Connecticut Country House Archives | Nora Murphy Country House

Well, it’s official. Two weeks from today, we will have sold our beautiful 1767 Connecticut country house in Newtown to a lovely couple from New Jersey, and moving to a newer (1820) Connecticut country house on the Connecticut River in Lyme! This big change started when Murph and I came to the clear realization that…

Being homebound, I’m gazing at the gardens outside our windows that are ever so slowly coming back to life. This is what I look forward to each year. But this year, with all that we are dealing with, these gardens mean more to me than they ever have before. They represent life, as well as…

Spring is literally around the corner next week, and even though my long bank of Forsythia at Connecticut Country House is not yet in bloom, the faux forsythia wreaths and bouquets at my entrances certainly are! The way I look at decorating my doors is to follow what’s flowering each season. This makes my doors…

Over the years, it’s always been quite a hearty shindig of dear friends and family at Connecticut Country House for Thanksgiving. But this year we’re keeping it to an intimate gathering. Large or small, setting the holiday table is one of my favorite things to do. I always say that we don’t just show our…

This was no easy decision. Actually it was a really, really tough one…something I kept turning away from and putting off for over a year now. My sweet and beautiful beloved muse, my Connecticut country house, is now listed for sale. I stepped foot into this wonderful old house 17 years ago, and instantly fell…

Blue and white is probably my favorite color combination. It always feels so crisp and fresh…and timeless. So when Scot Haney, co-host of WFSB’s Better Connecticut came for a visit, I wanted to set a summer table that hosted this color palette. With help from our friends at Terrain, we were able to create something…

Let’s get personal. A basket filled with mom’s favorite breakfast treats, wrapped and presented with great care, and delivered in person, would make any mom feel loved and extra-special. So when WFSB’s Better Connecticut co-host Scot Haney came over to Connecticut Country House to see what we were planning for Mother’s Day, my basket was…

Potted spring flowers + basket with liner + moss + twigs = A beautiful spring garden basket! WFSB’s Better Connecticut co-host, Scot Haney, and I whip up a gorgeous (if we must say so ourselves!) spring basket that’s perfect for giving or keeping as a statement piece. It is super easy. And the bonus to…

Getting ready for the upcoming holiday? Me too! Eventhough I feel that my dining table really does set the mood for the occasion, it’s the buffet table that comes in at a close second! So when WFSB’s Better Connecticut co-host (and my buddy), Scot Haney, came over to my country house last week, I thought…

Amy Chalmers: "The excitement was real! Nora Murphy had invited me to her official book launch party in Connecticut, and would be putting me up in a lovely country cottage to stay overnight. I still couldn’t believe my house was featured alongside her iconic country home. I thought the perfect person to share this moment…

Setting a table in mid-March is tricky. At this point, I’m so done with winter (even though there’s snow piled up outside) and all I want to see is spring. With the glorious greens of St. Patrick’s Day, and just a few days shy of the first day of spring, a table set with fresh…

I’m so excited to feature some of my favorite fellow bloggers this year! Please meet Shawn & Kris of TheFarmhouseProject.com. You may already know them as the Country House in the Woods homeowners from my book. They decorate, cook, bake, garden (just to name a few), and are fabulous home entertainers. It’s their talent in…

As promised (and just in time for Valentine’s Day!), here is the latest WFSB, Better Connecticut segment where I walk co-hosts Kara and Scot through the easy steps to making this beautiful heart-shaped Linzer Tart Cookies. You can also get the written and printable recipe here. Enjoy! Love, Nora xo

Calling all tartan lovers! This latest Better Connecticut Lifestyle segment is dedicated to you! I wish I was able to get this uploaded in time for Christmas, but the more I think about it, tartan is always in style. So maybe for your New Year’s Eve table…or later on into the dreary winter months when…

Wishing you a beautiful, blessed Christmas Day…and peace on earth for always. Love, Nora xo

When it comes to gift giving, I feel that it’s important to listen to your heart and try to gift something that truly reflects the receivers personality as well as their likes and loves. Sometimes, that’s not so easy! I’ve found that creating Holiday Hampers are a fun and creative way to gift. No need…

My dear friends Chris & Dave live their businesses; Dave heads up Visual Merchandising at Ethan Allen, and Chris heads up DC Kingswood, a fabulous lifestyle vintage goods shop within the Fairfield County Antique & Design Center in Norwalk Connecticut. They live with their wonderfully unique finds, styled just right in their Bethel Connecticut townhouse.…

Thanksgiving Day. A day filled with family and friends, and much gratitude. I thank you for coming on this journey with me. There would be no NMCH without you! xo Thank you to my fabulous NMCH team of dedicated and hardworking people who believe in the journey and are happy to stay on board! I…

My sister Judy from Charleston, SC is visiting us, and I am so happy that she’s here! We’ve got a lot planned for her short stay, and today is very important to her…it’s Game Day! My sweet niece Kate goes to Clemson U., and today it’s Clemson vs. Boston College in Boston. So now you’ll know…

Just in time for Halloween, one of my favorite co-hosts from WFSB’s Better Connecticut came over to Connecticut Country House to see what I had up my sleeves for this Halloween! Kara Sundlun and I got right into the holiday spirit with a few wardrobe enhancements and away we went! It was a lot of…

I guess we can truly say that I launched my new book on my favorite show with my favorite TV crew, Scot Haney & Kara Sundlun on WFSB’s Better Connecticut! The entire Better Connecticut team has been so supportive, I am so looking forward to the new season with them! And today, the book was…

Have you ever considered growing currants? I never did, until a few years ago, by chance, I came upon a small currant shrub at my local nursery. Along with varieties of raspberries, I decided to take a blind leap of faith and give it a go. Happily I can state that this shrub is probably…

Good morning! Here’s the latest WFSB, Better Connecticut segment you may have missed…or live outside of Connecticut! I made 2 pie plates of Blueberry Crisp for our 4th of July dinner party, and served it up with vanilla and caramel gelato. Oh my….it was good! Enjoy the video and your weekend! Love, Nora

The Fourth of July is my second favorite holiday (Christmas definitely comes in at number 1!). So for my next WFSB, Better Connecticut lifestyle segment with Scot Haney, I was thrilled to dress up the front of my 1767 Connecticut Country House in lots of red, white, and blue fabulousness! To top it all off, we…

I love the 4th of July. And I love getting my classic 1767 Cape Cod/Saltbox all decked out for the holiday. But, it’s the first day of summer that inspires me to dig out my flag collection that I keep in the old wicker baskets at the far end of the living room. This collection…