It’s no secret that Cottagecore has been a big trend in recent years and the unveiling of Bryce Dallas Howard’s New York home in an Architectural Digest tour will only further inspire homeowners to continue with the trend for 2024 and beyond.
Image Credit – Architectural Digest
The Hollywood actress and director took us inside her upstate New York cottage as part of AD’s ‘Open Door’ series and wowed viewers with a vibrant yet relaxing interior that epitomises modern cottagecore.
The home was built in 1937 but is a replica of an 18th Century home in Pennsylvania, which is coincidentally where Howard filmed her first movie, The Village 20 years ago.
Working with her interior designer Claire Thomas, Howard drew inspiration from a variety of sources, including Jane Austin and Wes Anderson. What this has resulted in is a charming country cottage which is balanced with bold and colourful modern elements.
Image Credit – Architectural Digest
James Mellan-Matulewicz, Creative Director at interiors brand Bobbi Beck explains: “Bryce’s interior scheme is one of the best realizations of the cottagecore trend you could find.
“It’s achieved by carefully blending authentic cottage features, like exposed wood and stone and then pairing with bold colours and modern finishes for a look that feels nostalgic without feeling dated.
“There is a significant use of William Morris patterns across wallpapers and fabrics. This style, known as Arts & Crafts, originally became popular in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century but is being revived and really having a moment right now.”
Image Credit – Architectural Digest
When choosing furniture, Howard and Thomas have predominantly chosen period-style items, but a few modern pieces do make an appearance, such as the table and chairs in the Wes Anderson-inspired office.
Image Credit – Architectural Digest
James explains “although a few modern elements show up in the scheme, they blend well because they’re often materials that compliment the historic feel of the cottage. Whether that’s the wooden table in the office, the wicker chairs in the dining room or the gold handles on the kitchen cabinets, these modern elements compliment the overall space because of the consistent use of natural materials.”
Howard’s home has an authentic sentimentality which is predominantly driven by Howard’s inspiration from her grandmother. Speaking on the tour, Howard said of her grandmother: “This is the most important person…She was an actress and absolutely a total ham. She was very hilarious and so much of this house has really been inspired by her.”
Image Credit – Architectural Digest
The kitchen and dining room are adorned with glassware that were passed down to Howard by her Grandmother Jean and the dining room features a large table that has been in the family for many years. The tablecloth that covers is was custom made featuring tulips, which is a nod to Amsterdam, which is where Bryce and her husband Seth Gabel first fell in love. The dining room also features a piano that Howard took lessons on as a child.
Image Credit – Architectural Digest
James commented: “Many celebrity properties can end up feeling more like adverts for hotel rooms, where designer aesthetics can dominate so much that the house ends up feeling impersonal, but Bryce has balanced aesthetics and authenticity in a way that truly makes this amazing cottage feel like home.”
About James Mellan-Matulewicz
James is Creative Director and Designer at Bobbi Beck, a design and print studio specialising in sustainable luxury wallpaper. He has over 10 years leading multidisciplinary design and visual communication teams. For the past 8 years, he has been working in the interior design industry in creative director roles, overseeing design and interior styling for interiors products.
About Bobbi Beck
Bobbi Beck is a design and print studio specializing in sustainable luxury wallpaper. Its products are designed and made-to-order in its Cornwall-based studio and sold internationally. It is a design brand with a broad style. The team takes inspiration from a variety of sources, creating patterns and murals for a variety of tastes.
Bobbi Beck wallpaper is made to order and the brand offers a colour-matching service, allowing you to customize your wallpaper to a pre-existing paint colour.
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