Photographs by Lyndsay Hannah and styling by Wanda Furman.
Final time our pal Abbey Nova invited us into her house, she was dwelling in an Higher West Facet residence together 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 paintings, and so many vegetation. Right here’s a glance inside…
LIVING ROOM
Sofas: Lee Industries. Espresso desk: Customized. Lamps: Hackeny Ground Lamp. Facet desk: comparable. Rug: Loloi.
On taking time: I’m a gradual decorator and can preserve shifting a bit of furnishings round, and even change the aim of a room, till it feels proper. After we lived in New York, I might get our flats wanting the best way I wished immediately. 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 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 had been darkish and chilly and it was straightforward to get snowed in. However my mother did a extremely pretty job of surrounding herself with magnificence, particularly throughout that dreary season. She grew amaryllis bulbs January by means of March. At present they’re a winter survival software 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. After we had been newly married, I stunned 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 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 shade that appears completely different each time I stroll by means of 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 season 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 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 received’t purchase that form of plant once more! I additionally just like the app PictureThis. It identifies your vegetation and the best way to look after them, all from simply importing a photograph.
KITCHEN/DINING ROOM
On meals that work for everybody: For weeknight dinners we make lots 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, once we bought 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. 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 images of every iteration to Tim, who was touring for work; he has eye and gave good 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 at all times making an attempt to withstand the siren name of artwork. I really like spending evenings wanting by means of on-line auctions and eBay. Two eBay sellers I observe are Boris Wilnitsky Effective 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 worth vary.
On elevating youngsters with a nine-year age hole: Our boys each have stunning, foolish, inventive sides, and the best way they join is gorgeous. We didn’t plan on ready so lengthy; I simply had lots of miscarriages. However then throughout my being pregnant with Ben, I anxious concerning the 9 years distinction. I talked to anybody I might discover who had an identical 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: Mattress Tub & Past. Facet desk: Room & Board. Lamps: Zara Dwelling.
On following your intestine: The earlier homeowners used this as a sunroom (full with a scorching 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 means of 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 means of a too-soft dorm mattress, my father drove up with a bit of plywood to create the agency floor I wanted. So, I assume the important thing to a comfortable mattress is figuring out 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 procuring 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 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 keep watch over the water stage. These blooming hyacinths come from my pal and neighbor, Pom, who runs English Backyard Grown and gives 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 sequence, and we take heed to about 5 audiobooks per week. For his birthday he requested for a speaker. I believed it was the sweetest request.
Horse: thrifted.
On youngsters’s books: I really like In The Evening Kitchen by Maurice Sendak, and we’ve hung this print everywhere in the home. After we moved Ben’s room downstairs, he mentioned, ‘That’s my favourite ebook. Can I’ve that in my room?’ We had learn that ebook rather a lot when he was youthful, however earlier than that second I had by no means recognized it was his favourite ebook. It jogged my memory that you simply by no means know what moments your youngsters are going to recollect.
ALEX’S ROOM
Cover: Heather Taylor Dwelling, comparable. Lamp: Goal, comparable.
On a shocking factor about teenagers: I’m at all times amazed by how Alex is aware of a lot about the whole lot. He sprained his ankle this summer season, and once we had 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 an incredible cook 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, nevertheless it seems like such a privilege to witness them grow to be who they’re changing into.
GARDEN
On gardening within the winter: I wish to examine gardens within the winter. In the course of the summer season I’m at all times outdoors planting and clearing and shifting issues round. However the winter is once I quiet down with a ravishing English backyard ebook. That’s when all the planning occurs. [Ed. note: Here’s Abbey’s garden in the summer! So gorgeous.]
Thanks a lot, Abbey. We love you.
P.S. Extra house excursions, together with a teeny tiny Swedish residence and a reader’s introvert nook.
(Photographs by Lyndsay Hannah and styling by Wanda Furman, for Cup of Jo.)
