I love your home, wow its just so beautiful, soothing and comfortable. Great job combining textures, neutrals, and great lighting. I love the material mix in the kitchen and the sliding barn door is great.

I have always loved apple crates, wine crates for shelving, especially looks great in your kitchen.

Very little color but the color you have is just beautiful, love the tango dancer painting although I think it should be up on a wall.

FLAMENCO sorry

Beautiful home! I love this mix of refined materials and the use of white with the more rustic materials like wood and metal. One question, where did you find that awesome towel basket in the kitchen?

what are those flowers called with the tea lights?

lovely home! I also love the combination of textures and materials.

However, "primitive modern" is definitely not the right way to describe it. I think your own description as eclectic and rustic is so much more appropriate.

Thanks for sharing!

it's a little monochrom for my tastes but very well done and the kitchen is terrific, esp. the crates

I'm cuckoo for white bed. Well, for the whole place actually, and thanks so much for sharing, but that bed....
Is there a special name for it? I'm guessing it's antique but I'm thinking I might need to know what to call it in order to find one.

Mavesse, I used to have a bed just like that (except mine had a caned back) and it was a Louis XVI style I believe.

Lovely home! I love the stacked crates in the kitchen, too, except I'd be worried about earthquakes in CA, I suppose that is not an issue in MA. I love all the Persian rugs with the minimal color palette.

AT: The first link takes you to Nikki & John's Cozy Nest. Please fix!

Oops. I mean the link under the image with the flamenco painting.

Very lovely. I like the use of texture to warm up the space.

Out of curiosity -- where did you get the string of light bulbs?? I'd love something like that!

how about a house tour that's not an advertisement for someone's business?

Hi Everyone-
Thanks for the kind words... Alot of the things in our house are homemade so it means alot when they feel good to other people too!

LoriSF- Do you mean the flowers on the lucite coffee table? Those are peonies! Having a floral design company gives me access to some amazing things-It's spring in New Zealand so we are lucky to get a dose of spring in December!

Mavesse- The bed is an antique- It was a total score from craigslist. It was was a heavy brown , so we painted it white.

livc- You too can have apple crate shelves! We screwed them into the wall- totally earthquake proof ;)

spf- Do you mean above the couch? Those are just old glass Christmas ornaments on twine- I wish they were lightbulbs

:)
Sarah

I love the kitchen, the industrial sliding door, and the bedroom under the eaves. But the rest of it seems slightly lacking--in what, I can't say. I bet it is a home that looks better in daylight and in real life.

WOW! Who knew such coolness existed in Stoneham?!? Love the hutch w/the doorless openings. Very nice place. The best *color-challenged* place I've seen in a long time.

I want to sleep in the second guest room.

This feels like a dream, so cozy, relaxed, effortless, and romantic. Tanya, I love your pictures, they bring the home to life.

Sarah, would you mind telling us how you made your island in the kitchen? And where you found that incredible door hung barn style?

What a lovely, serene home!

carrefour_ny is correct on the style. "Primitive Modern" = rustic mix.

What a beautiful home!
I would love to know where you got the wonderful armchair in the first image! The one with the white frame and grey velvet upholstery?

Thank you for sharing!

I love this place - it's soft palette is gorgeous and your pieces are to-die-for, your home is BEAUTIFUL! One of my favs :)

Could you please tell me the color you used in your china cabinet?

Mavesse, those beds are usually the 3/4, which are a pain to fit onto your mattress - best thing to do is scan Craigslist under Antiques, there never seems to be a standard keyword but I scored a beautiful walnut bed much like the one above.

being an MA boy myself, i would never expect to see this kind of home in stoneham!

I love what you've done - the mix of styles works really nicely and the vibe is sort of romantic.

