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DECORATE WITH VINTAGE TREASURES

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&AIRY FRESH TAKES ON YOUR FAVORITE STYLE

plus: FARMHOUSE RETREATS COLORFUL GARDENS Summer 2021 Vol. 42, No. 2

SUMMERTIME RECIPES

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PUT SOME WOW IN YOUR SUMMER. Discover stunning style at a showroom near you.

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COUNTRY HOME SUMMER 2021

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

12 Against the Grain 24 Chic & Simple 34 In Love with Lavender 40 The Mix Master 50 Colorful Character 60 Americana Picnic 68 Putting Down Roots 78 A Storied Home 88 Garden Vista 96 California Dreaming

7 108 110 112

Our Style Makers Recipes Resources The Last Word

COVER PHOTOGR APHED BY HELEN NORMAN; ST YLED BY JANNA LUFKIN

PHOTOGR APHED BY: (THIS PAGE) ERIN KUNKEL; (OPPOSITE) JASON DONNELLY

102 Field of Dreams

FROM THE EDITOR

WARM SUMMER BREEZES STIR LOTS OF FUN FOR COUNTRY FOLK.

P.S. We’re thrilled to

report that Country Home® magazine is available four times a year. As always, it’s on newsstands, and we’ve added a subscription option so you don’t miss a single issue. Visit magazine.store to sign up today.

It’s peak season for those of us who relish the country lifestyle.

Garden beds—and farmers markets!—burst with colorful blooms and fresh produce. Flea markets, antiques shows, and even garage sales lure collectors to add to their stockpile of treasures. And imaginative, resourceful DIYers take advantage of long, warm days to refurbish their vintage finds and homes.

On these pages you’ll find creative folk engaged in all of these activities and more—who are ready to inspire your summer dreaming and doing. Wait until you tour the home of Dana and Daniel Vrechek near the small town of Gilroy, California (page 12). Staring at an undeveloped, 8-acre plot of grassland, Dana envisioned the farmhouse of her dreams—and her hands-on family of five set about making it a reality. In nearby Ojai, Kim Robertson had a different mission: to preserve the pristine character of a 1906 Craftsman house (supposedly a stop on the Pony Express line!) while bringing in color and collections to make it her own (page 50). On the opposite coast, you’re welcomed into the Cape Cod home of longtime antiques dealer and collector Kathleen Chandler Roszell (page 78), who shares her favorite collections along with her knowledge.

Along with these inspiring house tours, we invite you to an allAmerican picnic (page 60) on a Midwestern farm. On the menu are some rebooted classic dishes, including balsamic-infused barbecued chicken and a garden-fresh salad that swaps pasta for spiralized veggies. For flower fans, we’ve found places that just may encourage you to up your garden goals. When she started her garden with a Puget Sound view (page 88), Kim Robinson didn’t know much about growing things, but in eight years she went from planting a few annuals in containers to designing her own greenhouse and starting enough seeds to fill multiple beds brimming with blooms. On an even grander scale, Nancie Ferron—a former perfumer—and her family converted 240 acres in Quebec into purple fields of lavender.

We share how they did it and a few ideas for how to dry the fragrant flower and use it in recipes for summertime treats (page 34).

For all of you dreamers and doers, we hope the homes, gardens, and lifestyles featured on these pages will encourage your own country pursuits as we head into the long and maybe not-so-lazy days of summer—although we recommend leaving plenty of time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Have a sweet summertime!

SAMANTHA HART, EDITOR

COUNTRY HOME SUMMER 2021

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MEREDITH PREMIUM PUBLISHING Vice President & Group Publisher SCOTT MORTIMER Vice President, Group Editorial Director STEPHEN ORR

Editor SAMANTHA HART Design Director KIMBERLY MORGAN METZ Contributing Editor SANDRA S. SORIA Copy Editor ANGELA RENKOSKI Proofreader MARTHA COLOFF LONG Administrative Assistant KATIE MORT

HOME & GARDEN Executive Editor SAMANTHA HART Senior Editors BRIAN KRAMER, SALLY FINDER WEEPIE, KRISSA ROSSBUND, NICOLE DEAN TEUT Design Directors KIMBERLY MORGAN METZ, MICK SCHNEPF Associate Art Director JESSICA ENO Assistant Art Director EMILY BUTTERWORTH Senior Graphic Designer BRITTANY MUELLER Administrative Assistants RENAE MABIE, KATIE MORT, KIM O’BRIEN-WOLETT Photography Coordinator ALYSSA RICHARDSON Better Homes & Gardens Test Garden® Manager SANDRA GERDES FOOD Executive Editor SHELLI MCCONNELL Senior Content Manager JESSICA SAARI CHRISTENSEN Senior Editor LAUREN LASTOWKA Style & Design Director STEPHANIE HUNTER Associate Art Director RAE DANNEMAN Administrative Assistant COURTNEY BUSH Culinary Specialists SARAH BREKKE, JULI HALE, COLLEEN WEEDEN Food Styling Director GREG LUNA Food Stylists LAUREN MCANELLY, SAMMY MILA, KELSEY MOYLAN

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OUR STYLE MAKERS

PHOTOGRAPHS: (PAGES 7–9) INTERIORS AND GARDEN STUDIO BY CYNTHIA ZAMARIA, PORTRAIT BY LISA MACINTOSH; (PAGES 10–11) BY HELEN NORMAN

Dahlias spill from this ceramic vase, reaching for the marble top of an antique French coffee table in designer Cynthia Zamaria’s living room.

She grows abundant flowers on her Torontoarea property and gathers them into loose, asymmetrical bouquets for an organic look.

Country Home

STYLE MAKERS ®

SOME TASTEMAKERS MANAGE TO FLOAT ABOVE THE FRAY OF TRENDS AND FADS. IN THEIR INTERIORS, GARDENS, AND FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS, THESE DESIGN PROFESSIONALS STICK WITH A CLASSIC, CASUAL COUNTRY LOOK THAT NEVER LETS THEM DOWN—AND NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE. WRIT TEN BY

SHAILA WUNDERLICH COUNTRY HOME SUMMER 2021

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OUR STYLE MAKERS

1

ON THE MOVE WITH

Cynthia Zamaria

1 / Cynthia is an interiors and floral stylist who lives on the outskirts of Toronto with husband Graham Loughton and their three children. 2 / Cynthia won this 1890s baker’s-bin-turned-desk at a 1992 office auction. She outbid Graham on the piece—before the two were even dating.

“It’s such a great story,” she says.

3 / Pea gravel terraces and raised garden beds abut directly against the backyard garden studio Cynthia and Graham converted from a utility shed. Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal now covers the original raw plywood exterior.

Houses are here today and gone tomorrow, but for this stylist, flowers are forever.

CYNTHIA ZAMARIA TRIES TO FOLLOW

a policy of never getting too attached to anything that can’t love her back. It’s allowed the Toronto-area stylist and floral designer to navigate her way through seven old-house renos and garden installations, and several career changes, while holding fast to her husband, Graham Loughton, and their three kids (Ben, Ruby, and Theo).

Her books and flowers are keepers too.

“I do need my breathing space; I don’t like clutter,” Cynthia says. “On the other hand, I believe if there’s something you like to have a lot of, you should have it!”

So within the urban confines of her current home—a 1909 brick two-story near Lake Ontario—she lets her garden grow. Raised beds she and Graham built last spring are spilling over this season with the zinnias, dahlias, peonies, thyme, sage, and oregonia that characterize her full, loose arrangements.

A renovated utility shed now houses Cynthia’s studio. Its wall-to-wall shelves brim with vintage pots, vases, and her personal favorite—flower frogs. “I love any kind of floral apparatus, but there’s something about frogs,” she says.

Her home, flowers, and style will star in her new book, House + Flower, scheduled for release this winter. The couple is painting, polishing, and planting to get everything photo-ready, and we can’t wait to see the beautiful results.

RESOURCES, SEE PAGE 110.

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COUNTRY HOME SUMMER 2021

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3 4 / Nearly every inch of the 12×9-foot studio’s interior wall space received white paint and white wood shelving. Cynthia uses the storage surface for her generous inventory of vintage pots and containers. 5 / Cynthia gathered this “little topiary party” in her previous home, the 1857 Millar House in Port Dover, Ontario, that launched her on social and traditional media. Her upcoming book is all about reviving forgotten homes and abandoned gardens. 6 / Roses, amaranth, lisianthus, and sage fill a garage-sale ceramic vase painted coppery bronze to match Cynthia’s favorite material. “I love the look of weathered, unpolished metal,” she says. “At least that’s my excuse for not polishing it!”

4 5

6

OUR STYLE MAKERS

ON SOLID GROUND WITH

Helen Norman This photographer-stylist knows her style and has no plans to alter it, thank you very much.

THROUGH TWO-PLUS DECADES OF

shooting and styling homes, gardens, and lifestyle content, Helen Norman has seen country style come full circle. She saw it go from clean to camp, crafted to collected, primitive to polished—and back again. But Helen’s version remains steadfast. “I’m not one to follow trends, because I’m not one to be redoing my house every three years,” she says. “The classics always come back around anyway.”

The classics, in her eyes, include antique furniture with clean lines and passed-down pedigree and collectibles like vintage ironstone and cloches. “I refresh pillows, slipcovers, and rugs if I need a change,” she says. “I have two sets of slipcovers to swap out seasonally.”

The seasons provide a natural refresh of Helen’s other country love: classic gardens. She considers the landscape as a series of rooms, and designs them accordingly. “It’s a very English thing to have all these ‘outdoor rooms’ that are both beautiful and functional, providing food and flowers,” she says.

Helen and husband Mark Elmore have spent 26 years restoring their 1850s stone farmhouse, outbuildings, and 130 acres.

Recently, they began to host workshops, concerts, and farm-to-table events, and to sell flowers, herbs, and skincare products from the barn. With son Peter and state grants, they’ll soon be distilling herbs.

“Our plan is to produce everything we sell, from seed to shelf.”

RESOURCES, SEE PAGE 110.

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COUNTRY HOME SUMMER 2021

1 2

1 / Helen Norman at work in her rural Maryland kitchen garden. She and husband Mark Elmore began restoring the historical estate almost three decades ago. Today they operate it with son Peter as a distillery, flower farm, and workshop/ event location. “We found this place in our early 30s and spent the next 26 years constantly asking ourselves, ‘What’s next to be done?’ Now we look around and say, ‘Wow, look what we did!’” 2 / When Helen and Mark bought the property, its stone farmhouse was a mere 1,100 square feet and without a kitchen and bath. The couple cranked out a make-do kitchen in two months, just in time for the birth of their first son. In 2004, the family added this new kitchen, with room to display Helen’s beloved glass cloches.

“People think this way of life is unique, but this is how it always was.

What you need you get from surrounding land and farmers.”

3 4

3 / Structure abounds in the kitchen garden. It comes in the form of tumbledstone beds, antique obelisks, and a picket fence constructed from wood found in the estate’s barn. Beyond the garden is an open field. 4 / Clematis, zinnias, boxwood, and strawberry plants wind through and around the kitchen garden’s handmade arbor. The garden features a mix of flowers and produce. 5 / The stone-walled garden room with its terra-cotta tile floor holds many of Helen’s treasured garden books and tools along with antiques. The primitive corner cabinet belonged to a great-aunt. Beside it, a vintage daybed became a perfect resting spot with the addition of a custom cushion. “We think this room was probably a porch of some sort originally,” Helen says.

5

5

—HELEN NORMAN

against the

GR A IN

TO MAKE A DREAM HOME MATERIALIZE, ONE CALIFORNIA COUPLE TAKES A RISK, BREAKS THE RULES, AND EVEN MANAGES TO STAY WITHIN THEIR BUDGET’S CONFINES. A B O V E Dana and Daniel

Vrechek relax on the property they developed on 8 acres of raw California pasture. R I G H T A dark charcoal exterior offers a stark contrast to the bright, airy openness of the home’s interior. “I’ve always been drawn to Scandinavian design,” Dana says. “My grandma and her five sisters grew up in Norway, and I still remember the pictures of their homes that she shared with me. I wanted to bring that joyful feeling to my home too.” O P P O S I T E Dana was keen on working intimate areas into the house, including this breakfast nook. “We have three little window nooks in the house,” Dana says. “They’re not that deep or luxurious, but they just invite you in. The kids curl up with a book or talk with me while having tea. A lot of good memories happen in those spots, and they provide enough seclusion for private conversations.”

