Decorating & Design
November 30, 2020
Escape To A Scandinavian-Style Heritage House On A Goat Farm
Shannon Vosters and her husband, Sander, start their day at 5:30 a.m. — they’ve got 303 kids to feed. OK, three are human: that’s Henry, 8, Toby, 7, and Daniek, 5. The rest are good-natured young goats that bed down with 500 other Saanen and Alpine milking goats in a weathered barn not far from the main house. The couple raises the goats on their farm, just outside of Stratford, Ontario, in New Hamburg, where more than 40 hectares of flat hayfields are ideal for growing feed. Sander emigrated from Holland in 2000, and comes from a long line of Dutch farmers. “It’s in his blood,” says Shannon, who is the principal of Shannon Vosters Design. Most days, she helps in the barn with morning and evening chores and, in between, she makes time for her design clients and personal projects.
When they bought the property in 2015, it was for its location and the quality of the land. But then there was the matter of the 150-year-old farmhouse, which had last been renovated in the 1970s. Shannon loved the farmhouse’s simple, unadorned exterior, and wasn’t fazed by the laminate floors, DIY faux finishes and miles of honey oak. “I loved that nothing in the house had been updated,” she says. “There was no guilt when we ripped out the nonfunctional elements.”
And for the design aesthetic, it was Shannon’s travels in the Netherlands that inspired her. “I love European farmhouses,” she says. “They’re timeless and more pared back, but they still have that warmth.” Oak floors, concrete counters and vertical shiplap walls evoke a pastoral quietude not unlike a Dutch Old Master painting. Shannon made sure to layer in cognac, gray-green and burgundy accents as an effective counterpoint to all the pale walls and blond woods. “I’ve always gravitated to natural materials and colors found in nature,” she says. “I like a home’s interiors to have a connection to the surroundings.”
Scroll down to tour this idyllic hideaway dressed for the holidays!
The laneway leading to the farmhouse is Shannon’s favorite part of the property. “It’s so pretty when the tall pines are covered in snow,” she says.
Shannon switches up the photos on the picture ledges yearly. The family enters the farmhouse through the mudroom, so the official front door is always swagged in greenery.
In the living room, piles of gifts under the Christmas tree signal that the holidays are near. “I start decorating in early December,” she says. “I love everything to be natural, so we always get a real tree, and real garlands and wreaths. The house smells amazing!”
A fresh wreath pinned to the kitchen window with white ribbon has rustic charm. A generous gathering place was essential for the boisterous family, who needed a large, functional island for prepping and dining. “We love to cook and bake, and we’re home a lot — there aren’t many restaurants around us,” says Shannon.
“I love having no upper cabinets and lots of natural light,” says Shannon. The family eats breakfast, lunch and dinner at the stained concrete–topped island.
Painted shiplap walls and tin pendants are in sync with the modern farmhouse feel.
Pine boughs, pomegranates and wooden beads create a handsome organic centerpiece. Instead of the usual black candles, try dark green ones for a similar effect.
Shannon found this china cabinet on Kijiji. She kept the original caning and hardware but refurbished the piece with a good sanding and several coats of paint.
The main-floor bathroom’s black and white palette and clear glass pendants are warmed up by a pale wood vanity.
Subway tile meets open shelving and a deep green feature wall for a modern-rustic vibe.
A small tree in an earthenware pot and vintage-style art bring a hint of Christmas to the laundry room.
A simple console, country crock and curved vintage mirror make for a welcoming vignette at the side entrance.
Shannon brought depth and drama to Henry and Toby’s bedroom by painting the knotty pine ceiling a deep blue-gray. Even this space gets a festive touch. “I like to bring a bit of Christmas into the boys’ room,” she says of the mini tree placed in a crock.
In the principal bedroom, a wool throw and plenty of accent pillows make the space cozy. Fresh boughs swagged over a headboard smell great. Spritz with water every day to keep fresh.
They named the farm Chevron Dairy — a play on words that references chevron floors and chèvre cheese. Though Shannon didn’t grow up on a farm like her husband, she says she loves the lifestyle and feels lucky that their kids get to grow up here.
In addition to goats, the family keeps chickens. Shannon chose to leave the door of the old barn in its rustic state instead of repainting, which might have looked out of place.
Daniek with Helen and Petra, a couple of the children’s favorite goats. “The children help out on the farm and love playing with the animals,” says Shannon. “And who can resist the goats? They’re such gentle, playful creatures.”
Robin Stubbert
House & Home November 2020
Shannon Vosters