in high school, Audrey Leary I painted the walls of my bedroom with nail polish. “I always use what I have on hand to make things more colorful,” says Audrey. “Color makes me happy.” Now Audrey and her husband, Sam, Blackberry River Bistro in Canaan, Connecticut. He is in charge of most of the cooking and she is her trained pastry chef. She lives nearby with her 6-year-old son Daniel and her 4-year-old Kevin.
front door
paint: benjamin moore greenPendant: herman millerBird Stencil: By Audrey. Light: color creation studio. Bears: presents, resembleBench cushion: self-made.
About Dad’s Love Words: When I moved in 10 years ago, the foyer had black and white tiles. When my dad came to visit, he found it chipped and falling apart. This flooring keeps the room in place and I love it.
dining/living room
Central hub: This huge table was inherited from my husband’s brother. It’s the center of our home, holding our cereal bowls, Legos, mail, paintings, and everything else in the middle of this ever-moving house.
wall color: Benjamin Moore Eraser Pink. Light: Customize by color code. Bowl: east forkChair: Facebook Marketplace, resemble.
About personal painting: Early in the pandemic my husband went fishing and caught a huge trout. Her son was thrilled. I drew it, but it still needs to be finished — it’s still a work in progress, but there are quite a few drawings up.
Bookshelf color: Benjamin Moore Gentleman’s Gray. Bookshelf lamp: school building.
About book hunting: Our library is about one-third fishing related, about one-third novels, and about one-third cookbooks.my favorite for baking Republique book, Tartine all bread, and Anything by Sarah Kiefer. I like it too red cat cookbook A simple, well-made classic, and Genius recipes from Food52 never fails.
Wall Color: Benjamin Moore acadia green and rainforestCandelabra: IKEA, resembleSofa: Room & Board, resemble. table: west elm. Ottoman: IKEA, resembleLag: revival.
About creating a wall pattern: This wall was once Light green, but I felt it in toothpaste, so I wanted to add a pattern. I made a simple stencil of the largest semicircle (the top of the rainbow if you want) by tracing an IKEA mixing bowl onto thick paper and then cutting it in half. Tracing, then moving it to follow another arc right next to it. I kept doing the same thing offsetting every other line.Finally I painted the top arc dark green I just used a small paintbrush to follow my eyes on what was underneath. It was tedious but easy.
purple lamp: simple design. Wall color: Benjamin Moore Eraser Pink.
About Meditative Rituals: We get most of our paint from our local Buy Nothing group and do all the painting ourselves. I listen to podcasts – and show songs when I need a boost. My biggest tip is to use a drop cloth. And if I don’t get the paint color I want, I mix it up and try my best.
tv room
Entryway green table: IKEA, resemble. Chair: west elm. Sofa: Albany Park. Ottoman: blue dotWallpaper: SandbergLugs: West Elm, resembleDoor frame brooch: Vintage.
About the collection: A few years ago, when we lived in Brooklyn, I wore all vintage—day gloves, hats, brooches—I went all out. , I couldn’t ditch my collection of brooches. Any collection can look cool when displayed in the right space. Her husband’s lures are also fun to watch.
sofa: Albany ParkWallpaper: Sandberg. Ceiling Color: background stromboli chess clubPortrait: by Audrey. Lamp: I painted an old target lamp inspired by this one. school building oneRed console table: CB2, resemble.
About how to remember pets: Before having children, my husband and I adopted a 5-year-old rescue dog who had many quirks and problems. But she was the sweetest. She passed away a few years ago, so I painted her for her husband at Christmas. I enjoyed the process so much that I asked for a giant wooden panel to paint the boy’s portrait for his birthday.
About Sweet Photos: my youngest [right] It was the most grumpy baby.But in this photo with his ice cream, he very Happy. So I drew that picture. Also, I thought it would be interesting if my other son had a caricature of him eating ice cream. We eat a lot of ice cream.
With a playful touch: The decoration under the ceiling is just a classroom scalloped trim like a teacher would use.
kitchen
wall color: benjamin moore blue diamond. Trim Color: benjamin moore firefly. Step stools: IKEA, resembleDish cloth: All Road Studio.
On the reality of owning a restaurant: 1st year since I started running our restaurant, we were working 60 to 80 hours a week. I often slept on the exploding mattress in the kitchen because I had to work overtime and leave early. Then get up and hide the mattress before the staff arrive. It was all consuming and I remember crying to her husband. Thankfully, I have calmed down a bit. It’s hard, but I love almost everything. I enjoy working with my hands and nothing makes people happier than a beautiful meal served with love.
clock: thrifty, resemble. Radiator paint: farmhouse red chalk paint. Trim Color: benjamin moore firefly.
