The porch table's narrow top
is a feature common to tables
in German beer gardens
where conversation is key.

An Eclectic Cape Cod

Sure, it was daring for Uli Belenky to paint the exterior of her house black.

It would have been a bold move for any homeowner, let alone one who lives in a classic Cape Cod in the picturesque countryside of Cabot, Vermont. It took even more gumption for Uli and her husband, Michael, to purchase the run-down farmhouse in the first place.

Located on 70 acres near the town where Michael was raised, the 1800s house needed work as well as vision. "What I liked about the idea of moving into the old farmhouse was giving it a new spirit, not tearing it down and starting from scratch."

 

Daughter Sofia freshens up the
new screened porch that runs along
the back of the house.
Canning jar light fixtures provide
a gentle glow at night.

Since moving to Cabot 15 years ago to raise their family (daughters Sofia, 17, and Ella, 15) and expand their business, the couple has refreshed the fixer-upper into an eclectic living space.

"I looked at it the way I do a bolt of a fabric -- as material that could be shaped any way I wished," Uli says, referencing the whimsical children's garments she designs for Zutano, the company they launched while living in New York City.

 

Built-ins line the exterior walls of the
main living space, which is
furnished with an assortment
of old metal garden furniture
and family pieces.

While black clapboard siding shaped the house into an attention-grabber, gallons of stark white paint inside helped the dark interiors see the light.

"When we bought the house it was still heated by wood-burning stoves," says Michael. "Consequently everything was covered in layers of soot." More labor-intensive knocking down walls turned the choppy main level into an open loftlike space.

 

French doors and operable
windows allow the porch to
capture country breezes.

With the lighter, brighter interior, Uli set out to give her home the collected character she loves. Her decorating rules are simple: Unmatched and offbeat trump new and mass-produced, and there's no reason to rush in.

"Some people can walk into one store and find everything they need to outfit their home," she says. "I prefer to take my time and find things that have meaning -- things that have a story."

 

The sitting room pairs a '50s-style
chaise with a contemporary rattan
seat and an upholstered Victorian
arm chair.

Those stories play out in numerous ways. Artwork that pops from the gallerylike walls is done either by family members or someone who has a connection to the Belenkys. "It's like having a friend around you at all times," says Uli. "It's comforting."

 

After painting the house black, the
Belenkys found a photo of the original
structure and were surprised that it
once had a dark exterior.

But one thing Uli never tires of is the feeling of comfort that comes over her as she approaches her unassuming black house. "I still break into a smile every time I come up the dirt road leading to the house and see the outline of the Cape peaking out from the trees," she says.