Photographs by Lyndsay Hannah and styling by Wanda Furman.
Final time our pal Abbey Nova invited us into her residence, she was dwelling in an Higher West Facet condo along with her husband Tim and toddler son, Alex. Now, 13 years later, Abbey, Tim, six-foot-tall Alex, and her youngest son, Ben, stay within the northwest nook of Connecticut, in a house with studying nooks, colourful art work, and so many crops. Right here’s a glance inside…
LIVING ROOM
Sofas: Lee Industries. Espresso desk: Customized. Lamps: Hackeny Flooring Lamp. Facet desk: related. Rug: Loloi.
On taking time: I’m a gradual decorator and can maintain transferring a bit 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 instantly. 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 fitting format, piece of artwork, or no matter that factor is.
Amaryllis: Van Engelen Inc.
On brightening winter: I grew up in an remoted a part of Vermont the place winters have been darkish and chilly and it was simple to get snowed in. However my mother did a very pretty job of surrounding herself with magnificence, particularly throughout that dreary season. She grew Amaryllis bulbs January by March. Right this moment they’re a winter survival instrument for me, too.
Portray: Michael Abrams. Dollhouse: Etsy.
On significant artwork: This Michael Abrams portray could be my favourite piece in our residence. His work speaks to each Tim’s love of nature and our shared connection to this area. Once we have been newly married, I shocked Tim with a go to to the gallery and he selected this portray. I nonetheless bear in mind the look of pleasure on his face as he made his selection, and the way grown up I felt in that second.
On an evolving paint combo: For this room, we used Farrow & Ball Elephant’s Breath, a heat grey 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 Mild. Desk: Design Inside Attain. Chairs: Design Inside Attain.
On summer time traditions: In the summertime, our household eats dinner at this desk as a result of we are able to go away the aspect door open, which catches the breeze. One in all our go-to meals is grilled kebabs and a easy arugula salad with shaved Parmesan.
Desk: “From my childhood residence.” Print: Commissioned from Michael McKay.
On rising crops: I’ve had some crops 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 received’t purchase that form of plant once more! I additionally just like the app PictureThis. It identifies your crops and learn how to look after them, all from simply importing a photograph.
KITCHEN/DINING ROOM
On meals that work for everybody: For weeknight dinners we make a whole lot of rice bowls with teriyaki salmon bites and edamame. We additionally love peanut noodles and broccoli with crispy baked tofu. Any kind 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 through Charish.
On a canine named Argus: My oldest son Alex has dyslexia, so for studying he dove into audio books and graphic novels and fell in love with The Odyssey collection. Within the Odyssey, Odysseus’s canine, who acknowledges him after 20 years when nobody else acknowledges him, is known as Argus. So, once we acquired our beloved pup, we needed to title him Argus. It looks like a heavy title for a canine, but it surely’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 a great eye and gave good strategies. 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 really like spending evenings trying by on-line auctions and eBay. Two eBay sellers I observe are Boris Wilnitsky High-quality Arts and ArtGate-European Oil Work. Any time I discover an artist I like, I’ll arrange a saved search on eBay or liveauctioneers.com and maintain a watch out for items in my value vary.
On elevating youngsters with a nine-year age hole: Our boys each have stunning, foolish, artistic sides, and the way in which they join is gorgeous. We didn’t plan on ready so lengthy; I simply had a whole lot of miscarriages. However then throughout my being pregnant with Ben, I anxious 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 stated, ‘Don’t fear, they’re the sibling I’m closest to.’ After all, each my boys can push one another’s buttons. However they’ve a very nice bond as a result of they’re not aggressive with one another. I really feel so fortunate to be their mother.
PARENTS’ BEDROOM
Quilt: Schoolhouse. Velvet pillows: Collyer’s Mansion. Rug: Mattress Bathtub & Past. Facet desk: Room & Board. Lamps: Zara Dwelling.
On following your intestine: The earlier house owners used this as a sunroom (full with a sizzling tub!) however we made the unconventional selection of turning it into our major bed room, and it’s such a present. Within the morning, the sunshine streams in 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, once I was struggling by a too-soft dorm mattress, my father drove up with a bit of plywood to create the agency floor I wanted. So, I suppose the important thing to a comfortable mattress is realizing 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 elaborate girl 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, once I noticed this pillow, I actually screamed with pleasure.
BATHROOM
Block print: “Ben made this in a printmaking class with the artist Meg Musgrove!” Planter: classic.
On repurposing planters: Any compelled bulbs comparable 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 stage. These blooming hyacinths come from my pal and neighbor, Pom, who runs English Backyard Grown and provides seasonal flowers to native subscribers.
BEN’S ROOM
Quilt: made by Abbey. Pillow: Anthropologie. Facet desk: “From my childhood residence.” Lamp: Goal. Rainbow: “a present from my sister.”
On children’ books: Ben simply turned seven and he is able to not be a child. He loves audiobooks, particularly this collection, and we hearken to about 5 audiobooks per week. For his birthday he requested for a speaker. I assumed it was the sweetest request.
Horse: thrifted.
On youngsters’s books: I really like In The Night time Kitchen by Maurice Sendak, and we’ve hung this print all around the home. Once we moved Ben’s room downstairs, he stated, ‘That’s my favourite guide. Can I’ve that in my room?’ We had learn that guide loads 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 simply by no means know what moments your children are going to recollect.
ALEX’S ROOM
Cover: Heather Taylor Dwelling, related. Lamp: Goal, related.
On a shocking factor about teenagers: I’m all the time amazed by how Alex is aware of a lot about all the things. He sprained his ankle this summer time, and once we have been speaking about his foot, he was utilizing the identical terminology as my bodily therapist. I spotted that he discovered it from watching bodily remedy movies. And it’s like that with so many issues. He’s a terrific cook 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 drag away from us. And that may be painful, after all, but it surely looks like such a privilege to witness them turn into who they’re changing into.
GARDEN
On gardening within the winter: I wish to examine gardens within the winter. Throughout the summer time I’m all the time outdoors planting and clearing and transferring issues round. However the winter is once I quiet down with a gorgeous 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. Extra residence excursions, together with a teeny tiny Swedish condo and a reader’s introvert nook.
(Photographs by Lyndsay Hannah and styling by Wanda Furman, for Cup of Jo.)
