Reimagining Farmdale

In an excerpt from his new book, Home Again, designer James Farmer once more transforms the Perry, Georgia, house he's lived in for 10 years

- by JAMES FARMER

Embrace the Outdoors With its cushy furniture and a fireplace, the poolside cabana can be enjoyed in every season

“I WANNA BE HOME again and feeling right...” Carole King wrote and sang. My mother listened to Carole King so much that her tunes are not only the soundtrack to my childhood but a one-way ticket to happy memories of home.

A lot of life happened in a decade for me. I lost my grandmother and mother in the same year—right at the onset of building Farmdale. My home became not just my house but a place my sisters could come home to, bring their families, celebrate holidays, and even have a wedding. I donated a kidney to my sister Meredith and, three years later, she and Keaton were married in the garden. Sister Maggie and her husband Zach had two children—and adopted three more! Our family grew—from the three siblings left in the wake of our mother’s death—to a bustling bunch of kinsmen redeemers.

Strike a Balance (Clockwise from far left) Sentimental and smart choices rule in the eat-in kitchen, where he opted for additional storage and style in the pantry. The dining nook recalls his grandparents' fondness for a breakfast table with rolling chairs, which he covered in a Cowtan & Tout plaid. The white cabinets stretch to the paneled ceiling.