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MICHAEL FEIN
From the Editor
Always the Serious Student IT HAS BEEN MORE YEARS THAN I CARE TO THINK SINCE
I was last in school. Yet even after so long, something about the onset of autumn still gives me the pleasantly expectant feeling that it’s time to buckle down, be done with summer foolishness and get back to work. Odd, really, since typically I’ve been working very hard all along. But there we are. The effect is undoubtedly enhanced by living in Boston, whose streets and stores, restaurants and subways, become very visibly more packed as September draws nigh. Here the crisper days of early fall invariably resound with the chatter of eager students pouring into town from far and wide. I try telling myself it’s not only the school year that’s gearing up. The truly weighty events of the social and cultural calendars also resume, leaving as mere memories the white clothes and outdoor frivolities of the warmer months. So it’s nose-to-the-grindstone time in many different ways. But really, somewhere deep down in my heart, I’m just headed back to class, ready to plunge again into a joyous sea of learning. What exactly does any of this have to do with architecture
12
New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
and interiors? Maybe it’s that I’m somehow a born academic (that might certainly explain a slight tendency to lecture— have you noticed?), but the suppressed excitement of my annual back-to-school anticipation correlates directly with how I, and this magazine, approach design. It’s easy to assume that the fluffiest subjects are our journalistic meat and drink: this season’s colors, say, or how much longer the vogue for animal prints will last. But underlying these (literally) surface concerns is always a more serious subtext. How can this particular space be made more efficient for this particular family’s needs? How seamlessly does this furniture plan adapt to an intimate gathering or a cocktail party for dozens? Does this kitchen layout make sense? The depth of attention paid to issues such as usability, scale and integration is one of the surest ways to distinguish the design amateur from the design professional. Do you see the rhyme a chairback’s particular curve makes with the tendrils of the oriental rug below? And the play of curtain and upholstery hues that don’t quite match but make a harmonious fellowship? And how the thickness of a chandelier’s arms relates to the chunkiness of the fireplace mantel? If the signs are there but don’t smack you between the eyes, a true, and truly educated, talent has been at work. I don’t mean to say that style, pattern and finish aren’t important and fun; like summer’s relaxing pursuits they play a crucial role in a well-balanced life. But there should always be that back-to-school seriousness beneath. However flighty a designer’s manner, if she or he is worth the hire it masks a tough kernel of expertise and hard work—and the constant drive to keep informed, keep exploring, keep learning. The success of our first issue last spring makes me think you share our delight in discovery. In fact, your reception has been so welcoming that we’ll be publishing quarterly in 2011. So look for us again in January as we start our next term.
Kyle Hoepner, Editor-in-Chief khoepner@nehomemag.com
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FALL 2010 VOLUME 1, NUMBER 2
62
28
Featured Homes 50 Details, Details Careful attention to the fine points turns a waterfront home from simple
to simply stunning. ARCHITECTURE: MCKEE PATTERSON, AUSTIN PATTERSON DISSTON ARCHITECTS • INTERIOR DESIGN: NANCÉ J. VINGNEAU, VIGNEAU & ASSOCIATES INTERIORS • PHOTOGRAPHY: LAURA MOSS • TEXT: ERIN MARVIN • PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL
62 European Union In a perfect marriage of architecture and interior design, a Greenwich
house rooted in Continental tradition enfolds its owners in a magical blend of comfort and luxury. ARCHITECTURE: ALEX KAALI-NAGY • INTERIOR DESIGN: KAREN KAALI-NAGY • LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: WESLEY STOUT ASSOCIATES • PHOTOGRAPHY: MICHAEL PARTENIO • TEXT: MEGAN FULWEILER • PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL
74 A Backdrop for Living A simple palette serves as a serene setting for a creative woman
116
whose life—both personally and professionally—centers on her Haddam home. PHOTOGRAPHY: LAURA MOSS • WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL
86 Heart of the Matter A desire for a bigger, better kitchen inspired a New Canaan family to
build a whole new house where the kitchen of their dreams takes center stage. ARCHITECTURE: MICHAEL SMITH • INTERIOR DESIGN: HEATHER MCWILLIAM-AUTORE • LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE: JOHN C. DE FEO, MODEL PROPERTIES • PHOTOGRAPHY: LAURA MOSS • TEXT: PAULA M. BODAH • PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL
Departments 12 From the Editor 28 Interview: Christy MacLear The outgoing head of New Canaan’s Glass House looks to its
future even as she prepares to move on. BY KYLE HOEPNER • PORTRAIT BY JULIE BIDWELL 40 Made Here: Dream Weavers In an environmentally friendly South Norwalk workspace,
Elizabeth Eakins rugs are hand-woven with a nod to the past and an eye to the future. BY NENA DONOVAN LEVINE • PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUCE G. ANDO
• • • 100 Design Life Our candid camera snaps recent gatherings that celebrate architecture and design.
