Inside a Moody Alabama Farmhouse Hidden Among the Trees, Where Benjamin Moore’s Coachman’s Cape Takes Center Stage – 'We Pulled in the Colors We Were Seeing Outside'
Informed by its rural setting, this American farmhouse has a nuanced aesthetic that embraces both the modern and the rustic
Set deep in the forest and blending beautifully with the surrounding trees, this timber-clad farmhouse in Alabama seems immersed in nature, making the perfect vacation home for a large, outdoorsy family.
‘The clients had owned a property on the site for many years, a generational house, and decided it was time for them to tear down their old, smaller place and build this legacy house design for their children,’ explains interior designer Sean Anderson, who was tasked with creating an inviting, functional and comfortable interior.
Kitchen: A beautifully veined stone elevates the cooker splashback and island worktop. The generous island provides a space to gather when the owners are cooking. Countertop in Mystery Black stone. Light fixture, Roman and Williams.
The modern farmhouse was designed by Chris Tippett of Tippett Sease Baker Architecture to serve as a base for the many outdoor activities that the family enjoy, as well as a convivial venue for hosting family and friends.
Pantry: Color drenching elicits a cocooning feel here, while black marble surfaces add to the dark and moody atmosphere. Cabinetry and walls in Coachman’s Cape, Benjamin Moore. Cabinet pulls, Michael M Coldren Company. Tap, Waterworks. The runner is a vintage design.
Sean is renowned for his chic schemes that lean into earthy hues.
‘We like to be quite versatile with our projects,’ he says, ‘but I think one of the through lines here is the moodier aesthetic, the warmer tones and the very textural elements.’
Dining Nook: Shapely curves evoke a calm ambience conducive to relaxation. White oak table, designed by Sean Anderson. Banquette in a Holland & Sherry fabric. Vintage chairs, French, c. 1960. Pendant, Materia. Cafe curtains in linen by de Le Cuona. Sheepskin cushions, Moore & Giles.
Sean has crafted thoughtful, nuanced schemes that evoke an intimate and enveloping mood.
‘A lot of these specific room colors were derived from the environment,’ notes Sean. ‘Behind the house, there’s a pond and we pulled in a lot of the colors that we were seeing outside so that they shared that similar language, indoors and outdoors.’
Bathroom: Taking inspiration from the lush surroundings, Sean saturated the space with an earthy green hue. Walls and cabinetry in Jungle Canopy, Benjamin Moore. Vanity counters in Calacatta Cameo marble.
The carefully considered rooms are a mélange of old and new.
‘There’s a big push to inject a lot of antiques and older items, with it being a new build, and, as this is a legacy home, we wanted to incorporate a lot of older items that had patina and character, so that it felt like they had been there for a long time, despite all the new architecture and clean finishes. I don’t ever want it to feel brand new, but as though the clients have lived in it for a while and spent years curating and collecting objects.’
Bedroom: Layers of natural materials create a texture-rich scheme. Headboard in a Moore & Giles Leather. Custom oak desk, Sean Anderson. Chair, French, c. 1900.
Architect Chris Tippett had already outlined the use of natural materials and Sean played to this by utilizing wood and stone throughout the interior, as well as incorporating natural materials such as wool, leather and suede.
Great Room: The windows bathe the space in natural light, which allowed designer Sean Anderson to introduce an array of rich colors into the luxurious and zoned space. Sofa; coffee table and dining table, all custom designed by Sean Anderson. Pendants, Materia. Curtains in a Holland & Sherry fabric.
The go-to entertaining space in the home is undoubtedly the Great Room – an expansive, open-plan vaulted space with a towering fieldstone stone fireplace. Greige walls are complemented by tonal furniture and fabrics.
‘The darker hue of the paint helped it not feel so cavernous. It enveloped this space – while it is quite grand, there is an intimacy that this darker hue helps achieve,’ says Sean. This was one of his favorite rooms to design in the home – the clients wanted a space where people could congregate comfortably.
‘There were many specific needs, so we had to create all of the different zones to allow it to function for them the way they wanted it.’ The solution was a multifunctional, layered room that includes lounging spaces, as well as zones for games and dining.
Great Room: At the heart of this space is an imposing fieldstone chimney breast. Natural materials and fabrics inject additional texture. Fireplace made from regionally sourced Alabama fieldstone. Armchairs (smaller), Danish, 1940s, 1stDibs. Rugs, Antrim.
Shearling chairs encourage cozying up by the open fire, a large modular sofa invites conviviality, a banquette and table is ideal for games, while a generous dining table allows for more formal entertaining.
Furniture is a blend of clean-lined, chunky and shapely curves. ‘While we have the rustic, the big dining table and vintage chairs, I like that kind of push and pull in the interiors. And so, even in a farmhouse, I like to inject a little of that contemporary feel that makes it more eclectic and interesting to the eye.’
Main Bathroom: A shapely bath takes centre stage here. Walls and ceiling in Hope Chest, Benjamin Moore. Tub, Waterworks. The runner is an antique oushak. Curtains in a de Le Cuona fabric.
While the same greige paint is used throughout the downstairs, providing a cohesive feel, the walls of the powder room are clad in timber.
‘We carried the paint throughout the entire downstairs, so we wanted the powder room to serve as a little jewel box in the home and deviate from what was surrounding it, while not being too loud or different from everything else.’
Main Bedroom: Golden green walls enhance the feeling of warmth. ‘While the house is quite large, there’s an intimacy to all the spaces,’ says Sean. Bed, Baker; covered in a Zinc Textile fabric. Bedding, Jenni Kayne. Curtains in a Bart Halpern fabric. Rug, Armadillo. Walls in Hope Chest, Benjamin Moore.
Upstairs, meanwhile, the palette moves towards earthy greens.
‘It was something we were seeing in the leaves outside and deriving all of this from nature because that’s who these clients are,’ explains Sean. ‘They live outdoors and with the rooms being on the second level and having a little more light, we could go a little brighter with the green.’ For an outdoorsy family, this home couldn’t be tailored more perfectly.
Bedroom: Antique quilts introduce striking pattern and ensure a timeless look. Custom integrated bunk beds, designed by Chris Tippett. Pendant, vintage. The rug is a vintage patchwork kilim.
If you're looking to recreate a similar sultry, texture-driven feel in your own home, our moody farmhouse edit will help you achieve Sean's time-worn, authentic, yet sophisticated look with just a few well-chosen finds.
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