I'm in a traveling, outdoor mood, largely because I'm stuck inside an air conditioned office and longing to be outside. To soothe myself, I want to revisit a home we visited last summer — Margaret Roach's year round retreat in upstate New York. I've included new pictures, and I think you'll get a lot of vicarious pleasure out of this visit. Enjoy!
Here are some amazing pics I took while visiting Margaret Roach last August with Sara Kate and Ursula. We arrived in the evening, had a lovely dinner and then - after a good night's sleep - spent the morning hanging out, chatting and getting the lowdown on Margaret's home and kitchen.
The lowdown here is that after working as a writer and editor in New York since 1973 (The New York Times, Newsday, and finally Martha Stewart Living, where she was Editorial Director for over ten years), Margaret "retired" to her favorite home in the country just over two years ago to get back to her roots, both literally and figuratively. An expert gardener and garden writer, Margaret now gardens and writes full time, and has kicked off a new phase of her career in which she is creating her own material rather than overseeing that of others. Her new book, And I Shall Have Some Peace There, comes out in February 2011.
>> Away To Garden - Her garden site
>> MargaretRoach.com - Where you can see all the other things she is up to
Here's her home, which she's renovated herself a couple of times over the past twenty four years and was originally a very ramshackle farmer's house with very few amenities or insulation. For more on Margaret, check out her site, where she documents life and each season through the lens of her gardening.
INSIDE
The Kitchen Area
The Living Room
A Peek Upstairs
OUTSIDE
100 DIY Ideas for the 3-Day Weekend
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Flatwa...
Party Recipe: Creamy Crawfish Dip
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
Gosh it's lovely. Just what you imagine when you dream of a house in the country.
What a beautiful home...warm, cosy, & comfortable. Such great attention to detail, and many lovely, lovely items about. I adore the stripped wood too. Thank you so much for sharing this home with us.
xo
Melis
This home is unique and beautiful, in an unassuming, elegant style. It is a home of a particular inhabitant and couldn't belong to anyone else. I love it.
http://graciouslivingdaybyday.com/
What a wonderful home,it has personality .
Yes to the painted floors! This is just the kind of home I would like to have and the garden, too!
lordy...this place is exactly my dream home and garden! The antiques, worn floors with remnants of old blue paint and the easy, comfortable feeling and coziness....plus great attention to detail with whimsy. Yes....this it it!
oh exactly the kind of place I strive for....reminds me I need more colors, more texture and some BIGGER pictures!
And the garden, beyond wonderful
I'm confused by this caption "Most of the floors are painted bright colors, but note that Margaret paints the window frames dark to emphasize the view outside."
I don't see any dark painted window frames in any of the photos. And how does that emphasize the view?
I agree it is a lovely home and garden though.
I love the unfinished look of the wooden stairs and doors inside, but am wondering how it affects the wear and tear of the material?
Incredible... I especially love the living room and its red accents. The multi-use dining room is also fantastic!
What kind of tree is the fruit one growing up the side of the house? Do they always grow like that?
Also does anyone know how to strip wooden walls so you can see all the various colors of paint they once were? I have a house from the 1800s with wood board walls (thicker than bead board).
Thanks!!
Oh and gorgeous house!
I've just finished Margaret's book, which makes seeing these images all the more special. Her home is so individual, just what I expected.