Betsy Brown, known for her warm, restrained interiors, brought her design philosophy home—quite literally—when she reimagined a modest 1960s house tucked into the dramatic landscape of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Designed in collaboration with architect and longtime friend Paul Bates, the home reflects Betsy’s desire for a place of reconnection: to family, to nature, and to herself. With views stretching across the Green River gorge, the setting itself became the anchor for every design decision that followed.

The style is what Betsy describes as “earthy and rustic, yet refined.” From the hand-sewn timber walls and sloped ceilings to the black steel-framed doors, the house evokes a sense of quiet permanence, like it’s always belonged to the land.

Materials are kept raw and honest—wood, steel, stone—chosen for their natural character rather than polish. Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, Betsy embraced imperfection, simplicity, and the passage of time, letting the home’s textures and patina tell their own story.

Though just 139 square metres, the home feels open and expansive thanks to its layout: a central corridor runs the length of the house, doubling as a dining hall and sightline to the dramatic view beyond. On either side, the living area and kitchen frame the landscape, while the bedrooms and baths offer a quieter connection to the surrounding woods. The house doesn’t shout—it listens. And in doing so, it becomes a deeply personal retreat, shaped by memory, light, and the land itself.