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108 Perspectives Three area designers imagine a handsome and cozy library. Wish List: Mar Silver shares her favorite home design products 116 120 New in Showrooms Unique, beautiful and now appearing at Connecticut shops and show-
On the cover: A quiet palette and uncluttered design bring serenity to a Haddam home. Photograph by Laura Moss. To see more, turn to page 74.
rooms. BY ERIN MARVIN 127 Resources A guide to the professionals and products in this issue’s featured homes. 134 Advertiser Index 136 Sketch Pad Architect and furniture designer David Harlan shows the design evolution of a
custom dining table. 16 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Kyle Hoepner khoepner@nehomemag.com HOMES EDITOR
Stacy Kunstel skunstel@nehomemag.com SENIOR EDITOR
Paula M. Bodah pbodah@nehomemag.com MANAGING EDITOR
Erin Marvin emarvin@nehomemag.com ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR
Jared Ainscough jainscough@nehomemag.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Cheryl and Jeffrey Katz candjkatz@nehomemag.com Louis Postel lpostel@nehomemag.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Regina Cole, Caroline Cunningham, Megan Fulweiler, Robert Kiener, Kara Lashley, Christine Temin CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Robert Benson, Tria Giovan, Sam Gray, John Gruen, Warren Jagger, Richard Mandelkorn, Laura Moss, Michael Partenio, Greg Premru, Nat Rea, Eric Roth, James R. Salomon, Brian Vanden Brink EDITORIAL INTERN
Carling Sturino ••• Editorial and Advertising Office 530 Harrison Ave., Suite 302 Boston, MA 02118 (617) 938-3991 (800) 609-5154 Editorial Submissions Designers, architects, builders and homeowners are invited to submit projects for editorial consideration. For information about submitting projects, e-mail emarvin @nehomemag.com.
D a v i d D. H a r l a n A r c h i t e c t s, l l c
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I N T E R I O R S , L L C
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20 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
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Letters to the Editor We’d love to hear from you! Write to us at the above address, fax us at (617) 663-6377 or e-mail us at letters@nehomemag.com. Subscriptions To subscribe to New England Home ($19.95 for one year) or for customer service, call (800) 765-1225 or visit our Web site, www .nehomemag.com. Upcoming Events Are you planning an event that we can feature in our Calendar of Events? E-mail information to calendar@nehome mag.com, or mail to Calendar Editor, New England Home, 530 Harrison Ave., Suite 302, Boston, MA 02118. Parties We welcome photographs from designor architecture-related parties. Send highresolution photos with information about the party and the people pictured to pbodah@nehomemag.com.
