Design Inspiration From an Inn’s Rustic Modern Guest Rooms & Cottage

Name: Eliza Clark and Tim Trojian
Location: Foxfire Mountain House — Mt Tremper, New York
Size: 7200 square feet
Years lived in: Owned 3 years

A historic inn in the heart of New York’s Catskill Mountains has been recently restored—much of it on a tight budget and by hand—by the creative couple of Eliza Clark and Tim Trojian. Foxfire Mountain House is nearly 100 years old, but Eliza and Tim have struck the perfect mix of modern sensibilities with vintage second-hand finds and stunning Moroccan tiles. The result is a dreamy, rustic mix full of design inspiration.

The guest rooms in the main house have their own distinct look, but all carry the signature rustic modern vibes that Eliza and Tim have established throughout the rest of the historic inn. The cottage, too, marries simplicity with lots of white and wood and vintage finds. Another thing all the guest rooms have in common? From the Foxfire Mountain website: “The 100-year-old inn has 11 guest rooms, each with white linen bedding on sun-bleached wood beds crafted by a local carpenter to ensure a good night’s sleep.”

Eliza and Tim obviously weren’t afraid to splurge on custom-made, but they also mix in found and vintage accessories, proving that a great eye for design can work even on a budget. You can see the public spaces of this historic inn here → Dreamy, Rustic Modern Style at Foxfire Mountain House

Eliza writes about the design differences between the guest rooms’ look and the rest of the inn’s cozy spaces:

“We wanted the lounge to be a sultry place to hang out in the evenings with its dark gray walls and dim, moody lighting (mostly candles) where listening to records by the fire is romantic and relaxing. For the guest rooms, we went exactly the other way, making them white and bright. Both dark walls and white walls seem to share a common simplicity that is really calming. The white guest rooms with natural materials, like pure linen sheets, are so fresh and uplifting—they make you feel clean!”

Our Style: Vintage Bohemian

Inspiration: Country manor houses with their appealing mix of worldly treasures: lovely worn velvet furniture, soft lighting, and collections from the natural world: feathers, nests, taxidermy.

Favorite Element: Our Moroccan tiles everywhere from the long veranda to the stair risers and guest rooms, and even our patchwork tile dance floor that’s unique and beautiful.

Biggest Challenge: Renovating such a large building from top to toe on a tight budget.

What Friends Say: Foxfire has a great vibe—it feels comfortable and happy.

Biggest Embarrassment: We decided to pour the concrete bar on one of the coldest nights of the year and had to stay up all night with propane heaters watching over it to make sure it set.

Proudest DIY: Uncovering a gorgeous floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace in the lounge that had been hidden behind drywall.

Biggest Indulgence: Fresh flowers in every room—foraged if we can from the grounds, or bought at the market every week.

Best Advice: Only buy new when you have to. Vintage finds and craigslist are the best.

Dream Sources: Red Chair in Hudson; Les Indiennes; flea markets and country antique shops.

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