There's a reason why copper is appealing to both contractors and craftsmen. Not only is it highly functional because of its malleability and conductivity, it's also quite aesthetically pleasing. For centuries, some artists have preferred copper to canvas as a painting surface. But even when copper itself is the centerpiece, it commands attention, morphing from a shiny reddish-brown hue to the green-blue patina known as verdigris. Change also is on display—literally and figuratively—at the Copper House in Upper Bucks County. Copper panels are an integral part of the home's exterior architecture. But it's inside this boutique retreat space—or among the sprawling, arboraceous grounds that surround it—that a much more personal kind of transformation is possible.
Pam Anderson and her husband, David, purchased the property that would become Copper House in 2003. At the time, they were moving out of the New Hope/Solebury area and into Connecticut. But they always had plans to return to Bucks County, where they had lived since 1992. Anderson says they always found the area appealing. “It's a lot of different kinds of people coming together and getting along—farmers, artists, pharmaceutical reps,” she says.
When they started construction on the home in 2007, Anderson was at a crossroads in her career. She had made a name for herself as a New York Times bestselling author of several cookbooks, such as The Perfect Recipe, How to Cook Without a Book and Perfect Recipes for Having People Over. She also served as executive editor of Cooks Illustrated magazine as well as a food columnist for USA Weekend, and Runner's World and Better Homes and Gardens magazines. In addition, Anderson had showed off her skills under the hot glare of TV studio lights with appearances on shows like Good Morning America, CBS This Morning and the Today show. Prior to making a name for herself in the food industry, she ran her own catering company in Chicago. But even though she had a resume that many would envy, she wasn't feeling inspired. The publishing world had changed, and she knew she wasn't interested in writing another cookbook at the time. “I wasn't sure what was next,” Anderson says. “But I knew I had a history of cooking and decades of hospitality experience between [the catering company] and years of hosting events, big and small. And I knew I had a unique property.”
Pam and David added to the home over time. At first, they only spent weekends and special occasions in Bucks County. But in 2019, they moved back for good and decided soon after that they wanted to share the peace and tranquility they felt in their home with others. A few months later, they hosted their first guests for a weekend yoga retreat. Now Copper House welcomes people year-round for day-long retreats or immersion weekends, an invitation for reflection, relaxation and connection with those sharing the space.
"When people come, we tell them, it's our home, but it's your home for the day."
The itinerary is fluid and depends on the guests and their goals, but might include activities such as yoga, art, meditation or a walk through the woods. “We tailor the experience,” Anderson says. “It's not a cookie-cutter experience.” Anderson says she works with several partners to bring the vision to fruition; she and David help out as needed in the hospitality department. “When people come, we tell them, it's our home, but it's your home for the day,” Anderson says.
And, as you might expect of someone with Anderson's background, food and cooking are certainly on the menu. Anderson was never formally trained as a chef, and she considers that an asset—it keeps her in touch with all the home cooks out there, she says. Regardless, cooking is something that has interested her all along, beginning with her childhood in the South. “I was born with it, I think,” Anderson says. “I always tell people, I fried my first chicken by myself at the age of 12.” She can recall “playing restaurant” with a young friend—the friend was the customer, and Anderson was the chef. An only child, Anderson says she happily assumed some kitchen duties from her mother, for whom cooking was more chore than cherished hobby. Anderson recalls a deal her mother made with her: “She said, ‘I'll make you a dress today if you'll make dinner.'”
Anderson's two daughters, Maggy Keet and Sharon Damelio, have inherited her passion for food. The trio collaborated on a book: Three Many Cooks: One Mom, Two Daughters: Their Shared Stories of Food, Faith & Family. They maintained a website and blog together until other commitments began to pull both daughters in different directions. Keet is the founder of Planetarian Life, a website and online community that promotes plant-based eating as a way to combat climate change. Anderson assists with recipe development. The idea of dipping a toe in the vegan or vegetarian pool might seem daunting to some, but Planetarian Life aims to make the shift as seamless as possible by providing easy-to-follow tutorials that take the guesswork out of everything from stocking the pantry to grilling portobello mushrooms to preparing essentials like sauces and dressings. And a “planetarian,” Anderson says, isn't necessarily someone going full gusto on a no-meat, no-animal-products regimen. “Maybe it's trying a Meatless Monday or eating plant-based meals once or twice a week,” she says. “It's not a rigid, strict thing.” And while she's been gravitating more toward plant-based cooking in recent years, Anderson is not exclusively vegetarian. “We still enjoy a good roast chicken,” she says.
"We plan out every meal, every dish, every cocktail. It's not only our work, it's our love."
Damelio is the director of development for WhyHunger, a nonprofit that aims to end hunger and help communities come up with workable solutions to food insecurity. Both Keet and Damelio live in New York City, and Anderson says they get together often. And naturally, provisions are never an afterthought at those gatherings. “We plan out every meal, every dish, every cocktail,” Anderson says. “It's not only our work, it's our love.”
Preparing the cuisine at Copper House is an opportunity for bonding as well. A spacious kitchen inside the main house has more than enough elbow room for a group that wants to carry on conversation while chopping up vegetables or tossing a salad. Some guests like to be part of the preparation process, others leave it to the professionals (i.e., Anderson). There's a kitchen outside, too, complete with two gas grills and a wood-fired pizza oven. Guests are encouraged to stretch their own dough and slide it into the belly of the beast.
Anderson likens her home to a play set, meaning it can be changed and manipulated in such a way to accommodate the needs of whatever group she's hosting. With its large, open rooms, the floor plan veers away from the traditional. Towering windows offer ample views of the greenery that surrounds the home; a gathering room on the main floor is nearly solid glass on two sides. Outside, with a cooking area, lengthy wraparound deck and fire pit, provides plenty of room to roam or relax on comfy chairs, benches and loungers.
When Pam and David aren't entertaining or working, they're busy with the upkeep of the massive 11-acre property. It's hard work, but not unwelcome work. Anderson says, with many new things, it's not unusual for the “shine” to wear off. But that's not the case with Copper House. “We adore this place,” she says. “But we also don't want to keep it to ourselves.”
Published as "Insight" in the April 2022 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
