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ven with a 6-year-old running through the house or 8-year-old twins begging to

catch salamanders in the creek, Shaiza Rizavi and Jon Friedland’s home seems

tranquil. Credit goes to the understated decorating and the rolling hills—an

instant relaxant—visible out the windows. “It’s a comfortable, uncluttered

place,” Shaiza says. “It’s peaceful.” When the couple built the house near

Andes, New York, in the Catskill Mountains, they had two things in mind. “We

wanted to bring nature in, and we embraced the idea of kids running around

making messes,” Jon says. The open layout and natural stone and wood floors work for both goals,

and white walls meet Jon’s yen for simplicity. Shaiza, though, craved a little color. She worked it in

subtly with richly colored area rugs that give baby Daniel soft places to play. A mix of leather, linen,

and not-too-precious antique furniture also passes the kid-friendly test. “It’s really an eclectic style,”

Shaiza says. “It doesn’t look sloppy or messy—

just very comfortable.” The neutral palette that runs

throughout the home plays a part in that comfort, pulling in views that drew the couple here. “When

you’re sitting in the house, you feel the connection to nature,” Shaiza says. “Everything just blends.”