About the sample: I worshiped this wallpaper From flavor paper, but we couldn’t afford it. You can smell the banana when you scratch it!
downstairs bus
purple paint: benjamin moore eggplant purpleFlowers: Hand painted by Audrey.Mirrors: Save up and paint with the rest of Benjamin Moore fire Fly from the kitchen. shower curtain: school building, resembleTiger Bath Mat: Amazon.
In a cheerful space: There is a book called Beata Heuman. every room should sing, and to me every room should be a smile. It’s so silly to say that, but I really think every room should have something bright and quirky.
On a hilarious note: I came home from a restaurant one night and found this note on the floor in my hallway. My oldest was so proud of his little brother! we had to put it together.
guest bedroom
Paint Color: Background Color Stromboli Chess Club, blue is the coolest color and FormenteraSide table: purchased at auction, resemble. clock: school building. Bolster Pillow: resemble. Duvet: school building. blue pillow: school buildingHeadboard: from Overstock, resemblePlugin candelabra: Amazon.
About DIY Satisfaction: Many of the decisions in this house started with thoughts like: i wish i had money for thisThen find something similar you can do yourself. There’s nothing more satisfying than having someone say, “Oh my God, this wallpaper is so beautiful.” when you actually did it. I freestyle painted these walls in a few different blues.
pendant: hayVintage chair: Purchased at auction. Wooden benches: savings.
About the backstory: That framed poster is from an 80’s ski championship. My husband became a ski champion when she was three years old. That chair has seen better times, but our old dog Lucky used to sleep in it, so we’re keeping it for her nostalgia.
primary bedroom
Paint color: benjamin moore electric blue. Bedspread: La Cerise Sur Le GateauCandelabra: YorzeiBolster: “Made from old pants.” Nightstand: Wayfair.
Splash color everywhere: my husband gave me stamp roller For Mother’s Day I used it on these walls. I also spray painted the sconces red and then painted the nightstands. purple Thanks to the green nail polish, it has a green handle.
In Whirlwind Romance: My husband and I met at a friend’s house in Brooklyn. We talked until four in the morning. We moved in together after 2 weeks. I was due to go back to Chicago. I had already accepted the job and put a security deposit on the apartment. My parents panicked when I decided not to move — they thought I was crazy. But Sam and I got engaged a few months later and have been married for 12 years.
About changing clothes: I was listening to an interior design podcast a few months ago, and if you don’t know your interior design style, look at Closet. Getting dressed is a creative outlet for me. my instagram As a little fashion diary. I am also inspired by hotels. Peter & Paul at New Orleans.
boys room
wallpaper: hygge and waistCactus lamp: thrifty. Red lamp: AmazonShelf: “My husband made it” Yellow phone: mobile mobile. Boat kites: tactile laboratoryPterodactyls and Hot Air Balloons: by Audrey.
About Nursery Joy: I want the whole house to look like a child’s room. Bunk beds obtained from a local Buy Nothing group. Then I took them apart and painted them with green chalkboard paint.
Dresser: hand-me-down painting farmhouse red chalk paint.
About the welcome from Mr. and Mrs. Obama: I was thrilled to read that I could request congratulations from the president after having a baby. I did that to my first son, who was born in June 2016. But when my second son was born in 2019, we didn’t ask Trump to do it.
About boy names: My husband wanted to name the boy after his father. He said, “My father has done so much for me. When else can I give you a gift like this?” So he named his eldest son Daniel. When I got pregnant again, I thought that if it was a girl, I would name it after my mother. I love my dad, but his name was Kevin, which felt like a name at the time. For his first six months, it was like, “This is Kevin. I named him after my father.” But it just so happened that the name fits the child.
Bedtime: Before Kevin was born and joined him, Daniel was afraid to sleep alone. Speaking of bravery, people come up and say, “You’re so brave to paint in bright colors.” But don’t be afraid of color. If you don’t like it, fill it in! Nothing can make a bigger impact for less money than color. With the right colors, you can make your inherited cheap sofa look cool and purposeful.
Thank you for sharing your home, audrey! you can follow her on Instagramif you please.
PS More house tours, including scenic Maine homes and colorful farmhouses with open doors.
(Photo courtesy: Lindsey Hannah for Cup of Joe)
