When it comes to decorating, Jeannette Fristoe takes a “more is more” approach. “I’m a collector by nature,” she says. “If someone gives me something, I automatically find myself looking for at least another two.” As a result, she’s amassed a flock of sheep, clusters of clocks, piles of antique silver, and much, well, more. Good thing the Maryland native has the perfect spot to show off, and evolve, her beloved groupings: a 1920s four-bedroom, four-bathroom bungalow in Bel Air, just five miles from her childhood home.
The treasure hunter considers the dreamy gabled house, situated on a leafy lot, to be her ultimate find— although “find” may be a bit of an exaggeration, as she and husband Larry Blake lived directly across the street for years. “We had been invited over for dinner parties and always admired the house,” she says. “When it went on the market, we pounced!”
As the home’s third owners in almost 100 years, a little work had to be done to fit both their needs and their knickknacks. The couple tore down walls, added a room, and swapped earthy browns for airy whites. Of the latter, Jeannette says, “I live in neutrals—even my clothes are neutral. I blend right into my house!” She initially painted practically every surface—walls, trim, ceilings—an oil-based, high-gloss white. “Of course, everything pops against a white background,” she says. Unless, of course, the collection is white—in which case she defaults to a matte black. She even allowed for some color on a wall or two. “I guess I got a little less rigid after about five years, and I eventually painted a few walls a light gray,” Jeannette says.
Jeannette introduced an even bolder “neutral” in the completely renovated kitchen: a green AGA cooker stove that stands out among white walls and black and white cabinets. While green isn’t exactly an anomaly in the house thanks to lush plants, pretty pastoral paintings, and a green-glass demijohn collection, she admits she had little to do with the color choice. “My husband used to drive an MG sports car in that exact shade [British Racing Green]. So, while the stove was my anniversary present, he got to pick the color,” she says.
"Many of our antique pieces were passed down from our parents. We like to refer to our decorating style as 'early in-laws.'"
While she is very particular about her palette, Jeannette is way more open when it comes to embracing a variety of textures and natural wood tones. There’s locally sourced stone on the fireplaces and a range of dark wood furniture—much of it from both her and Larry’s parents. “We call our style ‘early in-laws,’ ” she jokes. An assortment of woven hats and baskets hangs on walls and natural-fiber area rugs sit atop narrow-planked poplar floors. “We love those floors, and it’s very unusual to find poplar used for flooring because it’s a soft wood. In some rooms, we had to go through five layers of linoleum to find them,” Jeannette says.
Although she’s created surroundings that are serene and subdued, the environment is anything but static. “I’m always moving stuff around— I like to keep it interesting,” Jeannette says. “Having a neutral background allows you to do that.” She’s introducing new items just about every time she gets back from a trip. Most recently, it was to Krakow, Poland, where the antiques lover found a little leather Russian-Polish book with great patina. It should come as no surprise that she’s currently on the hunt for at least two more.
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