse: Etsy.
On significant artwork: This Michael Abrams portray may be my favourite piece in our dwelling. His work speaks to each Tim’s love of nature and our shared connection to this area. After we have been newly married, I stunned Tim with a go to to the gallery and he selected this portray. I nonetheless bear in mind the look of pleasure on his face as he made his selection, and the way grown up I felt in that second.
On an evolving paint combo: For this room, we used Farrow & Ball Elephant’s Breath, a heat grey coloration that appears totally different each time I stroll via the room — within the night it’s virtually lilac coloured. We painted the ceilings White Dove by Benjamin Moore.
Penant: Shades of Gentle. Desk: Design Inside Attain. Chairs: Design Inside Attain.
On summer time traditions: In the summertime, our household eats dinner at this desk as a result of we will depart the aspect door open, which catches the breeze. One in every of our go-to meals is grilled kebabs and a easy arugula salad with shaved Parmesan.
Desk: “From my childhood dwelling.” Print: Commissioned from Michael McKay.
On rising vegetation: I’ve had some vegetation for 10 years. However others, it doesn’t matter what I do, don’t keep alive. I used to really feel like such a failure when a plant would die. Over time, although, I’ve determined that I simply gained’t purchase that type of plant once more! I additionally just like the app PictureThis. It identifies your vegetation and the right way to take care of them, all from simply importing a photograph.
KITCHEN/DINING ROOM
On meals that work for everybody: For weeknight dinners we make lots of rice bowls with teriyaki salmon bites and edamame. We additionally love peanut noodles and broccoli with crispy baked tofu. Any sort of bowl state of affairs is nice as a result of everybody can repair their meal simply the best way they need it.
Desk: Fb Market. Chairs: Design Inside Attain by way of Charish.
On a canine named Argus: My oldest son Alex has dyslexia, so for studying he dove into audio books and graphic novels and fell in love with The Odyssey collection. Within the Odyssey, Odysseus’s canine, who acknowledges him after 20 years when nobody else acknowledges him, is known as Argus. So, after we acquired our beloved pup, we needed to title him Argus. It seems like a heavy title for a canine, however it’s additionally very candy.
Dresser: Craigslist. Meals = Love print: Katherine Miles Jones. Lady’s portrait: “My nice grandmother Dorothy West.”
On making a balanced gallery wall: First I outlined the form and dimensions of the wall on the ground with painter’s tape. Then, I pulled out all of the artwork we had and grouped it contained in the tape parameters. I spent two weeks rearranging items and texting images of every iteration to Tim, who was touring for work; he has an excellent eye and gave sensible recommendations. It was useful for us each to see images of the preparations and to have the ability to evaluate.
On the place to scout artwork: I’m all the time attempting to withstand the siren name of artwork. I like spending evenings wanting via on-line auctions and eBay. Two eBay sellers I observe are Boris Wilnitsky Advantageous Arts and ArtGate-European Oil Work. Any time I discover an artist I like, I’ll arrange a saved search on eBay or liveauctioneers.com and maintain a watch out for items in my worth vary.
On elevating youngsters with a nine-year age hole: Our boys each have stunning, foolish, artistic sides, and the best way they join is gorgeous. We didn’t plan on ready so lengthy; I simply had lots of miscarriages. However then throughout my being pregnant with Ben, I fearful concerning the 9 years distinction. I talked to anybody I may discover who had the same age hole with a sibling. And universally, everybody mentioned, ‘Don’t fear, they’re the sibling I’m closest to.’ After all, each my boys can push one another’s buttons. However they’ve a very nice bond as a result of they’re not aggressive with one another. I really feel so fortunate to be their mother.
PARENTS’ BEDROOM
Quilt: Schoolhouse. Velvet pillows: Collyer’s Mansion. Rug: Mattress Bathtub & Past. Aspect desk: Room & Board. Lamps: Zara Dwelling.
On following your intestine: The earlier homeowners used this as a sunroom (full with a scorching tub!) however we made the unconventional selection of turning it into our major bed room, and it’s such a present. Within the morning, the sunshine streams in via home windows that look out over the backyard. Waking up right here feels so pure and peaceable.
On agency mattresses: I like my mattresses HARD. In school, once I was struggling via a too-soft dorm mattress, my father drove up with a chunk of plywood to create the agency floor I wanted. So, I suppose the important thing to a comfortable mattress is figuring out what works for you.
Chairs: classic. Pillow: The Six Bells.
On humorous pillows: My grandmother lived in a really elegant and buttoned-up home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In her kitchen, she had a poster of a flowery woman in a fur coat pushing a loaded procuring cart with the textual content ‘When the going will get robust, the robust buy groceries.’ It was such an ideal glimpse of her humorousness amid all that New England propriety. I looked for a duplicate of that poster for years with no luck. So, once I noticed this pillow, I actually screamed with pleasure.
BATHROOM
Block print: “Ben made this in a printmaking class with the artist Meg Musgrove!” Planter: classic.
On repurposing planters: Any compelled bulbs reminiscent of paperwhites, hyacinths, and amaryllis would work fantastically in an vintage bowl — you simply want so as to add pebbles on the backside and keep watch over the water degree. These blooming hyacinths come from my buddy and neighbor, Pom, who runs English Backyard Grown and affords seasonal flowers to native subscribers.
BEN’S ROOM
Quilt: made by Abbey. Pillow: Anthropologie. Aspect desk: “From my childhood dwelling.” Lamp: Goal. Rainbow: “a present from my sister.”
On children’ books: Ben simply turned seven and he is able to not be a child. He loves audiobooks, particularly this collection, and we take heed to about 5 audiobooks every week. For his birthday he requested for a speaker. I assumed it was the sweetest request.
Horse: thrifted.
On youngsters’s books: I like In The Night time Kitchen by Maurice Sendak, and we’ve hung this print everywhere in the home. After we moved Ben’s room downstairs, he mentioned, ‘That’s my favourite e-book. Can I’ve that in my room?’ We had learn that e-book quite a bit when he was youthful, however earlier than that second I had by no means recognized it was his favourite e-book. It jogged my memory that you just by no means know what moments your children are going to recollect.
ALEX’S ROOM
Quilt: Heather Taylor Dwelling, comparable. Lamp: Goal, comparable.
On a shocking factor about teenagers: I’m all the time amazed by how Alex is aware of a lot about all the pieces. He sprained his ankle this summer time, and after we have been speaking about his foot, he was utilizing the identical terminology as my bodily therapist. I noticed that he realized it from watching bodily remedy movies. And it’s like that with so many issues. He’s an awesome cook dinner and photographer, too.
Chairs: Ikea.
On leaning into letting go: I really feel like teenagers may be so villainized. However they’re supposed to push our buttons. Their job is to tug away from us. And that may be painful, in fact, however it seems like such a privilege to witness them become who they’re turning into.
GARDEN
On gardening within the winter: I wish to examine gardens within the winter. In the course of the summer time I’m all the time outdoors planting and clearing and shifting issues round. However the winter is once I quiet down with a stupendous English backyard e-book. That’s when all the planning occurs. [Ed. note: Here’s Abbey’s garden in the summer! So gorgeous.]
Thanks a lot, Abbey. We love you.
P.S. Extra dwelling excursions, together with a teeny tiny Swedish house and a reader’s introvert nook.
(Images by Lyndsay Hannah and styling by Wanda Furman, for Cup of Jo.)