An Unusual Yet Exquisite Millbrook Country House
By ML Ball
Photos by Björn Wallander
No pressure! For her first solo project after leaving Juan Montoya Design in New York, interior designer Alison Newman started at the top, literally. At the crest of a seriously steep hill in Millbrook with jaw-dropping 360-degree views that go on and on, a delightfully charming couple asked her to design the interiors for a house they were building. But not just any house: one that would virtually in every detail evoke a classic 1800s English country house.
The couple? Rima Farah, Geneva-born with an exceptional eye for beauty, and her French husband Olivier Lordonnois, manager of Manhattan’s luxury hotel Aman.
“We aimed to create a space that feels lived in for over 200 years that was coherent with our surroundings and rich in history,” Farah explains. “While we never wanted to jeopardize the design, we understood the need for performance fabrics to accommodate our furry friends.”
Ah, there’s the other of Newman’s challenges. The house that was being constructed (not renovated) needed to easily accommodate all sorts of animals who would live there or might wander through: dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, even the occasional miniature donkey. (Farah is considering acquiring a housebroken pig.)
As Newman soon learned, Farah’s lifelong passion is rescuing abused or abandoned pets and farm animals, providing them with a protected, loving home to live out their lives. After years spent rescuing dogs slated for euthanasia in NYC’s high kill shelters, she founded Happy Farm Animal Rescue, located on several acres below the house. “Happy Animal Farm Rescue is a unique sanctuary where the animals come to thrive,” Farah notes. “They are recognized as individual beings and nurtured with unconditional love and care in their forever home.”
For Newman, this meant choosing materials that could stand up to muddy paw prints and be easily cleaned. Floors are either wood or stone, and upholstery is made from natural fibers such as rattan and durable fabrics like mohair. “Rima and I collaborated on every decision,” says Newman, “aiming for luxurious, comfortable beauty while always keeping the animals in mind.”
For the next three years, Newman meticulously researched, sourced, and in many cases, commissioned, richly patterned textiles and wallpapers, custom tiles, period furniture, antique rugs, and custom oil paintings from all over the world. Many architectural elements were reclaimed and restored from old American homes, such as massive hand-hewn ceiling beams, chestnut doors, Victorian grill plates, etched bell lanterns, and a Federalist fireplace.
Throughout the house, Farah’s love of color is evident. In the primary bedroom, the mustard upholstered bed perfectly complements a William Morris tapestry-styled floral fabric headboard wall. The couple’s daughter’s bedroom is papered in lime green grass cloth, and flanking the bathtub are hand painted tiles featuring Happy Farm’s animals. In the kitchen, the walls are adorned with yellow and green Portuguese floral tiles. The front door is bright red, the mud room is deep blue. Everything works, beautifully.
And everyone is happy—the owners, Newman, and of course, the animals. Not bad for your first time out.—alisonnewmaninteriors.com
