Few designers walk the line between pretty and fearless quite as well as Ashley Whittaker. A traditionalist at heart, her love of bold color and pattern add a dose of modern sophistication to classic interiors. Please join me and Susanna for a visit with Ashley in her stunning country house in Millbrook, New York.
As Ashley and her husband looked for a larger house in Millbrook for their growing family, nothing exactly suited their taste and lifestyle. There were either sprawling yet squirrely 19th century homes or new construction lacking a certain architectural refinement. Instead they decided on a gorgeous hilltop property with expansive views and built their dream house from the ground up.
Starting from scratch allowed Ashley to combine the best of both worlds – the feel of an old house that lives like a new one. With a plethora of items on her wish list, Ashley singled out the floor plan as the most important consideration “It’s all about the connections – between the kitchen and the family room, the entry hall and to the outside.”
At the heart of the home is the great room above, a multifunctional living space, with two separate but interconnected seating areas, that works as well for two as for one hundred and is as perfect in the summer with French doors opening to the generous terrace as it is at the holidays with a roaring fire.
While in the planning stages, Ashley had original thought of a rectangular dining room but a suggestion from an architect friend convinced her that a square dining space was the answer. With the flexibility of a custom build, they were able to make the switch and now with a 72″ round dining table, she can seat up from four to ten comfortably in a room that strikes the perfect balance of sophisticated glamour and country chic.
all photos above by Stacey Bewkes for Quintessence
Throughout the house, Ashley’s love of color, pattern and the mix shines but nowhere is it more enchanting than the third floor girls’ bedrooms where enveloping wallpaper was her secret weapon.
If you can’t get enough of Ashley’s spirited and sophisticated take on updated traditional style (and who can) be sure to pick up a copy of her first book, The Well Loved House . Featuring projects from a sophisticated brownstone in Manhattan to the revitalization of Georgian Revival-style house in Greenwich
photo by Thomas Loof
to walking the line between traditional and contemporary for a townhouse in Florida you’ll be inspired and charmed! So thank you Ashley for welcoming us into your beautiful Millbrook home – we were enchanted!
Just delightful!
I absolutely love Ashley’s house! The rooms are so beautiful. I will be buying her book. Her neighbour is pretty special too. Thank you !
What a beautiful tour. I already have her book so was familiar with the design but to see it on video just made it exemplary. Also, the whole lunch part in the video should be a different series – Chris Spitzmiller is always so impeccable. Thoroughly enjoyed this video and story.
REALLY LOVELY…………….THE HOME THE COLORS THE STUFF!
What an inspiring and fanciful way to start the week. Can only imagine how wonderful this home is at holiday time. One of the best profiles and adding Ashley’s book to my collection.
I don’t think I blinked for the entire video! Thank you for the tour and congratulations to Ashley on her wonderful book.
So gracious and uplifting! Who was the architect?
Hi Lauren – yes it was Michael Elfenbein! He doesn’t seem to have a website…
Always delightful when you and Susanna
go on your serindipitious forays into lifestyles
that dreams are made of. Love it!
What a beautiful, refreshing home. And how lovely the ladies looked in their pretty dresses! As usual, another delightful tour. Thank you so much for doing these.
Charming.
this house is beautiful
Amazing talent…Susanna & Stacey can “pick them” AND know how to select the best questions to make everyone comfortable and forthcoming!! KUDOS franki
I really enjoyed this tour and especially the mural wallpaper in the dining room. Please share the source.
ohhh la la…….
(I want her vendor/supplier/retailers/ list for her “stuff”!!!!!!
Ha! You’ll have to hire her for that. ;-)
What a delightful home! I’ve seen her work but now I can put a face to the name. I enjoyed the fact that she mentioned Bunny Williams and Maria Buatta. Also loved seeing Christopher Spitzmiller!
Thank you, amazing. Forever now thinking of opportunities to wallpaper the ceiling.
Thank you Dan! Me too!