Archive for 2016
A Cut Above
One of the most impactful transformations made during Project Refresh was creating fresh new cotton denim outfits for each piece of upholstery. My dear friend Sally Newhart – who I…
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No Trick. All Treats.
I’ve been a Sea Bags girl for many years. Handcrafted from recycled sails on the working waterfront in Portland, Maine, I just love that they once had a life on…
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Gray Is The New Black
While pops of black add a modern, graphic note to the freshly painted white rooms of Connecticut Country House, touches of warm gray, a wonderful neutral, add a soft sophistication…
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A Table For All Seasons
During the course of Project Refresh, I edited, pared down and simplified, with my mantra being, less is more. But, I have to admit that sometimes, when it comes to…
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Reader’s Choice
When I designed The Coop’s library wall, I knew I wanted something simple, strong and utilitarian – like the shelving from a century-old general store – and something large enough…
Keep ReadingOur 2016 Design Issue Is Here! And A Little Bonus…
Welcome to the Design Issue: an up-close and personal look at a transformation a year in the making — the one we called Project Refresh. Project Refresh was born in…
Keep ReadingOur New Design Issue Goes Live Tomorrow!
We’re putting the finishing touches on something very dear and personal to me. It’s our all new Nora Murphy Country House Style emagazine…AND it’s going live tomorrow! See you tomorrow…
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It’s The Cherry On Top
There’s a spot in my kitchen, on the counter right next to the stove where I always lean a favorite framed antique print. It’s an unexpected touch that adds a…
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The Little Cabbage That Could
“Mums” are the word this season – and so are cabbages! Ornamental cabbages are beautiful, hearty, and inexpensive plants that have a lot of “wow” to them, whether they’re planted…
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Hello October!
For me, October 1st really, truly is the 1st day of fall. Here in Connecticut, October is quintessential New England. The air gets brisk and crisp, the farmstands are abundant…
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Fall Snippets 2016
Last week, we posted our Mood/Inspiration Board video. So I thought it’s only natural to post the finished board. My process? Simple. As we head into each new season, I…
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Country House Bounty of Summer Soup
As I sat with my seed catalogs in the bitter cold of January, my thoughts were of warm late summer days and reaping the rewards of my carefully crafted orders.…
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Snipping Summer Into Fall
My very favorite pair of scissors is my ancient orange handled Fiskars – The Original. They’ve been knocking around in the kitchen’s junk drawer forever. So when I went to…
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Good Things Come To Those Who Wait
Tumbling over the stone wall in front of Connecticut Country House is one very happy Sweet Autumn Clematis. When I admire the drifts of tiny, snow-white blooms, it’s hard to…
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West Side Story
From early spring into late fall, we crave spending time outdoors. The patios at Connecticut Country House serve as natural extensions of the interior spaces. My approach to arranging these…
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Snip It. Snip It Good.
It was love at first sight and snip! Whether I’m giving my rosemary topiaries a haircut, just snipping a couple of fragrant branches to cook with, or adding a touch…
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Country House Oven-Dried Garden Tomatoes
From ear to ear I grin. Daily. I love this time of year. Each trip to the kitchen garden reveals something ripe and ready to be picked. The tomato crop…
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Style Snippets for Country Living
I’m incredibly honored that Country Living magazine featured an article based on the simple style snippets that I presented at their 2016 Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck, NY. For those…
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Lost & Found
This may look like one of those 5,000 piece mind-boggling puzzles, but it isn’t. It’s just a sampling of all we have discovered around the property of this old 1767…
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Back to School
I swear that it was just yesterday that I was welcoming August, and now, in what seems like in the blink of an eye, it has come and gone. Murph…
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Holding Onto Summer
Cool morning temps at Connecticut Country House are becoming a clearer sign that it’s almost time to hang-up the summer clothes. The crisp, crumply linens, the soft sun-bleached cottons, and…
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The Mini Midas Touch
The Summer Room (formerly known as the parlor/sitting room) is one of the smallest rooms in Connecticut Country House. No matter the size, this wee space still packs a pretty…
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Scented Small Spaces
This all-American vintage fruit-picking bucket gets a lovely French twist with the addition of small pots of lavender. Lined with a disposable foil loaf pan and tucked in so not…
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Life’s Little Snippets
Go ahead. Peek inside. Look around. From every angle, you’ll see something different. This new, lidded seeded glass jar is the perfect catchall for displaying special little tidbits. Old photos,…
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Fanciful Forms
My decorating motto is “Keep it simple”. Marrying unusual forms can make an everyday common spot a little more interesting. I love the scale and graphic nature of this hand-lettered…
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