For most who can relate to (and remember) the lyrics of Green Acres, the dream of ditching city life for a parcel of land and old house in the country is merely a fantasy. Then there are those like Martin Cooper and Karen Suen-Cooper, who made the leap from the urbane sophistication of New York and London to the Hudson Valley with the challenges of updating an 18th century Federal style farmhouse. Please join me and Susanna for a behind the scenes visit to Old Chatham in Columbia County with this inspiring and creative couple.
Fifteen years ago, as fashion designers (the first married couple to be inducted into the CFDA ), with an international calendar of events and travel, Martin and Karen fell in love with B’ellow (Big + yellow), their moniker for their soon to be home, and two years later began their journey of bringing it sensitively into the 21st century.
They were just moving to London at the time for Martin’s new position as Vice President and design director of Burberry. There they found additional inspiration in the centuries old architecture and haunts such as the Sir John Soane Museum, a favorite among design cognoscenti.
Throughout the renovation, their goal was deceptively simple – to reimagine their historic house into a home that both respected the past, the passage of time and light and their passion for entertaining.
When they moved full time to B’ellow last year, they found themselves redefining their lives and savoring time with friends and family, often dining in their divinely sensuous black lacquered dining room, inspired by their travels to such memorable places as Lapérouse and Hotel Costes in Paris, the Wolesley in London and the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
While Martin and Karen always used place cards to honor their guests and seat them effortlessly, finding examples that met with their exacting design standards proved challenging and so The Punctilious Mr. P’s Place Card Co. was born.
Incorporating imagery that they carefully curate, the cards are beautifully printed on cotton rag paper, with the option of guest names on the reverse with complimentary digital calligraphy. And while the company began with place cards, it has expanded to other printed products such as menu cards, buffet tags, calling cards and personalized note cards (my elegant Birds of India below). They can even send a single personalized note to your recipient of choice – so very handy for time sensitive notes or thank you’s, those with less than admirable penmanship, or who are traveling.
And in need of a stylish yet thoughtful hostess gift? There are Mr. P’s organic wellness candles, made with soy wax and scented with essential oils
or their jams, lemon curd or chutney, handmade with all natural ingredients in small batches in the Hudson Valley.
all photos by Stacey Bewkes for Quintessence
So thank you Karen, Martin and Pax for the most delightful day and for bringing a little more joy into everyone’s homes!