WRIT TEN BY

KELSEY LEPPERD PHOTOGR APHED BY

ERIN KUNKEL PRODUCED BY

JESSICA BRINKERT HOLTAM COUNTRY HOME SUMMER 2021

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A B O V E “The Scandinavian

style started to bleed into the rest of our house,” says Dana of the bright and open living room.

Along with the mantel that Daniel built in the style, the IKEA armchairs covered in white slipcovers and the area rug’s pale pop of color work together to create an airy palette. The last to be built in the county due to updated fire codes, the classic woodstove “is like something you’d see in a Charles Dickens novel,” Dana says, and it satisfies her desire for a modern romantic aesthetic.

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COUNTRY HOME SUMMER 2021

s

SEVEN YEARS AGO, DANA VRECHEK STOOD ON TOP OF AN 8-ACRE

parcel of land in Gilroy, California, and said, “This is it.” The property’s agent told her, “Not so fast; it’s probably impossible to build here,” as the county had strict codes to protect the wild land and any endangered species on it. But that didn’t stop Dana, owner of country lifestyle shop The Stonehouse Road in historic downtown Gilroy. Two months later, with no endangered species found on the property, the Vrecheks had finalized the purchase and submitted all the necessary permits to begin breaking ground on their 4,850-square-foot fantasy family home.

Though she’d lived in cities and suburbs her whole life, Dana longed to be a country girl. She wanted her children to grow up knowing their neighbors and community. Her husband, Daniel, grew up in the Midwest and craved wide open spaces. “I didn’t think those existed in California,” she says.

Growing up, she also spent hours poring over photo albums of her grandmother’s childhood homes in Norway. “My grandma was my best friend,” she says. “I want my home to feel how she made me feel.” For Dana, that means the traditional dark

A B O V E A small standing trunk

becomes a display table for rotating antiques and found items from the daily nature walks Dana takes with her children. A B O V E R I G H T This 1968 Ford pickup was restored by the couple’s teenage son, Matthew. He started flipping tractors when he was only 11; now he makes a business of his restoration work. Dana’s beloved David Austin heirloom roses brighten areas around the home, including this picket fence. R I G H T A vintage chandelier provides ambient lighting over a simple, iron-legged table in Dana’s office. “Changing lights is one of the quickest ways to update a room for me,” she says.

B E L O W A Scandinavian drop-leaf desk is where Dana manages much of the inventory for her shop. “I love the finish,” Dana says of the vintage reproduction by Park Hill Collection.

A B O V E L E F T Combining the

natural with both new and vintage goods is a design staple in the home. A fresh bunch of white roses sits atop handmade shelving made from raw, reclaimed wood to brighten up this cozy kitchen corner. A B O V E R I G H T Dana opted for the convenience of drawers over cupboards, including the apothecary-style drawers on the island. “When we were drafting the kitchen, everyone said the island would be way too big and impractical,” Dana recalls, “but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

O P P O S I T E A handmade Shaws fireclay sink—made the same way for a hundred years—was a musthave item for Dana. “I wanted a house that could stand the test of time,” she says. “Stainless-steel or copper sinks are beautiful, but a Shaws sink could be in any century, and it just works.”

exterior she’d seen in the albums, paired with lots of natural light streaming through 82 transom windows onto light floors, pale walls, and white upholstery.

With this design project, finding the right materials came first. “I wanted a home that could last a hundred years,” she says. “Something I could pass on to my kids.”

She considered the durability and flexibility needed in a home with a growing family, and budget also played a central role in design decisions. “I really wanted 12-inch baseboards,” she says, “but there was no way we could afford them.” So instead of expensive finished millwork, they installed and painted rustic-grade knotty pine boards with the same measurements. “If you get some really good sturdy boards, you can build almost anything out of them,” she says. “Just one of the many tips from our incredible builder, Edward Lazzarini.”

After five years, the Scandinavian-style farmhouse has an eclectic, romantic style that resists definition. “Our home is a constant work in progress because I’m always changing. My family is changing,” Dana says. In this DIY duo, she sketches the plans and Daniel brings them to life. Whether it’s the kitchen backsplash made of Carrara marble—chosen precisely because it becomes etched with memories over time— hidden storage for crafts and school supplies, or the custom hood vent made simply from more pine boards, the home is a marriage of personality and effort.

Throughout the house, practical chairs and sofas from IKEA personalized with Bemz slipcovers commingle with vintage hutches and antique reproductions by Park Hill Collection. But her favorite pieces, including rescued dining chairs and vessels for her beloved garden blooms, are those she finds while shopping with her children.

“I love everything new and old,” Dana says, “and anything I can put roses in.”  RESOURCES, SEE PAGE 110.

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COUNTRY HOME SUMMER 2021

A B O V E “I probably have

enough flatware stashed away for a large wedding party,” Dana says. She continues to grow her collection, and this heirloom set from her mentor, Linda Ashford, gets prominent display. B E L O W The Vrecheks with their children: Matthew, 17; Lauren, 15; Case, 8.

“Giving my children the opportunity to learn about the process was a huge part of why I wanted to build,” she says. “We drove down every day to see what was happening, whether they were excavating the land or building the house, and my kids soaked it all up.” O P P O S I T E Chairs collected over a 20-year marriage sit around an extended, wood dining table owned for just as long. “We’ve stripped and waxed and stripped the table again,” Dana says. The room hosts family dinners and homework sessions.

A B O V E An ivory range, gray

marble tiles, and pale blue painted cabinetry create a fresh palette in the kitchen. “I designed the entire kitchen around the Bertazzoni range,” Dana says. “I picked a very pale cabinet color, and I think my husband and our builder thought I was crazy. The kitchen needed layers. We needed the marble and the old copper. All of the different pieces came together, and it made sense.” N E A R R I G H T Building on a budget can be give and take.

When Dana requested recessed cabinetry for the kitchen, the price came back out of reach. The flatpanel style became a happy result.

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COUNTRY HOME SUMMER 2021

“IT’S A JOY TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOWS AND SHARE MORNINGS WITH THE COWS.” —DANA VRECHEK

O P P O S I T E “I bought the vintage

claw-foot tub on Etsy before we even had a loan to build the house,” Dana says. “It felt like such a risk.” With the enamel still in good condition, she applied a coat of Farrow & Ball paint to renew the tub’s shine. Built-in, locker-style cabinets offer ample storage for linens and personal care items for the family. T H I S P H O T O “A northfacing room can throw you all sorts of curveballs with paint colors,” Dana says of the master bedroom.

“The blues looked green, and the grays looked blue. It took three tries, but I’m finally happy with it.” After Daniel finished the handcrafted wall paneling, Dana added a touch a femininity with velvet curtains.

“I BROKE EVERY RULE OF DESIGN IN THIS HOUSE, BUT I’M NOT SURE I’D DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY.” —DANA VRECHEK

COUNTRY HOME SUMMER 2021

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O P P O S I T E Budget in mind,

the Vrecheks did most of the landscaping themselves, with some help from Karen Aitken, a local landscape designer. “She provided us with a list of native and droughttolerant plants, and anytime we plant something new, I start there,” Dana says. A B O V E “The garden shed and garden boxes were handmade by my Wisconsin-bred husband,” she says. Based on sketches from Dana, Daniel built the structures using vintage doors and windows. B E L O W “With every project, we learn a little more,” Dana says of the charming and functional chicken coop she designed and Daniel built with the help of their children.

A B O V E Dana spruces up a vintage

washtub with cuttings from her yard.

She loves spending afternoons puttering with the plants and tending to her David Austin roses.

Dana says the minimally furnished porch is one of her favorite places to do that, and spend time with her children. “The kids are so much more talkative outside,” she says. “That’s where I really get to hear their hearts.” L E F T “There’s no such thing as sleeping in,” Dana says of their move to the picturesque countryside, complete with expanses of grasslands and a small menagerie. With three babydoll sheep (Winston, Clementine, and Spurgeon), four cats, 19 chickens, and Willie the dog, there’s always work to do.

COUNTRY HOME SUMMER 2021

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CHIC

&

SIMPLE

O n t h eir precio us d ays of f, a B ritis h ac tor and an American television producer escape to a revived, low-key ranch house in a tony Connec ticut hamlet.

WRIT TEN BY

MARNI ELYSE K ATZ

PHOTOGR APHED BY

NEIL LANDINO

PRODUCED BY

ANNA MOLVIK

A B O V E The owners worked with interior designer Kelly Mittleman to populate the

unassuming ranch house with sophisticated but family-friendly furnishings. Atop a sturdy fair trade woven rug, a wood hemisphere coffee table can withstand shoes and is child-friendly and great for games. The black-and-white artwork draws the eye through the room. “The scale of the picture is so big that it eats up the wall, which makes it fun,” Mittleman says. O P P O S I T E Thanks to the extra-wide opening to the dining room, there was plenty of space to add a custom, blackened-steel log holder next to the fireplace. “The owner loves to burn fires,” Mittleman says. “He said he wanted to sit in his leather chair and keep filling the wood bin.”

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COUNTRY HOME SUMMER 2021

O P P O S I T E Because the dining

room is essentially a pass-through between the living room and sunroom, Mittleman kept furnishings to a minimum. A round table joins with sculptural armchairs to direct foot traffic around the set.

Underfoot, the striped sisal rug also makes a bold, minimalist statement.

R I G H T Mittleman’s French bulldog, Bleu, relaxes at the end of the long, narrow living room, which is set up as the perfect place to read.

Mittleman, who has the same-style woven leather chair in her own house, says of it, “The more you sit in it and the oils from your hands and clothing break it, the more comfortable it is.”

INTERIOR DESIGNER KELLY MITTLEMAN IS IN THE BUSINESS OF FULFILLING DREAMS. For these particular clients, a British actor and an American television producer, the dream was to rehab the unassuming ranch that they had purchased in Litchfield County, Connecticut, in time to house relatives who would be traveling for their wedding—in a mere eight weeks from the time she was hired. It was a tight timeline, to say the least, but the designer was all in. “I rarely say no,” says Mittleman, principal of Kelly + Co. Design. “I don’t want to be the one to quash fantasies.”

The couple—who were drawn to the area for its forested trails and swimmable river, along with its proximity to New York City and lack of commuter rail (which translates to fewer people)—had discovered it on one of many weekend

jaunts. They found Mittleman much the same way.

“They stayed in a vacation rental we designed about 25 miles south of here and asked the owner who did it,” Mittleman says. “It’s the cutest story because it’s where they got engaged!”

While the home’s cedar shake exterior is charming, the couple, who have two young children, were especially attracted to the chic simplicity of the interior. They also adored the flat back garden, which is a rarity in the area.

Still, it wasn’t perfect. In addition to gutting the two baths, the pair wanted to brighten the rooms, infuse an aged coziness, and add a bit of punch. Mittleman welcomed the opportunity to work her magic. “I love the intimacy of a cottage,” she says. “No stone goes unturned.”

Even easy-to-achieve details made a big impact in the home’s refresh. In addition to changing all the hardware

COUNTRY HOME SUMMER 2021

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“ I KN OW MY CLI E NTS’ S TO R I E S AN D E NTE R I NTO TH E F R AY O F TH E I R LIVE S . I LOVE E VE RY M I N UTE O F IT, E VE N TH E D U R E S S .”

—INTERIOR DESIGNER KELLY MITTLEMAN

to matte black and swapping out the solid front door for a glass one to let in light, Mittleman painted the window interior trim black. “People think a black window is a kind of exclamation point,” she says, “but it’s a beautiful peripheral detail that adds an extra dimension you’re not quite aware of.”

