House Tour: Pete & Sandy’s Minimal Farmhouse
Name: Pete and Sandy
Location: East Washington, New Hampshire
Size: 1660 square feet (includes porch)
Years lived in: 36 Years; Fully Restored 2006-2008
We first featured Peter and Sandy’s amazing minimal farmhouse last July. Since this quaint New Hampshire town is one of our favorite weekend escapes, we thought it would be a treat to revisit our good friends’ home. When we photographed the house they had just finished remodeling their kitchen — the finale of a complete restoration they had been working on since 2006…
This house is amazing to us because when we photographed it, we had dropped by without notice. These pictures reflect how they live day to day — no mess, no fuss, just simple, soft surroundings. Styles and eras mix effortlessly here, creating the perfect backdrop for many of Peter’s bronze and iron 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 – turned – 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, allowing the snug kitchen to remain minimal. Pete & Sandy’s home also includes lovely vegetable and flowering gardens, a chicken coop, and Peter’s modern post-and-beam sculpture studio (which he built). But that’s for another tour!
Apartment Therapy 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
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
(Images: Wes & Kayla Schwartz)
Re-edited from July, 2008.