Decorating & Design
March 20, 2023
A Couple From NYC Makes The Move To Rural P.E.I.
“I always say that Hazeldean found us, we didn’t find Hazeldean,” says Kyle Timothy Blood of the picturesque Prince Edward Island farmhouse he now calls home. For the Maine-born NYC designer and his husband, acupuncturist Dean Perry, it was after several trips to Canada’s East Coast in search of a summer residence when they realized a certain late-Victorian farmhouse with a rich history was calling their names — and not just for part of the year.
Kyle (right) has always loved decorating his clients’ vacation homes in the Hamptons and Cape Cod, so it’s no surprise he’d be drawn to P.E.I., too. “When we first vacationed here, I was struck by the expansiveness of the sky, the quality of light and the briny sea air,” says Kyle. Moving here in 2018 full time with their dogs Tucker and Luca in tow was a natural next step. Kyle opened a design studio in Charlottetown to complement his American business in East Hampton, N.Y., and he now works with clients on both sides of the border.
Scroll down for a look inside their picturesque farmhouse!
Located in the center of the province, just 10 kilometers from the north shore or “Anne’s Land,” the 2,400-square-foot, four-bedroom Arts and Crafts–style house was designed by renowned Maritime architect William Critchlow Harris in 1894. It was turnkey but still too chilly for them to live in come wintertime, so the first order of business was to further winterize the house by installing a geothermal heating system, insulation and new clapboard siding. The lilac hedge at the front of Hazeldean is more than 100 years old.
William Morris’s stunning Fruit wallpaper complements the woodwork in the entry. Furniture came from here and there: from New York, they brought only their favorite pieces (the bedroom set and some art made the cut). Other pieces were purchased from the former owners.
Then, it was on to the kitchen, the only space that underwent a full renovation. A dividing wall was removed to create one larger area and a local craftsman was enlisted to build new cabinets. “While trying to find the perfect putty shade for the cabinets, I was initiated into — and tormented by — P.E.I.’s deceptive, beguiling light,” says Kyle. “Nineteen sample pots later, we found a winner.”
Even though the kitchen was completely gutted, the new cabinets’ recessed door panels, slab drawer fronts and furniture-leg details look original.
Throughout the interiors, Kyle aimed to create an elegant yet relaxed style with plenty of island farmhouse charm. “I tried to stay true to the project — to the architecture, the location and my vision — and steer away from artifice,” he says. He took his time finishing the interiors; there were many sourcing trips to NYC, and Dean weathered countless showroom visits. Kyle even found an antique Lilihan rug for the music room, where Dean plays piano by the fire. “This is our go-to spot when we want to warm up with a bowl of stew,” says Kyle of the cozy seating area near the fire.
In the dining room, bold pattern and color take center stage, with GP & J Baker’s Hydrangea Bird fabric becoming drapes. “I love chinoiserie, but I knew it had to be used sparingly — a little goes a long way,” says Kyle. A whimsical fabric and saturated yellow on the walls make a strong statement.
While the other rooms in the home showcase rich colors, in the neutral-hued living room, Kyle wanted the view of the rolling hills to be the main event.
Dean bought the pedestal table in the living room’s bay window in Muskoka, Ont., two decades ago.
Kyle has been collecting mid-century modern pieces, including the principal bedroom’s maple nightstand, since the early aughts.
Tucker, the couple’s cavapoo, in his favorite spot in the principal bedroom.
“In a small bathroom, a custom shower curtain can add major impact without breaking the bank,” says Kyle.
In P.E.I., Kyle and Dean’s lives are all about exploring the area, playing with the dogs at the beach, savoring fresh seafood, working in the garden and enjoying their rejuvenated farmhouse with friends and family. “We want our guests to leave Hazeldean feeling just a little bit better than when they arrived.”
Alex Lukey
House & Home
Kyle Timothy Blood