Last week I had the pleasure of spending the day with my friend Denise and seeing her sweet home and captivating neighborhood and I thought I would share it with you. Although I’ve lived a short drive from her home for many years, I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing this hidden gem of a neighborhood.
I put ‘Country’ in quotes in the title of this post not because her home is in the country. It just looks like it is. That’s what makes it so special. She and her husband have the best of both worlds. It is, in fact, just a short train ride to Manhattan where her husband commutes to each day, and Denise spends much of her time tending to her home, volunteering and keeping up with her Etsy business.
As you enter into Denise’s neighborhood, you know immediately you are headed somewhere special as you pass stone walls and you spot a lake, a unique feature for this area. A short drive will bring you to her cottage style home complete with stonework and a pristine garden.
Across the street is a fairy tale cottage owned by a bachelor who has completely renovated the inside and according to Denise, has done a fabulous job. Wish I could have seen it! Just to the right is the lake. Can you see it? Wouldn’t you like to have this view from your front door?
Have you ever met someone and thought ‘they should be a blogger’? Well, that’s what I think Denise should do. She loves the thrill of the hunt, and has picked up numerous treasures for fabulous prices. Here’s an antique ice box she purchased through Craigslist that she uses as a bar.
While I was taking pictures, I noticed my camera was acting a bit strange. It wasn’t letting me change the aperture, and a lot of the pictures were coming out blurry. It wasn’t until a few days later while I was at the cabin that I realized what the problem was. The lens wasn’t secured. You would think the camera wouldn’t let me take pictures, right? Well, unfortunately it did and so many of the pictures that I took that day and a few days later aren’t fit to show you. You can see how blurry this one is, but I’ve included it anyway. Don’t you just love this piece?
Denise’s husband is an avid gardener, and judging from these pictures he’s pretty good at it. She thoughtfully put together a book for him that highlights some of his most notable blooms. Peonies are my favorite flower and they have some gorgeous ones!
Isn’t this the cutest family portrait you’ve ever seen? Sadly, one of their fur babies passed away just a couple of weeks before my visit.
Look at this face? She could give ‘grumpy cat’ a run for his money. She must be thinking ‘go away lady, you’re sooooo annoying’!
Denise’s taste leans toward traditional, with some primitive and antique pieces thrown into the mix.
They’ve done lots of traveling and enjoy showcasing pieces they’ve picked up from exotic locales.
Their kitchen is small but well thought out. Notice the MacKenzie Child mat? She has several pieces in her kitchen, which complements the black and white color scheme.
As cozy as the interior is, the real star is the outside. They spend a lot of time in their enclosed porch, and who can blame them?
When it rains, water flows over these rocks into the nearby lake, the soothing sound of the running water filling the air.
The nearby lake, which serves the 76 families that reside in this community, is well used during the summer months. Weeping Willows are my favorite trees. Don’t you think they are so romantic?
After a quick lunch, we stopped off at Maryknoll, a world renowned missionary organization. Founded in the early part of the 1900’s, Father Walsh, one of the founding fathers, traveled to the Orient and set up Maryknoll’s first mission in Kwangtun, China, hence the Asian design influence you see here.
You’re probably wondering what this next picture represents. I know I was! Well, it’s literally hundreds of ‘wishes’ that are written on thin pieces of wood and tied with string. I couldn’t pass up the chance to put my wish in.
I hope I can share what it was very soon!
Maybe Denise will invite me back in the Spring when their garden is in full bloom :).
Sharing At
Julie says
Hi Doreen thanks for the wonderful tour of your friends house. It is so pretty and I do love the porch and it must be nice living near a lake. Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog anniversary, I appreciate it. Take care and enjoy the week. Julie at julieslifestyle.blogspot.com
Angela says
What a lovely home in a beautiful area! How nice for your friend to have their own lake! I’d spend all my time on that porch too! Hope your wish comes true! 🙂 ~~Ang
Amy @ StowandTellU says
What a lovely tour! You are right, that it’s hard to imagine an area like that is nestled so close to NYC. She has an amazing view, from every angle it appears. Maryknoll is striking and is that wishing monument part of the mission?
Doreen Sargente says
Yes Amy, it is part of that amazing structure you see. I can’t imagine how long it must have taken to build it!
Cindy Eikenberg says
Absolutely beautiful house and outdoor space! I would absolutely love to see the garden in Spring bloom. Love the gnomes and little sign! 🙂 Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day!
Cecilia says
Doreen,
Thanks for the tour! I’m glad you got some good pictures out of it . I love her gnomes and their Gnomes and Gardens sign. Laughing at Miss Grumpy Cat too. The wishing thing is really cool. What an interesting place!
Cecilia
Denise says
Thank you, Doreen, for featuring my home and neighborhood on your blog. I got chills reading and looking at the photos…and I live here! You are welcome in my home any time, any season. I loved our afternoon together. xxDenise
Jane says
I absolutely fell in love with Denise’s home from the very first picture! It really is in a heavenly setting with the lake and beautiful gardens. And her style is very warm and inviting, right down to the kitties! I loved your pictures of Maryknoll, too. It sounds like you two had a wonderful day!
XO,
Jane
Vada says
Does anyone blog who owns a house with less than 3000 sq ft?? I cannot relate and need help with small spaces.
Doreen Sargente says
Hi Vada! Our current rental is 1250 sq ft, and our weekend cabin is around 1750 sq ft. I recently wrote a post about small spaces, and you can also find lots of tips for organizing under ‘tips and tricks’ category in the navigation bar. If you have a specific question or problem you’re having trouble resolving please feel free to email me at [email protected] and I will do my best to help.
In the meantime, just do a search in the sidebar for ‘small space living’ and that will take you where you need to go.
Thanks for stopping by!
Cynthia says
Doreen you friends house it so wonderful. The outside just grabbed me!! Thanks for sharing all these lovely pictures of the missionary too.
Cynthia
Kimberly says
Your friends home is so welcoming!
And what a lovely neighborhood.
I love their cozy fireplace too.
Andi says
Better Gnomes and Gardens!!! LOVE!!
-andi
Patti says
Your friends home is just lovely, and the neighborhood so charming. You HAVE to go back and get more pictures! The icebox is such a cool piece.
Hope all your wishes come true.
Hugs,
Patti