If you have not noticed #kennedycore or New England Summer trending on social media, I bow to you. I’m only aware because it’s business. We’ll discuss and then turn to Nora Murphy’s COUNTRY HOUSE LIVING which features an inspiring volume of New England country houses. American country style is suddenly (and maybe temporarily) chic, but if you follow this blog, we admire it for its timeless, wholesome, beauty that will never fall from favor.
Photography: DuAnne Simon
KennedyCore & American Country Houses to Inspire
What is Kennedy Core?
It’s a trending aesthetic you’ll see appearing on TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest which combines effortless elegance, understated coastal style, 1990s American pop culture and nostalgia, New England inspired minimalist classic chic, preppy style, and hashtags such as #oldmoney #CapeCodAesthetic #newenglandstyle #coastalelegance associated with JFK Jr., Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, and the Kennedy family.
If the words “New England Summer” instantly ease you into a relaxed state of mind, these American country houses may inspire.
American Country Houses
If your ideal aesthetic is country style, even an urban apartment can adopt the look with inspiration you’ll find inside this fabulous book.
In fact, even if American country style and Kennedy Core are not favorites, you may still score a slew of helpful design ideas from this Rizzoli title!
New England Summer Vibes & American Country Interiors
Nora Murphy’s new home across the river from Essex, Connecticut is every bit as delightful as you might imagine. A few notable elements?
CREATE ARCHITECTURE WITH ART. Notice how Nora prominently displays her collection of François-Nicolas Martinet eighteenth-century French engravings at the top of the stairs…beyond stunning! I am ever rotating the art at the top of my own staircase, never quite satisfied. The architectural interest of these beautiful framed prints is inspiring!
ADD INSTANT EFFORTLESS ELEGANCE WITH WHITE. Surprising many of her followers, Murphy chose the bright cool white Benjamin Moore SUPER WHITE to grace walls, ceilings, trim, and doors. The gallery-like effect creates a fresh, clean, coastal backdrop for collections to pop.
I can attest to what a cool, crisp white can do to modernize spaces that call for light and an energy boost. I used Benjamin Moore White OC-151 in our former home to unify rooms, create tension, and offer an unexpected backdrop for the balance of warm aged finishes and antiques.
PAINTED WOOD FLOORS as ALTERNATIVE TO REPLACEMENT. I was thrilled to see her transform dark stained oak flooring in her dining room to bring it new life in white! What a beautiful way to create softness and add a delicate touch to contrast with more rustic textural dining room pieces.
How to Create Humble Rustic Elegance?
Inside NORA MURPHY COUNTRY HOUSE LIVING, you’ll discover a range of home tours from eight homeowners uniquely interpreting country house style.
You’ll be treated to a pastoral 1732 center-chimney colonial in Connecticut nestled in spectacular gardens.
We are wowed by an 1840s Greek Revival in the Hudson Valley filled with romantic Victorian ephemera.
A cozy cottage on the coast of Maine reflects a New England aesthetic rich with local details.
These are Nora Murphy curated house tours and not a portfolio of her work. They show off the work of the homeowners themselves.
American Style, New England Country & Homes With Authenticity
You will notice that each of the celebrated homes seems to relate to the others.
For example, you’ll see collections, antiques, history, and sumptuous comfort.
You’ll be inspired by examples of how to live with and celebrate Americana.
Country Interiors & Decor Inspiration
If you are new to country casual lifestyle and decorating, this is a brilliant guide with beautifully photographed spaces.
As someone in media who has snapped photos of interiors for decades, I can attest it demands great skill when rooms are smallish or short on natural light.
Old country houses have those qualities so a challenge indeed to find the lovely light and the magic angle! What skill, DuAnne Simon!
Well done, Nora Murphy! As a homebody yet to tire of admiring the beauty of life at home, I’m grateful we have your warm voice, trained eye, and creative energy reflected on these pages.
The eight lovely stories revealed in Nora Murphy’s COUNTRY HOUSE LIVING compelled me to gaze at my own country home with fresh eyes.
How will I infuse more lifegiving joy, simplicity, and personality into spaces calling out for revival?
Ideas & Resources for Interiors
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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