Design snapshot: More Shaker smarts

Recognize that hearth? I’d be remiss if I didn’t feature this authentic Shaker stove. Like most Shaker designs, it’s both an efficient and enlightened creation. To me, it has the proportions and charm of a favorite pet. When designing for today’s homeowner who favors a stream-lined look, I often recommend a Rais stove (manufactured in Europe). It’s a contemporary alternative for those with a taste for the minimal but who aren’t fortunate enough to have a Shaker original. Once again the Shaker aesthetic proves timeless.

by Katie Hutchison for the House Enthusiast

Design snapshot: Beach boardwalk

I enjoy the beach in the winter, and a simple boardwalk, like this one, in any season. It gracefully echoes the shoreline that it borders. Barely elevated, it charts a pleasing path. Its destination is just far enough out of sight to keep the curious in pursuit. It invites us to respectfully engage with our natural environment, to appreciate a fragile landscape, while treading lightly. I would follow a boardwalk like this wherever it may lead.

by Katie Hutchison for the House Enthusiast

Design snapshot: Shaker blues

Blue base trim, a simple chair rail, and an understated peg rail modulate the height of this cream-colored Shaker hall wall. Intermediate blue door jambs and posts punctuate its length. The shimmering, darker blue, wide floor boards cheerfully bounce light while drawing you forward. The rhythm of the vertical blue components and the implied hierarchy of the horizontal blue elements, together, differentiate space within this hall, creating a sense of both enticement and comfort. I won’t soon forget the luscious blues that beautifully offset the creamy white backdrop. It’s a dreamy palette.

by Katie Hutchison for the House Enthusiast

A home from within

"I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself."  Maya Angelou

Hope you are home for the holidays, wherever you are.  Cheers.