DOWN ON THE FARM

A homeschooling mother of nine gives her followers a peek at life—and interior design—on a farm.

A homeschooling mother of nine gives her followers a peek at life—and interior design— on a farm.

Jenny Zacharewicz is a force of nature. The homeschooling mother of nine (eight of whom are still at home) has spent the past seven years experiencing the ups and downs of life on Pumpkinvine Creek, a working goat farm in Georgia. She documents it all on her interior décor and lifestyle blog and Instagram account, Big Family Little Farmhouse. Her followers enjoy her posts, design style and vulnerability. “People are very drawn to the fact that I share my family, faith and struggles very openly in my stories,” she says.

She is known for her rustic farmhouse designs and for using a signature shade of green paint throughout her home. “The shade is dubbed ‘Jenny’s Green’because it has no name and only I have a formula for the match,” she says. While she never planned to have a career based on her interior décor, Jenny is happy to welcome everyone into her home, whether they physically cross the threshold or enjoy it on the Internet. Currently, spring has sprung on the farm, and that means new life and new designs.

FARM TO TABLE

In springtime, Jenny’s signature green is particularly fitting. In the dining room, a wall of built-in cubbies features the shade and holds baskets for discreet storage and extra dishes. “We chose the green because we wanted to highlight the space as opposed to having it blend with the white walls,” Jenny says. The green cubbies provide a stunning backdrop for the place where the family joins hands and breaks bread: a custom-built farm table with split benches on each side and distinct host chairs.

The dining area comfortably fits 16, which is important for the family’s large brood. “The table is meant for the wear and tear that nine kids can bring,” Jenny says. “All our furniture is huge, comfortable, durable and has a distressed finish.” For spring, she styled a new centerpiece with large glass jars and added a wreath to their chalkboard sign. Everything is a family affair on the farm, including home design, and Jenny’s son hand-lettered the chalkboard sign with a seasonal sentiment.

A FASHIONABLE FARMHOUSE

A shiplap accent wall, whitewashed fireplace bricks and a sliding barn door transformed the living room, giving it a heartfelt farmhouse romance. Jenny chalk painted and distressed all the furniture herself and hung solid burlap curtains bound in twine over the long windows overlooking the property. “The burlap sheds like crazy,” Jenny says, “but I love the look and texture that it adds to the space.” She hung the curtains from a black curtain rod, saying that silver would feel too modern and that the black metal ties in with the other metallics found in the space. In lieu of a traditional fireplace screen, Jenny puts a huge tobacco basket on the hearth along with a sign. She switches the sign out depending on the season. “It’s a quick and easy way to pay homage to the time of year,” she says. For a finishing touch, she set a tray on the coffee table and filled it with an abundance of greenery, bunnies and, of course, carrots.

MAGNIFICENTLY MULTIPURPOSE

Most people try to keep their laundry room out of sight, but Jenny’s laundry bleeds into an office and pantry space, and has a following of its own on social media. “I started my account back in April 2008 without any plans for it to become so huge,” she says. “However, it grew quickly and one of the most popular images was my green laundry room. It was unique and colorful amid the trend of all-white interiors.”

Pocket farm doors separate the laundry and the pantry, which is a functional fantasy for the large family, with a second oven, lots of cupboards, a counter for workspace, a laundry sink and a large rolling baker’s rack. It’s perfect for active life on the farm. Buckets on the rolling rack hold practicalities like trash bags, flashlights and cups. For spring, Jenny does simple changes to the area that are artful and striking. “I switch out the hand towels, signs and greenery on the shelves,” she says.

An all-white farmhouse with black porches and windows was just Jenny’s style. The family tore out the existing landscape and replaced it with small green bushes. Not only do the bushes allow for a better view of the home, but they stay green throughout the year.

Jenny’s open floorplan is expansive and includes the living room, dining area and kitchen. While columns do separate the spaces visually, she tends to decorate the sections with the same color scheme and theme. “I keep it cohesive because they are so interconnected,” she explains.

(top) A back entryway leads out to the outdoor pool, so it gets lots of foot traffic. Jenny keeps her styling to the walls and sides of the room to maximize the space—as well as overhead. “The beaded chandelier is really different,” she says. “I picked it because it adds texture and tone.”