Kevin Huffman: In February 1987 we saw an ad in the NY Times classified section, "Farmette - beautiful views - needs work." On a whim we drove to check it out. We weren't seriously looking for a house, but three hours later when we came around the corner and saw it sitting on the hill we knew immediately we would buy it.
Shed: The three things you like most about being here?
KH: The rural setting, the quiet and our amazing circle of friends.
Shed: You entertain often. What is your secret to success?
KH: The secret, besides the food - usually a simple seasonal menu - would be lots of wine and good friends. We're big on music play lists, candlelight, wild flowers and everyone sitting at one table. I'm not a fan of buffet-style dinners and balancing plates on laps. Because most of our friends are great cooks, they usually show up early and help out in the kitchen. The atmosphere is very casual and easy. We usually take a break between courses to get up, clear the plates, load the dishwasher and then return for the next round.
Shed: Wow, nice garden.
KH: The vegetable garden is laid out next to what was originally the calf barn. It is all organic soil/ compost - no pesticides. We grow 18 types of tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, squash, eggplant, broccoli, brussel sprouts, seven varieties of beets, carrots, asparagus, four types of potatoes, sunflowers, pumpkins and watermelon. In another area we grow corn.

Shed: You are a kitchen and bath designer (based in Maplewood), what were your must haves for this kitchen?
KH: Because we entertain almost every weekend, I wanted a space that was set up like a working restaurant-kitchen with open Metro-shelving for easy access, ceiling hanging pot racks, 2 professional stoves/ griddles, industrial size refrigerator/ freezer, double sink and long center island with lots of counter space. I wanted to have enough space to accommodate lots of people working at once. To soften the industrial look, we covered the walls (to the ceiling) in hand painted tiles from Barcelona and installed a wood bead board ceiling. The hanging light fixtures are vintage Holophane factory lights from the 1930's.
The perfect user-friendly bar.
A modern addition - the double sided fireplace, added in 1992, heats the dining room and living room.
Shed: You have some great antiques.
KH: We are not antiques hunters. That said, over the years we've come across pieces that just catch our eye and buy them on impulse. The creamery (above) is an 1876 refrigerated dairy case. Farmers would fill the bottom of the case with blocks of ice and display their dairy items on the slat shelving. We found the creamery at a local antique shop and use it as a china cabinet. It weighs a ton.
Shed: Your interior palette is blue, green, yellow and pink. How did you come up with those colors?
KH: When we bought the farmhouse we gutted the walls and ceilings saving all the original moldings and windows. We insulated, rewired, re-plumbed and closed everything back up with new drywall. We chose the bold, sunny colors to add character and depth back to the historic structure.
Shed: What is a typical Saturday like here?
KH: In summer, Saturday morning starts with coffee, a dip in the pool, a big breakfast and then chores like working in the garden with our two daughters. Allan cleans the pool, patio and wrap-around porch. We try to eat all our meals outside and hang out by the pool in the afternoon. Later in the day we start thinking about what we're going to cook for dinner, friends start to trickle in, or we head out to be dinner guests at someone else's home.
In fall and winter months Saturdays are much slower. We crank up the wood stove and big fireplace. I spend more time cooking, Allan reads more and the girls watch movies in their PJ's often past noon. We have a great sledding hill out back, Elk Mountain ski resort is a 10-minute drive away and we sometimes go cross-county skiing out our back door across the neighboring farm fields.
Great option for displaying an old rocker - hang it.
Shed: Anything on your wish list?
KH: The original kitchen, off the main kitchen, is going to be redesigned as a clean-up station and butler's pantry. We want all the plates. glassware and silverware in one space along with deep double sinks and two dishwashers for clean-up.
Check out Kevin Huffman's kitchens and baths HERE.
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