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