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Photos of Lyndsay Hannah and Styling by Wanda Furman.
The last time our friend Abbey Nova invited us to her house, she lived in a Upper West Side department with her husband Tim and her little son, Alex. Now, 13 years later, Abbey, Tim, Alex six feet high and his youngest son, Ben, live in the northwest corner of Connecticut, in a house with reading corners, colorful works of art and works of art and colorful So many plants. Here is a look inside …
LIVING ROOM
Sofas: Lee Industries. Coffee table: Custom. Lamps: Hackeny floor lamp. Auxiliary table: similar. Carpet: Loloi.
When taking time: I am a slow decorator and I will continue to move a furniture, and I will even change the purpose of a room, until it feels good. When we lived in New York, I could make our apartments seem in the way I wanted immediately. But this house is teaching me that some rooms have been. If a room feels out, I think that over time, I will find the right design, the work of art or whatever.
Amaryllis: They go Engelen Inc.
In the brilliant winter: I grew up in an isolated vermont, where the winters were dark and cold and it was easy to snow. But my mother did a really charming job to surround himself with beauty, especially during that sad season. She cultivated amaryllis bulbs from January to March. Today they are also a winter survival tool for me.
Painting: Michael Abrams. Dollhouse: Etsy.
About significant art: This painting by Michael Abrams could be my favorite piece in our house. His work speaks both Tim for nature and our connection shared with this region. When we were just married, I surprised Tim with a visit to the gallery and he chose this painting. I still remember the expression of joy on his face while he said his choice and how grown I felt at that time.
In an evolving paint combo: For this room, we use Farrow & Ball Ephant’s breath, a warm gray color that looks different every time I pass through the room, at night it is almost lilac color. We paint the white roofs of Benjamin Moore.
PENANT: Light tones. Table: Design within reach. Chairs: Design available.
About summer traditions: In the summer, our family dinner at this table because we can leave the side door open, which catches the breeze. One of our meals is grilled kebabs and a simple arugula salad with shaved Parmesan.
Table: “From the house of my childhood.” Printing: Michael McKay Commissioner.
In growth plants: I have had some plants for 10 years. But others, no matter what you do, do not stay alive. I used to feel a failure when a plant would die. However, over time, I have decided that I will not buy that type of plant again! I also like the Picturethis application. Identify their plants and how to take care of them, all to load a photo.
Kitchen/dining room
In meals that work for all: For dinners during the week we make many rice bowls with salmon from Teriyaki and Edamame. We also love peanut noodles and broccoli with baked crispy tofu. Any type of bowl situation is excellent because everyone can fix their food as they want it.
Table: Facebook market. Chairs: Design within reach of Charish.
About a dog called Argus: My eldest son Alex has dyslexia, so by reading he immersed himself in audiobooks and graphic novels and fell in love with the Odyssey series. In the Odyssey, Odysseus’s dog, who recognizes him after 20 years when no one else recognizes him, is called Argus. So, when we obtained our beloved puppy, we had to name him Argus. It feels like a heavy name for a dog, but it is also very sweet.
Dresser: Craigslist. Food = love printing: Katherine Miles Jones. Women’s portrait: “My great -grandmother Dorothy West”.
When making a balanced gallery wall: First I described the shape and dimensions of the wall on the floor with the painter’s adhesive tape. Then, I took out all the art we had and grouped it into the parameters of the tape. I spent two weeks reorganizing pieces and sending text messages from each iteration to Tim, who was traveling for work; He has a good eye and gave intelligent suggestions. It was useful for us both to see photos of the arrangements and be able to compare.
On where to explore art: I am always trying to resist Sirena’s art call. I love spending the night looking through online auctions and eBay. Two eBay vendors that I follow are Boris Wilnitsky Fine Arts and oil paintings by Artgate-European. Every time I find an artist that I like, I will organize a search saved on eBay or Liveaxteers.com and watch pieces in my price range.
