Attention to detail distinguishes this house. “Everyone thought I'd want bright brass knobs for the doors, but I looked for aged ones instead.” The gooseneck faucet in the kitchen was chosen because “you can fill a vase of flowers, or the watering can, more easily under it.” The sofa and chair in the family room are oversized: “I wanted something big that you could sink into.” So that the limestone mantel in the fireplace didn't look too starkly new, she had her painter give it a light coat of colour, and tint the brick surround as if smoke had already left a trail.
Husband and wife made individual wish lists for the architect. Near the top of her list was a porte cochère. It's the sort of covered drive-through where guests arriving for a country ball could alight to preserve their gowns from rainfall, a stone-clad archway where horse-hoof steps would echo. She got her wish, with the bonus of a guest suite perched above the garage. Her landscaping wishes ran to terraces and a drystone wall, which now enhance the exterior. He wanted a separate office, which translated into a walnut-panelled study that can be reached only by going outdoors.
The wall colours are “warm, but calm – not too bold.” That balance was struck in the Tuscan yellow of the mud room, ragged for softness, and the muted celery green of the kitchen. The palette is a gentle setting for furnishings as diverse as her mother's Deco bedside tables, a contemporary brass and marble sofa table and vintage French wicker chairs.
It may not be Gosford Park, but the homeowner is considering painting a family crest to go above the high mantel in the family room. Meanwhile, guests and family can enjoy a sense of occasion (oh, that porte cochère), along with the quiet comforts of the land.
PHOTO SHOWN:
An extra-long and deep clawfoot tub, perfect for luxurious soaks, was found by the homeowner at Addison's, a vintage plumbing supply store. Black and white honeycomb tiles have perennial appeal. The marble-topped vanity was made to resemble a French cupboard.
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