In the idyllic Berkshires in western Massachusetts, far from the noise and buzzing energy of New York City, sits a home that’s lined with lilac trees on the entire front and side of the house, where they’ve grown for over 100 years. In the springtime the home fills with the scent of lilac flowers — in other seasons, it’s the smell of nearby pine trees, a welcome accompaniment in the winter when enveloped by the warmth of the fireplace.
These are some of Lyndsey Hamilton‘s favorite things about her family’s Berkshires home, an escape from the city where she keeps a busy schedule as an event and interior designer and her husband works as a furniture and lighting designer. The couple, along with their 8-year-old daughter, English Setter puppy Mose, and cat Roxanne, split their time between both locations — a routine they’re grateful for three years later after the massive renovation that was required of this combined structure. “It is actually two houses that were combined — originally a 1900s farmhouse and in the 1930s the owners combined with a 1856 Greek Revival schoolhouse owned by the Westinghouse family,” Lyndsey explains.
And the 5,000-square-foot residence stayed lovingly rooted in the same family for years, after which it changed hands to Lyndsey and her family — a special transaction that they took to heart. “Our house was in the same family for four generations and we were the first people to own the house that were not family members,” Lyndsey shares. “It felt as if we were inheriting an amazing property and we completely felt like we fell into this incredible opportunity. The house actually never went on the market, but we were introduced to the owners by our agent, who had known them for many years. After a nine-month courtship, over many scotches, the owner — who is in his eighties — decided that we were the right fit for the house.”
With the trust bestowed upon Lyndsey and her family to continue on the home’s lifespan, they hired a general contractor to carry out the renovation; an eight-month process to move-in ready. Lyndsey utilized her event planning skills to anticipate setbacks, and her interior design prowess helped her stay ahead of their various craftsmen’s timelines by ordering materials efficiently and consistently. “When I saw this house, I knew it was a massive project that I wanted to take on,” she recalls. “Most of the rooms had not been renovated since the 1930s, with the exception of a kitchen and bathroom remodels in the 1970s. We were drawn to the details of the house, they have a slight deco feeling to them, which I love. I wanted to honor the original details and design of the house, while infusing modern touches and bringing it back to life.”
Though she kept the project running smoothly, Lyndsey didn’t feel tethered to a timeline like she’s accustomed to in her professional life. Never one to rush her decorating process to simply fill a space, she’s still finishing each room bit by bit, sourcing items as they reveal themselves to her in antique shops from the Berkshires to Hudson and Connecticut — the powerful effect of the treasured home for which she’s now caretaker. “I’m a minimalist, never over-design, nor want my house to feel cluttered or fussy,” Lyndsey says. “Every object is intentional and has a place, function, serves a purpose, or tells a story. I want all the things we bring into our home feel as if they belong there.” —Kelli
Photography by Judy Pak / @judypakstudio
Image above: The formal living room. Lyndsey shares, “I love old houses because of the quality of the craftsmanship. Things were made by hand and to me, that is visible when looking at the woodwork, plaster walls and hand carved built-ins, everything just feels cared for and sturdy. Take your time, don’t rush through the process. It’s difficult to want to check things off your endless list; but, I found that design decisions [made] slowly and thoughtfully become the most meaningful ones.”
from Design*Sponge http://www.designsponge.com/2018/05/a-thoughtfully-refined-restored-treasure-in-the-berkshires.html
from Home Improvment http://notelocreesnitu.tumblr.com/post/173735154104
No comments:
Post a Comment