photography: Tria Giovan
A hidden seating area with hand-carved benches is nestled under a grove of bamboo trees, creating a living fence around the outdoor room. |
Although they've long since covered the splatters, Cee and John have punctuated the cottage with colorful collections that highlight their passion for travel. "Every year, Cee and I spend a couple of weeks in Bali," John says. "When you're there, it's just a hop, skip, and a jump to other fun excursions."Their trips have also garnered a lot of requests from friends who've seen their findings. "People started asking us to buy them a teak Buddha for their garden, or a piece of Burmese lacquerware. We buy what we react to," John says. For a couple with such a sharp eye for design, their collections tend to add up. "We come back with a lot. If friends or clients want to buy the things, they can; otherwise, we are perfectly happy living with them!" The couple's basement is filled with pinch hitters. "It's fun having a mini gallery down there. We can rearrange art pieces or furniture and it's like we have brand new rooms," John says. In their decorating, John and Cee try to create a sense of surprise with architectural elements. "It's fun to let your guests discover something new, whether it's by hanging Japanese fabric panels that they have to pull back to walk through a doorway, or by constructing a maze through a grove of bamboo that leads to an outdoor room," says John. "You have to take a risk and sometimes make a mistake, but many times it's the mistakes that lead to the greatest successes, so it's always a worthwhile adventure."
photography: Tria Giovan
The backyard Bale (pronounced "bal-AY") at left, an open-air coconut pavilion made in Bali, is Cee's favorite spot for entertaining. "Stereo speakers, lighting, and a comfortable Balinese daybed make it great for hanging with friends by the pool," he says. |
In their own backyard, a thatched-roof Bale tucked amid a privet hedge, a bamboo fence, autumn olives, and an apple tree is ideal for summer soirees. "Year-round, we keep the pool heated to a spa temperature, so we use it from mid-April through mid-December," Cee says. "John and I can take a glass of wine out there and catch up on the day's events or just commune with nature."
photography: Tria Giovan
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