Meet… Influencer Bethany Bowyer Khan

Meet the Influencer: Bethany Bowyer Khan

A city gal returning to her rural roots and living sustainably in the country.

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS PROVIDED UNLESS NOTED

Bethany Bowyer Khan spent a decade making New York City into a greener place. Today, her idyllic rural lifestyle is inspiring her followers to cultivate a cultural shift. As a project manager at RXR , one of the largest commercial real-estate firms in NYC, Bethany’s typical day was crazy busy. Even while pregnant, she was in the office early to run meetings before heading to Brooklyn or midtown for a site visit. Donning a hard-hat, she’d jump into the construction hoist to ride 647 feet up to the top of the landmarked 500 Madison, where she oversaw sustainability initiatives as part of the building’s recent repositioning. Then COVID hit and she decided to make a change.

Natalie (left) and Christopher (right) Photos by Susan Blackburn Photography

GOODBYE PRESSURE. HELLO PRESENCE.

By December 2020, Bethany decided to make it a priority to appreciate where she is, what she is doing, and who she is with - in a fully-conscious way. She began by changing her surroundings. The serene landscapes depicted in the pastoral paintings of the Hudson River School artists are particularly inspiring for her. “Thomas Cole’s The Course of Empire Series resonates with me as an environmentalist,” she said. “While Cole cautioned against the changing landscape of industrialization, today we face the implications of climate change and creating a more harmonious balance with nature is still relevant.”

EMBRACING THE SPIRIT OF THE GREAT MASTERS

In 2021, the Khans embarked on their new journey. After a brief stay in Ohio, Bethany and her husband of five years, Jamil Khan; daughter, Natalie (two); and dog, Hudson (six), moved into a Greek Revival in the Saratoga area. Their son Christopher was born in January.

JOINING THE COMMUNITY

Life in the country is something that the Khans are taking to well. Bethany designed and oversaw the renovation of their kitchen as her first project. She began documenting their choices on Instagram @BethanyBowyerKhan and launched @ArcadianRevival while she was seven months pregnant. The pictures of her timeless design style and her honest narratives quickly earned her site its first 1,000 followers.

“The feedback I’ve received shows I’ve tapped into something people are interested in,” said Bethany. “There's an opportunity to focus on making the world better. Wherever Arcadian Revival takes me, focusing the narrative and conversation around the environment and community will remain at the core.” Because they don’t have family nearby, the platform also helped her connect to the Saratoga community in a way she couldn’t have otherwise.

PICTURE PLEASANT

The term “Arcadian” in Arcadian Revival reflects the desire to find a balance between humanity and the natural world. This tranquil contentment can be found in her design choices including; soothing color palettes, botanical specimens, natural materials, and the artwork featured in her home. Her parents, Bethany said, have been her biggest inspiration. Growing up in Ohio, her mother, Dee Bowyer, instilled a love of gardening and renovation. “She’s the real leader in sustainability because she uses her creative talents to make something beautiful with what she has. She was sustainable before it was cool. She taught me how to repurpose furniture, fabrics, and antiques,” said Bethany.

BEING THE CHANGE

Since being Upstate, Bethany’s life has changed but it hasn’t slowed down. The lower level of their home still has a few moving boxes, and with multiple projects happening simultaneously, Bethany is often renovating a room during her kids’ naptime. Bethany is also a Visiting Faculty at her alma mater, Miami University, where she teaches a course in real estate development with a focus on leadership and sustainability during the evening. “Shepherding change starts with our values and responsibility in raising the next generation.”

MORE MINDFUL BUT STILL SUPER BUSY

Now Bethany’s typical day starts over breakfast with her family and out in the gardens for a bit (during summer), before heading out to run errands, and then heading home to tackle whatever is on the agenda for the day. “Creativity begets creativity, and that notion continues to snowball for me, While my focus is on our kids, I have big visions for where this may lead and the impact that I might be able to make.” SS

…More Photos on SimplySaratoga.com!