And then there were the personal touches. To create a clever natural backdrop of wood in the living room, the designer commissioned a local metalworker to craft a blackened-steel log holder that is recessed beside the fireplace. It’s the husband’s favorite feature given his love of chopping wood. “Woodchopper could be his second career,” Mittleman says with a laugh. “The log holder is an element that looks like it’s been around for a while, which is the feeling we wanted to achieve.”

Meaningful artwork and weathered English furniture the owners collected over the years balance the newer pieces Mittleman brought in to furnish the house quickly.

They also bring storied character to the place. For instance, in the living room there’s an oversize image of a 1920s era woman that the actor and his friends found atop a shuttered shop and worn leather chairs that he purchased at auction as a paddle-happy newbie. “A lumpy, patinaed chair is like an old sweater,” the designer says. “It says, ‘Someone really lives here.’”

Strategically placed shiplap ups the cozy factor.

Waterproof vinyl boards wrap the primary bath, a feat achieved through clever sourcing and close collaboration with the manufacturer. The seamless treatment sets off the claw-foot tub. “They needed a tub for the kids, but they also had romantic visions of gazing out the window while soaking,” Mittleman says.

Though the timeline kept the project moving at a pretty good clip, everyone was happy in the end—including Mittleman herself. “It’s thrilling when all the pieces come together,” she says.  RESOURCES, SEE PAGE 110.

O P P O S I T E Unlike elsewhere in the home, the sunroom window

trim is white and the focus is on the greenery outside. Woven textures link to the woodsy surroundings. T O P R I G H T A sliding barn door made from vertical boards dresses up a wall in the entry hall and can close off the living room. A textural console table with a spare silhouette pairs with the flat-weave rug the owners brought back from their Moroccan honeymoon. M I D D L E R I G H T Mittleman helped the couple arrange their artwork over a bench in the entry hall. The graphic bench and simple wood hooks add style and function. B O T T O M R I G H T Early in their excursions, the couple rented a place down the road from this 2,000-square-foot ranch, which Mittleman describes as a “little gem on a hill.”

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Designer Secrets

Kelly Mittleman gives her tips for achieving no-fuss functionality that’s full of charm.

Place an old chair from a garage sale or thrift store— the more well-loved and quirky the better—beside your bed with a pile of books or a little vase with a single flower. It’s personal and artful.

In the bath, stack fresh towels on a vintage stool.

It’s an informal way to keep towels at the ready and easier than arranging them on hooks or towel bars or rolled in a basket.

Use gold-tipped bulbs— you can get them from 1000bulbs.com—in 40 or 60 watts. They create an instant glow that makes everyone look beautiful.

Hang an assortment of hooks in the hall for your umbrellas, hats, and totes.

The more stuff that hangs and the more haphazard it looks, the more charming the space feels.

T O P Multiple fireplaces were a nonnegotiable feature when the couple was house

shopping. The family enjoys a fire in the kitchen in the morning and early afternoon, before lighting one in the living room later in the day. Mittleman added a sliding barn door over the opening to the hall that leads to the bedrooms and baths. A B O V E Clear glass canisters filled with dry goods and everyday dishware commingle on the kitchen’s existing open shelves. “People are afraid of dust, but a little dust doesn’t hurt,” Mittleman says. “I’d rather have an artful display.” O P P O S I T E Happily, given the design timeline, not much had to happen in the family-ready kitchen, where the ample and much-used island’s beaded board was already painted spruce green for visual dimension. Industrial counter stools sharpen the space’s style edge.

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Open shelves in the kitchen offer an opportunity to create an artful display.

Use a mix of only glass containers for visual continuity and so the contents are easily seen.

“ WH E N PE O PLE AR E LIVI N G TH E I R WE E KE N D LI F E , IT’S, ‘ LE T’S G E T L AT TE; LE T’S GO APPLE PI CKI N G, E TC.’ TH E I RS IS A CHAR M I N G, SWE E T WO R LD WITH FOO D, HAPPI N E S S, AN D F U N .”

—KELLY MITTLEMAN

A B O V E To accommodate a

soaking tub in the primary bath, the team stole 22 inches from the kitchen pantry. Moroccan-style ceramic tile echoes the patterned tile Mittleman used in the rental where the owners had stayed.

N E A R R I G H T This high-contrast scheme includes an aged steel washstand with stone slab sink and wall-mounted oil-rubbed bronze plumbing fixtures set against white shiplap. “Storage isn’t critical in a weekend home, so I went with an open design for a fresh feel,” Mittleman says. F A R R I G H T A pared-down palette in the main bedroom lets the woman of the house, who loves playing with accessories, change the throw pillows and bedding—and thus the whole feeling of the room—with the seasons or on a whim.

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“ I LI KE WH E N PE O PLE TAKE R IS KS . CO NVE RTI N G TH E M IS A TH R I LL FO R M E .”

—KELLY MITTLEMAN

Visitors to La Maison Lavande may stroll the lavender fields on this Quebec farm and even tote along picnics from home or take their lunch and blooms to-go from the on-site bistro. Finding a private spot to spread a blanket is no problem at the 240-acre site.

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I N LOV E w ith L AV E N D E R WRIT TEN BY

SHAILA WUNDERLICH

PHOTOGR APHED BY

Despite the family’s initial reservations about growing too much of a good thing, lavender—its scent, oil, flavor, and blooms—is the official flower for the owners of this farm. In fact, it’s the only flower for them.

MARY ELAM

PRODUCED BY

AUTUMN WOOD

w

HEN DANIEL JOANNETTE DECIDED ON LAVENDER AS THE

plant of choice for his 240 acres of fields in Saint-Eustache, Quebec, his wife, Nancie Ferron, worried she’d be sick of the purply perennial in no time flat. The former perfumer knew something about scent, and the herbaceous, medicinal scent of lavender was one of the headiest (and potentially most overpowering) of all the botanicals.

Fifteen years, 100,000 plants, and 200 products later, Nancie can confidently confirm she will never tire of lavender. “I cook with it, bathe with it, clean with it, freshen my car with it,” she says. “The scent is always on me and on everything I own.”

La Maison Lavande is a family affair, reaping the time and talents of Nancie and Daniel’s children, grandchildren, and extended family. Daughters Marjolaine and Florence Ferron, who live just a few miles away with their husbands and children, handle marketing and laboratory work. Nephew Simon Joannette works in the fields overseeing planting and harvesting.

The combined clan gathers frequently in Daniel and Nancie’s late-1800s French Colonial for meals, experimenting with the same infused syrups and condiments served up to customers online and in their on-site café. “We cook and eat together a lot,” Nancie says. “We pour the syrup over ice cream and in our coffee for a nice floral touch.”

Among customers, La Maison’s linen water, milk bath powder, and ice cream get highest traction. In summer months, the farm received tens of

Lavender Lemonade PREP: 15 minutes STAND: 10 minutes COOL: 1 hour CHILL: 4 hours

thousands of visitors (60,000 in summer 2020), who come to walk the fields, eat picnics brought from home or purchased from the bistro, and take pictures. “What’s amazing about our land, even when hundreds of people are here at once, is they rarely see each other,” Marjolaine says.

Picking lavender is restricted to employees, but taking in the fragrance is definitely encouraged. And guests may purchase dried bouquets at La Parfumerie, housed in a late-19th-century French-Canadian woodplank structure Nancie and Daniel moved and reassembled from a nearby settlement. They did the same with the bistro, barn, and their own house.

“All the buildings are typical of the era when the first French people arrived in Quebec to settle,” Nancie says. The replanted buildings, like the lavender fields, have created an enchanted place for all to enjoy.  RESOURCES, SEE PAGE 110.

O P P O S I T E L E F T The Ferron-Joannettes are surrounded by their field of dreams.

From left: Florence and Marjolaine Ferron, Daniel Joannette, and Nancie Ferron.

O P P O S I T E R I G H T All of the structures at La Maison Lavande are historical French-Canadian settler buildings moved and reassembled by the family in 2006.

“They’re made of pieces of wood assembled on top of each other with cement joints then bleached for luminosity,” Nancie says. A B O V E L E F T The family plants mostly English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). A B O V E R I G H T Lavender lemonade is served on the patio at the farm. We adapted the recipe, right, for you to enjoy at your favorite summer hangout.

2 cups water 1 cup honey 2 tablespoons fresh or dried lavender buds 1 cup lemon juice 2 cups sparkling water Lemon wedges or slices (optional) Fresh lavender sprigs (optional)

1. In a medium saucepan combine the 2 cups water, the honey, and lavender buds. Bring to boiling over medium heat; immediately remove from heat.

2. Let steep 10 minutes. Pour syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a 2-quart pitcher; discard lavender buds. Let cool to room temperature; stir in lemon juice. Cover and chill 4 to 24 hours.

3. To serve, combine sparkling water and the chilled syrup. Pour lemonade over ice cubes in tall glasses. If desired, serve with lemon wedges and lavender sprigs.

MAKES 8 SERVINGS.

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Drying Lavender

The family shares its tried-and-true method for harvesting and drying lavender.

1. The perennial is best harvested on a hot, dry, sunny day about 3 weeks before it reaches full bloom— midsummer in Quebec.

2. Using heavy scissors or pruning shears, trim lavender stems from the plant.

3. Set stems to dry on mosquito netting or gather as many as 50 stems together and tie loosely with string before hanging upside down in a dark, dry, wellventilated space. Flowers will dry in 2 to 3 days.

4. Assemble and handle dried bouquets carefully, as their delicate blooms are extremely fragile. Set aside loose or fallen blooms for sachets.

Lavender No-Churn Ice Cream HANDS-ON: 30 minutes STAND: 20 minutes COOL: 1 hour FREEZE: 8 hours

1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk 3 tablespoons dried lavender buds 2 cups heavy cream 2 teaspoons vanilla

T O P L E F T It’s purple as far as the eye can see in summer

months at La Maison Lavande. The sprawling agritourism site is in Saint-Eustache, Quebec, a rural municipality 35 minutes north of Montreal in the lush region known as the Lower Laurentians. T O P R I G H T This lavender soft serve is available at the farm during summer. We were inspired to come up with our own recipe, right. A B O V E Lavender bath bombs, candles, dried lavender, and soap are popular items in the farm’s online shop at maisonlavande.ca.

1. In a medium saucepan heat condensed milk and dried lavender buds over low until bubbles begin to form around edge. Let stand, covered, 20 minutes. Strain out lavender buds.

Let cool 1 hour before proceeding.

2. Pour condensed milk into an extralarge bowl. In another large bowl beat heavy cream and vanilla until mixture holds soft peaks; fold into condensed milk.

3. Spread into a 9×5-inch loaf pan or two 1-pint freezer containers. Freeze, covered, 8 hours or until firm.

MAKES 8 SERVINGS.

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the

mix master

WITH A FOCUS ON BOTH FUNCTION AND FORM, DESIGN EXPERT ALI HEATH MIXES TOGETHER COUNTRY, CLASSIC, AND CONTEMPORARY ELEMENTS IN HER FAMILY’S ENGLISH HOME. THE RESULT IS A TIMELESS AESTHETIC THAT IS AS CHIC AS IT IS WELCOMING. WRIT TEN BY

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AGATHA BELL

PHOTOGR APHED BY

ALUN CALLENDER/LIVING INSIDE

O P P O S I T E In Ali and Ian Heath’s

English home, a pale palette and natural accessories establish an airy feeling. In the dining room, antique botanicals are set on linen mats and framed simply. T H I S P H O T O The understated dining room features an antique carved table stripped to its natural wood finish and paired with weathered Queen Anne chairs. The large, footed bowl, a gift from Ian to Ali, is a handmade piece and links visually to the antique garden urn.

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A B O V E The sitting room features

a fireplace that was once the home’s bread oven. Neutral, natural upholstery fabrics allow the shapely forms of mismatched vintage chairs to be seen. O P P O S I T E , T O P L E F T A heavily carved gilt frame surrounds a minimalist abstract for design intrigue. A striking coral find is showcased like a museum piece under an antique dome.

