Photos by Lyndsay Hannah and styling by Wanda Furman.
Last time our friend Abbey Nova invited us into her home, she was living in an Upper West Side apartment with her husband Tim and toddler son, Alex. Now, 13 years later, Abbey, Tim, six-foot-tall Alex, and her youngest son, Ben, live in the northwest corner of Connecticut, in a home with reading nooks, colorful artwork, and so many plants. Here’s a look inside…
LIVING ROOM
Sofas: Lee Industries. Coffee table: Custom. Lamps: Hackeny Floor Lamp. Side table: similar. Rug: Loloi.
On taking time: I’m a slow decorator and will keep moving a piece of furniture around, and even change the purpose of a room, until it feels right. When we lived in New York, I could get our apartments looking the way I wanted right away. But this house is teaching me that some rooms take time. If a room feels off, I believe that over time, I’ll find the right layout, piece of art, or whatever that thing is.
Amaryllis: Van Engelen Inc.
On brightening winter: I grew up in an isolated part of Vermont where winters were dark and cold and it was easy to get snowed in. But my mom did a really lovely job of surrounding herself with beauty, especially during that dreary season. She grew Amaryllis bulbs January through March. Today they’re a winter survival tool for me, too.
Painting: Michael Abrams. Dollhouse: Etsy.
On meaningful art: This Michael Abrams painting might be my favorite piece in our home. His work speaks to both Tim’s love of nature and our shared connection to this region. When we were newly married, I surprised Tim with a visit to the gallery and he chose this painting. I still remember the look of joy on his face as he made his choice, and how grown up I felt in that moment.
On an evolving paint combo: For this room, we used Farrow & Ball Elephant’s Breath, a warm gray color that looks different every time I walk through the room — in the evening it’s almost lilac colored. We painted the ceilings White Dove by Benjamin Moore.
Penant: Shades of Light. Table: Design Within Reach. Chairs: Design Within Reach.
On summer traditions: In the summer, our family eats dinner at this table because we can leave the side door open, which catches the breeze. One of our go-to meals is grilled kebabs and a simple arugula salad with shaved Parmesan.
Table: “From my childhood home.” Print: Commissioned from Michael McKay.
On growing plants: I’ve had some plants for 10 years. But others, no matter what I do, don’t stay alive. I used to feel like such a failure when a plant would die. Over time, though, I’ve decided that I just won’t buy that kind of plant again! I also like the app PictureThis. It identifies your plants and how to care for them, all from just uploading a photo.
KITCHEN/DINING ROOM
