A Quiet Space
Study BY Mountain Showcase 
Every home needs a sanctuary — a place removed from the bustle of everyday activities where you can regroup; a place to just be. Rita Magaha and Amelia Kincaid’s spare and serene study gives the homeowner that much needed respite.
Craftsmanship and simple elegance are the keys to this relaxing space. The walls were given a rich, parchment-like finish by Laura Stoyakevytch, who used an Old World technique: tinted plaster, which is then buffed with wax for depth and sheen. This provides a soothing backdrop for a beautifully constructed, handcrafted writing desk — its gentle contours enhanced by a painstaking finishing process of paint, distressing and glazing.
“The desk does have a certain feminine appeal,” says Rita. “So we balanced it with a custom, Arts & Crafts style bookcase. We wanted the space to be comfortable for either gender.”
The restrained, botanical theme upholstery on the stately armchair finds a counterpoint in the fine, calligraphic lines of the carefully chosen accessories and a woodland wreath that evokes the surrounding landscape. “The room is arranged so that you can enjoy the view outside the window, but not be distracted from the work at hand,” notes Rita.
In this tranquil environment paperwork, reading, even homework can be engaged fully and enjoyed. “It’s just a cozy little hideaway,” says Rita. And we all need that.