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Roberta Thomas Mancuso rmancuso@nehomemag.com Andrea Kolden akolden@nehomemag.com Kim Sansoucy ksansoucy@nehomemag.com Robin Schubel rschubel@nehomemag.com Angela Stevenson astevenson@nehomemag.com PRODUCTION MANAGER
Glenn Sadin gsadin@nehomemag.com SALES COORDINATOR
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Susan Deese 22 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
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Interview
Christy MacLear
The outgoing head of New Canaan’s Glass House looks to its future even as she prepares to move on. PORTRAIT BY JULIE BIDWELL
C
hristy MacLear, for the past five years executive director of the Philip Johnson Glass House in New Canaan, will be leaving at the end of November to become the first executive director of the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. Yet her departure coincides with the fruition of Modern Views, a major project she helped initiate to raise funds and awareness for two seminal sites of modern architecture in the United States: the Glass House itself and Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House in Illinois. New England Home’s Kyle Hoepner
28 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
met with her briefly to talk about this undoubtedly somewhat poignant conjunction. Kyle Hoepner: How do you feel about the state of the Glass House, Christy, as you prepare now to move on to the next phase of your professional life? CM: Having come to the Glass House as its first director, built the strategy and staff and prepared the site for opening—now, after five years, we are in great shape. I’m delighted about my new post. It has so many similar elements, chal-
Interview
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lenges and opportunities. I love the early, conceptual aspects of cultural assets and legacies. KH: Does the Modern Views project feel like a suitable valedictory with which to close out your tenure in New Canaan? CM: The vision to be a leader in the broader field of modern preservation— and how that connects art, architecture and design—has been captured perfectly in Modern Views. Being able to see this program come to life will be the culmination of building off a wonderful legacy and handing it over to a new director for its next phase of growth. KH: Can you give our readers a quick overview of what the Modern Views project is and how it’s going to work? CM: We’ve invited 100 architects, artists and designers to contribute work and statements about what inspires them about or between the Glass House and the Farnsworth House. We’ve captured this creativity and this dialogue in a book, which will be published by Assouline, and through exhibitions and auctions to be held both in Chicago, near where the Farnsworth House is, and in New York, in proximity to the Glass House. So, Modern Views is really a conversation about these two sites and what makes them relevant in our historic continuum. KH: I was interested to note that a lot of the art is not just paintings and works on paper by the figures one might typically expect. One of the people involved, for example, is Gary Hildebrand, who’s actually a landscape architect based near Boston. What kinds of things are people like Gary doing for this project? CM: We wanted to pay homage to the important role that landscape plays at both sites. The Glass House in many ways is about the surrounding landscape, and when you go to the Farnsworth House you realize the importance of its rural surroundings and its placement relative to the river. So it was important to invite landscape architects to be a part of this interpretation of these two sites. There are some classic choices, people who have historically been involved with the Glass House or the Farnsworth, like Stanley Tigerman, Dirk Lohan, Michael Graves, Cesar Pelli . . . the list goes on and on in that network of people. Then there are the young, very vibrant architects like Johnston Marklee out of Los Angles. You have young designers like Maarten Baas,
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Interview who was named “Designer of the Year,” by DesignMiami—you know, global figures. You have artists who have had a legacy at this site, like Frank Stella, and you have younger designers such as Demian Repucci, who riffed off a Warhol poster to illustrate the combative relationship between Philip Johnson and Mies van der
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Rohe and their interpretation of the international style. So you really get the veterans and the emerging talent in this project. Also the photographer Lynn Davis, Ed Ruscha, Claes Oldenburg—wonderful, wonderful artists who have interpreted these two sites. KH: You mentioned that there will be exhibitions in both Chicago and New York, culminating in auctions in both places. CM: There will be a number of works that will be shown at the Arts Club in Chicago and auctioned on Modern Views pieces by September 16; landscape architect Gary the same at Hilderbrand (top) and Sotheby’s in New industrial designer ConYork on October stantin Boym (bottom) 6. We have also commissioned Sarah Morris, who is a wonderful internationally known artist, to create a film . . . KH: I was going to ask about that! CM: Her films are a visual interpretation of the social history of places, so she’s the perfect artist to interpret this project. The film,
E x c e p t i o na l H a n dw r oug h t L i g h t i ng
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Points on a Line, will be premiered at the event in Chicago and then in New York. KH: And the book from Assouline comes out at roughly the same time, I believe? CM: We are actually getting the Chicago copies air-shipped, so they will be there before anybody else has had a chance to see them; and then they’ll be in New York. You’ll be able to buy books signed by the participants, which is very exciting. The cover is by Al Taylor, who was a dear friend of Philip Johnson’s longtime life partner Dave Whitney. Taylor’s estate is having a show at the David Zwirner Gallery in the fall, so after all the events we’ll have the book launch at the gallery to celebrate that. KH: You’ll also be having an online auction. Is that at the same time as the live auctions or is it a separate thing? CM: We are calling it an online exhibition because people will be able to register a bid through Sotheby’s, but they won’t be able to bid live like they do on eBay or Live Auctioneers, for example. It will go live on September 7, I think. People will be able to see all the work. We hope that they will all be very interested, since the money goes to support our preservation, and they absolutely should buy something! KH: I’m curious about what kind of work the proceeds from Modern Views will make possible here at the Glass House compound. What are you planning to use the money for? CM: The proceeds from Modern Views will be dedicated to the preservation of the Brick House. It’s actually the “other half ” of the Glass House. It sits at the bottom of a slope, so it has been filling with water for many years, which has created a mold problem. We need to go in and restore the interior, including the Fortuny fabrics, the books, the Pesce chairs—but also the infrastructure, to ensure that the building is preserved in perpetuity. So, our part of the Modern Views funds will be dedicated one hundred percent to that capital project. KH: Well, Christy, this sounds like quite a positive note on which to take your leave. New Canaan’s loss is the Rauschenberg Foundation’s gain; I’m sure your friends and supporters wish you well in your next endeavor. • Editor’s Note For more information about Modern Views, call (203) 594-9884 or visit www.philipjohnsonglasshouse.org/programs /modernviews.
