2016
DESIGN ISSUE
PROJECT REFRESH
A CONNECTICUT COUNTRY HOUSE TOUR
Welcome I call my style Country House Style because my home, Connecticut Country House, is as much a character in my stories as I am. Country House Style is a feeling of warmth and welcome, down to earth and elegant. It rolls with the rhythm of the seasons. It has an easy grace, and it’s surprisingly simple to switch on. It makes you feel happy and creative, content and refreshed, surrounded by beauty, and most important, at home—no matter where you live. My Country House inspired me to turn ideas I loved into a reality I love even more and I'm so happy that we get to explore this passion together. Welcome to the Design Issue: an up-close and personal look at a transformation a year in the making—the one we called Project Refresh. Project Refresh was born in spring 2015, though I didn’t know it. I planned to change one room. One. Fast-forward a year, and not a room on the first floor was untouched as we raced to be ready for the Newtown Historical Society's House & Garden Tour. And in between was a lot of work, vision, and perseverance.
NORA MURPHY Founder and Editor in Chief
Some of you were able to join us for the June tour—what a wonderful surprise! But if you weren't, we thought it would be fun to take the tour to you. Enjoy!! Love,
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A CONNECTICUT COUNTRY HOUSE TOUR
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CONTENTS WELCOME 2
ROOM FOR A VIEW 76
250 YEARS NEW 10
GILDED SHORE 88
A GARDEN THEME 38
THE COOP 104
WORKADAY STYLE 48
A FURNISHED BATH 116
RUSTIC ELEGANCE 60
RESOURCES 126
Follow Nora Murphy Country House on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. Please direct all inquiries to: contact@noramurphycountryhouse.com. © 2016 Nora Murphy Country House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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A CONNECTICUT COUNTRY HOUSE TOUR
2016
DESIGN ISSUE
Nora Murphy Founder and Editor in Chief
Criana Web Producer
Carol Hubner Art and Features Director
Robyn Szarka Roos Content Producer
Deborah Golden Copywriter/Copy Editor
Sister Linda Boccia Copy Editor
Darryl Arbesman Duanne Simon Nora Murphy Contributing Photographers Aida Kiernan Styling Assistant
All design, photography, and copy on NoraMurphyCountryHouse.com is original, produced year-round at Connecticut Country House and on location.
For more Country House Style inspiration visit our website: NORAMURPHYCOUNTRYHOUSE.COM & our blog: CONNECTICUTCOUNTRYHOUSE.COM NORAMURPHYCOUNTRYHOUSE.COM
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THINGS DO NOT CHANGE; WE CHANGE. Henry David Thoreau
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PROJECT REFRESH Spring and fall: my times of renewal. A nd in s p ring 2015 I wa s a m a m a b i r d w i th a n e m p ti e r ne s t on t he way and a lot of e ne r g y to b ur n. If I j us t c ha ng e one room, I t houg ht, e v e r y thi ng w i l l b e d i f f e r e nt.
I did not know how right I was. We t urne d our old d inin g r oom i nto a ne w f a m i l y hub , a nd the old hub int o t he ne w d i ni ng r oom . The p i a no r oom i s the TV room. The Gall e r y w a s b or n. We p a i nte d e v e r y w a l l , moved e v e ry s t ic k of f ur ni tur e , e d i te d up a s tor m .
The rooms told us what to do. What we ne e d e d as a y oung f a m i l y w a s not the s a m e a s what we want e d now, a nd e a c h c ha ng e g a v e us ne w ide as ab out how we coul d b e l i v i ng i n our b e l ov e d ol d hom e .
Showing is better than telling‌ let's start the tour!
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Change is good. NORAMURPHYCOUNTRYHOUSE.COM
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250 YEARS NEW This is the oldest part of the house and my favorite. I wanted to honor it, let it shine—and spend a lot more time there! Finding its new purpose led to all the changes in Project Refresh.
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A true room for living. This was the dining room. With imagination, elbow grease, and a brighter palette, now it’s our family hub.
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Before
BEFORE
AFTER
OLD DINING ROOM
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PIANO ROOM
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NEW FAMILY HUB
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TV ROOM
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Begin with the right
plan.
The fireplace is the natural focal point,
with seating grouped all around. The tone is airy and intimate, pure, simple, and honest. Editing was not easy, but only things that really fit the vibe could make the cut. The effort was worth it!
After NORAMURPHYCOUNTRYHOUSE.COM
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It’s fun to play with textures. A stack of vintage wicker hampers adds smart, stylish storage; pillows and throws bring interest to a white on white palette; and a salvaged boat’s bumper is an unexpected sculpture. 16
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Authentic details are the key to our mood. New creamy-white mats were all it took to freshen up a set of 18th century engravings from London.
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