Text by Bethany Adams
The land that Coyote Crossing sits on has been in the Thornton family for nearly 100 years. So, when designer Margaret Chambers got the call from her longtime friend Peggy Thornton asking for her help in designing the farmhouse, it was clear that family would play a major role. Built to welcome visiting kids and grandkids, the weekend home also provides a place to showcase antiques rendered priceless through their sentimental value alone.
“She had so many great family pieces that had a lot of meaning to her,” Margaret says of Peggy, who had a large file of images and ideas that she shared with her architect, her contractor, and Margaret. “I really felt like my job was helping her fill in the holes of her house,” she adds.
The ladies scoured flea markets and consignment shops to find pieces to accompany the heirlooms throughout—such as the desk in the living room, which belonged to both Peggy’s grandmother and mother and which holds her grandparents’ farm records. Among the favorite finds are the French workbench behind the sofa and the antique toy tractor that sits on top, brought home from a trip to France.
The rich patinas and warm woods of the antique pieces stand out against the stark white shiplap on the walls, inspired by the 1930s tenant house on the property that Peggy’s family used as a weekend home. “I was trying to replicate the feeling of the old farmhouse that I dearly loved,” she says. Margaret notes the bright white background helps both to keep the attention on the verdant views outside and to make the artwork and accessories in the home pop.
In the kitchen, the shiplap hangs vertically, and an oversize island separates the workspace from the gathering spaces. A fire screen backs the range and features animal figures, a nod to the farm itself, and a set of olive oil jars on the leathered granite holds cotton stems from the last crop that was raised on the property.
As Margaret notes that Peggy loves color—and that the two ladies share a passion for the handmade—it was a no-brainer that the home would find vibrant shades in the form of art and vintage textiles. Roosters created by a Mexican folk artist sit atop the antique dining table, and another of the artist’s pieces adorns the buffet beneath a collection of green Frankoma pottery. “My collection began with a few pieces that belonged to my parents,” Peggy says. “They had been given to them as wedding presents.”
Some of the home’s most vivid hues appear in the bedrooms, from the yellow gingham chair in the more subdued primary suite to the vintage quilts that top the spool beds in the guest rooms. Dash & Albert rugs also contribute color throughout the design, imitating the look of handmade while remaining a practical and cost-effective way of adding personality atop reclaimed pine floors.
The color spills out onto the porch, a spot that’s a favorite of both Margaret and Peggy, who notes, “I like to look out over the lake, the pasture, and the cattle.” And with her brother’s house visible in the distance and plenty of seats available for visiting family, it’s easy to remember what drove the design.
Margaret notes that, despite the farmhouse being a new build, the abundance of storied antiques and handmade treasures gives it the spirit of a historic home, creating a warmth that isn’t normally present in new structures. “I think the house does have a soul,” she says, “even though it’s new.”