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In an environmentally friendly South Norwalk workspace, Elizabeth Eakins rugs are hand-woven with a nod to the past and an eye to the future. ELIZABETH EAKINS STARTED WEAVING WHEN SHE WAS ELEV-
en and hasn’t stopped. Today she heads up a business with international clients and several million dollars in annual sales. Open any quality shelter magazine and chances are you’ll see her work: woven wonders that emerge from the 22,000-square-foot South Norwalk space her eponymous company has occupied since 2000. Eakins’s reputation for thoughtfully designed hand-woven and handhooked rugs stretches back to 1978 when, after art school in Berkeley, California, she opened her doors in New York City’s SoHo district. “To make things by hand, locally, using all natural fibers” was the mission statement in her Thompson Street gallery. Three decades later that mantra hasn’t changed. Just about everything else has. The first rugs were woven by Eakins and her business partner, Scott Lethbridge, a Princeton graduate with an architecture degree. Today the rugs are still hand-woven (although Eakins Cloth, used for a rugged floor-covering as well as upholstery fabric, is produced on a mechanized loom), but by weavers locally and around the 40 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
Made Here world. Lethbridge manages the company’s Madison Avenue showroom, where he defines and designs rugs for each client’s project. All rugs were wool at the beginning; now fiber choices also include cotton, linen and silk. (The pair debuted a line of companion fabrics in 2004.) These are custom rugs, ready in about twelve weeks. “Anything is available in any color,” promises Eakins. They are venerable rugs, too. Not only do they incorporate ancient spinning and weaving traditions, but the company never closes out a weave or pattern. Should you want an exact replica of your 1985 purchase, it’s yours. Rug “family” names read like history lessons, because that’s where they originated. There’s Drugget (a seventeenth-century Scottish weave), Crumble (a texture that mimics a fireplace built of river rocks) and Union Cloth (as in union suits, the undergarment staple of the Old West). Each family includes lots of “children,” who get place names like Kansas and Abilene. Natural dyes including marigold, madder, black walnut and woad (a blue dye used as body paint by Druids) create the color palette. Eakins then matches those hues using manufactured dyes, which are both more stable and more colorfast. New Zealand fleece is used exclusively, because Eakins maintains it’s the best in the world. Both principals are especially proud of the Teff collection, named for the grassy forage that sheep eat. Teff combines a linen warp yarn with a wool weft, creating an attractively priced, flat-woven rug. Color and weave pattern choices are limitless, says Eakins. Teff rugs wear like iron and work well as stair runners or area rugs. Plus, they’re reversible, yielding a different color mix when flipped over. Eakins happily replaces the edge binding when it wears, as she recently did on an eighteen-year-old rug. She wants you to keep Eakins Elizabeth Eakins rugs forever, and couldn’t be (203) 831-9347 more serious when she www.elizabetheakins.com promises that the sale of a rug doesn’t end the company-customer relationship. Lethbridge loves the hooked rugs for their “blank canvas” potential. These rugs are custom-designed for their surroundings, so the company has worked in styles from Arts & Crafts to country to contemporary. The final design, hand-painted on mesh backing, is hooked using the customer’s chosen color palette. Certain rugs, such as the Audubon, created for a house near a salt marsh, have more than seventy-five colors. Prices for hand-woven cotton rugs start at $24 per square foot; wool at $110 per square foot; and Teff is priced in the middle. Hooked rugs start at $80 per square foot and increase in price with the number of colors and complexity of design. In Eakins’s SoNo facility, an old packing-crate factory that architect Deborah Berke and Associates recycled into an environmentally mindful building, a twenty-foot-high ceiling pulls a visitor’s eye up and around the interior; tall partitions divide the cathedral-height volume into task areas without isolating any space. One is always aware of where the material has come from and where it is headed. A salvaged bowling alley is repurposed into an expansive raised floor. Several of the twenty-five employees kneel or sit cross-legged to assemble, seam and iron rugs. As benign as it sounds, traditional spinning, dyeing and weaving of natural materials doesn’t by itself guarantee a healthy workplace. Berke and her team joined with Eakins and Lethbridge to plan an environment of excellent air quality, upgraded insulation and sustainable features. Lynn Morgan, owner of Lynn Morgan Design in Rowayton, uses Eakins rugs whenever she can. Eakins rugs, she says, “add that magic that makes the room sing. Rug shopping used to be boring. Now it is so much fun.” • 42 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
