Artist Transforms Historic Farmhouse with DIY Fixtures and Original Murals in Woodland Retreat

Artist Happy Menocal purchased an 18th-century farmhouse near Bedford, New York, situated adjacent to protected old-growth forest and designed its interiors using her own artwork, textiles, and creative reuse of materials including aluminum lasagna trays fashioned into light fixtures. The four-bedroom Colonial-style home features floor-to-ceiling murals and fabrics designed by Menocal's studio, blending functional family living with artistic expression throughout the space. The property serves as both residence and headquarters for her design studio, which creates distinctive wedding invitations and stationery for major brands.

Menocal's design studio has built a reputation for creating sophisticated stationery and wedding invitations that draw inspiration from heraldic traditions and medieval aesthetics. The studio's collaborations with established home furnishing brands demonstrate how her artistic vision extends beyond the farmhouse walls into the broader commercial design market. Her approach to interiors—layering personal artwork with functional family spaces—reflects a philosophy that treats the home as both a working creative environment and a lived-in family residence.

The 18th-century property's location adjacent to protected woodland shaped Menocal's decision to purchase it, connecting to formative experiences from her own childhood spent exploring similar forests. The renovation process, undertaken after five years of planning, involved assembling specialized professionals to balance preservation of the home's historical character with contemporary comfort needs. The creative material choices, particularly the aluminum lasagna tray chandeliers, exemplify a resourceful design ethos that prioritizes originality over conventional luxury.