Tour a New Build With Historic Charm

Amy Church was looking to move closer to family in Northampton, Massachusetts, but a yearlong house search came up empty. So the mother of two took matters into her own hands. “I bought land and created a 20-slide deck about what I’d want in my dream place,” she says. Amy, a renewable energy expert, included all the features she loved from the historic homes she’s lived in: columns, dormers, wood paneling. “I always felt like those places gave me a hug, and I wanted my new home to do the same,” she says. Designers Sally Staub and Hannah Ray then helped her pick patterns that reflected her whimsical style — but also pushed her out of her comfort zone. “It’s even better than what I dreamed up,” says Amy. “And that’s saying something, because I dreamed big.”