Beauty on Block Island

I don’t think I’ve darted to our front door faster than last evening, to be in receipt of the long anticipated new book by Gil Schafer III. Nor have I ever incessantly refreshed the tracking details for any delivery. At last, it is here.

I have long admired this particular Block Island project (pictured below) Gil’s firm completed along with landscape architect Deborah Nevins, and decorator, Miles Redd (now Redd Kaihoi), ever since it was published in Veranda two years ago. The home presides over Block Island’s Great Salt Pond, a place I grew up visiting with my family when we’d take day trips or overnights by boat from Newport. The landscape also holds a special place for my husband and I particularly during our courtship, in addition to the fact that my husband has a project next door to this very property. Every time I tag along to his job site visits, I am subtly snooping next door.

For anyone that knows Block Island, it is nowhere near other isles like Nantucket or even the Vineyard. Certainly not the Hamptons. Fancy hotels and restaurants do not exist. No one is beach bound in designer labels. There is a certain rawness and palpable spirit to the island. Rightfully so, locals fiercely protect and defend from outsiders that might test these characteristics. Though this has indeed been challenged over the more recent years as some are priced out of summer destinations mentioned above, the general ethos of the island remains. In fact, The Block Island Trust works closely with The Nature Conservancy and the Block Island Conservancy to preserve nearly 50% of the island’s land for open space. Point being, anyone that is stepping foot on the island to build, develop, design, or in some way alter, immediately has a microscope on them. I think Gil and his project teams did a beautiful job of honoring the island while building a legacy home that will stand the test of time.

While there are so many wonderful spaces in this home, there is something so intoxicating about this living room — the multiple seating groups with inviting furniture scales, its textured pink grasscloth walls, and the space’s way of inviting you in for a nap, a post-beach cocktail, or a moment to admire the view, which extends over the pond and into the Atlantic Ocean. There is a certain elegance juxtaposed with a casualty, where one could enter with sandy feet and a caftan damp from the ocean’s saltwater. The room and home also demonstrates what I love so much about good design, it is that feeling where you cannot get an image of a room out of your head, and then revisit again and again to further dissect it.

A big bravo to Gil Schafer on this publication, and to all of the teams involved creating this home.

Striking a cord

This particular room I find myself attracted to for various reasons. First, I do love a good country house. This home decorated by Henriette von Stockhausen is no exception. One should see the classical façade, its grand hallway and grounds, however, I’m particularly taken by the cheerful sitting room. I love how the art is displayed (Robert Kime picture rails of course!), the gorgeous ottoman clad in a Jasper textile with its collection of books, the Jamb chimneypiece — it is all truly a delight for the senses without overwhelming, as some grand estates can.

To see more of this home, visit here.

Photography credit: Paul Massey

Interior Design: Henriette von Stockhausen for VSP Interiors

PRE-ORDER

One of the small joys in my life involves books. I don’t have the time or frankly the mental space at the end of a long day to pour myself into the lonely stack of novels at my bedside, but I can devour coffee table books, no problemo. In fact, when we renovated our home, I was sure to have some proper bookshelves constructed to house my evolving collection.

And thus, with a new year here, I am back at my coffee table book procurement, to include a few exciting pre-orders I’m sharing below. I adore those moments where I can sit with a glass of wine and leaf through each page. Here’s to more joyful moments, this year and always!

Veere Grenney’s highly anticipated “Seeking Beauty” arrives in May. Purchase here.

Gil Schafer’s “Home at Last” debuting February. Purchase here.

Having a Holiday

Merriment is underway in Rhode Island! Figge Floral came to deck the halls, party planning has been green lighted and despite the occasional and expected panic moments, spirits are high. It’s a particularly special holiday this year as our son is very engaged in all things Santa Claus and Christmas. It’s truly so joyful to see the magic of Christmas through his eyes.

I wish you all a lovely holiday season with your loved ones. Thank you for the continued support of all things C&C.