She Built Dream Cottage

This home was designed to the owner's specifications in her most-loved location.

- MERYL SCHOENBAUM

When Lean White and her family decided it was time to move, the decision of where they would put down their roots was an easy one. "We've lived in this quiet rural town for years and knew we wanted to stay in the area," she says regarding her hometown of Hope Valley, Rhode Island. "Our goal was to find a peaceful, wooded property with a natural landscape and we were thrilled when we found this one. The land borders a serene stretch of woods and a river, offering the tranquility we had been searching for."

Leah shares her dream cottage with her husband, Alan, and their four children: Victoria, Ninah, Quinn and Maeve. "It's a full house, and every space is designed with family and connection in mind," she says. "We purchased five acres in the countryside and designed and built our home from the ground up. My husband and I spent months poring over floor plans, but none of them felt like the right fit for our family. Eventually, we decided to create our own layout, one that reflected how we actually live. We sketched out the layout ourselves, carefully designing each room to suit our family's needs.

We then brought our drawings to an architect to turn them into formal plans. It was such a rewarding process and the result is exactly what we had envisioned-truly our dream home come to life. It's designed in a New England style that offers plenty of space for our family and guests."