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Details, Details Careful attention to the fine points turns a waterfront home from simple to simply stunning. TEXT BY ERIN MARVIN • PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURA MOSS • ARCHITECTURE: M C KEE PATTERSON, AUSTIN PATTERSON DISSTON ARCHITECTS • INTERIOR DESIGN: NANCÉ J. VIGNEAU, VIGNEAU & ASSOCIATES INTERIORS • PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL
50 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
The large dining table, which offers plenty of seating for family and friends, came with the owners from their previous house. Facing page: Round and oval ornamental windows add interest to the house’s front facade.
Interior designer NancĂŠ Vigneau styled the intimate living room with a monochromatic beige-and-tan color scheme. Facing page top: The paneled wall underneath the staircase landing encloses a small powder room. Facing page bottom: Some of the bookcases architect McKee Patterson designed wear a cover of ornamental wire.
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rom a distance, it’s a simple stone and shingle house with a bevy of large, unadorned windows and an ample porch overlooking Noroton Harbor. Though it has an expansive green lawn, the house itself seems content nestled back within the protecting shadows of wizened trees. The finer points begin to reveal themselves on closer inspection: round and oval ornamental windows beautify the home’s front facade. Along the edge of the property, a low-set stone wall is occasionally interrupted by a series of small wrought-iron gates. A breezeway that connects the garage to the main house offers both shelter from inclement weather and privacy from those arriving by car, who are not yet privy to views of the splendid stone terrace or adjacent blue pool that shimmers in the backyard sunlight. Step inside, and the careful attention to detail changes this house from simple to something special. The design of the staircase newel post is fashioned after the binnacle of a sailboat, in homage to the harbor outside. Hidden behind a curved paneled wall underneath the landing is a small powder room complete with a hammered brass sink. (This same brass is echoed in the inserts in a pair of cherry tables in the living room and lamps in the master bedroom.) Looking through an in- “They wanted terior window, the twin it to feel star light fixtures above the dining table are seen fairly timeless, repeated as smaller verso once it sions in the family weathered in it room. Coffered ceilings in the living room boast wouldn’t feel like a delicate roping detail, it had landed another nod to being on from the moon.” the water. “The idea was to make the house feel generous but not overly grand,” says architect McKee Patterson, a principal at the Southportbased firm Austin Patterson Disston. When the clients approached Patterson with the commission for a new house, their requests were relatively straightforward: a fairly classical aesthetic, a large porch overlooking the water and a big family room. A formal dining room would be perfect for entertaining guests, but it shouldn’t be too formal—they wanted the house to feel relaxed, not stuffy. The property itself forms a large L, and while that might normally present a siting challenge, it was actually the perfect shape to fit both the main house and the outbuildings—a detached garage, guest house and cabana—
Fall 2010 New England Home’s Connecticut 53
54 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
The back porch sprawls across the living room, family room and kitchen with their spectacular views of the harbor beyond (facing page bottom). Second-floor dormers give the master suite and guestroom similar vistas. Facing page top: The terrace, with its large barbeque area, outdoor dining space and stone fireplace, connects the main house and cabana.
that the clients also wanted. “We worked on keeping the major trees and shoehorned the house in,” says Patterson. “They wanted it to feel fairly timeless, so once it weathered in it wouldn’t feel like it had landed from the moon.” One last request came from the husband who, much to his wife’s chagrin, wanted a built-in bar in the family room. “It presented a design challenge,” says Patterson. “I’ve never had to put a full-on bar in the middle of a room.” The wife was insistent that the bar not dominate the room. Though Patterson did recess it in an alcove, somewhat in shadow, the end result—a beautiful cherrywood bar with working taps, seating for friends and glass-enclosed shelves—is just as much of a conversation starter as any of his carefully designed bookcases, benches, mantels and other interior architectural elements found throughout the house.
