New England Style Decor (Fresh Take On Summer)
In today’s post we are celebrating New England style decor with a fresh take on summer. With cool whites, slipcovered furniture, natural wood, lots of light pouring in and a mix of vintage pieces…this home outside of Boston will make you swoon!
Modern day homes in New England are often rebels or rule breakers and don’t necessarily rely on the traditions of the past. Such is the case with the beautiful home of Kathy Rich and her family, who have lived in and loved their home in a Boston suburb for almost twenty years now.
Traditional New England Style Decor
- Shaker Style – Based on the devout lifestyle of the colonial Shakers who settled and colonized New England. Decadence was not the norm and considered to be distracting. Shaker homes were sparsely decorated and minimalist.
- Colonial Style – With origins tracing back to England, colonial homes were built for practicality. Traditionally they are two story and rectangular with steep gabled roofs.
- Coastal Style – New England has some of the earliest settlements in the U.S. and much of the traditional style is influenced by its coastline.
For more history of the New England style roots, see this informative post. Now let’s get started touring more of this stunning New England home!
Kathy has one of the most popular homes in the INSTAGRAM community with her account know as R.HOUSE_. She’s a MUST FOLLOW in my opinion, with her style being “truly homegrown and homemade”.
Kathy and her husband originally purchased this home for the great neighborhood, excellent school system and lots of land with privacy. As most young people, they were on a tight budget and regardless, they started in on a journey to create a true home. All of the work that they have accomplished over the years has made this home all that much more special to them.
As the years pass they continue to improve and to change, as they change. It’s a natural progression when time and budget permits. One of the most enchanting aspects to their home is a greenhouse on the beautiful property. It’s truly spectacular and just confirms the principles of hard work and budget decorating to create unique beauty!
A true team, the couple enjoy their projects together. “We dream of the possibilities, he makes them happen, and I do the finishing touches. Most recently our newest addition, and our greenhouse. I’m proud to say that our greenhouse is made of 100% reclaimed and recycled materials. Not a dime spent. My husband built at night after work by himself. It took him about 5 weeks. A testament to the fact, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to create the spaces you imagine. Just a good imagination and hard work.”
So many unique pieces collected and repurposed over time. There are lovely flowers and branches outside in the garden that Kathy uses inside to enhance her living spaces.
Large buckets and baskets of summer blooms are the only seasonal accents needed for this New England style decor in the summer.
I asked Kathy what some of her favorite pieces were in her home. ” I fall in love every other day with new pieces of furniture. But some of my favorites are the French curved deconstructed settee in front of my fireplace, my new dining table, and the French farmhouse hutch that houses my tv in my living room of my main house that my husband and I built and refinished together, modeled after an authentic antique. A good example of my style, old, new and homemade!”
As a self proclaimed homebody, Kathy loves to spend most her time at home with her two boys and two pugs.
There are always plenty of projects to keep Kathy busy. She says “my style is an eclectic mix between new and old, refinished, handmade and store bought. I love using naturals and plants to enhance our living spaces. I consider myself a collector as it’s taken me a lifetime to fill my home with special and unique things. Also, I take great pleasure in finding a vintage treasure and transforming it to make it mine”. Shopping is everywhere with a heavy hit on Craigslist.
With a French farmhouse flair, many of the pieces are transformed with paint. Furniture is very rarely stripped and often painted white and then dark waxed with edges sanded for character.
The built-ins with barnhouse doors were custom crafted by Kathy’s husband to hide the television in the guest house.
Faded charm and simple beauty at every turn with simple rustic bleach toned wood finishes and white linen.
A hearty THANK YOU to Kathy for sharing her home with us today! Stay informed of her latest projects and go follow her on Instagram by clicking here – R HOUSE
If you enjoyed this post and would like to see more New England style decor, you might enjoy these recent posts:
COASTAL HOME DECOR – STYLISH ON CAPE COD
SUMMER HOUSE IDEAS – TASTEFULLY RENOVATED BUNGALOW
Oh Janet, you never disappoint! Enjoyed looking at this so much sitting here with my husband, having coffee on this beautiful morning. He appreciates looking at this especially being done by the two of them, as much as I do. Although our home is a far cry from this beauty, it’s a collaborative effort that we both enjoy and take pride in. As native New Englanders we enjoy seeing an older homes in our area featured.
