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Sometimes you just know. More than 10 years ago—well before they married or had children—Jennifer and Bradley Hunter visited the historic town of Washington, Connecticut (population 3,676), on a weekend getaway and knew they had found their happy place. “From that moment on, we carried a shared vision: a dream country home that didn’t yet exist, but one we could clearly picture,” says Jennifer.
Then, during another fateful visit to the Litchfield County countryside, this time with two daughters (Elle, now 6, and Hadley, now 8) in tow, the couple came across the perfect two-acre lot on which to design the house of their dreams. With help from local architecture firm Hinkel Design Group and Prospect Mountain Builders, the Hunters designed a classic Greek Revival–style residence inspired by the charming 18th-century properties that dot the area. “I was deeply inspired by the history and architecture of New England homes,” says Jennifer. “From the beginning, I wanted the house to feel like it had always been there.”
The New York City–based designer went to great lengths to source materials that felt authentic to the period—including reclaimed beams and imperfectly edged tile—and infused the home with thoughtful details that pay tribute to George Washington, the town’s namesake. In addition to the portrait that hangs over the mantel (another commissioned piece from artist Denise Fiedler), Jennifer worked with manufacturer S.A. Baxter to design a suite of door hardware inspired by a commemorative button produced for the first president’s 1789 inauguration.
Even with her studious, historically minded approach, Jennifer made sure the house wouldn’t take itself too seriously. With features such as unexpected color combinations (think aubergine and chartreuse), lively fabrics that feel “more collected than coordinated,” and a vintage game table for Monopoly marathons, the home is indeed the refuge the city dwellers were craving.
“I wanted a place that felt like an instant escape from the pace and intensity of city life,” says Jennifer, who notes that the relief strikes as soon as their tires hit the long gravel driveway. “We park the car, we get out, and the kids just start running. It’s an instant exhale.”
Cheerful Entry
“When people walk in, everyone smiles,” Jennifer says of her bright and cheery entryway. That reaction has much to do with the custom botanical artwork that lines the stairwell. To create the colorful gallery wall, Jennifer teamed up with San Francisco–based artist Denise Fiedler, who turned her client’s favorite flowers into original collage pieces. (The images of dahlias, foxglove, hollyhocks, and more were such a hit that Denise now offers the artwork as a print collection.) The room’s additional joyful touches include a floral-inspired wallpaper and a fun striped stair runner.
Get the Look:
Wallpaper: “Happy” by Albert Hadley for Zina Studios
Stair runner: by Temple Studio
Soft-Toned Family Room
To give the sage green–capped family room the “country-worn” vibe Jennifer wanted, she prioritized warm woods, an unfussy jute rug, and floral-patterned armchairs that feel like passed-down heirlooms. Covered in wheat-colored washed linen, the English roll-arm sofa invites around-the-clock lingering. “Everything here is meant to be used and loved,” says Jennifer. “If something gets scratched or dinged, it just adds character.”
Get the Look:
Ceiling paint color: Eddy by Farrow & Ball
Sofa: by Serena & Lily
Chair fabric: “Dahlia” by Jasper Textiles
Window treatment fabric: “Lacquer Stripe” by Jasper Textiles
Sofa pillow fabric: “Torchon Stripe” by Inchyra
RELATED: More Ideas for a Cozy Living Room You’ll Want to Snuggle Up In Forever
Masterfully Mixed Dining Space
In the dining area just off the kitchen, modern blue Windsor chairs lend a touch of whimsy around the rustic wood farm table. “The mix feels relaxed, playful, and perfectly in tune with the rest of the home’s layered aesthetic,” says Jennifer. Throughout the space, the floors have a gentle unevenness and a patina that makes them seem as though they’ve been walked on by multiple generations. Above, the reclaimed beams are weathered and not completely uniform, bringing a warmth and authenticity that new materials simply couldn’t replicate.
At one end, a custom plate rack wall holds Jennifer’s ever-growing collection of pieces, some designed by her friend Christopher Spitzmiller and others from auction sites and local flea markets.
Get the Look:
Dining table: “Alfie” by Scout & Nimble
RELATED: The Prettiest Dining Room Paint Colors That Fit Any Style
Light & Airy Kitchen
Despite her fearlessness with color, Jennifer chose to keep things calm in the kitchen with creamy white cabinetry, countertops, and tile, but reclaimed wood beams, unlacquered brass fixtures and hardware, and rattan barstools add grounding tone and texture. “We tried to incorporate materials you would find in an old home,” she says, “and also make it feel like you are in the country.”
The farmhouse-style sink, Jennifer’s favorite spot for arranging flowers snipped from the garden, further amps up the old-timey charm in the kitchen.
Get the Look:
Island paint color: Wimborne White by Farrow & Ball
Counter stools: “Sunwashed Riviera” by Serena & Lily
Backsplash tile: by Fireclay Tile
Hardware: “Bakes” pulls and “Cotswold” knobs by Armac Martin
RELATED: Beautiful White Kitchen Ideas for a Room You’ll Love Forever
Jewel-Box Pantry
Glass-front doors in the dark green pantry showcase her glassware and tableware. The pantry doors open to reveal custom-woven baskets with coordinating green accents that pull out like drawers and hold various dry goods and snacks.
Get the Look:
Cabinetry paint color: Duck Green by Farrow & Ball
Dark-Hued Living Room
In the living room, Jennifer went for the unexpected color combo of eggplant and chartreuse and commissioned a portrait of George Washington to hang above the mantel. “This was the first thing I purchased for the home to commemorate the town’s namesake,” she says. To surround the fireplace, she opted for a clean-lined mantel with a dog-ear profile that feels simple but still detailed.