Patterson also designed the white wood cabinetry for the kitchen. This room feels slightly more rustic than the rest of the house, with its walls of colored clay plaster and tongue-and-groove planks and a natural rough-sawn oak timbered ceiling. The kitchen sink sits in a bay window with a water view; the backsplash and counters are a warm gray and creamy white grigio stone. An island and a bar area allow both plenty of prep space and room to pull up a stool and chat with the cook. “If they have friends coming over they want people to feel like they can hang out in the kitchen and be a part of it,” explains Patterson. Patterson took care of the hardscaping as well, creating an outdoor terrace complete with an extensive barbeque area for the husband that boasts a smoker, gas grill and wood-burning barbeque grill. The large stone fireplace, perfect for keeping the outdoor space warm on chilly Fall 2010 New England Home’s Connecticut 55
A rough-sawn oak timbered ceiling lends the kitchen and adjacent sitting area a rustic look. Vigneau mixed styles, using an antique trunk as a coffee table and contemporary chrome-and-leather stools. To the right of the kitchen a small ofďŹ ce sits behind paned-glass walls.
The master bedroom boasts a variety of soft colors and sumptuous textures, from the tufted blue-velvet headboard to the quilted cream bedding and luxurious faux-fur throw. Facing page top: The bowed ceiling and beaded paneling of the cabana’s bedroom was inspired by boat interiors. Facing page bottom: The tub in the master bathroom offers harbor views.
nights, pulls double duty in the cabana building that it backs up to. The owners enjoy dining outdoors, and there’s plenty of seating for family and friends at both outside tables and in a screened-in eating porch adjacent to the barbeque area. When the time came to look for interior paint colors and furnishings, Patterson suggested the owners meet with Westport-based interior designer Nancé Vigneau, with whom he’s collaborated in the past. “Mac is great with the details,” says Vigneau. “He’s my favorite architect to work with.” Because the house is on the water, the clients wanted a sea-inspired palette of aqua, sea glass green and sand, which Vigneau incorporated into the paint colors, fabrics and furnishings. Paintings throughout the house, chosen by the owners, are all serene beach and water scenes that echo these same hues.“It’s very beautiful but very subtle,” says Vigneau. “It doesn’t scream at you.” As a young couple, the homeowners had no need of stiff formal rooms, preferring that the interiors reflect their casual lifestyle. To help accomplish that, Vigneau mixed styles, incorporating items that fit the wife’s preferred aesthetic of contemporary/transitional design with the husband’s penchant for the traditional. Fabrics—even chenille, mohair and velvet—were chosen for comfort rather than luxury. New furniture mingles with pieces the clients already owned, and the Because the wife was very involved in choosing many of the house is on accessories. “I want the the water, the home to be a reflection clients wanted of them, not me,” says a sea-inspired Vigneau. Again, close attention palette of aqua, to detail keeps this casusea glass green al house from being and sand. commonplace. Interior walls are paneled and inset with a delicate grasscloth in one room, and painted a faux strié in another. Custom Elizabeth Eakins rugs line quarter-sawn white oak floors throughout the house. In the family room, a welcoming sofa, along with two big, comfy chairs and a matching child-sized version for the owners’ young daughter, gather around a large stone fireplace like old friends. No heavy draperies block the view from any room; rather, window treatments are kept simple, from wooden matchstick blinds to light-as-air sheers that waft in the breeze. “They wanted a casual house that’s filled with light,” says Vigneau. “And it is.” If, as the saying goes, God is in the details, this couple has built themselves a little piece of heaven. • Resources For more information about this home, see page 127.