About raising children with an age gap of nine years: Our boys have beautiful, dumb and creative sides, and the way they connect is lovely. We do not plan to wait so long; I just had many spontaneous abortions. But then, during my pregnancy with Ben, I was worried about the difference of nine years. I talked to anyone who could find that he had a similar age gap with a brother. And universally, everyone said: “Don’t worry, they are the brother with whom I am closest.” Of course, my two children can press the buttons of the other. But they have a really pleasant link because they are not competitive to each other. I feel very lucky to be his mother.
Parents bedroom
DREEDON: SCHOOL. Velvet pillows: Collyer mansion. Carpet: Bed Bath & Beyond. Auxiliary table: room and table. Lamps: Zara Home.
Following your instinct: The previous owners used this as an glazed terrace (complete with a hydromassage bathtub!), But we made the unconventional decision to turn it into our main bedroom, and it is a gift. In the morning, the light enters through windows that look on the garden. Awakening here feels so natural and peaceful.
In firm mattresses: I really like my mattresses. At university, when I suffered a bedroom mattress too soft, my father led with a piece of plywood to create the firm surface he needed. So, I suppose the key to a comfortable bed is knowing what works for you.
Chairs: Vintage. Pillow: The six bells.
In fun pillows: My grandmother lived in a very elegant and buttoned house in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In his kitchen, he had a poster of an elegant lady with a leather coat pushing a shopping cart loaded with the text “when things get hard, difficult things.” It was such a perfect vision of his sense of humor in the midst of all that property of New England. I looked for a copy of that poster for years without luck. So, when I saw this pillow, I literally shouted with joy.
BATHROOM
Block printing: “Ben did this in an engraving class with the artist Meg Musgrove!” Plantator: Vintage.
By reusing planters: Any bullfight such as paper paper, jacutes and amaryllis would work wonderfully in an old bowl: it only needs to add pebbles at the bottom and monitor the water level. These flourishing jacutes come from my friend and neighbor, Pom, who runs the English garden cultivated and offers seasonal flowers to local subscribers.
Ben’s room
DREEDON: Made by Abbey. Pillow: Anthropologie. Auxiliary table: “From the house of my childhood.” Lamp: Objective. Rainbow: “A gift from my sister.”
In children’s books: Ben has just turned seven and is ready to No be a baby. He loves audiobooks, especially this series, and we hear about five audiobooks a week. For his birthday he asked for a speaker. I thought it was the sweetest request.
Horse: savings.
In children’s books: I love Maurice Sendak’s night cuisine, and we have hung this print throughout the house. When we move Ben down, he said: ‘That is my favorite book. Can I have that in my room? We had read that book a lot when I was younger, but before that moment I never knew it was his favorite book. He reminded me that you never know what moments your children will remember.
Alex’s room
Nudor: Heather Taylor Home, similar. Lamp: objective, similar.
In something surprising about adolescents: I’m always surprised how Alex knows a lot above all. He twisted his ankle this summer, and when we were talking about his foot, he was using the same terminology as my physiotherapist. I realized that he learned it when watching physiotherapy videos. And so with so many things. He is also a great cook and photographer.
Chairs: Ikea.
When leaving to leave: I feel that teenagers can be so villains. But they are supposed To press our buttons. His work is to get away from us. And that can be painful, of course, but feels like a privilege to witness that they become who they are becoming.
GARDEN
In gardening in winter: I like to read about gardens in winter. During the summer, I am always outside planting, cleaning and moving things. But winter is when I accommodate with a beautiful English garden book. That’s when all planning occurs. [Ed. note: Here’s Abbey’s garden in the summer! So gorgeous.]
Thank you very much, Abbey. We love you.
PD more homemade tours, including a small Swedish apartment and the introverted corner of a reader.
(Photos of Lyndsay Hannah and Styling by Wanda Furman, for Jo’s cup).
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