Get the Look:
Wall paint color: Pelt by Farrow & Ball
Floral sofa fabric: “Mughal Meadow” by Botanica Trading
RELATED: The Top 100 Paint Colors for Every Room in Your House
Tree House–Inspired Bedroom
Referred to as “the tree house,” the property’s most private, tucked-away guest suite (above the garage) lives up to its nickname thanks to the leafy wallpaper that covers the walls and its 12-foot-high ceiling. Offsetting the over-the-top pattern play are neutral finishes of a wood bobbin bed, a wicker light fixture, raffia window shades, and a jute-wool rug.
The guest suite includes a convenient kitchenette, complete with a mini fridge hidden behind a charming little striped curtain.
Get the Look:
Wallpaper: “Raphael” by Sandberg
Bed: by Serena & Lily
Light fixture: by Visual Comfort & Co.
Shades: by The Shade Store
Rug: by Himalayan Rugs Co.
Bedside lamps: “Addison” by Visual Comfort & Co.
RELATED: Guest Bedroom Ideas to Create a Cozy Space for Company
Playful Blue Bathroom
Bold wallpaper in the bathroom plays well with blue contrast trim. Shower tile in two contrasting colors creates a lively stripe, and the reclaimed brick flooring carries over from the adjoining mudroom.
Get the Look:
Wallpaper: “Isle Flower” by Michael Smith Inc.
Trim paint color: Stone Blue by Farrow & Ball
Shower tile: Fireclay Tile
Nature-Inspired Primary Suite
In the raffia-covered primary bedroom, a grid of fern and leaf artwork echoes the custom-upholstered bed. The decorative ceiling trim adds another eye-catching detail.
Get the Look:
Raffia wallpaper: by Serena & Lily
Fern and leaf artwork: by Denise Fiedler
Bed: “Malmaison” by Michael Smith Inc.
Nightstand: “Butler’s Side Table” by Theodore Alexander
Table lamp: “Halifax” by Visual Comfort & Co.
Lampshade: “Putnam” by Bunny Williams Home
Rug: “Diamond Cove” by Annie Selke
The spa-like primary bathroom feels a bit masculine thanks to its buffalo-check marble floor and smoky green wainscoting and trim. Café curtains add privacy but still allow plenty of natural light to spill across the deep soaking tub.
Get the Look:
Wainscoting and trim paint color: Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball
Bathtub: “Memoirs” by Kohler
Bath fittings: by Watermark Designs
Tile: by Waterworks
Curtains: by The Shade Store
Dainty Girls’ Bedrooms
Pattern play is the order of the day in Hadley’s bedroom, where nostalgic floral wallpaper joins vintage twin beds topped with linens in an eclectic mix
of prints, including a scalloped-edge quilt. The beehive artwork by Mary Maguire is an ode to Hadley’s nickname.
Jennifer calls daughter Elle’s blue bedroom a “cool hodgepodge,” with its playful bunny artwork, spindle bed frame, patchwork quilt, and wildflower meadow-inspired wallpaper.
Get the Look:
Twin bedroom wallpaper: “Loudon Rose” by Schumacher
Twin bedroom nightstand: “Linnea” by Scout & Nimble
Twin bedroom lamp: “Benghal Stripe” by Christopher Spitzmiller, Inc.
Twin bedroom lampshade fabric: by Schuyler Samperton Textiles
Blue bedroom bed frame: by Crate & Barrel
Blue bedroom wallpaper: “Uppark” by Farrow & Ball
RELATED: Stylish Kids’ Room Ideas That Even Grownups Will Love
Pretty in Pink Girls’ Bathroom
Girly details abound in Elle and Hadley’s Jill-and-Jill bathroom, from the delicate pink paint and floral-adorned mirrors to the custom tile floor featuring hand-placed pink rosettes. “It’s like an old print from a quilt that you’d see in a country home,” Jennifer says of the floor pattern.
Get the Look:
Mirrors: by Fleur
Cabinet and trim paint color: Calamine by Farrow & Ball
Nostalgic Outdoor Spaces
Located off the family room and the kitchen, the covered porch channels old-school country style with classic white wicker furniture topped with floral throw pillows and cabana-striped cushions that add just the right touch of vintage flair. “It’s the kind of spot that begs you to slow down,” says Jennifer. “Whether we’re sipping iced tea on a warm afternoon or watching the kids run around the yard, this porch is all about easy moments and simple pleasures.”
Only a few steps from the covered porch, the outdoor table is an ideal spot
for cocktails (preferably ranch water with a splash of grapefruit juice) and fresh lobster dinners. Jennifer, a self-admitted “non-cook,” also favors takeout meals tastefully presented on her favorite Christopher Spitzmiller dinnerware.
Get the Look
Wicker furniture: by Serena & Lily
Floral throw pillows: “Vita” by Lisa Fine Textiles
Saturated Mudroom
In the color-drenched mudroom, custom peg racks and built-in cabinets offer convenient storage, while an upholstered bench provides a handy spot for Hadley (pictured) and her sister, Elle, to slip off wellies. Made of reclaimed bricks, the rustic herringbone floor is Jennifer’s favorite element of the space. “Both beautiful and durable, it brings a touch of the outdoors in,” she says.
Get the Look:
Wall and cabinet paint color: Brinjal by Farrow & Ball
Bench cushion fabric: “Vasant” by Namay Samay
RELATED: Stylish Mudroom Ideas to Help Keep You Organized
Breezy Side Porch
The main house connects to the guest wing via a light-filled, aluminum-roofed breezeway that opens into the mudroom. A local woodworker made the plant stand and matching bench based off a sketch by Jennifer, who painted both pieces the same color as the home’s shutters.
Get the Look:
Shutter, bench, and plant stand paint color: Carriage Green by Farrow & Ball
This story first appeared in the August/September 2026 issue of Country Living. Photographs by Rikki Snyder; styling by Frances Bailey.