O P P O S I T E , T O P R I G H T The original staircase was stripped and painted in a soft gray hue. A diverse gallery of artwork visually holds together thanks to their shared palette of parchment, black, and white hues. O P P O S I T E , B O T T O M Built in 1750, the exterior of the Heaths’ Georgian house features original sash windows and iron fencing.

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A

LI HEATH HAS CARVED OUT A CAREER STYLING AND WRITING

about beautiful interiors and creative spaces. But for her, the notion of home is existential; it’s about creating a place with soul. Ali prefers spaces filled with family, friends, noise, and the hustle of everyday life in which a passion for collecting and longevity is nurtured. “We have lived in this home for the past 18 years,” she says, “and the constant has always been a desire for the house to change with us as our teenage children, Grace and Archie, have grown. We want a space with depth that withstands time and follows its own personality.”

Ali and her husband, Ian, purchased the historical four-bedroom Georgian townhouse, a former 18th-century brewer’s home, in 2001. At the heart of a picturesque Surrey town in southern England, the property marked the start of many changes for the couple. “Within four weeks, I had resigned as new business director for a marketing agency, moved into a new house, set up an antiques and interiors company, and fallen pregnant,” she says. “We never intended to stay for this long, but the house, like our lives, has evolved with us and the in-town location is something we all love.”

Attracted to its symmetry, proportions, and abundant period details— including the fireplaces, shuttered sash windows, original staircase, and walled garden—they now have filled the three-story home with the accumulation of finds sourced through work, travel, and life. Most of all, it is brimming with items that are deeply personal. “Everything here recalls a memory of a time, place, or person,” Ali says. “Collections have been layered slowly over the last 20 years. There is an excitement about discovering something exquisite when you least expect.”

Ali’s days as an antiques dealer evolved into the world of publishing, and she’s been freelancing for the last 14 years as an independent stylist and writer for national interior magazines and newspapers. As that happened, her style has slowly adopted a more pared-back look. “I see so much through work; pieces now have to earn their place,” she says. “Functionality and authenticity are as important to me as aesthetics and form.”

Three years ago, the couple embarked on a series of home improvements to enhance their family life. A new kitchen now extends into a lightfilled conservatory, bathrooms were modernized, and spaces were

reimagined. “It felt like the right time to take the house to the next stage of its life,” Ali says. “And we have introduced more natural materials into the mix, such as marble, wood, limestone, and concrete. They have a restorative and soulful patina that will get more beautiful with age.”

Throughout the interiors, a soft palette of white, stone, and pale gray is anchored with earthy caramel, woodsy brown, and soft black. Monochrome schemes allow unique antiques to sit comfortably alongside a few statement pieces and select modernist finds. “I am surrounded by color at work, but at home a simple palette lends a cohesive calmness,” Ali says. “To me the alchemy is more potent when you mix old, new, and handmade; it makes a home feel relaxed.” 

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A B O V E The inviting, light-filled

kitchen incorporates the home’s conservatory. Soft marble countertops and Shaker-style cabinetry contrast with the textural vintage brick. O P P O S I T E , B O T T O M L E F T The marbletopped kitchen island is a great spot to work, chat, eat, and paint. It looks out over the courtyard and garden.

The family dog, Purdey, enjoys the coolness of a smooth, natural limestone floor.

L E F T Pantry items become part of

the decor when stored in matching glass canisters. Labels are tied on for a vintage mercantile look.

B E L O W The marble kitchen shelf is home to an ever-changing vignette of collected finds, spotlighted by a new wall sconce.

A B O V E An antique French table is nestled among copious

‘Annabelle’ hydrangeas, a boxwood hedge, and climbing ivy.

R I G H T The attic level of the house, with its original beams, is home to a comfortable family room. The large, gray wool sofa is backed by a collection of original lithographs and paintings mixed with contemporary and stitched artwork. B E L O W Enclosed by vine-covered walls and foliage, the courtyard garden is a hidden oasis in the heart of town. An outdoor dining table and wicker seating are shaded by an old magnolia tree and surrounded by multiple containers of flowers and a potted olive tree.

T H I S P H O T O The monochrome attic office is a quiet haven

in the home’s top level. Original Georges Braque and Picasso lithographs sourced on eBay mix with a sketch of the family dog, Purdey. A classic Eames chair and drafting lamp sit comfortably with the industrial-style, glass-topped desk.

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T H I S P H O T O A dramatic antique French mirror nearly

doubles the perceived space within the master bedroom. The neoclassic French table is graced with a collection of perfume bottles. A vintage ceramic pendant lamp hangs from its looped up cord for an artful and practical finishing touch.

“Choose a palette that flows easily—the impact is transformative.”

—ALI HEATH

L E F T The powder room features a concrete sink with an

organic shape. It sits on a live-edge counter that’s mounted on the wall. A B O V E The master bedroom is a calming retreat with soft white and gray linen sheets and an antique French headboard that lends an elegant feel. B E L O W Archie’s white and soft gray bedroom is a bright room with plenty of offthe-floor storage—in the form of woven totes suspended on a walnut peg rail—to create the feeling of spaciousness.

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colorful CHAR ACTER WRIT TEN AND PRODUCED BY

PAIGE PORTER FISCHER

In Ojai, California, a couple revives a century-old bungalow, filling it with unexpected color—and a lifetime of treasures.

PHOTOGR APHED BY

K ARYN MILLET

In the living room of Kim and Mike Robertson’s home, a pair of James Perse sofas create the perfect canvas for the collected colors on throw pillows and vintage kantha quilts. Two green leather chairs mimic the lush landscape seen just beyond the windows. A collection of antique footstools— reupholstered in bold, colorful fabrics—delivers art and history.

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It was a humble tree swing hanging from a mighty oak tree that first caught Kim Robertson’s eye. She and her husband, Mike, had just turned down a long gravel driveway to check out an old California Craftsman that had popped up in a real estate listing in Ojai, California. “I saw that tree and, honestly, I imagined my grandchildren swinging on it and felt like this house was going to be ours,” Kim says. “I didn’t even need to see the inside. I looked up at the wraparound porch and swooned. It really was a magical spot. And as it turned out, so was the house itself.”

Set on 81/2 acres of rolling fruit orchards, with rings of deep purple salvia encircling it, the home—built in 1906—needed no big renovation. It was simply begging for a revival of its spirit. “It had beautiful woodwork everywhere, with amazing old hardware and fixtures and so much character,” Kim says. “I love old houses, and in California that’s harder to find. This was like a dream for me. This property is said to have been a stop on the Pony Express, so it comes with a sense of history. I wanted to honor that and fill it with things that felt like they were always meant to be inside.”

She called her dear friend and interior designer Stephanie Hunt to collaborate on the house and bring it back to life. Hunt had worked with Kim on other houses in Southern California, and the pair had always bonded over their affinity for color and antiques. “I wanted this house to feel like a surprise inside, to make it fresh

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O P P O S I T E L E F T In the dining

room, a Shaker table and chairs that came with the house stayed put. The pale aqua metal light fixture echoes the blue walls and drapes. O P P O S I T E , T O P R I G H T Fabrics with vivid hues and decorative patterns, such as this linen floral from Pindler, work as art in this home. O P P O S I T E , B O T T O M R I G H T Interior designer Stephanie Hunt chose a peacock aqua for the front door to give a hint of the colorful interiors. “The front door is such a happy color, and it awakened the exterior of the house and showed the family’s personality,” she says.

T H I S P H O T O Rather than paint the original redwood wainscoting, Kim opted to leave it in its original glory. The rare 16-inch-wide panels were finished by hand, allowing the beautiful grain to show. A yarn-wrapped horseshoe nods to the family’s love of horses.

B E L O W The kitchen was in good

shape, so Hunt left it mostly alone, save for the Heath tile backsplash in a blue tumbling block pattern.

“The tile feels current and updated, but at the same time, it feels like it could’ve been there for a very long time,” Hunt says. She designed the built-in bookshelf to be an evolving art installation of Kim’s collections. O P P O S I T E , T O P L E F T Kim collects Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha) on the property—which includes a fruit orchard. The barn, more than a century old, is a beloved part of the landscape and now houses a family of barn owls. O P P O S I T E , T O P R I G H T Kim loves being on the land with her English golden retriever, Zoe. O P P O S I T E B O T T O M Kim was drawn to the views of the Topatopa Mountains, which, for a brief period every evening at dusk, reflect the light of the setting sun and turn the sky pink. “We borrowed that beautiful color and used it throughout the house,” she says.

and fun while still feeling authentic,” Hunt says. “Kim has never been afraid of color and pattern, so we thought we would use those two things to enliven it. And then we’d fill it with her beautiful collections of antiques and treasures to give it those lovely layers a house needs to really tell a story.”

Because Kim and Mike wanted to preserve the original Craftsman-style millwork throughout the house and not paint any of it, Hunt decided to envelop the walls with cool blue paint—and treat them as a neutral backdrop for bolder colors.

“Kim loves old books and vintage oil paintings, and we borrowed from the colors of all the spines and vintage artwork to develop our palette,” Hunt says. The pair played with pattern in fabrics, delivering instant personality to antique footstools, lampshades, and throw pillows. Low-contrast wallpapers deliver personality and patina. “I really wanted the wallpapers we chose to be ‘wow’ ones, but I wanted them to have a timeworn quality about them, too, as if they might have been there all along.”

Kim, who loves antiquing and flea market shopping, filled the home with treasures like the antique glove molds she had collected over time. “I’ve always been drawn to old things. In high school, I used to cut class on Fridays to go to garage sales. To me, finding handwriting in an old book is such a sweet discovery.

It’s the stories behind the books that I find so beautiful, like you’re carrying a bit of someone else’s history with you and keeping it alive.” So this house is filled with old books, and Kim sometimes tucks photos and notes inside them. “One day, if they wind up at an estate sale,” she says, “maybe someone will buy them and open one up and discover a little piece of the story we told here at the ranch.”  RESOURCES, SEE PAGE 110.

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“I love things that aren’t a perfect match.

To me, that’s when a house really begins to show personality.”

—INTERIOR DESIGNER STEPHANIE HUNT

O P P O S I T E T O P Kim and Hunt

found the rug for the master bedroom first and let its hues inform the palette in the light-filled space. Soft greens and blues nod to the landscape outside.

“There was no other place for the bed, except to place it under the windows, which is unorthodox,” Hunt says. “But we made it feel intentional with the addition of the drapes, which have a very subtle block print pattern.” She added more pattern on the lampshades and lumbar pillow, which boast a playful nature-inspired print.

O P P O S I T E B O T T O M The wraparound front porch was swoon-worthy, Kim says. But it’s her husband who retreats to the porch swing nearly every night “to take in the view, read a book, and listen to his country music with the dogs,” she says. T H I S P H O T O The back entry hall leads to one of Kim’s favorite spaces, the “landing.” The vintage painting by Helen Mae Gleiforst is prized by the family—they own three of her works. The wood table and chair came with the house and seem to belong right here.

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“I love layering old blankets because they give a sense of soul and history to a space.”

—STEPHANIE HUNT

O P P O S I T E T O P The pink

Harland Miller Love Saves the Day print inspired the color scheme in daughter Emma’s bedroom, where low-contrast wallpaper delivers subtle pattern without overpowering the space. The vintage kantha throw on the bed adds a dose of handmade charm. O P P O S I T E , B O T T O M L E F T Kim’s antique glove molds from around the world become conversation pieces in Emma’s room. O P P O S I T E , B O T T O M R I G H T To soften the powder room, Hunt upholstered its walls in a favorite Peter Dunham fabric.

An antique mirror lends character.

T H I S P H O T O A new chair is brightened with a vivid geometric fabric. Both the mirror and the lamp are vintage. Hunt loves using custom fabric shades for extra personality.

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T H I S P H O T O Transform a buffet

setup into an appealing food landscape by using vintage cake stands as pedestals for different heights. Antique platters in various shapes and patterns add more visual spice. O P P O S I T E In a lighter take on pasta salad, spiraled zucchini takes the place of noodles and makes the most of summer garden offerings. This salad is flexible. Substitute yellow summer squash for zucchini and consider add-ins such as finely chopped broccoli, sliced radishes, or grilled sweet corn planks.

