K
a r e n a n d T o d d
W o o d w a r d ’s d r e a m
w a s to r a is e t h e i r
f a m i l y in a h is t o r i c
C o n n e c t i c u t f a r m -
h o u s e . T h e r e a l i t y w a s
a n
1 8 3 0
s f i x e r - u p p e r
w i t h a
1 9 5 0
s k it c h e n t h a t w a s f a r f r o m t h e
s t u f f o f fa n ta s y . B u t a b u d g e t - f r i e n d l y
f o r e c lo s u r e p r ic e , p a ir e d w i t h T o d d ’s
w o o d w o r k i n g s k ills , c o n v in c e d t h e c o u p le
t o t a k e o n t h e c h a lle n g e .
T h e d i l a p i d a t e d k i t c h e n w a s t h e i r f ir s t
p r io r i t y , a n d K a r e n a n d T o d d e n v is io n e d a n
a ir y , o r g a n i z e d s p a c e w i t h a f a m i l y r o o m
w h e r e t h e i r t h r e e d a u g h t e r s c o u ld h a n g
o u t . “ W e w a n t e d t h e k i t c h e n t o h a v e a
r u s t ic fe e l,” s a y s T o d d . “ N o t t o o c o u n t r y -
is h , b u t a p p r o p r i a t e f o r t h e h o u s e .”
T h e y a d d e d w i n d o w s , r e m o v e d i n t e r i o r
w a l ls , a n d p u s h e d t h e f i r e p la c e to a n
o u t s id e w a l l to m a k e t h e r o o m fe e l la r g e r .
R e c la im e d p in e b e a m s a n d y e l l o w p la s t e r
w a l ls p r o v id e o ld - h o u s e a u t h e n t ic i t y .
I n t h e f a m i l y r o o m , w o o d f u r n i t u r e , a
c o t t o n r u g , a n d p a t in a e d m e t a l a c c e s s o r ie s
n o d to t r a d i t i o n ; s im p l y s h a p e d a c c e s s o r ie s
a n d c r is p s h a d e s o f r e d a n d y e l l o w k e e p t h e
lo o k u p - t o - d a t e . A s a p la y r o o m , h o m e w o r k
s t a t io n , a n d e n t e r t a i n i n g a r e a , t h e s ty le
s u its b o t h g u e s ts a n d t h e k id s .
C a b i n e t r y w i t h S h a k e r lin e s a n d
f u r n i t u r e d e t a il s — c u s t o m m a d e b y T o d d
a n d h is b u s in e s s p a r t n e r , T i m B la is — w r a p
t h e n e w k i t c h e n , a n d a p e n in s u la s e p a r a te s
i t f r o m t h e f a m i l y r o o m . T h o s e p in e b e a m s
e m p h a s iz e t h e n o w - v a u l t e d c e ilin g , c a r v e d
o u t o f a n u n u s a b le h a l f - s t o r y a b o v e .
“ T h e r e ’s a n e a r t h y s e n s ib il it y t o t h is
s p a c e ,” s a y s K a r e n . “ I t ’s b r o k e n in , l i k e a n
o ld p a i r o f je a n s .”
FAMILY TIME
Cheery yellow walls and crackling logs make the
family room popular with Sarah, 9, and Maddie
(with Karen), 6. The new fireplace, built with
antique bricks, includes a lone brick from the old
structure to serve as a historical touchstone.
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS NOVEMBER 2008
3 9