HI!
LeahDC-
The kitchen island is a total IKea hack...We bought the Norden consol and totally stripped and restained it - We made the top from plywood and zinc sheet -which you can buy online at Rotometals.com
We made the hanging door as well- We got some sheet metal from old billboards (free on craigslist )and covered plywood with it using roofing nails, the track is from Grainger.
Sarrazk- The china cabinet was another craiglslist score, so I'm not sure the paint colors ...And the bed is actually a full- we got lucky!
Klgoldsm- The chair is from an little antique/used furniture store in Cambridge, MA - Sorry -I can't remember the name!
Thanks Alexmax! Are you local? You'll have to come to our next party & check things out in person... ;)

i have never seen pictures of a home that envoked so much emotion!! all i can say is WOW. this is the most beautiful decor i've ever, ever seen.

Thanks Sarah-I'm so impressed with your DIY spirit and your aesthetic sense! One more question..

Is that bark on the accent in the sloped ceiling bedroom? I love the texture. If so, where did you get it and how did you adhere it?

I love everything about this place, it's so romantic without being cheesy. Although I did see some cheese there, looked yummy. Your tree is wonderful. I was wondering what is in the twin glass jars with spigots (next to the wine)?

Your place is very wabi sabi and has an elegant feel. Guess that's from the white and sparkly lights. Very nicely done - love it. Interesting someone mentioned staying in the second guest bedroom - I thought the same thing when I first saw the picture.

wow. i normally hate white interiors, but i'd move into your place in a heartbeat and not change a thing.

Very very lovely! I'm into interior design and loved your house interior. It has an elegant and class aura into it.

I have been looking for zinc for a table top forever - thank you for sharing that source! How did you cover the top so there aren't sharp edges? Or is zinc soft enough that you can bang sharp edges down? It's a beautiful island.

gorgeous!

i love the bedside table in the guest bedroom -- any hints as to where it is from?

I agree with LeahDC, the bark looking texture on the bedroom wall is great--what is it?

I Love EVERYTHING! Where did you find so many apple crates?

Nice place thanks for the tour.

so dreamy.

these people
are
good

Lordy, lordy , that is pretty!

Very, very beautiful place. Your christmas tree is so pretty!

And Tanya, great photography.

A perfect example of warm winter white.

One of my AT favorites!

I really love that island. do you think it would be possible to take the same idea and create a free standing kitchen sink/ counter top? cut into the zinc/plywood and put a double sink into it. and then put that on top of a free standing sink base cabinet from ikea?

It is like a warm dream.

Is that birch bark covering the bedroom wall?

This place has great vibes.

Huh. I was expecting a slew of "where's all your stuff/looks too much like a magazine/I could never have this much white with kids" comments. Go figure.

While beautiful (and I realize these shots are both camera- and party-ready), I find it as, um, *thoroughly* styled as "Laura's Sparse & Soulful Home" and she got considerable grief for it. Also for using her House Call as an ad for her business, which is also the case here, no?

And... "They cater to their guests (sic) senses with a luxurious combination of visual enchantment, delicious bites, refreshments, and rare holiday music." Seriously?

But "Primitive Modern" this ain't. I think the House Tour titles are getting a bit loose...

Oh, Patrick, thank god I'm not the only one! Aesthetic differences aside, this space just doesn't look *done*.

I do love the slotted credenza their TV's on, though. And the chrome side table looks eerily like the one AT is giving away this week.

agreed with Patrick (the other one).

Very romantic, lovely, and relaxing. I'd love to attend a party at your house!

I personally think this home is breathtaking and beautiful. It has amazing style while still feeling like a place people can live. If I was invited to this party, I'd never want to leave :-)

Hi Sarah,

The flowers in picture #7, the bulbs? Love those what are they called, not the peonies. Thanks

Looks nice but also fake. I hate it when homes are staged in such a way that make it look "lived in"...blankets carefully strewn over a chair, scarves draped over an armchair...blek! Come on, get real. If you put all the clutter away the whole "style" would dissappear. bad design if you ask me.

nice but the painted bed when it was original. i want to cry over that one....

Thanks LeaDC-The wall is covered with birchbark- you can buy it and sheets- and attach with a staplegun( if you don't mind swiiss cheese wall!)

Hey LoriSF- Those are amaryllis bulbs.I bought them as plants but took them out of the dirt and put them in a little water in glass cylinders and a couple of drinking glasses.