WRIT TEN BY ST YLED BY

SANDR A S. SORIA

KRISSA ROSSBUND

PHOTOGR APHED BY

FOOD ST YLED BY

CARSON DOWNING

CHARLIE WORTHINGTON

State fairs, small-town parades, family reunions—an American summer bursts with good old-fashioned fun.

At this gathering, the fun starts with a rebooted menu. Barbecue chicken gets a fresh flavor profile when the sauce includes a dose of balsamic vinegar.

Borrowing a handheld fan favorite from a Midwestern state fair, a pork chop is marinated in lemon and sage and served on a stick. Even pasta salad gets a fresh—and nutritious—twist when spiraled zucchini stands in for the noodles. All of the dishes take advantage of produce found at the peak of summer freshness at farmers markets and roadside stands.

The food is served alfresco on a table set with collectibles and tableware chosen to create a scene that has a quieted patriotic palette. Red, white, and blue transferware pieces link to the past; aqua and navy temper the scheme to create a softer, more sophisticated setting. Summer flowers in vivid red and yellow provide the fireworks, placed in mini bouquets that brighten each place setting along with expressive arrangements that march down the center of the table.

Round out the scene with a few folks, fresh air, and classic yard games, and you’ve got the makings of a day worth savoring.  RESOURCES, SEE PAGE 110.

RECIPES, SEE PAGE 108.

A B O V E L E F T Backyard gatherings

are best as relaxed, serve-yourself affairs. Antique washtubs on a stand keep iced beverages at the right height for easy access. A B O V E Grilling both meat and vegetables means less heat in the kitchen. For grilled corn on the cob, leave the husks on. To prepare them, peel back the husks without removing them, pull off the silks, then pull husks back up around the corn.

Soak for an hour in water before you grill to minimize burning. O P P O S I T E Pork chops might not taste better when served on a stick, but they’re easier to flip, serve, and eat on the go. Use wooden skewers or dowels that have been soaked in water for 30 minutes so they won’t flame up.

LEMON-SAGE PORK CHOPS ON A STICK

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Games People Play Work off those yummy foods and keep the party going with classic and clever outdoor games.

These are fun for all ages.

CORNHOLE

DISC GOLF

BOTTLE RING TOSS

LAWN BOWLING

You can never go wrong with this tailgate classic. It involves two wooden boards with a hole up top and a set of eight beanbags (opposite).

Two or four players go back and forth trying to toss their beanbags into the hole.

If you haven’t given this game a spin, prepare to be hooked.

Played with Frisbee-style discs instead of balls and clubs, make your own course by suspending plastic toy hoops from tree limbs—or place them flat on the grass.

Standing at least 100 yards from a hoop, fling your disc until you’ve tossed it through or into the hoop. Score as you would a standard golf game.

Create your own carnival atmosphere with an easy DIY ring toss. Just crowd tall glass soda or beer bottles into a vintage fruit crate and toss purchased rings to see how many you can make stick.

Or make your own rings from sturdy hemp rope cut into sections and formed into rings sized to slip over the bottle necks. Glue the ends of the rope together and finish with a ribbon band.

There is historical evidence that versions of this game go way back to ancient times. There are many sets on the market, but you can make one with plastic liter bottles (weighted with some sand) and softballs. Set up the bottles in triangles composed of six or ten “pins,” then bowl away.

BARBECUED BALSAMIC CHICKEN DEVILED EGGMACARONI SALAD

A B O V E L E F T A delicious hybrid of two picnic classics, this deviled-egg-meets-macaroni

salad is made zingier with vinegared red onion. It’s plated with our barbecued chicken, coated with a glaze made more interesting when balsamic vinegar is stirred into the homemade sauce.

For a country-chic table, the classic red, white, and blue palette gets a fresh spin with shots of aqua and navy. New, oversize enamelware plates with marbling create an upbeat charger for vintage transferware. A navy tablecloth grounds the elements and sets the tone—literally—for a sophisticated country table. T O P R I G H T Cisco the Kid looks on from the pasture, as if waiting to be served. A B O V E R I G H T Frilly fuchsia petunias are a farm favorite due to their happy color and summerlong blooms. O P P O S I T E This crisp uses stone fruit—cherries plus your pick of peaches, plums, and/or nectarines. It’s topped with rolled oats and brown sugar for a treat that’s not super sweet. Make it ahead, pop it in the oven while supper is served, and deliver it warm with vanilla ice cream.

STONE FRUIT CRISP

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O P P O S I T E Josh Malcolm and Angela

Wheeler knew they wanted to raise their four children in the country, purchasing their 75-acre property before even one of them was born. T H I S P H O T O A weathered pine table—a twin to one in the kitchen—is the family’s dining spot throughout the summer. It’s also where Angela puts together bouquets she makes for her home, friends, and local floral designers.

putting down

ROOTS

As Wa lnut Farm grows, so does the family who lives there—sheltered by a new stone farmhouse designed to nurture them well into the future.

WRIT TEN BY

SAR AH EGGE

PHOTOGR APHED BY

PRODUCED BY

STEPHANIE BROWN AND ANGELA WHEELER

JESSICA BRINKERT HOLTAM COUNTRY HOME SUMMER 2021

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t

HE HEART OF WALNUT FARM IS EASY TO FIND: IT’S A

THIS PAGE MIDDLE: PHOTOGR APH BY AIDEN MALCOLM

9-foot-long cedar table anchoring the kitchen living space in this trilevel stone farmhouse. “There, in the center of the room, it feels right. I think you should place things where their importance is warranted,” says Angela Wheeler, who with her husband, Josh Malcolm, is raising their four children on these rolling 75 acres an hour’s drive from Toronto. “The table puts the focus on our meals together,” she says.

Often the food on the table comes from the gardens the couple has been slowly establishing since they bought the property in 2006.

They were renting an apartment in Toronto and enjoying city life, but unbeknownst to Angela, Josh was searching for land. “He was secretly looking at listings when he would go into the country to go dirt biking,” she says. So it was a surprise when he convinced her to take a drive with him, showed her the farm, and said, “I want to buy it.” Josh grew up nearby on a hobby farm and much of his family live in the area, so Angela knew where his heart was. “I always thought we would buy a place like this when we were in our 40s,” she says. “But we were 26.”

After the shock, Angela quickly said yes. They didn’t have children yet and had already remodeled a house, so they had time and skills.

But Angela admits, “I really didn’t understand the scope of it or what it was going to take.” They lived in the original 1890s farmhouse for seven years while they planted fruit trees, cleared trails, and even dug a pond. They planned to expand the farmhouse, but its poor construction made it unfixable. “There are many beautiful farmhouses around here, but this wasn’t one of them,” she says.

Instead, the couple, who met while getting engineering degrees, designed a new home suited for their family. “We wanted a house of considered size—just what we need and nothing more. That’s the engineer in me and my husband,” Angela says. They followed the advice of renowned architect Sarah Susanka, a proponent of right-size homes, and planned for an “away” room where they could tuck the TV

O P P O S I T E A sectional slipcovered in linen invites the family for TV watching in

what they call the “away” room because it’s snug and separate from the main living space. In the corner roosts an owl the couple had preserved after Josh found it dead on the property. Angela has found other taxidermy animals at antiques stores. “They’re interesting little sculptures,” she says. “Kids can look at this owl up close and learn from it.” T O P R I G H T “Josh really wanted a wood fireplace. He was passionate about that,” Angela says. He chose this compact Belgian Stûv woodstove to tuck into the corner. M I D D L E R I G H T Angela gathers larkspur blooms from her cutting gardens. She chronicles the farm’s renovation and her seasonal decorating and gardening ideas on Instagram @buildingwalnutfarm. B O T T O M R I G H T Josh and Angela lived on the farm in the original farmhouse for seven years before building a new house, so they knew exactly where to position it to take in the best views. They wanted a European-style structure built with materials that would last into the next century, including limestone from a local quarry and a cedar shake roof.

A B O V E Banks of expansive windows

shape the view. The cabinets are wirebrushed quartersawn oak, which Angela had built locally, based on pictures she collected. “I love the totally raw look of Belgian kitchens,” she says. She wanted them to have a slightly pickled look, so she combined off-the-shelf stains in brown and gray. O P P O S I T E The countertops are ¾-inch marble. “It’s supposed to be sealed several times a year,” Angela says, “and I’ve never sealed it in my life. I like how things really age.”

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and a circulatory floor plan so their young children could loop through the spaces. “Now having lived in it, that’s genius,” Angela says. The pair also put their own ideas into the house, which took a year to build.

“We wanted a central corridor so you could see the views and the house would feel bigger than it actually is,” she says.

And Angela wanted an eat-in kitchen. Early on, she looked to European farmhouses for design schemes. “Often what inspired me were ones with a hearth and table,” she says. The table is where the kids do their homework and she preps meals. Images of Belgian houses in particular served as the foundation for Angela’s interior design plan.

She now designs homes professionally, but her approach is still that of her first career: “In my engineering brain, I made a formula of one part Belgian modern—that’s the concrete floors and steel door; one part English country—that’s my antique furniture and patterned curtains;

“For me, it has to be real materials, authentic materials.

IT’S HOW THINGS USED TO BE DONE, AND I’D LIKE TO KEEP THAT.” —ANGELA WHEELER

B E L O W Streamlined white upholstery

and white walls create a serene environment in the living room. It’s evidence of the Belgian modern style Angela admires. But she added in patterned curtains for English country flavor as well. O P P O S I T E R I G H T Angela made the entry table from lumber saved when they deconstructed the original farmhouse. “I often have in my mind exactly what I want, but I can’t find it, so I build it or my husband builds it,” she says.

and a tiny sprinkle, like 10 percent, that is Bohemian—the elements like the things Josh has brought me from his travels,” she says.

The result is a personal look that conveys warmth and elegance and has classic staying power. Angela prioritizes natural materials, opting for linen slipcovers, marble counters, and furniture made from salvaged wood that she and Josh build themselves. The goal is to allow everything to weather and age naturally as the seasons pass.

After all, the family is firmly planted on the farm, which they named for the hundreds of black walnut trees dotting the property. The mature trees continually drop walnuts that sprout new shoots—a cycle of longevity they love. “I see this as such a base for my children, that they’re rooted here,” Angela says. “I don’t know that I knew it at the time we bought this farm, but it’s important to me now.”  RESOURCES, SEE PAGE 110.

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“It’s still not finished, but that’s OK.

OUR FARM AND HOME HAVE EVOLVED OVER TIME, AND THIS IS A WAY OF LIFE FOR US. WE INVEST IN MATERIALS THAT LAST A LIFETIME. KNOWING THAT WE’RE HERE FOR THE LONG HAUL MAKES IT WORTH IT.” —ANGELA WHEELER

L E F T Amid the zucchini, kale, and

lavender that are already started, twig arbors are set up for pole beans that will fill in later in the summer. Angela lets the kids help choose the vegetables they plant (their favorites are pumpkins and peas). R I G H T A lack of crown molding and crisp drywall returns around windows and doorways create the modern shell the couple wanted. They added furnishings that have decidedly clean lines, such as this steel poster bed the couple found at a local country auction years before they built the house. Natural materials, including the sisal rug, timber side tables, and antique pastoral artwork offer balancing warmth.

L E F T The side tables are cuts of cedar

trees that have fallen on their timbered property. “I like to use what’s already existing,” Angela says. B E L O W Angela designed an attractive and hardworking mudroom just inside the main entrance of the house. Its painted paneled walls offer easy-to-reach pegs at two levels for older and younger kids. O P P O S I T E To make the mudroom even more functional for the farm, Angela found the vintage concrete sink locally in classified ads. She uses it frequently to clean and trim flowers from their cutting gardens.

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A STORIED

HOME WRIT TEN BY

SHAILA WUNDERLICH

PHOTOGR APHED BY

There is always space for more classic collections in the Cape Cod home and country life of this longtime antiques dealer.

