Joanna Goddard, Cup of Jo

You may remember Stefan Boublil and Gina Alvarez's ridiculously amazing Manhattan loft, which was featured in the magazine -- complete with a grass rug and a swing! (See all the photos here.) Well, now the lucky couple has a country house that's equally fabulous. We talked to Stefan about their new place, which their kids--Zo, 6, and Leeloo, 2--also adore...

What brought you to the country?
I wanted to test my country legs. I didn't know if I had any! I had lived in urban settings my whole life -- born and raised in Paris, then London, now in New York for 20 years -- so I thought I was dependent on concrete and car exhaust to survive.

Did your family feel differently?
My wife and kids wanted to be in the green of the country. For years, my wife took me to every shore, from Jersey to Connecticut to the Hamptons. But I always hated the houses, and I resisted...

How did this house change your mind?
This house looked like a loft, not the country colonials we'd been seeing. As soon as I saw the high ceilings, open plan and white planks, I thought, This is just like New York.

Did it take you a while to adjust to country life?
I fell in love with the sun, the lack of noise...this summer has been unbelievably cathartic. I'm loving the idea that there's something beyond the bridges that surround Manhattan.

How did your kids respond to the countryside?
They love it. And it's only an hour away, so it's really a no-brainer. We're even thinking about living full-time outside the city now.

Since this house is a rental, were you able to furnish it yourself?
Yes, it came empty. Luckily, we have about four houses worth of furniture in storage. We're serial movers, and we own The Apartment design agency, so we've accumulated classic furniture pieces from almost every designer under the sun. We had an instant furniture party!

I love the trees inside the house!
The owners brought nature inside with the birch trunks. There's very little transition between in and out. The walls are half-windows and half-walls, so with the windows open, there's no difference between in and out. You're taking a nap on that daybed and the wind is brushing your nose; it feels amazing.

Do you use the fireplace?
We used it all winter. When you make a fire, it's like a bonfire in the middle of the room, and it warms the entire apartment. It feels very tribal. But it's set within a very modern fireplace, with a concrete shelf, so it's a wild chaotic heat on top of this extrememly considered fire space. It's wonderful.

The kids must love that bonfire feel.
We make s'mores. We grab sticks from the yard.

What fabulous Elvis and Sid Vicious posters!
Of course I'm always explaining to my five-year-old son who they are and where they went to jail, which is fun. Our eclectic artwork and furniture tend to mix well together -- iconic pieces, like the Marcel Bruer lounger with purple upholstery, which is a classic 40s piece, to the daybed, which is from a few years ago...

How do you handle the kids' toys everywhere?
You can't escape these toys! You get big bags and boxes, which help you from feeling like you've bought all the colorful plastic in China...

What do you do for dinner?
We cook dinner every night. You don't have a choice--you can't get pizza or Chinese delivered. We've been very lucky all summer: There's narry a day without friends, so every night, there's a banquet-sized trough of freshly cooked food from the farmer's market. Garrison also has the most extraordinary wine shop, Yannitelli, which is better than any I've been to in New York. They sell the best wine I've ever had the pleasure to drink--and I'm difficult, being French and having been raised in the grapes...

Do you have a separate table for the children?
No, everyone eats together. We adults can profit from a childlike conversation, and Zo and Leeloo can profit from an adult-like conversation. We try to include the kids as much as possible. It's never better than when you have ten people and everyone is laughing and joking, and a friend is giving piggy back rides to the kids...

What are your kids' favorite spots?
My two-year-old daughter loves the pool. She's absolutely fearless. It's frightening. She'll take a running start and jump in the pool. Zo, our son, likes to laze about. Since half the house is carpeted (we have hardwood floors at home), he loves to take naps on the carpet. He's like a cat in the sun, belly-up!

What is Garrison like?
Ten minutes away, there's a lake with a dramatic waterfall and wonderful stream. Twenty minutes away is an Audobon Society protected bird sanctuary. We walk along wooden bridges and walkways suspended over the reeds and the river. The kids see birds, fish, frogs...It feels like you're in Jurassic Park. The velociraptor will appear any minute!

Want more? See the couple's Manhattan loft (slideshow here) or browse through all Cookie home tours.