Sometime you meet someone who makes a lasting impression. And so it was when I met Maria Carr of Dreamy Whites fame (https://www.instagram.com/dreamywhiteslifestyle/?hl=en).. It was 10 years ago when we shot her (then) northern California home for my first book Romantic Prairie Style.
I fell in love with Maria, her family , and her home, so much so that we reshot it again 3 years later for one of my magazines. We also featured several of Maria’s recipes in my cookbook The Romantic Prairie Cookbook. Since that time the Carr family moved to another home (gorgeous, of course) and Maria went on to become famous for a simple and beautiful take of French farmhouse style. Maria is multi-talented: she decorates, styles and teaches photography, organizes trip to France and sells the fabulous finds she brings back on her website Dreamy Whites Atelier. https://dreamywhitesatelier.com/collections/antiques.
I have not been in the home she now lives in but I have followed the transformation and it’s the purest form of French farmhouse style: simple yet sophisticated, rustic yet elegant. And Maria is just as lovely as her home.
These photos are from the shoot we did for Prairie Style magazine (plus a couple from the cookbook). Enjoy!!!
Maria Carr's northern California ranch is proof that even a new home can have an old soul, thanks to her knowledge and passion for vintage farmhouse style. One of eleven siblings, Maria grew up on a dairy farm in Montana so she understands and loves that particular way of life.
Though the home came with all modern amenities it lacked charisma and personality and Maria wanted to create an environment that would showcase her love for pieces with a past yet afford everyday comfort to her husband and their five children. " I really wanted my home to have a French farmhouse feel mixed with a little bit of elegance," she says. "I think that look fits our lifestyle best. I love its particular simplicity."
Simply but comfortably furnished, the bedroom personifies the coveted farmhouse look. Pillowcases fashioned from vintage grain sacks complement the rustic weathered headboard while a linen coverlet, a traditional cane chair, crystal chandelier, and gauzy curtains send ripples of romance. “Mixing a crystal chandelier with rustic doors from France and one-hundred-year old ceiling tiles helped achieve the feeling of a romantic French farmhouse. “I have a weakness for crystal chandeliers. They make any room feel magical. It is one of the best ways to transform a room,” Maria says.
The rustic headboard and ample basket make a beautiful counterpoint to the French dresser, chair and crystal chandelier and keeps the room from looking too serious . Hydrangeas and lavender were in full bloom. A stylist’s delight, to say the least!!
Maria undertakes decorating as a journey, making trips to various salvage and antique stores, shopping for things one item at a time. "I bought the sofas first, then lighting--I have found the chandeliers over the years, the are my weakness, particularly when they are married with something rustic," she explains. She also incorporates architectural salvage to the mix but her favorites are those from France. "It has helped add a little bit of color to my home and instill the French feel I prefer."
The lustrous pink alabaster lamp brings a soft and feminine touch next to the rugged headboard.
Tin tiles painted white unite with a sparkling chandelier and let the crystal pendants shine.
Prettily enhanced with hydrangeas, simple bistro chairs paired with a couple of elegant ones and a farmhouse table flirt with a curvy crystal chandelier and airy curtains that lend a sense of occasion to the inviting room. Lavender accents are repeated to create a fresh setting.
Thoughtful details make all the difference. Keeping them in the same color family brings continuity.
Maria admits that for a long time she favored mostly white interiors until she read how white furnishings can get washed out when se against an all white background. That's when she decided to repaint the walls gray. "I was amazed at the difference it made," she recalls. "My furnishings stood out instead of being lost as they were against the original backdrop."
The beauty and distinctiveness of Maria's home stem from a mellow palette enlivened by exquisitely aged furnishings in warm pastels and barely draped windows that pull the outside in and establish the connection with nature.
A stately blue armoire is the epitome of French Country charm but even more so when displaying a collection of ironstone and galvanized pitchers. Its lovely shade of blue stands against pale gray walls and infuses a touch of color in the dining room. “I used to live by the ocean when we were in southern California, so the armoire also reminds me of the water,” Maria notes.
Though she admits having painted many of her finds and even added trim or bead board to some, when she buys a piece of furniture that is old, Maria always try to find out its history. "I love to know the type of home it came from and if it's in good enough shape I prefer to respect its integrity." She says.
French soaps, textiles, dishes…Maria has fully adopted the French lifestyle (you can find them on her website as noted above).
In the family room a vintage hutch holds various collections of buckets, pitchers, ironstone, mason jars, and splatter-ware enamel that bring a sense of history to the cozy family room. An old woven trunk with a wood lid offers storage and doubles as a unique coffee table. Sofas are draped in sturdy white cotton sheets that are easily thrown in the wash for a quick refresher. A pair of garden chairs offers additional casual seating and a pop of color.
Vintage apothecary jars are among the many French goods Maria collects.
A graceful iron bed, a pair of rustic shutters and an old table topped with a vintage mirror are the simple furnishings that give the girls’ room its soft appeal.
The understated beauty of this living room corner is a tribute to the charm of simplicity. A stylish table and chair make a graphic statement. An old mantel winks to yesteryear while a clock strikes a modern note. The fireplace showed much wear so Maria knocked a lot of the loose paint off and gave it a coat of white to freshen it up,. “When I added the clock above the mantel I felt the space come together.” Maria says.
In spite of the newness of her home Maria was able to create an interior that speaks of the past and the lifestyle she loves. As I mentioned earlier, Maria and her family have since moved and you can enjoy her current home on IG (https://www.instagram.com/dreamywhiteslifestyle/?hl=en) as well as shopping her French goods on her website Dreamy Whites Atelier. https://dreamywhitesatelier.com/collections/antiques.
These are a couple of photos from my cookbook for which we shot several recipes including a blueberry cream pie that a little bunny so badly wanted to taste! (he did get a lick…)
When we first photographed Maria’s home for my first book Romantic Prairie Style she let me use one of her many pair of boots so I could fill them with flowers. It became my Prairie Style signature and still is. Thank you Maria. I hope to see you again. Happy trails my lovely friend. XOXOXOXO
All photos by Mark Lohman. Styling by Fifi