3 min readDesigner Alison Newman's first project as she set out on her own after working with Juan Montoya Design was ambitious—and unusual. Clients Rima Farah, from a family of storied jewelers, and Olivier Lordonnois, a hotelier managing Manhattan's Aman, share an eye for beauty. They craved a casual yet elegant English-inspired country home with rich colors and patterns, but everything had to be durable enough to bring their eight rescue animals indoors when they weren't roaming the hills of Millbrook, New York.
"Animals are Rima's passion; she needed a safe place for them to thrive," Newman explains. The homeowners' nonprofit, Happy Farm Animal Rescue, has saved many from livestock auctions. Since they bring sheep, dwarf donkeys, horses, and alpacas home, scale and size were just as critical as style when it came to picking furniture; the animals need space to roam the rooms.
Keeping that in mind, Newman took her cues from the surrounding hills and pastures. "We wanted to mimic the outside in everything we could," she says. For earthy, easy maintenance, the floors are either wood or stone, so the four-legged family members can traipse through en route to the pet kitchen. Natural fibers, such as rattan, were enlisted along with durable luxe fabrics like mohair, which is tougher than velvet and hides dirty paw prints. "We went beautiful where we could but also let things get messy," Newman says.
Palette-wise, rusty reds, pale pinks, and cognac browns "scream fall" in the living room, while shades of green grace the bedrooms and kitchen. In the latter, reproduction antique tiles add a country overtone alongside chicken-wire cabinets and an apron sink. Throughout, rustic beams lend a sense of history to this new home.
In each room, "everything looks worn," Newman points out. "We used a lot of tapestry- esque fabrics and reclaimed doors from old New England houses to make it all feel antique."
Layers of patterns—florals, plaids, and stripes—on textiles help the decor appear as if it has evolved over centuries, as do oil paintings of the family's pets displayed alongside vintage animal portraits. "The goal was to create a house that hearkened back to the past," Newman says. "Now it feels like it's been there forever."
FAST FACTS
Designer: Alison Newman
Stylist: Mieke ten Have
Location: Millbrook, New York
The Space: A new-build farmhouse modeled after a 1800s English country house.
MUDROOM
Plenty of hooks help keep the family organized.
Guru, a rescued pit bull–husky mix, relaxes on the antique Parefeuille terra-cotta floor.
LIVING ROOM
French doors open out to a painterly, iconic view.
Newman chose colors to echo the view. The Federalist mantel was salvaged from a home in New England.
KITCHEN
Rich green cabinetry nods to the English countryside.
Newman says this homey room is meant to make guests feel as if they're in the Cotswolds.
POWDER ROOM
A mirror hung atop the window makes the most of the available real estate.
"The window spoke to me," says Newman. "It called for an antique oval hanging mirror."
PRIMARY BEDROOM
A mustard yellow bed plays off the hues in the wallpaper.
"Upholstering the bed in chartreuse velvet grounded the room," says Newman.
DAUGHTER’S ROOM
A bed nook adds a touch of childhood magic.
The custom-mixed paint reflects the woodland wallcovering by Sanderson, made of hemp fibers.
The lime green Phillip Jeffries grasscloth wallcovering plays off the antique chairs' checked Brunschwig & Fils fabric, dainty wallcovering by Sanderson, and matching Roman shades. The bust is a vintage find, and the artwork, table, and blocks are antiques.
GUEST BEDROOM
Creature comforts cover every corner.
The doorframe, window frames, and trim feature faux-wood detailing painted by Richard Gillette.
GUEST BEDROOM
Contrast trim brings out the palette of the wallpaper.
Newman chose delicate wallpaper by Colefax and Fowler "to bring a sense of calm." Draperies: custom, in Bennison fabric.
PRIMARY BATHROOM
A happy blue and yellow palette makes the bathroom a welcoming retreat.
The starting point for this room was the Morris & Co. wallpaper, from which Newman pulled the bold yellow of the tiles and the fresh blue paint.
PORCH
Simplicity allows visitors to enjoy the one-of-a-kind views.
The family's home is set on a hill overlooking Millbrook and surrounded by forest and pastures. Their sanctuary for animals rescued from livestock auctions is also on the property.