JOYELLE WEST

PRODUCED BY

K ARIN LIDBECK-BRENT

ef TIMEKEEPERS THE GOODS: Dealer Kathleen

Chandler Roszell is drawn to both vintage clocks and pocket watches for their graphic typography. But pocket watches are a favorite for their nostalgia. “I’m partial to the Roman numerals, but I collect other styles as well,” she says.

The majority of her collection is American-made sterling silver from the 1920s to ’40s.

LIVING WITH THEM: Collecting

and dealing in watches and clocks since young adulthood, Kathleen now has about 100 in total—enough to fill an antique toleware bucket and to display in every room. “I often wear one as a necklace too,” she says. Estate sale jewelers are Kathleen’s favorite source for pocket watches.

WHAT YOU’LL PAY: $50 to $200,

depending on condition and aesthetic of the face. Gold gets a higher price than silver.

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A longtime collector, Kathleen has many favorite genres, including this spongeware.

K ATHLEEN CHANDLER ROSZELL GREW UP IN A FAMILY OF NO COLLECTORS AND IN ROOMS WITH FEW COLLECTIBLES, BUT THAT DIDN’T STOP HER FROM DISCOVERING ANTIQUES IN BOOKS.

ef WOOD BOWLS THE GOODS: Often referred to

as “dough bowls,” the primitive, hand-carved wood bowls of Early American kitchens were in fact used for all sorts of everyday functions. “When someone wasn’t using them to make bread, they might fill them with fruit or corn or rolls,” Kathleen says. The rustic implements exist in long trencher shapes and tall-sided boxes, but Kathleen goes for the shallow, round, sometimespainted variety. “The appeal is their form,” she says. “You’re never going to find two that are exactly the same, nor one that isn’t slightly imperfect.”

LIVING WITH THEM: Kathleen

displays her favorite blue bowls the same way her New England and pioneer predecessors would have—in an old wall rack. The 1- to 1½-foot-round bowls are also classic catchalls and tabletop centerpieces for country collectors.

WHAT YOU’LL PAY: $85 for a

simple, unpainted bowl to $1,000 for a fine example with hand-carved detail and preserved blue paint.

Her earliest inspiration was a circa-1950s Little Golden Book at her great-aunt Clara’s. Its title is blurred in her memory, but her 5-year-old imagination took permanent hold of its story and pictures. “It’s about a family that goes to a cabin on vacation, and it rains the whole time,” Kathleen says. “So what do they do? They redecorate the cabin, painting and rearranging furniture and putting decals on the old kitchen chairs.”

Kathleen’s interest in collecting evolved with her age and taste in literature. Practically the minute she earned her driver’s license, she was motoring beyond the borders of her Jersey Shore hometown to see and touch the quilts and cupboards she’d read about in the pages of Little Women, The Yearling, and The Secret Garden. As a college English major, she traveled to Europe and Florida and visited the homes of Charles Dickens and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. “The Kinnan Rawlings house was so cool, very funky Florida,” she says.

Soon she was furnishing the third-floor attic bedroom with her country finds plus random hand-me-downs from family members. “I got my grandfather’s tallboy and a Havana wicker lawn chair a relative rescued from the trash,” she says. “Everyone in my family knew me as the collector, so they came to me first.”

Today Kathleen is a true collecting veteran, with enough pieces to fill her two homes and support a bustling antiquing business.

She and husband Joel use the bottom floor of their Cape Cod home as a by-appointment gallery, and in Parsonsfield, Maine, their 1790s farmhouse, dubbed “Butternut Farm,” provides the ultimate setting for filling her Instagram page, @butternutfarm.

Her genre of choice is American primitive, which she considers timeless and particularly popular in the current moment, as her in-person and eBay businesses attest to. “Country has such an emotional component to it—it’s no fad,” she says. “Right now, people are reaching for it in direct rejection of cold, mass-manufactured sameness.”  RESOURCES, SEE PAGE 110.

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ef

ef PANTRY BOXES THE GOODS: “Eighteenth-

century Tupperware” is how Kathleen describes her colorful pantry boxes. The round, bentwood boxes were used from the 1820s through the mid 1900s to store dried goods.

All pantry boxes were made with lids, and many were painted— usually in the blues, mustards, and reds found in nature. Some came with handles, either baling wire or wood. Kathleen collects firkins as well (shown on chair).

These canted, handled, bucketstyle versions were made in a sturdier, expandable fashion for the option of holding liquids.

LIVING WITH THEM: With their

lidded tops and graduated sizes (4½ to 10 inches round), pantry boxes are made for stacking. Many collectors search long and hard for the proper range of sizes needed to form a graduated stack—especially the tiniest versions, which would have been made as children’s toys or to store dried herbs.

WHAT YOU’LL PAY: Expect

to shell out $150 to $800, depending on condition and color (unpainted pieces on the low end, blue paint grabbing top dollar). Be wary of reproduction paint jobs.

ef “I HAVE CERTAIN COLLECTIONS THAT MAYBE I’LL PART WITH EVERY NOW AND THEN, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IF I LOVE IT, I’M KEEPING IT.” —KATHLEEN CHANDLER ROSZELL

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ef

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ef ANIMAL FIGURINES THE GOODS: “See the dark

brown horse here with its leg up?

I’m not getting rid of that one,” Kathleen says. The stone artist’s model is one of a handful of farm animal figurines Kathleen holds dear. Most are horses, inspired by a childhood spent riding around horsey Monmouth County, New Jersey, and they run the gamut from Victorianera wheeled toys to early-20thcentury metal and carved wood sculptures.

LIVING WITH THEM: On an old

pine table in her living room, Kathleen creates a black and white vignette using the two dark brown horses and a pair of white wheeled toys.

An apothecary-style storage piece and black-lettered signs enhance the two-tone look.

WHAT YOU’LL PAY: Values

range widely depending on the purpose and pedigree of a figure, but animal toys are notoriously expensive, with even the smallest versions crawling up to $300. Kathleen can’t recall what she spent on the horse model at an estate sale long ago, but today she considers it priceless.

“COUNTRY ANTIQUES ARE NOT THE KIND THAT GO UNDER GLASS. THEY’RE NOT THE KIND YOU COVER IN PLASTIC, NOR THE KIND YOU INSURE. THEY’RE THE KIND YOU LOOK AT AND LIVE WITH AND TOUCH.” — KATHLEEN CHANDLER ROSZELL

ef

ef WATERING CANS THE GOODS: The 10 watering

cans on the back porch represent just a portion of Kathleen’s approximately 50-piece collection. Mostly painted metal from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, her favorites are the very large (about 2½-gallon) cans in yellows and reds (shown on pedestal and top shelf) as well as children’s toy versions (center, middle shelf). “Some of them are so big you can’t carry them full,” she says.

LIVING WITH THEM: Kathleen

keeps her prized ones at the ready on an old baker’s rack.

“I don’t own this many just to then go to the hardware store and buy a new plastic one,” she says, “I use them.” Indoors, watering cans hold cut flowers from her garden.

WHAT YOU’LL PAY: “Garden

antiques have exploded over the past ten years,” Kathleen says, “and they’re only going to get hotter.” Large cans in good color with no holes or special varieties like banded tole cans (top and bottom shelves) can cost as much as $400 each.

Midsize cans with imperfections can be found for less than $100, ordinary galvanized cans for around $40.

ef “THESE ANTIQUES REPRESENT A REVERENCE FOR THE FARMHOUSE TRADITION AND THE UPSTAIRS/DOWNSTAIRS THING. THESE WERE THE ACCOUTREMENTS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS, ALL VERY UTILITARIAN.” —KATHLEEN CHANDLER ROSZELL

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WITH VIEWS THAT SEEM TO GO ON FOR DAYS, THIS CHARMING COTTAGE GARDEN OVERLOOKING PUGET SOUND IS A DAILY SALVE FOR THE SOUL .

WRIT TEN BY

SAMANTHA S. THORPE

PHOTOGR APHED BY

PRODUCED BY

JAY WILDE

HALEY KNUDSEN

O P P O S I T E Flowers like pink double

cosmos lend their cheerful presence throughout Kim Robinson’s garden off Puget Sound in Washington State. T H I S P H O T O Kim and husband Jeff scoured this part of the sound for a property with an amazing view. “Being on the water was huge for us,” she says. They planned the greenhouse and patios to take advantage of the view.

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T H I S P H O T O A lover of flea market

finds with a story behind them, Kim looks for pieces she can repurpose, like this vintage wrought-iron fountain she turned into a planter.

She likes to tuck items with patina into her garden wherever she needs a little pick-me-up of color.

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They wanted a home on the water, but it couldn’t be just any place. It needed character.

It needed a story —something Kim and Jeff Robinson could build onto. As soon as Kim, a former real estate agent, spotted the bungalow cottage in Lakebay, Washington, eight years ago, she and Jeff put in an offer.

“Places on this street don’t come up for sale often. They usually stay in the family,” Kim says. The 100-year-old cottage is set into a hill that takes in the sweeping vista of Puget Sound. “This place just inspired me,” she says. The cottage, a former weekend getaway, required major renovations, as did the overgrown front yard that faced the water. Kim and Jeff tore out a weedy groundcover, relocated overgrown rhododendrons, and built a large deck on the front of the house so they could savor their view. Kim looked online for inspiration and learned what she could about gardening from the resources she found.

“Once you start learning one thing, then you’re excited to learn something else,” Kim says. “I couldn’t have told you what a dahlia was before I moved here. Then my neighbor gave me a few tubers and told me to put them in the ground. I fell completely in love with them.

Then I wanted to do more and more and more.”

As Kim tried new things, she decided to install raised beds to grow vegetables and create a relaxed look befitting their bungalow.

Now she mostly fi lls the raised beds with flowers and mixes in a few vegetables. “I am more of a flower girl now,” Kim says.

The garden’s focal point, the greenhouse, was inspired by Erin Benzakein’s book, Cut Flower Garden. Benzakein is the owner of nearby Floret Farm, which is internationally known for its flower gardening and arranging workshops. “That book changed everything,” Kim says. “Erin broke down everything about how to start seed from start to finish. She made everything so easy. That T O P R I G H T In eight years, Kim went from planting a few annuals in

containers to learning how to start her own plants from seed. She is now the proud creator of a playful cottage garden, which she likes to call “organized chaos.” M I D D L E R I G H T When the seed starts are ready to leave the greenhouse, Kim takes them to the potting bench, splits them, then plants them in the raised beds. “My goal is to install a dry sink into the potting bench someday to use it even more,” Kim says. B O T T O M R I G H T The greenhouse is 8×10 feet and includes three shelves on either side for starting plants. Skylights let extra light in, and a fan, heater, and thermostat keep the space temperature-controlled. “The most common questions I get on Instagram are, ‘How big is your greenhouse?’ and ‘Where did you get the plans?’” Kim says. “We didn’t use plans. Our local contractor, Ray Beem, remodeled the entire house and built the deck and greenhouse. He created a plan in his head from pictures I shared with him from Pinterest.”

T H I S P H O T O White structures

like the cottage fence and arbors lend form and continuity among the colorful plantings. The Robinsons installed an automatic, time-saving watering system in the beds to simplify the process. A system of rope supports holds tall flowers upright without stakes.

book is why I have a greenhouse. Now I start all my seeds in there.

Everything in the raised beds has been started in the greenhouse.”

The greenhouse helped Kim expand her flower assortment and plant a riot of color. “I don’t really follow a color palette,” she says.

“That’s one of the things I love about cottage style—there are no rules.” Kim also likes to try new seeds every year and keeps only what works. “I’m all about growing what’s easy and planting cut flowers that come back even better after you cut them, like cosmos, zinnias, and sweet peas. It’s fun to try new things,” she says.

She also tucks in garden art, including a mermaid weather vane, vintage bicycle, birdbaths, and whiskey barrels. She sets old iron headboards into beds for interest and for growing vines. A white picket fence and arbors frame the garden and give it structure.

Every morning Kim looks forward to going out into her garden and taking pictures or video to share on Instagram and in her blog, Shiplap and Shells. “I make myself an iced latte and head outside with my pups to walk the garden,” she says. “I bring my clippers with me and fill a vase or two full of fresh cut flowers.” And when the sun sets, she and Jeff drink in the view from their deck—a perfect medley of color and calm. 