Fozzieblue and jbull- The zinc bendable but you need to do it with a rubber mallet- It was a little hard and our top is kind of wonky- Practice makes perfect I guess...
Sarah

Absolutely dreamy. I love that bedroom under the eaves and the draped chaise. So casually elegant. And I agree with the wabi sabi quote earlier.

Your bedroom looks like a dream, I'm not into monochromatics but you really made it work.

The only thing that ruined it for me was the refrigerator. Everything in your home is magical and timeless...except for the fridge. Can't be helped, I suppose.
And I LOVE the white bed.

SWEET jesus I'm going insane I love it so much!

I don't know why but...after a second look, this home is growing on me A LOT...I still feel the home looks a little undone--I'd love to see some more art perhaps...but that scrap metal door? Perfection. I might have to steal that idea one day :)

"Hey LoriSF- Those are amaryllis bulbs.I bought them as plants but took them out of the dirt and put them in a little water in glass cylinders and a couple of drinking glasses."

Great idea! I want to do this when my orchids are not blooming. Thanks!

smatteson -- I am local, too. Might I be invited to your next party? ;)

the 2 guest bedrooms are my favorite. I found myself going back and looking at them a couple of times. And Ikea never looked so good!

Stunning home!!! Has a very comfortable and relaxed vibe.

Looks a lot like "country" to me. Is "primitive modern" a euphemism, since "country" is too 80s?

That quibble aside, there are lots of interesting, creative ideas here. Is your sideboard made from Ikea legs and countertop? I might have to steal that idea :)

I don't see what's lacking here- and i doubt the clutter of day-to-day living would completely "undo" the look they're going for- I really dig the laid back vibe here- cool and interesting, without being accessorized to death. Way to go with this place- I think the look has a lot of ways to change and grow over time.

I'm in love with the mercury glass vases/candleholders in the close-up photo with the amaryllis. Where did you get them from?

So what if it's "staged"? Tyler and Sarah were taking photographs that were to be featured on one of the most visited design sites on the web. Did you expect them to just snap a few blurry shots of the home in disarray and call it a day?

Anyway, this home is enchanting. There's something magical that adds up to more than the sum of the individual parts. Maybe it's the lighting, or the way the materials look like they have stories to tell. If I lived in such a romantic home, it might (almost) make me want to start dating again! :)

Love your home. So inviting and comfortable. Your personal style shines thru. I live further North of Boston than you. My hubby and I often consider moving to Stoneham or Wakefield. Maybe you would be willing to sell once we are ready :)

Very lovely home, thank you for sharing.

i am so glad that AT featured this tour again on "10 cozy corners", i don't know how i missed it the first time around. it is one my favorite house tours now.

Ditto - sophieso. So happy to see this because I missed it the first time around and I think it's so gorgeous...wish I could live with all that white but I think I'm too dirty. It
*is* staged but I don't care...AT has a mix of offerings, some are more staged than others and they are all good for inspiring you or validating you or whatever. The description patrick pointed out is definitely gaggy. This one is inspiring. Having just thrown a christmas party I find particularly useful their lighting and set ups for food and drink. Also wish I had a fireplace. Anyhow I love it and I didn't even notice that they're selling something. Whatever they're selling I'm buying!!! Just joking.

The whole layout of the kitchen into the dining area is fantastic. It makes me want to come spend the day cooking with you guys. Your staircase might be my favorite part of your house. And the master bedroom is just fantastic. This home truly feels like a salvage farmhouse in the middle of the country. It's great.

What is the deal with birch bark wall paper? I thought birch trees die when their bark is stripped. I hope I'm wrong. Also, curious if the couches are just a tide-you-over quick fix or if that is an intended look.

I really like, staged or not. Boy people are so critical.
This is someone's home.

Sarah and Tyler really nailed down the ROUGH LUXE look! Having written a blog post on this design sensibility, I would have loved to use some of these photos as a reference. While a bit staged, this is what designers do when professionally photographed, so kudos to them for putting some thought into it!

I love the contrast of rustic and refined. I absolutely adore textures, especially in fabrics. This apartment is classic, modern and comfortable.

Hmmm, just came across this great space.

