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An antique butcher’s table Tizza
Meyer found in Sheboygan is surrounded by 1820s hand-painted
side chairs from Pennsylvania. She painted the brilliantly
colored end chairs and made the hanging pot rack. Windows and
French doors leading to a deck were strategically located so
sunsets are always visible. Great care was taken to maximize
views from every room in the house.
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"Take a left at the grasshopper."
Outsiders might find this instruction a bit unusual, but once you’ve
turned down the gravel road to the entrance of Stone Fences Farm it
makes perfect sense. Part farm, part fantasy, this 160-acre family
compound nestled in the rolling hills of Ottawa is a visual treat.
"When we bought this place 15 years ago, all we were really
looking for was 20 acres," says owner Tizza Meyer. Bordered by
large rocks and stones from the surrounding fields, the land had been
meticulously maintained and loved by the previous owners. Even though
the farmhouse was in good shape it could not be expanded to
accommodate visiting family and friends and the fieldstone
outbuildings and barn were crumbling. Regardless, Meyer and husband
Glenn knew this was home.
A longtime art and antiques dealer, Meyer set about restoring the
dilapidated structures while overseeing construction of a new house.
"Family is everything to us so it’s designed with plenty of
space for children and grandchildren," she explains. Though the
original barn could not be saved, she gave its wood new life in the
house. Always a creative soul, she also tackled welding classes,
crafting everything from iron railings and finials to the menagerie of
animals, insects, birds and sculptures that dot the landscape.
The final result? A charming homestead designed by a woman whose
zest for life is matched only by her passion and dedication to her
family.
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"We were green before being green
was popular," says Meyer. The cheerful sunroom, bathed in
light, is a perfect example of her resourcefulness and
creativity. She put an old grinding wheel on a 1925 mosaic
pedestal to make an unusual table and the lamp was assembled
from a Jamaican folk art sculpture that she placed on an Art
Nouveau stand. An 1860 Norwegian corner cabinet displays more
treasures. The dark brown boards between the ceiling barn beams
were telephone poles at one time.
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After taking two years to build the
house, when it was finally finished Meyer was often asked what
style it was. "It’s my style," was her response. In
the master bedroom, she mixes things she loves like the twig
headboard and bench with a Norwegian fragment to make a bed
crown for the sweeping bed drapery. The restful green and blue
color scheme was taken from nature and the views outside the
windows. A collection of Scandinavian boxes, whimsical 1920s
embroidered pillow, a handmade hat and other personal touches
add charm throughout the room.
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Although the ceiling soars to 20 feet,
the living room is grounded and feels warm and inviting. The
mantle on the stunning stone fireplace is made from wood
salvaged from the original barn. Meyer chose this particular
piece because of its five notches, each one representing a
member of her family: Tizza, Glenn and their three children. She
constructed the iron picture frame over the fireplace to give
weight and depth to the painting relative to the rest of the
room. Big, comfy leather and corduroy armchairs invite visitors
to settle in. Beams from the barn frame the entrances to the
room with a butcher shop sign over the entry from the kitchen.
Twig furnishings throughout the house were made by a friend.
Around the ceiling of the room are thick triangular support
beams from the Sussex railroad station. Pink when they were
purchased, Meyer stripped them and used a technique of painting
and stripping two more times to get the finish she wanted.
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