A B O V E A galvanized water trough serves as a country-style container for plantings and is part of Kim’s strategy for bringing varying heights to the garden. B E L O W L E F T Cozy sitting areas and vintage chairs are tucked throughout the garden. Kim likes to create places to relax and look out onto Puget Sound. B E L O W M I D D L E Every year Kim tries something new in the garden, such as this purple

larkspur. “This is my first time doing larkspur from seed,” Kim says. It introduces spires of color wherever Kim wants to add height to her borders. She also tried lupine and bee balm this year. She journals about what worked and what didn’t each garden season to help her plan the next year and shares what she learns on Instagram, @shiplapandshells. B E L O W R I G H T Kim wanted raised beds because of their practicality and look. “I am all about the visual, and I wanted the brick pavers, barrels, and containers to offset the raised beds,” she says. “Plus, the raised beds are good for me because of my bad knees and feet. I can sit on the edge of them to weed and plant.”

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O P P O S I T E Kim starts her flower seeds on the shelves in the greenhouse.

Dutch doors on both ends and this stained-glass window can be opened to moderate the temperature inside the greenhouse. A B O V E Jeff scored this vintage bike for Kim and brought it home for her to turn into a focal point in the garden. L E F T Sunny daisies add their happy attitude and blooming fortitude to the garden. “I started with one Shasta daisy plant and one black-eyed Susan, and now my whole yard is filled with them. That’s something I try for,” she says. “I love perennials. I can divide them, so I can shop in my own garden to add them to other areas in my garden or give to friends.” B E L O W M I D D L E The steps that lead to the greenhouse are perfect perches for container plants.

Kim deadheads the blooms regularly to keep the flowers looking fresh. B E L O W R I G H T When hung on the gate, a galvanized find like this pocket planter is a great way to welcome people into the garden as well as bring color up higher.

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CALIFORNIA

DREAMING ELIZABETH BURNS SUCCUMBED TO THE LAID-BACK CHARMS OF SANTA BARBARA WHILE ON VACATION THERE. WITHIN A YEAR, SHE AND HER FAMILY CALLED IT HOME. WRIT TEN BY

FIFI O’NEILL

PHOTOGR APHED BY

MARK LOHMAN

R I G H T “I love the feel of walking through our front door and seeing how the house

completely opens up with the ceilings peaking at 12 feet,” says interior designer and homeowner Elizabeth Burns of her Santa Barbara home. “Although not a large home, the high ceilings and the sheer quantity of glass allow this house to live larger than it is.” The ample salvaged pine table instills an earthy note. “I wanted something casual and not too precious that friends and family could gather around,” she says.

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In the living room, a soothing palette delivers calming tones, while furnishings and art provide beauty and comfort in equal measure.

A cushy sectional upholstered in Belgian linen and a coffee table crafted from salvaged elm contribute to the organic mood.

w

HILE ON VACATION, CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS ELIZABETH

Burns and her family drove from San Francisco to San Diego. En route, they stopped in Santa Barbara, a chic yet casual seaside town where mountains meet ocean. Elizabeth didn’t want to leave. “I fell in love with Santa Barbara and knew it was where I was meant to be,” she says. “Our daughter had also decided to go to college in California.

So, I bit the bullet and rented a condo while I searched for a house.”

Nine months later she found it. “I hadn’t set out looking for a modern home. But as soon as I stepped inside and saw the curtains blowing through the open French doors, the light, the views of the ocean and gorgeous mountains! I was smitten!” Elizabeth says. “I called my husband on the East Coast and told him this was the one. It had just come on the market and we bought it that day.”

One of the many features Elizabeth loves about her home is the abundance of natural light and the connection to the outdoors through seven sets of French doors and multiple windows. “Because of that, and the fact that it’s under 2,000 square feet, we call it ‘The Little Glass House,’” she says.

Elizabeth was seduced not only by the house but by the California lifestyle as well, and both played a starring role in the evolution of her career. “I’ve always been interested in design, from staging to consulting and styling, but when I moved here from Connecticut, I stumbled upon Porch, a wonderful Santa Barbara home and garden shop with a captivating organic feeling. I instantly knew that was the way I wanted my own home to feel,” she explains. “Our midcentury modern house became my canvas for trying new things and experimenting, and this is where my company, edb Designs, began.”

Offering an effortless feeling of space and flow, Elizabeth’s home radiates a stylish simplicity and livability. “It’s all about the connection to nature and blurring the lines between inside and out,” she says. “I am all in favor of accentuating the light quality. I like a calm, serene feeling in my home. The challenge was how to keep a midcentury modern home from feeling cold and unwelcoming. It is made up of glass, metal, and stucco, which aren’t exactly warm materials. I also love antiques and wanted to incorporate some that wouldn’t feel out of place.”

To meet her goal, Elizabeth started with a neutral foundation and furnishings with clean lines, then layered on textures, meaningful accessories, art, and plants to bring the rooms to life. “A home has to have a soul,” she says. “It can be from a quirky piece found on a trip, art, local treasures like a collection of sea glass, or an antique piece that speaks to me. I always include a natural element, may it be driftwood or shells, and something old or vintage in every space.” Elizabeth’s Little Glass House not only has soul, but it is also a breath of fresh air.  RESOURCES, SEE PAGE 110.

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O P P O S I T E , T O P L E F T “I knew I would need storage, and this replica of a printer’s

chest of drawers was one of the first pieces I bought for the house,” Elizabeth recalls. “It holds everything from table linens to candles, gift-wrapping supplies, and board games.”

It also offers a staging area for seasonal displays. O P P O S I T E , T O P R I G H T The guest bedroom unites old and new. Rustic items like the ladder and bench balance the modern bed. A macramé wall hanging from Bangladesh, a woven basket, and furry pillows inject boho touches. “I enjoy mixing materials and styles,” Elizabeth says. “If I love something, I find a way to make it work.” O P P O S I T E , B O T T O M L E F T A wood bowl’s soft patina makes the perfect foil for iridescent abalone shells Elizabeth picked up on a rocky beach.

O P P O S I T E , B O T T O M R I G H T “My husband, Kevin, was instrumental in getting the backyard project under way,” Elizabeth says. “I’ve always done my own outdoor spaces but knew we needed help with this one. The previous owners never used the backyard.

It was just a rectangle of grass, so we started from scratch. We actually enlarged it and added new landscaping, a custom-built gas firepit, a redwood hot tub, and, of course, an outdoor shower!” Now a wall composed of local stones and the concrete pavers define the back patio where teak and concrete furniture gathers around the firepit to form a cozy outdoor living room. “It’s an awesome place for parties,” Elizabeth says. “After dinner we retire here for a fire and dessert, or sometimes we have cocktails and watch the sunset.”

A B O V E The master bedroom’s neutral palette exudes serenity. Elizabeth chose materials, subtle color accents, and greenery to keep the space from looking cold. The muted pillows bring a gentle influx of texture to the linen bed. Wood stools warm up cool, black metal tables. On the walls, a vintage woven basket and fiber art add texture to create visual interest without jarring pattern. The weathered paint of the vintage trunk also helps keep the room grounded.

You’ll find this home and many other chic, casual coastal places in Surfside Style: Relaxed Living by the Coast by Fifi O’Neill. Photos

by Mark Lohman. © Ryland Peters & Small 2020.

T H I S P H O T O Conservationists Andrea and Jonathan

Gilpin had their second home’s timber-framed structure built by local Welsh company Castle Ring Oak Frame in its nearby workshop, and it went up in just one day thanks to help from family and friends. O P P O S I T E The couple did much of the finishing work themselves, like making this solid staircase that maintains the natural wavy edge of the timber. They also made their own accessories, including the peg rail coat hooks.

WHEN A COUPLE WITH DEEP ROOTS IN CONSERVATION FELL IN LOVE WITH A PLOT OF L AND, THE Y SET ABOUT DE VELOPING A WILDLIFE HAVEN. THEN THE Y BUILT A THOUGHTFUL, SUSTAINABLE COT TAGE THAT PUT THEM IN THE CENTER OF IT. PRODUCED BY

GAP INTERIORS/CONTENTED NEST

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The view is often a key factor in any home purchase,

but for conservationists Andrea and Jonathan Gilpin, this stunning natural setting in Wales provided the inspiration for a new house and lifestyle. “We bought this 31/2-acre plot about 10 years ago, as we had always dreamed of turning a patch of neglected land into a wildlife haven,” Andrea says. “We went on to establish a wildflower meadow in one acre, plus we dug a pond and planted 40 fruit and many native broadleaf trees. The idea for a self-built, eco holiday home began to take root over time.

It was such a tranquil and beautiful place, we wanted to spend more time here and share it with others.”

Building the cottage had some typical challenges: The project had a tight budget, and there was strict planning permission to adhere to. Jonathan drew up the plans for the timber-frame structure himself and found a company to make the frame using locally sourced Douglas fir. From there, the couple carried out much of the building work themselves, working weekends and during annual leave. It was a slow approach that took nearly four years to complete.

But that level of involvement and control also made it a satisfying one. “Sustainable materials were always going to be important to us,” Andrea says. “We used sheep’s-wool insulation in the walls and ceiling, and clad the exterior with western red cedar from a local forest.” Covering the interior walls with lime-based plaster allowed them to create curved profiles, softening the planes where the walls meet the windows.

The product also leaves a soft, textural finish. The cottage is designed with large south-facing windows to make the most of warmth and light from the sun during daytime, and solar panels on the roof power the hot water system.

Environmentally conscious materials are seldom the most budget-friendly, so the couple planned carefully and were creative in eking out their limited funds. “When we laid the

T O P L E F T Simplicity and honesty of elements extend into the kitchen.

Unpainted pine cabinets show off their natural grain and golden hues.

Andrea has collected dishware in a variety of earth-based materials, including bamboo chargers and handmade pottery. M I D D L E L E F T Andrea pauses in the kitchen of her eco-conscious home. B O T T O M L E F T The outdoor table was made by a local artisan who used timber from a nearby oak tree that had come down in a storm. The folding chairs are a simple addition from IKEA. Scenes of the meadow through the seasons are on Andrea’s Instagram page, @wild_meadow.

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T H I S P H O T O Andrea

and Jonathan have furnished sympathetically to the building and its surroundings, choosing wood furniture in honeyed tones. The dining table was made by a local woodworker, and the chairs are vintage finds.

“We love being connected so closely to nature.

The cottage is surrounded by acres of wildflowers, and we grow fruit, flowers, and veggies throughout the seasons.”

—ANDREA GILPIN

concrete slab for the house,” Andrea says, “we made sure the surface had a super-smooth finish so we could just paint it without need for further floor coverings. It was essentially a big plinth in an open field, and it wasn’t without its difficulties.

It was getting late on the day of the pour, the light was fading fast, and the concrete setting quicker still, so Jonathan and our contractor were on their hands and knees smoothing as best they could by the beam of the Land Rover’s headlights.”

Their vision and hard work resulted in a home that showcases the beauty found in simplicity. Its straightforward design also highlights the authenticity of the materials used. Jonathan left the bark on the timber that the staircase and the window ledges are made of, for instance, a detail that is repeated on the exterior cladding.

When the couple realized the eco paints they wanted for the interior walls were out of their budget, they made their own lime wash using leftover lime from the plaster. “It wasn’t the most glamorous job,” Andrea says. “We used two dustbins, a big stick, and a large whisk, but it worked, looks fabulous, and has stood the test of time.”

Because the couple enjoys sharing their cottage with family and friends—and even rents the cottage to guests—they keep the interior calm, simple, and clutter-free. A natural color palette of teals and ochers unifies the bedrooms and open-plan spaces, reflecting the beauty of nature in the meadow.

In fact, in this cottage, everything always comes back to the meadow. “We bought the field as a place to get back to nature and to grow things for us to eat, but it has taken on a life of its own,” Andrea says. “It has given so much in return, both in terms of what we have learned during the building process and in creating something beautiful to share.”  RESOURCES, SEE PAGE 110.

