Holiday
November 20, 2017
A Victorian Farmhouse With Fairy-Tale Charm
Surrounded by flurries swirling from Prince Edward County‘s sky, it’s not hard to envision this small cabin inside a snow globe. The all-white interior was inspired by a magazine spread of a 17th-century stone house in England, decorated exclusively in chalky white tones. Homeowner and former fashion designer Lorren Leveille also cited Scottish sculptor, photographer and environmentalist Andy Goldsworthy as a major influence. “I enjoy the same things he does: wood, stones, leaves, flowers — just the elements.” The spare, Scandi vibe is enhanced by bottlebrush trees, evergreen swags, frosty mercury-glass votives, bare branches and hits of powdery ice blue. Step inside the magical space below.
Cane-back armchairs with a starburst pattern are Lorren’s favorite pieces in her Prince Edward County, Ontario, studio-cabin. “The original velvet on the seats is so degraded — and the more worn it gets the more I love it,” she says. The shadowboxes along the back beam (made from empty pharmacy boxes painted white inside and filled with photographs) are her own creation. Bare lightbulbs and a wood stove strike a casual, industrial note.
A spruce wreath dresses up the bare windows of the salvaged 19th-century barn doors. The frosty look of velvet pillows and a seeded eucalyptus arrangement enhance the cabin’s wintery vibe.
Candy-colored vintage ornaments, a pressed-tin star garland and gifts tied with wide bows add festive color in the white-on-white cabin.
Muted turquoise and pink gift wrap, topped with a luxe, old school velvet or grosgrain bow, is a soft, unexpected combo under the tree.
Accent colors look even more vibrant in a wintry envelope that’s as pure as the driven snow. A sprinkling of mercury glass and greenery adds sparkle and life.
The mellow, battered, thrift-shop furnishings impart a gentle warmth and ease to spaces. Humble, patinated pressed-tin ornaments strung on rustic twine are a low-key alternative to tinsel.
Heirloom-inspired, candy-colored ornaments evoke treasured memories. Vintage Shiny Brite balls from the ’60s never lose their charm, but modern versions are equally festive.
“I’m not fancy but I try to make every day as special as the holidays,” says Lorren.
Winter blooms take pride of place in a vintage iron pitcher.
Valerie Wilcox
House & Home December 2016