Ƅƃ COUNTRYLIVING.COM / SEPTEMBER 2019
BRIGHT RED
WINDSORS
Handmade in
Warren, Rhode
Island, modern
Windsor-style chairs
(oandgstudio.com )
surround a clean-
lined 20-seater
custom oak table.HOBBYIST
WALL SIGN
In the bar, a bullet-
riddled railroad
sign is a nod to the
owners’ love
for shooting. (The
property even
boasts a shooting
range.)MILK GLASS
WITH A TWIST
A trio of 1940s-inspired
milk glass globe chande-
liers (restorationhard
ware.com) illuminate a
collection of Turkish
dough risers (blueocean
traders.com) on the table
and old-school baking
tools hanging on the wall.T
hese days, the words “modern farmhouse” get tossed
around more often than horseshoes, and chances are
the phrase conjures up visions of shiplap, clusters of
collections, and a predominantly neutral color scheme.
But that’s not what Susana Simonpietri’s clients had in
mind when they approached the New York City-based designer
(chango.co) with a wish list for the 250 acres they had purchased
Upstate. “They’re a young family, and they wanted to build a
colorful farmhouse that refl ected how fun they are,” says Susana.
Even more fun: The lack of real-life inspiration to pull from.
In other words, a house like this didn’t already exist on Pinterest.
Luckily, Susana—with the help of local architect Jimmy Crisp —
has no shortage of ideas. In addition to designing a family-
friendly layout with indestructible materials, Susana also layered
in youthful elements like happy hits of color, quirky collectibles,
and whimsical wallpaper motifs. The modern mix makes for
a truly one-of-a-kind farmhouse fi lled with patina, pattern, and
distinct personality.Home
Remedies
Here, a few tips
for avoiding a “farmhouse
formulaic” lookINSTEAD OF: All white
everything
TRY THIS: A cohesive color
scheme. Here, a focus on
browns, blacks, greens, grays,
and reds keeps the massive
12,000-square-foot space
feeling cozy, not cavernous.
The kitchen island (right) and
living room bookcase (page
79), for example, sport the
same green hue.
INSTEAD OF: Shiplap
TRY THIS: Black V-groove or
graphic horizontal motifs in
the form of a wallcovering
(stripes, arrows)
INSTEAD OF: Prefab fl ooring
TRY THIS: White oak fl oors.
“They’re expensive, but they
take stain well and are hardy,”
says Susana. “We chose
quarter-cut because we liked
the idea of seeing knots.”
INSTEAD OF: Collections
clustered on open shelves
TRY THIS: Quirky, lesser-seen
items, like antique bread
peels and printmaker drawer
inserts, hung in clean-lined
arrangements on walls