When a Brooklyn-based family bought a Litchfield County dairy farm—including a historic farmhouse, an original dairy barn, silos and a creamery—they turned to interior designer Anna Beeber and architect Reese Owens to reimagine the property. “I was friendly with the homeowners before the initial project, but really bonded over the design process,” says Beeber. “We quickly adopted a vision for the home, and they never hesitated to embrace big ideas and bold statements.”
After a small initial renovation to the farmhouse, the family focused their attention on the barn, which had been untouched and still had original cow stalls. “I had known the small farmstead for decades as a community icon,” notes Owens. “The homeowners understood its value and prioritized our preserving the scale and pastoral feel of the property.”
While they hoped to restore the barn, it was too dilapidated to be able to do so safely. “When it was clear that the original frame was beyond repair, we called our go-to timber guys—Chris Washington and Kevin Cady—to find us a good frame,” recalls Owens. An antique barn was sourced from Canada and reconstructed on the original dairy barn foundation. “This one required some engineering and steel tie-rods to accomplish the clear span without posts in the big room,” he continues. The result is a party barn that includes a full kitchen, dining and living areas, a basketball court, sauna and arcade. The adjacent silo was reimagined as a bar and napping porch.
Bolstered by the success of the barn project, the homeowners decided to tackle the farmhouse, and once again turned to Beeber, Owens and Washington. “Their hardest and best decision was to forego the new dream house out in the meadow and focus on expanding the farmhouse,” says Owens. The architect set out to expertly reimagine the home, carefully preserving the original farmhouse while expanding it generously. “Our greatest challenge was tripling the size of the house without destroying its character,” he explains. “We were able to make the best of the original farmhouse while curing its ills, and fortunately, the property allowed us to expand the footprint in the traditional pattern of New England farm buildings.”
The front door is painted in Benjamin Moore’s Summer Nights and flanked by Original BTC sconces.
In the mud room, the rattan mirror is through Soane, and the handwoven hemp rug is from Food52.
In the living room, pink ceramic chandeliers from BDDW hang above Sergio Rodrigues chairs and Anna Beeber Design custom sofas. The Louise Liljencrantz coffee table is through the Invisible Collection, and the Donald Sultan artwork is through art consultant Kate Bellin.
Living-room shelves hold a collection of ceramic vessels from Studio Tashtego, the custom rug is through Fedora Design, the chair and ottoman are Lawson-Fenning, and the custom banquette sofa wears a Fermoie fabric through John Rosselli & Associates.
Kitchen millwork is painted Farrow & Ball’s Calke Green.
A Dmitriy & Co. bed upholstered in handmade fabric by Brooklyn artist Rruka is complemented by walls lined with de Gournay’s hand-painted wallpaper.
A reading area in the primary bedroom is furnished with a pair of John Graz vintage armchairs through Espasso and a side table from Fair Design, while the plaster chandelier is by Stephen Antonson.
In the barn, a vintage walnut table through 1stDibs is surrounded by MorningWorks dining chairs wearing a Sandra Jordan fabric through Holland & Sherry.
A pair of sofas face off in the barn living room, where artwork by Billy Childish through art consultant Kate Bellin hangs over the fireplace flanked by sconces from Allied Maker.
By extending the antique materials from the heart of the home into the new areas, the team seamlessly blended the old and new spaces. Beeber and the homeowners devised a playful scheme grounded in the property’s history, but also comfortable for a young family. While the design respects the farmhouse, the furnishings are modern and compelling. The owners particularly love supporting artists and designers, and Beeber sourced furnishings from artisans all over the globe. “I think it is very important to collect furniture and not simply go out and buy it. It builds a sense of belonging and warmth,” explains Beeber. “Many pieces were made by artisans in the Hudson Valley, and I particularly loved seeing the work of the young furniture makers placed alongside the furniture of legends like Sergio Rodrigues.”
The six-bedroom house is also a testament to the owners’ love of color and pattern. “They wanted to create a vibrant interior that was both comfortable and exciting,” says Beeber. Surrounded by fields of green farmland, it was natural to bring the color inside. “I love green, but it was during the design of this project that I discovered the confidence to use it unabashedly,” says the designer. “The connectivity to the outdoors was vital, and we wanted to mirror the vibrancy of the landscape inside the home. The color became a harmonizing thread, a neutral color in the palette.”
Deep hues flood the living room, where dramatic pale pink ceramic chandeliers hang above blue sofas and chairs, while the star of the room is a custom banquette set against a wall lined with shelving featuring a collection of ceramic vessels by various artists. Shades of green appear in the kitchen on the handmade millwork and a Lacanche range finished in a custom mint color. In the neighboring dining room, a colored-glass chandelier complements a barn painting by Michael Gregory. Blush wallpaper in the primary suite creates a relaxing atmosphere. Throughout the home, the colors harmoniously capture the homeowners’ vision.
Having a design team that worked in harmony was also a key to success. “It was by far the most fun we’ve had with a project in years, made possible by a client who defined their objective clearly, trusted their team of professionals, and challenged us to get it done,” says Owens. “Nothing dampened our spirits…not even Covid!” Beeber concurs: “I love working with Reese because his concepts and execution are impeccable, and he is collaborative and supportive. I finished the project with a sense of accomplishment and also a bit of sadness that my day to day would no longer include Reese Owens and Chris Washington.”