Sharon Farmhouse Subject of New Design Book

Rizzoli New York, a leader in publishing stately, glossy tomes exploring architecture, interiors, and the decorative arts, has often sought inspiration for its magnificently photographed coffee table books in the rural countryside outside of New York City. In the past, Rizzoli has worked with Bunny Williams of Falls Village, Conn., on "Life in the Garden," Carolyne Roehm of Sharon, Conn., on "Design & Style: A Constant Thread," and Gil Schafer of Millbrook, N.Y., on "A Place to Call Home: Tradition, Style, and Memory in the New American House." Now, a new monolith released this fall focuses on the work of the 2023 Elle Decor A Listed multidisciplinary architecture and interior design firm Hendricks Churchill, founded by husband and wife team Rafe Churchill and Heide Hendricks. "Our Way Home: Reimagining an American Farmhouse," photographed by Chris Mottalini, takes an inside look into the couple's own renovated historic home, Ellsworth, a white clapboard that stands on what was once a 19th-century dairy farm in Sharon. It demonstrates the pair's exhaustive work for the most demanding and knowledgeable client possible — themselves. 

"With Ellsworth, it was important for us to use the furniture that we had accumulated over our long relationship and different houses we've designed — our twentieth anniversary is coming up," Hendricks said at a launch event and Q&A for the book held at The White Hart Inn in Salisbury, Conn., on Oct. 5, hosted by Oblong Books in Millerton, N.Y. She and Churchill were there in conversation with Jessie Sheehan, a cookbook author of "Snackable Bites" and "The Vintage Baker," whose home in Sharon was Hendricks' first project as an interior designer, kicking off her career. "With each one of these homes we've renovated for ourselves, there was something unique to the property, and I would be very sentimental. It's really hard for me to move on, whereas Rafe is always looking ahead to the next one."

  

Heide Hendricks and Rafe Churchill are a husband and wife architecture and design team who have revitalized several historic Sharon homes. Photo Rizzoli/Chris Mottalini