THE FARM LIFE IN BARRINGTON HILLS

In December 2020, Country profiled Margaret Rajic Palmer, a professional photographer specializing in interior photography. After three years living and working in Chicago, Rajic Palmer and her husband, Matt Palmer, a data engineer, had just finalized plans to renovate a 5-acre Barrington Hills property. Today, “Palmer Farm,” as the young couple call their home, includes a bright and contemporary farmhouse and a lively family of animals.

“We have a whole crew here,” says Rajic Palmer, speaking over the frequent chatter of their three goats. “We got them in the spring and they’re very needy. Any time they see us they holler out for attention. They just want to be cuddled. And treats—they want those too.”

The city-to-country move was something of a homecoming for Rajic Palmer, who grew up in nearby Barrington, although it was a bit more of an eye-opener for her husband, originally from Pelham, New York, about ten miles north of Midtown Manhattan. The two met in 2014 as students at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and then lived in New York City until 2017. After moving to Chicago, they settled into a townhome in the Lakeview neighborhood.

In early 2020, when the couple decided to make another change, things happened quickly. “Our townhome was under contract in one day,” says Rajic Palmer. “It was so sudden that we still hadn’t found a new house. We lived with my mom [in Barrington] while we looked for a place.”

In fact, Rajic Palmer’s mother, Dragana Seizovic, discovered the five-acre property in Barrington Hills that ultimately became Palmer Farm. Along with a 1,600-square-foot Cape-Cod style farmhouse, it included a carriage house and a three-stall barn with a hayloft. At one time in its distant past, the property was a working dairy operation. More recently, it had been a horse farm.

“We first saw it on a miserable rainy day. The property looked overgrown and outdated, but we knew right away that we wanted it,” Rajic Palmer recalls.

For the 19th century farmhouse, the Palmer’s renovation proved ambitious and wide-ranging, transforming it into a contemporary space that felt larger and brighter. For example, a tiny upstairs bedroom was converted into a full bathroom to accompany the master bedroom. They enhanced the kitchen’s existing layout through extensive cosmetic updates, including new cabinetry, faucets, and tile. They also refinished the floors.

“In the mornings, the sun shines in to the breakfast nook,” Rajic Palmer says. “I always appreciate the dappled light filtering through the trees.”

Improving the outside infrastructure was a definite priority because the couple intended to add to the cat and two dogs they already owned. They set up a coop for a new flock of chickens; before the goats arrived, they dug post holes and poured concrete to install the fencing.

The most significant project was remodeling the stone and timber barn. “The stalls in the barn were dilapidated and Matt took the lead on researching and buying the equipment to build new stalls, which he also did,” says Rajic Palmer, who adds with a laugh, “I dragged him to the Midwest from the East Coast, but we discovered he’s really a Midwesterner at heart. He really loves riding his tractor and working on all his farm projects.”

The pastoral character of Barrington Hills initially attracted Rajic Palmer because, while still living in Chicago, she’d taken up horseback riding. After installing a water line and running electricity out to their pasture, the Palmers moved in two horses: Buckley, a Paint Quarter Horse, and Tenzeran an Oldenburg who was trained in dressage and turned 30 this year.

“We do a lot of trail riding,” says Rajic Palmer. “We have a really strong equestrian community in Barrington Hills. There is an amazing and unique bridle path trail system that goes through the whole town that is maintained and stewarded by the Riding Club of Barrington Hills.”

The Palmers regularly attend equestrian events, like the annual LeCompte/Kalaway Trailowners Cup, a polo match held every September at nearby Oakwood Farms, and the horseback trick-or-treat ride for kids each Halloween, which is hosted by the Fox River Valley Pony Club.

Now that autumn has arrived, Palmer Farm is running smoothly. Matt Palmer still works in the tech field, remotely, and enjoys being able to finish his workday and immediately be outside in the country. Rajic Palmer maintains her weekly schedule of photographing interiors throughout Chicagoland while also being on the Board of the Riding Club of Barrington Hills. With the crisp weather comes plenty of trail riding, as well as bonfires in the back yard.

“I love this cozy time of year. When the days are shorter I feel like I savor my time outdoors even more,” says Rajic Palmer. “Outside our front door we see our three little goats running around. Out the back, we can peek at the horses grazing in the pasture. This place is so special to us.”