apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

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This tour is amazing to us because we dropped by without notice, meaning that the following photos are of how they live day to day, not styled for photographs. The house seems to effortlessly mix styles and eras and plays the perfect backdrop for many of Peter’s sculptures. The well proportioned spaces and careful attention to natural light make this modestly scaled home feel light and airy, while the pared down interior matches the colonial sensibility. The minimalism creates a lovely contrast with the historic elements that we find inspiring in their authenticity.

Don’t miss the rock garden between the house and the porch, the attic stair pantry in the kitchen, and the glossy white painted bedroom floors. And in case anyone notices, yes, there is only one appliance in the kitchen - the stove. The fridge is located downstairs in a root cellar to allow the kitchen to be truly minimal. Pete and Sandy’s house is surrounded by vegetable and flowering gardens, and Peter's modern post-and-beam sculpture studio (which he built) is nearby. But that's for another tour!

AT Survey:

My/Our style: A mix of country, classic, modern, minimalist, cozy, and quietly chic

Inspiration: Nature, peace, love, and understanding

Favorite Element: The small scale; The directions: south facing house, north facing porch, east facing bedroom; Sculptures; Colors; Morso stove

Biggest Challenge: To allow the early 19th Century cape keep its character and, at the same time, live with ease and a modern, minimalist sensibility

What Friends Say: Charming and lovely, empty and minimalist

Biggest Embarrassment: Always so many things still to do

Proudest DIY: Restoring the entire house; Choosing colors and furnishings

Biggest Indulgence: The sink, stoves and three small tables made by a dear fine furniture maker friend

Best advice: Simplicity; Less is more; Quality whenever possible; Create the feeling of the space you want, not "the look"

Dream source: Many things Swiss and Asian

Inspiration: Le Corbusier, Giacometti, Scarpa and many more

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Resources:

Appliances: Wolfe, KWC, Miele

Hardware: Old/original

Furniture: Mostly non-expensive antiques - auctions and small shops

Lighting: Hubbardton Forge, Peter France, and standards like Lightolier

Rugs and Carpets: Little River Oriental Rugs, Concord, NH; A Candle in the Night, Brattleboro, VT; auctions

Tiles and Stone: Marble and Granite, Westwood, MA

Window Treatments: As few as possible

Beds: Made our own

Artwork: Mostly sculpture and prints by Peter France, Crow Studio; also, small old English and French prints and antique shops finds

Paint: California Paints and Farrow & Ball

Flooring: Old soft and hard wood; lots of oriental rugs, old and new

(Thanks, Pete and Sandy!)

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