I follow her on Instagram, and absolutely love her style! Her home is breathtaking!
It sure is yummy!
I think that it’s so sweet having your husband look with you Margo! New England sure has some amazing home decorators and Kathy is amazing!
I AM DROOLING! Love the beauty of this extraordinary home! Simple and lush….a well loved lived in home!
Time to wipe up our drool…I feel the same!
Simple elegance! Calming! Love love love!
I agree…the lack of color is compensated by so much yummy texture!
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!!!! What you can accomplish when you love decorating and love your home. Patience is what it takes to create a home filled with ambiance. My new favorite Instagram.
Thank you for sharing….got all my creative juices flowing.
I couldn’t have said it better myself and so glad that you enjoyed this home!
Beautiful, breathtaking, serene, sigh…..
Indeed!!
Janet I loved this post. Swooning over each picture. Just beautiful. What a gorgeous home.
Love love it all. Happy Sunday.
Hugs,
Kris
Isn’t this a stunning home Kris?!! I hope that you enjoy your day and the week ahead…xo
Another beautiful home Janet! Thanks for taking the time to bring these beauties to us! Especially enjoy8as they are my New England Peeps!!!❤❤❤
I love Kathy and love seeing more of her beautiful home! ? Thanks for the great backstories Janet! I’s so fun and inspiring to know a little more about how it all happens!
It’s just lovely, light and airy. I love how the natural wood grounds all the white surroundings in just the right way. Thanks for sharing this beautiful home.
OMG I am swooning. I could move right in. So my style. Every inch is beautiful. Love it all.
Thanks for sharing Janet.
Hugs,
Kris
This home is stunning! I keep going back to look at every detail.
One of my favorites! Thanks for stopping by
Your home tour is gorgeous. I only ask where do you and your guest tours get the white slip overs? I have searched for covers for three years pottery barn used to sell a few that were great. Now they and ikea only sell for their sofas etc. please help!!!!
Your website gets better and better. Thank you. Jan V
I could not say it better than all the other’s comments above!
I already follow her and I adore all she does. That greenhouse!! Yes…..wiping up the drool !!! So darn pretty!
Thank you for another wonderful share.
Thanks Ashley! Working on another fun home tour for this coming Sunday!
Soooo beautiful. So fresh and homey. Right up my street. This post has given me lots of inspiration. I have a Victorian garden flat and have touches of New England decor in every room. I love how she layers accessories. Baskets on trays filled with flowers and plants. Im stealing that idea. Lol. Lovely!! ♥️🥰
I want a mostly White House so bad and this one is gorgeous. That clock!!!! Really enjoyed this one Janet.
Gorgeous home! And so many ideas. I’m going to have to read this at least twice! Thanks!
This home is one of our favorites Teddee…thanks for letting us know that you think it’s great as well!
Well, all I can say about this most gorgeous home is that if I ever got the chance to stay in the guest house, they’d have to scrape my hands off the bed canopy rails to throw me out. I love every. single. inch of this house and yard. Great post!
Wow. My son just moved to Boston. I told him he needs to go buy that house for us. That greenhouse-swoon! Thank you for sharing this gorgeous gem!
I’d recognize Kathy’s home anywhere! I love the story and work that went into it and swoon anytime I see a shot of her greenhouse…and she’s a fellow New England girl!!
Ahhh, lucky you being a “neighbor”! She has done such creative things with her home Jennifer!
Anyone know the process she uses to strip and bleach wood, like on that beautiful drawered chest?
I don’t have that information Liz, but a lot of DIY bloggers are using oven cleaner as a stripper these days
Hi Janet, I’ll be watching you very closely!! It’s absolutely wonderful, your home! We live here in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. I also opted for the fresh white and neutrals, lots of easy going design- comfy chairs and beds. My fiancé is from Boston with a summer home in Cape Cod. I look so forward to shopping in that area and simply re-doing that home. You input is so wonderful. Thank you!!
Hi Kimalia – thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! I do love easy going design and nothing too stuffy, which reflects our Florida lifestyle. Enjoy your day!
Wow. One of the most beautiful homes I have seen in along time. And that greenhouse !
I have SAD and love the all white and airy look.
As the Nordic countries do, lots of white helps in the winter!