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Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Vintage touches help give a New Hampshire summer home a ‘little cottage in the woods' feel
She quickly realized she wished to honor the home's 'little cottage in the woods' feel. 'I want it to feel familiar, like you've been here before,' McSherry says. 'I also want it to be a place where I can be a more relaxed version of myself.' Antiques (and near-antiques) were crucial to achieving the lived-in look. Any furnishings that aren't vintage are inspired by ones that are. 'To me, old is comforting,' she says. The home also needed to work year-round; the family would be there as often to ski as to swim. McSherry points to the Mulberry wool-plaid fabric she used on the living room sofa as epitomizing the design concept. 'Plaid feels equally at home in a summer house as it does in a winter house,' she says. She loves that the colors are a bit off, too. 'They look dirty, faded, and worn,' McSherry says. 'Those are not bad words; I don't want clean, crisp, and fresh.' Advertisement Guests come and go through the mustard front door, where they step onto a vintage Turkish rug. A midcentury tapestry picturing stylized figures of Mayan and Aztec dancers, which remind the designer of bugs, hangs on the wall straight ahead. As much as she wants things to feel familiar, McSherry also appreciates fun, and the quirky tapestry sets the tone. New stairs to the now-finished basement are painted Benjamin Moore's Patina, a color that McSherry describes as 'dirty salmon.' Not only does the unexpected shade render the stairs a statement, it symbolizes McSherry's vow to push herself to take risks that she never would in her traditional Colonial in Newton. 'I'd tire of this color if I saw it every day, but for a weekend, it's so freaking fun,' she says. The entry is inviting thanks to colorful architectural features and vintage finds such as the 1960s Italian rattan and bamboo pendant light. Jared Kuzia Ditto for the color in the kitchen: Benjamin Moore's Caponata, a dark plum. The upper cabinets and range hood disappear into the wall — Sherwin-Williams's Ivory Lace — while the plum-colored paneled fridge, base cabinets, and furniture-like island are earthy anchors topped with black granite. The hand-painted Tabarka Studio tile backsplash echoes the carefree greenery outdoors. Stools are conspicuously absent from the island, which has glass-front cabinet doors to show off the creamy dishware inside. Not having island seating is a controversial decision, McSherry concedes, but she didn't want to clutter the space, and there's a banquette nearby. Needham woodworking studio Saltwoods made the table based on an antique McSherry loved and the vintage razor blade chairs inject woodsy Danish style. Advertisement Martha's Vineyard artist Avery Schuster Bramhall created the painting in that corner. 'I sent her swatches of the pillow fabrics and tidbits about our family, asking for a still life that speaks to where we are at this time in our life,' McSherry says. 'She incorporated motifs that represent all of us, including the dogs.' In the living area, cheerful still-life paintings hang in a line above the mood-defining plaid sofa. McSherry paired it with a slouchy sofa in a dewy morning blue Fermoie fabric that's printed with large-scale, wispy wildflowers meant to harken back to a great aunt's floral sofa. 'The flowers, butterflies, and weeds are fitting; I'm not tending to the yard here,' McSherry says. McSherry avoided safe colors for the kitchen cabinetry, opting for Benjamin Moore's Caponata. Jared Kuzia Aside from the bunk room downstairs, the home has two bedrooms just past the salmon-colored stairs. The primary bedroom is wrapped in dusty mauve, while raisin-colored beams echo the rich kilim rug underfoot. 'The tone-on-tone-on-tone is enveloping,' McSherry says. 'I never lived with this color before, but I love it.' In the guest room, wallpaper with garnet vines and spiky blooms tops the chocolate brown beadboard wainscoting of the built-in bed, where a vintage Indian throw offers a random hit of glow-y blue. The decor here in New Hampshire, McSherry says, explores her alter ego: the loose, chill side of herself that doesn't need things to match. It also represents who she hopes to become. 'I want to be the cool older lady who wears a caftan, chunky jewelry, and red glasses,' she says. 'This house shows how I can do that.' Resources Interior designer: Meg McSherry Interiors, Contractor: Frank Wiggins Construction, Advertisement More Photos Designer/homeowner Meg McSherry curated botanical paintings for the living room; artists include Shann Spishak, Chelsea Lyons Teta, and Jose Luis Pelaez. Jared Kuzia The primary bedroom is painted Hint of Mauve with Sequoia trim on the beams. Jared Kuzia Marni Elyse Katz is a contributing editor to the Globe Magazine. Follow her on Instagram
Boston Globe
13-02-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
‘Frumpy' no more! Inside a farmhouse interior design refresh in Dover.
