Images 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 condominium together with her husband Tim and toddler son, Alex. Now, 13 years later, Abbey, Tim, six-foot-tall Alex, and her youngest son, Ben, dwell within the northwest nook of Connecticut, in a house with studying nooks, colourful paintings, 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 sluggish decorator and can preserve 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 residences trying the best way I needed straight away. However this home is educating me that some rooms take time. If a room feels off, I imagine that over time, I’ll discover the proper 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 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 via 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 is perhaps 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 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 coloration that appears completely different each time I stroll via the room — within the night it’s virtually lilac coloured. We painted the ceilings White Dove by Benjamin Moore.
Penant: Shades of Gentle. Desk: Design Inside Attain. Chairs: Design Inside Attain.
On summer time traditions: In the summertime, our household eats dinner at this desk as a result of we are able to depart the aspect door open, which catches the breeze. One in every of our go-to meals is grilled kebabs and a easy arugula salad with shaved Parmesan.
Desk: “From my childhood 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 gained’t purchase that type of plant once more! I additionally just like the app PictureThis. It identifies your crops and the way to take care of them, all from simply importing a photograph.
KITCHEN/DINING ROOM
On meals that work for everybody: For weeknight dinners we make a variety of rice bowls with teriyaki salmon bites and edamame. We additionally love peanut noodles and broccoli with crispy baked tofu. Any kind of bowl scenario is nice as a result of everybody can repair their meal simply the best way they need it.
Desk: Fb Market. Chairs: Design Inside Attain by way of Charish.
On a canine named Argus: My oldest son Alex has dyslexia, so for studying he dove into audio books and graphic novels and fell in love with The Odyssey sequence. 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, but it surely’s additionally very candy.
Dresser: Craigslist. Meals = Love print: Katherine Miles Jones. Girl’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 photographs 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 photographs of the preparations and to have the ability to evaluate.
On the place to scout artwork: I’m at all times attempting to withstand the siren name of artwork. I really like spending evenings trying via on-line auctions and eBay. Two eBay sellers I comply with 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 preserve an eye fixed out for items in my value vary.
On elevating kids with a nine-year age hole: Our boys each have lovely, foolish, artistic sides, and the best way they join is beautiful. We didn’t plan on ready so lengthy; I simply had a variety of miscarriages. However then throughout my being pregnant with Ben, I apprehensive concerning the 9 years distinction. I talked to anybody I might discover who had an analogous age hole with a sibling. And universally, everybody stated, ‘Don’t fear, they’re the sibling I’m closest to.’ In fact, 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 Residence.
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 via home windows that look out over the backyard. Waking up right here feels so pure and peaceable.
On agency mattresses: I like my mattresses HARD. In faculty, once I was struggling via 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 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 girl in a fur coat pushing a loaded purchasing cart with the textual content ‘When the going will get robust, the robust buy groceries.’ It was such an ideal glimpse of her humorousness amid all that New England propriety. I looked for a 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 pressured bulbs corresponding to paperwhites, hyacinths, and amaryllis would work fantastically 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 sequence, and we hearken to about 5 audiobooks per week. For his birthday he requested for a speaker. I believed it was the sweetest request.
Horse: thrifted.
On kids’s books: I really like In The Evening 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 e-book. Can I’ve that in my room?’ We had learn that e-book so much when he was youthful, however earlier than that second I had by no means identified it was his favourite e-book. 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 Residence, related. Lamp: Goal, related.
On a shocking factor about teenagers: I’m at all times amazed by how Alex is aware of a lot about all the pieces. He sprained his ankle this summer time, and after we have been speaking about his foot, he was utilizing the identical terminology as my bodily therapist. I noticed that he realized it from watching bodily remedy movies. And it’s like that with so many issues. He’s an incredible prepare dinner and photographer, too.
Chairs: Ikea.
On leaning into letting go: I really feel like teenagers will 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, but it surely seems like such a privilege to witness them turn into who they’re turning into.
GARDEN
On gardening within the winter: I wish to examine gardens within the winter. Throughout the summer time I’m at all times outdoors planting and clearing and transferring issues round. However the winter is once I cool down with a ravishing English backyard e-book. 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 condominium and a reader’s introvert nook.
(Images by Lyndsay Hannah and styling by Wanda Furman, for Cup of Jo.)
