A Morning with Bunny
Musings from a visit to Bunny Williams' property in Connecticut
“Oh you really must be RUTHLESS with your pruning shears!”
Of all the takeaways I expected to glean from Bunny Williams' estate, gardening advice (from Bunny herself!) wasn't one of them.
Although the gates officially opened at 10am, I arrived uncharacteristically early to make sure I could find roadside parking. A few other attendees arrived early as well, and we all commiserated on our gardens. “Oh you’re from Ohio?” “What zone are you?” “Does the lake effect impact your microclimate?”
Once the clock struck 10am, we paraded up the path cut through a hillside meadow to the pool house, a Neoclassical-style building with a rustic twist. Pinecones donned the top of the “temple” with shaggy barked beams serving as the columns. A beautiful fireplace centered the space and visually separated the sitting area from the outdoor dining table. Two plush dog beds, a staple in nearly every room in Bunny’s home, were tucked behind a wicker furniture set. Every seat had the perfect place to set a drink down and sink into cozy cushions.
From there, we made our way through the shaded woodland, noting a faux bois dining set hidden in a small clearing just off the path. I couldn't help but imagine it hosting everything from a tea party for my nieces to a summer solstice dinner with friends.
This probably says more about me than I should admit, but I was delighted to discover that an animal had been busy digging holes along the path. Even one of America's most celebrated gardens has to contend with the same mischief as the rest of us.
After a relaxing jaunt through the woods and around a pond, the path opened up into the courtyard of Bunny’s studio. A entryway flanked with herbariums gave way to a home gym. The walls were adorned with an antique verdure tapestry and a collection of 19th century needlework displayed in giltwood frames. The bathroom in the gym was decorated with anatomical drawings of horse legs, which sounds odd, but it suited the brawny aesthetic. An extra long phone charger was draped across the sofa in the gym, no doubt recently used by someone attempting to multi-task while fitting in a quick pump.
Upstairs, we were greeted by natural sunlight, vaulted ceilings, and wicker bins full of fabric samples and rug strike offs. The room was divided by a long wooden table, stacked with coffee table books ranging from The Englishwoman’s House to Wolf Kahn's America: An Artist's Travels. Even in the studio, access to hospitality was a priority: a small refreshment nook tucked into one corner reminded me that entertaining shouldn’t be confined just to one room of the house. I snapped pictures of each desk in the room, hoping some of Bunny’s genius would rub off on me.
From the studio, guests flowed through to the parterre where Bunny Williams and her head gardener, Robert Reimer, greeted each guest on the patio. I frantically tried to think of something witty to say that would dazzle the duo, but ended up just thanking Bunny for opening up her home and garden before asking the pair if they had any tips on how to care for topiaries.
“Oh you really must be RUTHLESS!” Bunny exclaimed, before coaching me on how to properly prune the temperamental plants (very often) and keeping them watered (very regularly). She was such a great sport and truly the most gracious host. I resisted the urge to ask for a picture with her, though I was totally fan-girling and would have loved to!
After weaving through the formal hedges in the parterre garden, we stepped through the glass conservatory to the barn: the ultimate entertaining space. A cozy seating area was arranged around the fireplace, where a large convex mirror anchored the space, reflecting the room back to guests. Another beverage station was positioned on the long console behind the sofa, where beautiful glassware had been casually turned upside down to keep dust from collecting inside. On the far side of the room, a substantial wooden desk hid beneath an oversized arrangement of branches and flowers, with more dog beds tucked beneath the armchair. Glass hurricanes of varying heights dotted the mantel and side tables, drawing the eye upward to the exposed beams overhead.
A pair of bunnies and a very shocked cat perched above a huge copper sink in the whimsical mudroom just off the barn. A tole garland of ivy was woven around the brass faucets and a collection of colored glass and tole flowers sat on each windowsill. I especially loved the foot pedals that operated the water for the sink. Clever rattan covers prevented tour attendees from accidentally turning the water on.
The kitchen, located in the next room over, featured inset cabinetry with chicken wire panels on the upper doors and Shaker detailing below. Wooden spoons were stored in antique pitchers and remnants of the previous night’s gathering leaned in a drying rack next to the sink. I took a peek through the upper cabinet doors and noted mismatched mugs on the shelves alongside various types of tea.
Designers often describe Bunny Williams' style as layered, traditional, and timeless. After spending a morning walking through her estate, I'd add another word: lived-in.
Between the phone chargers strewn across sofas, mismatched mugs tucked behind chicken wire cabinet doors, and vintage glassware from the night before still in the drying rack, rooms felt effortless and vibrant. Bunny’s spaces are designed to invite guests to sit back, grab a drink, and enjoy. Heck, there was even a cozy place for the dogs in every room!
Perhaps part of the appeal was that this was not a historic house museum. People truly do live here and the styling in the room reflects that. Nothing was off-limits or too precious. It was a timely reminder for me, as I enviously scroll through picture perfect rooms on Instagram, that a well-designed home should never be too beautiful to actually enjoy.
Let’s shift from the philosophical to the practical. If you are going to make a similar sojourn to Bunny’s home and garden in Falls Village, here are a few suggestions:
If possible, book the early time slot so that you can tour the garden in the morning. The weather became pretty warm by 1pm when I was leaving.
Don’t forget sun protection — I remembered sunscreen but did not being my hat, and there was not much shade.
Come prepared with your gardening questions. Robert, the head gardener, and his wife Tricia, the vegetable gardener, are incredibly kind and a wealth of knowledge. I chatted with Tricia for about an hour and left feeling inspired to try my hand at a vegetable harvest this fall!
Finally, I’ll be sharing my curated Secondhand Wishlist: The Bunny Williams Edition over on ShopMy — would love for you to check it out!
Have a great week and thank you for your support.
Xx Abby
Lovely read - thank you for sharing!