Known as a centre-hall colonial this 1790's house in Massachusetts was the heart of a family-owned dairy farm for over 100 years. It was carefully restored by hand over a period of 10 years by the previous owners and since 2007 is the much loved holiday and weekend home of a New York couple. While the main house was in good condition and decorated to their taste the couple completely rebuilt some old storage rooms-cum- barns to create a spacious new living and dining room, carried out landscape and planting work in the grounds and rebuilt a detached barn as a place for grownup children to sleep and entertain their friends (no images but exterior 46) The Bangall-based English interior designer Selina van der Geest was invited to decorate and advise on furnishing the new living room (images 6, 7, and 8). She began by designing an elegant overscaled sofa - 'the room had to work as an entertaining space as well as just TV and supper for two' and the stone and steel coffee table. The colours are warm, fabrics from Rogers and Goffigon, armchairs from Holly Hunt, both classic contemporary American design names.