New House Old Charm

This just-built Northampton, MA, Craftsman feels like it's been around for decades-in a good way!

- ERIN ZAMMETT RUDDY

Amy Church was looking to move closer to family in Northampton, MA, but a yearlong house search came up empty. So the mother of two took matters into her own hands. "I bought land and created a 20-slide deck about what I'd want in my dream place," she says.

Amy, a renewable energy expert, included all the features she loved from the historic homes she's lived in: columns, dormers, wood paneling. "I always felt like those places gave me a hug, and I wanted my new home to do the same," she says.

She chose Craftsman-style architecture for its coziness, and added an apartment above the garage to rent to a friend and her daughter. (Amy and her friend are both single moms.) Designers Sally Staub and Hannah Ray then helped her pick patterns that reflected her whimsical style-but also pushed her out of her comfort zone. "It's even better than what I dreamed up," says Amy. "And that's saying something, because I dreamed big."

mudroom

This spot leads to the yard and pool, so it's a high-traffic area for the kids and the family pup, Loki. Amy chose low-maintenance Opera tiles for the floors, and Sally suggested laying them in a herringbone pattern for character. The nature-inspired wallpaper is from Sanderson, and the sign comes from an antiques shop that Amy's family ran for three generations (Walt Disney was a client!).