With all the walls gone, the front door opened directly into the kitchen — so the entryway needed a reset. The designer added the tiniest bit of wall to create a discrete foyer. 'You need to find the balance,' she says. 'Here we put the cased opening to the kitchen back in.' Advertisement Determined not to repeat their mistake of choosing too-on-trend materials for the kitchen — their yellow glazed cabinets and speckled brown granite countertops felt atrocious now — the Sullivans went with white Shaker-style cabinetry and classic Vermont Danby marble countertops. Blue-black stain on the island base appeases Katie's wish for a touch of blue. To avoid a potential bowling alley effect in the kitchen — the space doubled in length by absorbing the dining room — Shadrick implemented a material change for the island, integrating a furniture-like, butcher-block-topped work station at one end. The range's rustic hood mantel also helps by drawing the eye up. The chunky piece highlights the terra-cotta tile backsplash from Tabarka Studio. 'The range is off to the side; the mantel ensures it doesn't look like an afterthought,' Shadrick says. The mantel's 'old British charm warms and helps settle the space.' Advertisement The kitchen flows into the new dining room, where the family can squeeze 13 — they often host their kids' teammates — around the smooth walnut trestle table made by Huston & Co., of Kennebunkport, Maine. 'The bench increases seating and tucks out of the way when not in use, keeping the path to the sliders clear,' Shadrick says. Plus, the Beata Heuman marbleized velvet upholstery is subtly stylish, durable, and forgiving. The adjacent space is separated into two distinct seating areas. In the sun-dappled coffee nook, a pair of old swivel chairs reupholstered in a cozy bouclé sit atop a shaggy rug. 'The chairs are the one thing we kept of all my prior bad decisions,' Katie says with a laugh. She settles here every morning and in the evening it's a favorite spot for Dan to read. Opposite, a sturdy sectional upholstered in blue corduroy is nestled in a corner. The kids hang out here, the television usually tuned to sports. Dan has a good view from the swivel chairs, too. French doors lead to the formal living room and Katie's study. Like the coffee nook, the study (painted Benjamin Moore's Van Deusen Blue) overlooks the wooded backyard. 'I always wanted a room full of books like the library in the house I grew up in,' Katie says. It's her favorite place to be, and the kids do homework there in the evening. Shadrick's mission for the large, rarely used living room? Make it feel cozy. Katie, who described the formal room as 'the shrimp cocktail room only used for the holidays,' pinpointed it as the space that should embrace the whole family. 'The windows on the back of the house make the newly open spaces look fresh and light,' Shadrick says, 'but it was important to leave some spaces a little darker' in keeping with the home's origins. The designer wrapped the room in grass cloth to warm it. By contrast, she says, 'Light- to medium-toned paint can fall flat and feel dull.' Tailored but cushy blue velvet sofas befit the more formal space and a walnut coffee table, by local furniture maker Saltwoods, provides an expansive surface for snacks. On weekends, the family gathers here to watch sports and enjoy the fire. Advertisement 'It's a luxury to live in a home that is so functional, versatile, and comfortable,' Katie says. 'We plan to stay forever.' Resources Interior Designer: Meghan Shadrick Interiors, Architect: Homefolks Design, 508-451-4531 Contractor: G.C. Finigan Construction Co., Kitchen Cabinetry: Scandia Kitchens, Built-ins: Built-ins by Eddie, Photographs In the study, light filters through Schumacher linen drapes with a paisley pattern. Jared Kuzia Shadrick restored the distinct entry hall after early plans eliminated it. Jared Kuzia Marni Elyse Katz is a contributing editor to the Globe Magazine. Follow her on Instagram
