Distinctly American

Distinctly AmericanFounding partners Heide Hendricks and Rafe Churchill have been collaborating for more than twenty yearswhether designing new houses and interiors or overseeing historic renovationsand this is the first book to present a comprehensive look at the firms projects, refreshingly relevant exercises in reinvention. Every project is rooted in tradition, truth, and an inherent connection to historical architecture and the rural landscapewhether that be a

Founding partners Heide Hendricks and Rafe Churchill have been collaborating for more than twenty years—whether designing new houses and interiors or overseeing historic renovations—and this is the first book to present a comprehensive look at the firm’s projects, refreshingly relevant exercises in reinvention. Every project is rooted in tradition, truth, and an inherent connection to historical architecture and the rural landscape—whether that be a country house in Litchfield County, Connecticut, or an apartment in New York’s Greenwich Village. Drawing inspiration from Shaker cleanness of line, Arts and Crafts integrity, Dutch agricultural buildings, and bohemian chic, the interiors team selects paint colors, furnishings, textiles, lighting, and general finishes—all chosen with an appreciation for historical and contemporary art, design, film, and literature. The goal is to create eclectic, well-informed, and emotional interior spaces that do not play to today’s design trends. The designs express the essence of rural America—the practicality and purity of materials and design, with a keen understanding and deep knowledge of traditional buildings and construction.