OUR HOUSE HASA
sense of calm
Despite leading a busy lifestyle with three children, Tracy and Michael Garbers home is the ultimate peaceful retreat.
Like many couples about to start their own family, Tracy and Michael Garber were keen to leave behind the hustle and bustle of city life and move to с more rural area, as Tracy explains...
What attracted you to this suburb of New York? We were after a decent - sized house in a safe area with great schools. We also wanted our new home to be fairly close to our families - the suburb of Rye Brook ticked all the boxes, plus its only a 35 - minute commute to Manhattan, where Michael works. The house was built in a New England architectural style that is so popular in this area: we fell in love with its simple look and we just knew it was the one for us. On a more practical note, it had enough bedrooms to accommodate a large family, plus a generous garden.
What did you do to the house when you moved in? We began renovating almost immediately. Although there was nothing wrong with the property as it was. the layout didnt work for us and our plans for a family. One of the first changes wc made was to knock down two walls that separated the kitchen from the dining room to form one large space. I wanted a more open feci and liked the idea of cooking in the kitchen while the children played nearby. We also built a covered portico at the front of the house, which looks really smart. Previously, there was a pool in the back garden, which we filled in after deciding that it would be a hazard with our young children around. Plus, after working out the trouble and cost of maintaining it for only three months use a year, wc realised it wasnt worth it. So. instead, the patio was extended to provide space for outdoor seating and an extra six feet added to the decking, to enlarge the area.
What did you do next? The first wave of changes began in 2002. and we started the next stage in 2006. We turned what was a dining room next to the kitchen into a sitting room, and then chose to create a new formal dining area from a family room. Finally, in 2008. we fine - tuned the design of the large sitting room, which features two bookcases, and tweaked the layout of the dining room. too.
Did you carry out the renovation work yourselves?
Due to the size of the overhaul, Michael and I called in Paris Kostopoulos. an interior designer based in New - York, to project manage the renovation. I was confident that he could help us create a modern interior that would
complement the traditional style of the propertys exterior.
I low did you go about deciding on a decorating style? Overall, I wanted to achieve a classic look with a few traditional touches and statement accessories. Together with interior designer Paris, wc settled on mainly dark - wood furniture for an antique feel, which we then countered with pale walls and soft furnishings. Paris explained to me that dark furniture set against a lighter background always provides contrast, which in turn can be used to add a touch of drama. I also embraced my love of French country styling by choosing subtle floral, stripcy and checked fabrics in the living and dining areas. Finally, we chose some modern artwork to inject colour into the scheme. Actually, the walls only feature items that are personal to Michael and I. such as friends artwork and pictures of our children.
Why did you have mere colour in the childrens bedrooms? I was very keen for Paiges bedroom to look not just girlie and pretty, but also elegant - its my favourite area in the house. For the boys rooms we opted for bold blues and reds - childrens rooms should be colourful, after all Are you happy with the changes youve made to the house? Most definitely. Our lives are busy and so is our house, yet I always seem to get a sense of calm when I walk through the front door. 1 think weve got the mix of modern and traditional just right - complete with a few country elements for good measure. Weve been thinking about adding an extension and enlarging the kitchen one day. but. for now. were content.
Related news items:
Newer news items:
Older news items:
|
The interior