Guest Author - Brenda Potter Reynolds

MacKenzie-Childs is a very special place. It's difficult to say which is more awe-inspiring; the setting, high above Cayuga Lake, or the whimsical and colorful home furnishings, pottery and tableware that are made here.

Whether you are a fan of MacKenzie-Childs' popular line of handmade products, or clueless (like I was), you'll enjoy a visit to their farmhouse, located in the Finger Lake region of New York.

After we removed our shoes, Shawn Meyer, took us on a fascinating tour of the Farmhouse. Upon entering, the first thing you notice is the magnificent open stairway. To the right, original doors open to the parlor, decorated primarily in blue. A remarkable fireplace, one of the first projects undertaken in the house, is the focal point, outlined with MacKenzie-Childs' colorful tiles.

Ooh's and ahh's accompanied our group as we wandered through the three-story Victorian house. Checks and pastel stripes, cheerful colors and lovely flowers were combined in ways I could have never dreamed of.

In the formal candle-lit dining room, a table was lavishly set with MacKenzie-Childs tableware, as if guests are expected at any minute. A new design of plates, Cheslea Luster, was featured here. The next room, the library, picked up its color cues from the green, blue and violet rug. The room was inspired by the featured piece, a Turtle Table, Shawn told us.

Also on the first floor is the kitchen and bar, which, along with the Powder Room, utilize MacKenzie-Childs tiles in the décor. In fact, the Powder Room is decorated with every tile McKenzie-Childs has ever made.
The second floor boasts two bedroom suites and a sitting room. The Morning Sweet Room is resplendent in green and yellow. The Rose Petal Room is decorated in pastel floral wallpaper.

On the third floor, the Courtly Check Room is easily identifiable with its black and white checks covering the floor and ceiling. This room was originally an office and very few changes had been made here, Shawn said. She pointed out the one major change in the room, the conversion of a closet into a shower.

Pure Sunshine, also on the third floor, was my favorite. Sunlight poured through the windows, highlighting the sunshine yellow accented with deep red.

"Much of what you see here is inspired by what you'd see outside - ducks in the pond out back, a view of Cayuga Lake," Shawn pointed out. Paintings on the walls captured the spectacular scenery outside; the lake, a rolling peaceful landscape.

Continued in Part 2