Page 17 - The Hunt - Spring 2021

“In small houses you have to be tidy. You can’t come home with 24 rolls of toilet paper, because there’s no place for them.”
ALL THAT GLITTERS
To elevate a small house into an architectural jewelry
box, Dickinson relied on exquisite finishes, the expertise of artisans and designers, and inspiration from historic homes. The barley-twist newel post on the staircase is the handiwork of Wilmington-based master carpenter
Doug Green. A compact kitchen—designed by Waterbury Kitchen and Bath of Kennett Square, Pa.—includes
such niceties as marble countertops, a stainless-steel professional-style range and a star-shaped chandelier above the farmhouse sink.
What was once the sole bathroom is now a glamorous guest bath on the second floor. The attic has been converted to a master suite, with a bath that might have been inspired by a Paris apartment. The shower walls are milky, gray-veined marble set in a subway-tile pattern.
To circumvent the petite staircase, floorboards and other building materials were hoisted through an attic window. With space at a premium, storage is built into every nook and cranny. A closet is tucked under an eave. A dormer is a cozy reading nook, outfitted with a window seat and a small chandelier.
Living with limited space compels people to become scrupulous curators, identifying their most meaningful possessions. For Dickinson, that means limiting herself
to two pairs of riding boots instead of a dozen. “In small houses, you have to be tidy,” she says. “You can’t come home from Costco with 24 rolls of paper towels, because there’s no place for them.”
Dickinson turned to Delaware-based landscape designer Zach Davis to create a terrace in front of the house. He combined bluestone and antique brick, surrounding it with boxwood, azalea and black-eyed Susan. Water flows musically from the flute of a bronze statue of the ancient Greek god Pan, and gargoyles stand sentry in the reflecting pool. It’s a soothing entryway that seamlessly connects the house to its natural surroundings. “I’m happy every time I pull in the drive,” Dickinson says. TH
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