O P P O S I T E The chaise longue is a family heirloom and went into

this attic room as a stopgap while the staircase was being finished.

However, once the bannister was installed, the couple realized they had boxed in the chaise, and it wasn’t coming out again. Luckily, it suits this space beautifully–some things are just meant to be. A B O V E The exposed timber-frame structure stands out against white walls. Except for the bed, the furniture here and throughout the house is vintage.

These pine pieces offer the warmth of antique pine for a coherent look.

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RECIPES

Recipes from “AMERICANA PICNIC,” pages 60–67

Lemon-Sage Pork Chops on a Stick PREP: 20 minutes MARINATE: 4 hours GRILL: 8 minutes 8 6-ounce boneless pork loin chops, cut 1 inch thick 2 teaspoons lemon zest ½ cup lemon juice ½ cup olive oil ¼ cup finely chopped shallot 3 tablespoons coarse-ground mustard 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper ¾ teaspoon kosher salt 8 8x¼-inch-thick wooden skewers, dowels, or bamboo chopsticks* Lemon wedges (optional) Sage sprigs (optional)

1. Place chops in a resealable plastic bag set in a shallow dish. For marinade, in a small bowl whisk together lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, shallot, mustard, sage, garlic, pepper, and salt. Pour marinade over chops; seal bag. Marinate in the refrigerator 4 to 6 hours, turning bag occasionally. Drain chops, discarding marinade. Insert a wooden skewer into a short side of each chop.

2. Grill chops, uncovered, over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes or until chops are slightly pink in center (145°F), turning once.

3. If desired, sprinkle with additional fresh sage and mustard, and serve with lemon wedges and sage sprigs. *PRO TIP: To prevent wooden skewers, dowels, or chopsticks from burning while grilling chops, soak them in water for 30 minutes before inserting into chops.

NUMBER OF SERVINGS: 8

Barbecued Balsamic Chicken PREP: 30 minutes MARINATE: 4 hours GRILL: 50 minutes 6 to 7 pounds meaty chicken pieces (breast halves, thighs, and drumsticks) 1⁄3 cup lemon juice 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 recipe Balsamic Barbecue Sauce

1. Place chicken in an extra-large resealable plastic bag set in a shallow dish. For marinade, in a bowl combine lemon juice, oil, salt, pepper, and garlic.

Pour marinade over chicken. Seal bag; turn to coat chicken. Marinate in the refrigerator 4 to 6 hours, turning bag occasionally. Drain chicken, discarding marinade.

2. Prepare grill for indirect heat using a drip pan. Place chicken, bone sides down, over drip pan. Grill, covered, over indirect medium heat 50 to 60 minutes or until done (170°F for breasts, at least 175°F for thighs and drumsticks), brushing with half of the Balsamic Barbecue Sauce during the last 15 minutes.

3. Heat remaining sauce and serve with chicken.

Balsamic Barbecue Sauce In a medium saucepan combine 1 cup each lager beer and ketchup; 1/2 cup packed brown sugar; 1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar; 6 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tablespoon honey; 1 teaspoon each ground cumin, chili powder, and, if desired, sriracha sauce; and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, 45 to 60 minutes or until desired consistency, stirring frequently. Store sauce in the refrigerator up to 1 week.

NUMBER OF SERVINGS: 8

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Deviled EggMacaroni Salad PREP: 30 minutes ½ ¼ 1 8 1 12 ½ 3 2 ½ ½ ¼ ½ 1½

cup thinly sliced red onion cup cider vinegar teaspoon sugar ounces large elbow macaroni cup fresh or frozen peas hard-boiled eggs cup mayonnaise tablespoons country Dijon mustard tablespoons water teaspoon kosher salt teaspoon smoked paprika teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper cup chopped sweet pickles cups very thinly sliced celery

1. In a small saucepan combine onion, vinegar, and sugar. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.

2. Meanwhile, cook macaroni according to package directions, adding peas the last minute of cooking. Drain and rinse well with cold water.

3. Slice one egg; set aside. Halve remaining eggs; separate yolks from whites. Coarsely chop egg whites.

4. For dressing, place yolks in a medium bowl; mash with a fork. Add mayonnaise, mustard, and onion mixture. Gradually stir in water, salt, paprika, and pepper.

5. In a large bowl combine egg whites, pickles, celery, macaroni, and dressing; toss to combine. Top with reserved sliced egg; sprinkle with additional smoked paprika and pepper. Serve immediately or cover and chill up to 6 hours.* *PRO TIP: If the mixture gets dry after storing, stir in a little milk.

NUMBER OF SERVINGS: 8

Spiraled Zucchini Salad with Tomatoes

PREP: 35 minutes BAKE: 15 minutes at 350°F + 5 minutes at 450°F

2 2 ½ ¼ 2 2 ¼ 1

Nonstick cooking spray large potatoes, peeled tablespoons olive oil teaspoon kosher salt teaspoon black pepper large zucchinis to 3 cups halved cherry tomatoes cup chopped fresh basil, flat-leaf parsley, or tarragon recipe Lemony Vinaigrette

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with nonstick foil. Coat foil with cooking spray.

2. Using a spiral vegetable slicer fitted with the chipper blade (large holes),* push the potatoes through the blade to make long potato spirals. Snip spirals into 6- to 12-inch-long pieces and place in a large bowl. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper; toss gently to coat.

Transfer potato spirals to the prepared baking sheet, spreading in an even layer.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until tender, stirring once. Increase oven temperature to 450°F. Bake 5 to 10 minutes more or until potato spirals are golden brown and crisp.

3. Meanwhile, using the spiral vegetable slicer fitted with the chipper blade (large holes),* push the zucchinis through the blade to make long zucchini spirals. Snip spirals into 6- to 12-inch-long pieces.

In a serving bowl combine the zucchini spirals, tomatoes, and basil. Add Lemony Vinaigrette; toss gently to coat. Top with the potato spirals, tossing gently if desired. *PRO TIP: No spiral slicer? No problem.

Substitute 4 smaller potatoes for the large potatoes. Using a vegetable peeler, slice the potatoes and zucchini lengthwise into thin, wide ribbons. Cut the ribbons into ¼-inchwide strips and continue as directed.

NUMBER OF SERVINGS: 8

Lemony Vinaigrette In a small bowl whisk together 1/4 cup canola oil, 4 teaspoons rice vinegar, 4 teaspoons lemon juice, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.

Stone Fruit Crisp PREP: 40 minutes BAKE: 25 minutes at 375°F 4 cups fresh or frozen pitted dark sweet cherries ½ cup granulated sugar 3 tablespoons cornstarch 6 cups sliced stone fruit, such as nectarines, plums, and/or peeled peaches or frozen unsweetened peach slices, thawed ½ cup orange juice ¾ cup regular or quick-cooking rolled oats ½ cup packed brown sugar 1⁄3 cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon orange zest 1⁄3 cup cold butter, cut up 1 cup flaked coconut Vanilla ice cream (optional)

1. If using frozen cherries, let stand at room temperature 30 minutes (do not drain). Preheat oven to 375°F. In a 4- to 6-quart Dutch oven stir together granulated sugar and cornstarch. Stir in cherries, stone fruit, and orange juice. Cook and stir over medium until thickened and bubbly. Transfer to a 12-inch oven-going skillet or a 3-quart rectangular baking dish.

2. For topping, in a medium bowl stir together oats, brown sugar, flour, and orange zest. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in coconut. Sprinkle topping over fruit mixture.

3. Bake about 25 minutes or until stone fruit is tender and topping is golden.

Serve warm. If desired, serve with ice cream.

NUMBER OF SERVINGS: 8

RESOURCES

CONTACT THESE DESIGN PROFESSIONALS FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR SERVICES OR PRODUCTS. OUR STYLE MAKERS

AMERICANA PICNIC

DESIGNER: Cynthia Zamaria, Toronto;

PAGES 64 AND 66: Tablecloth fabric—Nakuru

647/248-3755; cynthiazamaria.com.

HELEN NORMAN: Helen Norman Photography, White Hall, Maryland; 410-303-8030; helennorman.com; Instagram: @helennorman.

DIVERSIFIED HERB AND LAVENDER FARM: Star Bright Farm LLC, White Hall, Maryland; 410-303-8030; starbright-farm.com; Instagram: @starbrightfarm.

Floral in Indigo, Ralph Lauren Home To the Trade; ralphlaurenhome.com.

PAGE 65: Cornhole board—Zeny, Amazon; amazon.com.

PAGE 66: Red and white dinner plate — Replacements Ltd.; replacements.com.

PAGES 7–11

PAGES 68–77

RESIDENTIAL DESIGNER: Angela Wheeler

DESIGNER:

Design, Port Perry, Ontario, Canada; angelawheelerdesign.com; Instagram: @buildingwalnutfarm.

Dana Vrechek; The Stonehouse Road, Gilroy, California; 760/271-5560; thestonehouseroad.com.

BUILDER: Edward Lazzarini Jr., Lazzarini Construction Inc., Morgan Hill, California; 408-497-6615.

CABINETMAKER: Tony Martinez, T.M. Cabinets; 408-710-5307.

Butternut Farm Antiques; Instagram: @butternutfarmantiques.

CHIC & SIMPLE

CALIFORNIA DREAMING

PAGES 24–33

INTERIOR DESIGNER: Kelly Mittleman,

Kelly + Co. Design LLC; 203/247-3951; kellyandcodesign.com.

STEEL WORK: Daru Construction LLC, Stamford, Connecticut; 203/975-2886.

CABINETRY: Scott Coley, Precision Cabinetry Inc., Newton, North Carolina; 828/270-7345; precisioncabinetry.com.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR, MILLWORK, CONSTRUCTION:

Weglarz Construction, Ridgefield, Connecticut; 203/219-1512.

IN LOVE WITH LAVENDER PAGES 34–39

LAVENDER FARM: La Maison Lavande, Saint-

Eustache, Quebec, Canada; 877/780-3009; maisonlavande.ca.

COLORFUL CHARACTER PAGES 50–59

DESIGNER:

Stephanie Hunt, Flairhunter; flairhunter.com.

110

PUTTING DOWN ROOTS

AGAINST THE GRAIN PAGES 12–23

COUNTRY HOME SUMMER 2021

PAGES 60–67

A STORIED HOME PAGES 78–87

ANTIQUES DEALER: Kathleen Chandler Roszell,

PAGES 96–101

INTERIOR STYLIST: Elizabeth Burns, edb designs,

Santa Barbara; edbdesignssb@gmail.com; edbdesignssb.com.

FIELD OF DREAMS PAGES 102–107

RENTAL INQUIRIES: Wild Meadow, Discoed,

Presteigne LD8 2NQ; hello@wildmeadow.co; wildmeadow.co; Instagram: @wild_meadow.

BACKGROUND FABRICS PAGES 3 AND 111: Damask fabric—Small Damask– Pink, Lee Jofa Inc.; kravet.com/lee-jofa.

PAGES 5 AND 111: Floral fabric—Inisfree– Sunset, Lee Jofa Inc.; kravet.com/lee-jofa.

PAGES 5 AND 111: Medallion cotton fabric— Sunburst–Spice, Lee Jofa Inc.; kravet.com/lee-jofa.

PAGES 5 AND 111: Kravet indoor/outdoor performance fabric (SKU: 35372.12.0)— Kravet Inc.; kravet.com

“Summer afternoon— summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.”

—HENRY JAMES

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Country Home® (ISSN 0737-3740), May (Summer) 2021, Volume 42, No. 2. Country Home is published quarterly in February, May, August, and October by Meredith Corporation, 1716 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309-3023. Periodicals postage paid at Des Moines, IA, and at additional mailing offices. Subscription prices: $20 per year in the U.S.; $30 (U.S. dollars) in Canada. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2) NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to Country Home, P.O. BOX 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508. In Canada: mailed under Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40069223; Canadian BN 12348 2887 RT. Your bank may provide updates to the card information we have on file. You may opt out of this service at any time. Country Home is a registered trademark in the United States. © Meredith Corporation 2021. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY PETE KRUMHARDT

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