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
On meals that work for everyone: For weeknight dinners we make a lot of rice bowls with teriyaki salmon bites and edamame. We also love peanut noodles and broccoli with crispy baked tofu. Any type of bowl situation is great because everyone can fix their meal just the way they want it.
Table: Facebook Marketplace. Chairs: Design Within Reach via Charish.
On a dog named Argus: My oldest son Alex has dyslexia, so for reading he dove into audio books and graphic novels and fell in love with The Odyssey series. In the Odyssey, Odysseus’s dog, who recognizes him after 20 years when no one else recognizes him, is named Argus. So, when we got our beloved pup, we had to name him Argus. It feels like a heavy name for a dog, but it’s also very sweet.
Dresser: Craigslist. Food = Love print: Katherine Miles Jones. Woman’s portrait: “My great grandmother Dorothy West.”
On making a balanced gallery wall: First I outlined the shape and dimensions of the wall on the floor with painter’s tape. Then, I pulled out all the art we had and grouped it inside the tape parameters. I spent two weeks rearranging pieces and texting photos of each iteration to Tim, who was traveling for work; he has a good eye and gave smart suggestions. It was helpful for us both to see photos of the arrangements and to be able to compare.
On where to scout art: I’m always trying to resist the siren call of art. I love spending evenings looking through online auctions and eBay. Two eBay sellers I follow are Boris Wilnitsky Fine Arts and ArtGate-European Oil Paintings. Any time I find an artist I like, I’ll set up a saved search on eBay or liveauctioneers.com and keep an eye out for pieces in my price range.
On raising children with a nine-year age gap: Our boys both have beautiful, silly, creative sides, and the way they connect is lovely. We didn’t plan on waiting so long; I just had a lot of miscarriages. But then during my pregnancy with Ben, I worried about the nine years difference. I talked to anyone I could find who had a similar age gap with a sibling. And universally, everyone said, ‘Don’t worry, they’re the sibling I’m closest to.’ Of course, both my boys can push each other’s buttons. But they have a really nice bond because they’re not competitive with each other. I feel so lucky to be their mom.
PARENTS’ BEDROOM
Quilt: Schoolhouse. Velvet pillows: Collyer’s Mansion. Rug: Bed Bath & Beyond. Side table: Room & Board. Lamps: Zara Home.
On following your gut: The previous owners used this as a sunroom (complete with a hot tub!) but we made the unconventional choice of turning it into our primary bedroom, and it is such a gift. In the morning, the light streams in through windows that look out over the garden. Waking up here feels so natural and peaceful.
On firm mattresses: I like my mattresses HARD. In college, when I was suffering through a too-soft dorm mattress, my father drove up with a piece of plywood to create the firm surface I needed. So, I guess the key to a comfy bed is knowing what works for you.
Chairs: vintage. Pillow: The Six Bells.
On funny pillows: My grandmother lived in a very elegant and buttoned-up house in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In her kitchen, she had a poster of a fancy lady in a fur coat pushing a loaded shopping cart with the text ‘When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.’ It was such a perfect glimpse of her sense of humor amid all that New England propriety. I searched for a copy of that poster for years with no luck. So, when I spotted this pillow, I literally screamed with joy.
BATHROOM
Block print: “Ben made this in a printmaking class with the artist Meg Musgrove!” Planter: vintage.
On repurposing planters: Any forced bulbs such as paperwhites, hyacinths, and amaryllis would work beautifully in an antique bowl — you just need to add pebbles at the bottom and keep an eye on the water level. These blooming hyacinths come from my friend and neighbor, Pom, who runs English Garden Grown and offers seasonal flowers to local subscribers.
BEN’S ROOM
Quilt: made by Abbey. Pillow: Anthropologie. Side table: “From my childhood home.” Lamp: Target. Rainbow: “a gift from my sister.”
On kids’ books: Ben just turned seven and he is ready to not be a baby. He loves audiobooks, especially this series, and we listen to about five audiobooks a week. For his birthday he asked for a speaker. I thought it was the sweetest request.
Horse: thrifted.
On children’s books: I love In The Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak, and we’ve hung this print all over the house. When we moved Ben’s room downstairs, he said, ‘That’s my favorite book. Can I have that in my room?’ We had read that book a lot when he was younger, but before that moment I had never known it was his favorite book. It reminded me that you never know what moments your kids are going to remember.
ALEX’S ROOM
Duvet: Heather Taylor Home, similar. Lamp: Target, similar.
On a surprising thing about teens: I’m always amazed by how Alex knows so much about everything. He sprained his ankle this summer, and when we were talking about his foot, he was using the same terminology as my physical therapist. I realized that he learned it from watching physical therapy videos. And it’s like that with so many things. He’s a great cook and photographer, too.
Chairs: Ikea.
On leaning into letting go: I feel like teens can be so villainized. But they’re supposed to push our buttons. Their job is to pull away from us. And that can be painful, of course, but it feels like such a privilege to witness them develop into who they’re becoming.
GARDEN
On gardening in the winter: I like to read about gardens in the winter. During the summer I’m always outside planting and clearing and moving things around. But the winter is when I settle down with a beautiful English garden book. That’s when all of the planning happens. [Ed. note: Here’s Abbey’s garden in the summer! So gorgeous.]
Thank you so much, Abbey. We love you.
P.S. More home tours, including a teeny tiny Swedish apartment and a reader’s introvert nook.
(Photos by Lyndsay Hannah and styling by Wanda Furman, for Cup of Jo.)
