Margaret Roach’s Upstate Garden Home

updated Jul 31, 2019

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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

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!

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

The dining room off of the kitchen 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

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

A look back at the kitchen

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Most of the floors are painted bright colors, but note that Margaret paints the window frames dark to emphasize the view outside.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

The light fixtures are all vintage and refurbished by a person who lives nearby.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

The pantry/garden room off of the kitchen

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Margaret calls her home her Cabinet of Curiosities. It’s easy to see why as you travel around!

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Margaret ordered these lovely things and they arrived when we were there. I sourced them here: Iittala Satumetsä Dinnerware

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Over time, Margaret has stripped many of the elements of her home to contrast against the bright painted surfaces.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

The Living Room

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

The living room is small and cozy.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

I love this view in the living room!

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Pressed seaweed!

A Peek Upstairs

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

OUTSIDE

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Note the prayer flags flying in the background above the deer fencing, as well as the unique Gerrit Rietveld chairs from Wave Hill.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

This soft green surface is really a tiny mass of moss-like plants growing on the top of the water. You can touch it and it’s soft!

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Outdoor Plants & Spaces