Not done? Fake? What would you prefer to elegant and tastefully well done asthestic choices? I'd love to see what you would consider done and authentic.

Clearly there were many wise decisions here. Primitive Modern I suppose comes from the economical means used rather than the style. It is fresh.

An artfully displayed blanket or too done? Perhaps your idea of well done is a pair of dirty shorts in the pictures. Man.

apologies if this has already been answered - does anyone know where the wire basket for the dish towels is from?

I love how romantically Scandinavian this space is....The photography is awesome as well! Great job!

www.cieladesign.com

This home is great for a magazine editorial...but much too cluttered to live in for my taste. I must agree that the owners show respectable taste in some selections of furniture pieces, though I cannot say the same about the sheet-covered couches. Last, I find it terribly disrespectful to put artwork on the floor; such attitude towards someone's work might look cute for a Domino magazine spread but not so for the artist.

I agree most closely with abc123. In fact, at first I thought the home looked a little amateurish – like it was decorated by a couple in their last year of college. But after having looked through all the photos, I realize that I was wrong. A little more can be done to really hit home, but you are well on the right track. (And from all the comments, I'd say most people would say you're not lacking at all.)

Anyway, like I said, feels just a little unfinished, but I love what you've done so far. And I know it's great style because when I try and pick out individual pieces of furniture or decor that I like, not too much stands out. The whole IS greater than the sum of its parts.

Love your place; looks simple but I've tried doing all white and believe me, it's not easy to get this kind of balance. It takes real restraint, a good eye and artistry. The textures are great. Good job!

What a beautiful home! So cosy, well edited and lovely. I adore that white bed, all of the industrial touches with the soft whites. Love that pink ruffled fabric tossed casually over the gorgeous grey velvet(?) chair. Those apple crate shelves are genius and the door you all made in between the dr and the kitchen is awesome! Thank you so much for sharing your home with us. Wonderful!
xo
Melissa

I enjoyed the home and appreciated the conviction with which this couple pursued their personal vision.

Can't go wrong with candlelight and flowers! But the Christmas tree was really the triumph.

Cool place.

Thought it was nice..maybe title it just primitive or cottage because of all the white --chippy furniture - kinda that shabby chic look without all the florals - the only modern i see is the frig and mention of a high-end stove. Curious about the exterior

Sarah,

Could you explain how you built your window seat? I think it is so neat and I'd love to try that!! Thanks.

PS. your home is beautiful!

too many "slipcovers." Fabric everywhere...

Fierce!!!! LOVE it!

There's something so nice and homey about this place, something special yet familiar. I like it.

This is a repost but one of my favorites! I love the neutral palette with the color in the oriental rugs and great artwork. Love the organic elements and casualness. Those sliding doors and bark wallpaper are genius! Love this!!

Nice, enough but not too much. Difficult to do. Are the sofas wrapped for the party or the photo shoot?

Oh my. I am in love. It is perfect!

What is the poster/painting with writing on it over the fireplace. It looks really pretty there. Is it a homemade piece or store bought? Very pretty and relaxed home. Love it!

Oh, and what is the warm white you used on the living room walls? Very cozy feel with all the candlelight. Thanks!

You really should Fedex me the pretty chair and the go'jus bed...Yeah, I said it...I heard me say it...

What a wonderful abode. Comfortable, moody and romantic.

In love...LUV! Floors are stunning. Love the bed in 2nd guest room - Love choice of resources! The DIY hallway table is to die for!
I want to go there!

Beautiful and so warm. Love your home. Where did you purchase the mercury tealights and vases? Just gorgeous.

What a great home...very rustic-Scandanavian-minimalist-cozy. Found some very inspiring ideas. Thanks for sharing!

The white bed is an antique but it's ruined now. You mentioned that it was a dark brown when you bought it and I'm assuming you mean that it was "painted"? Shame on the painter.

I have had this post bookmarked for almost two years. This is a home that I keep coming back to. This house has so much warmth. It's something I continue searching for in my own designs. Thank you!

Great mood lighting. Love the white chair and the white bed. A bit too rustic for my personal taste...but interesting. ;-)