Fall 2010 New England Home’s Connecticut 59
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EuropeanUnion In a perfect marriage of architecture and interior design, a Greenwich house rooted in Continental tradition enfolds its owners in a magical blend of comfort and luxury. Text by Megan Fulweiler • Photography by Michael Partenio • Architect: Alex Kaali-Nagy • Interior design: Karen Kaali-Nagy • Builder: Alex Kaali-Nagy Development Corporation • Landscape architect: Wesley Stout Associates • Produced by Stacy Kunstel
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n a brilliant afternoon, the sun knifes through tall trees across emerald-green lawns spilling in all directions. Should a gleaming horse-drawn carriage or a sleek Ferrari pull up, neither would seem misplaced. As welcoming as it is gracious, this Greenwich house blurs the distinction between past and present. Not readily apparent is the fivecar garage below, the state-of-the-art elevator or the manner in which the generous ground floor walks out in back to the landscape and an enviable pool. • The newly constructed home’s overall demeanor dovetails with history. The architectural style—Georgian colonial—has roots, after all, stretching back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Half a dozen shades of granite give the exterior a definite I’ve-been-in-New England-for-ages look. Inside, classic details intermingle with upscale amenities. This seamless union of old and new in every little detail springs from a highly personal vision.
62 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
The home’s exterior and its surroundings blend references to the stately houses of Europe and New England’s iconic stone walls. Facing page: The foyer’s curved wall lent itself to the “Scenes of North America” wallpaper by Zuber, a paper also found in the White House.
Fortunately, it’s one shared by the owners: architect Alex Kaali-Nagy and interior designer Karen KaaliNagy. Over the years, the couple’s combined talents have allowed them to shepherd their dreams from drawing board to fruition several times. Their most recent endeavor, however, may be the pièce de résistance. Born and schooled in Europe, Alex derives a good deal of inspiration from across the sea. The streets of London, Budapest, Prague and Paris have all had an influence. Castles, grand manors and opera houses— each plays its part in a reservoir grown rich with travel. Not for him, though, are ostentatious rooms that, like heavy coats, overwhelm their inhabitants. “Every space must be created equal. No room should intimidate,” Alex says. “They must all have the same comfort level, the same magic and, if they don’t, you’ve failed.” It’s a sage comment that neatly explains the home’s incredible charm. From the elegant core—the circular entry hall where the staircase begins its spiral upwards and a hand-painted Zuber wallpaper depicting, among other things, the Hudson River and Niagara Falls, conjures an outdoor state of mind—to the luminous kitchen, the level of detail never falters. Meticulous custom moldings, paneling and pilasters reign throughout. The millwork is the telling thread that gives the house character and continuity. Some spaces grow more formal than others, but
64 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
A nineteenth-century Hungarian oil painting hangs above a living room loveseat. Facing page top: The dining room includes an antique mahogany sideboard. Facing page bottom: A sisal carpet interjects a casual note in the perfectly composed living room.
Rich architectural detailing sets off the intimate library. The Lee Jofa window fabric was Karen Kaali-Nagy’s starting point for the room’s palette. Burgundycolored grasscloth covers the walls and provides a striking backdrop for the couple’s outstanding art collection.
the overall tone remains harmonious, even serene. “It’s true,” says Karen, “This house is peaceful. You feel relaxed in all these rooms. It’s because everything is symmetrical and symmetry is soothing.” To one side of the entry, the enticing living room awaits company. Directly opposite, the library fosters more introspective hours and intimate conversation. While the former flaunts pale walls, the latter sports mahogany woodwork and cherry-colored grasscloth. “The grasscloth lightens it up a bit,” Karen notes. A leather ottoman anchored between two downfilled sofas serves as the library’s coffee table. The decorative rug is by locally based Mark carpets. The antique brass fireplace accessories are English treasures. Karen took her cue for the living room’s decor from the summer garden-like Lee Jofa curtain fabric. “I always work backward,” she laughs, “fabrics first, then wall color, furnishings and carpet.” The result of her unique approach is a pleasing pastiche including custom pieces (the ruddy corduroy velvet loveseat and matching striped armchairs, for example) and antiques big and small (the grandfather clock and brass candlesticks). The living room may not be the most frequented spot, Alex admits, but it does see daily activity as this is where he dutifully practices his piano. According to the season, there might be a fire blazing on the hearth as
68 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
Antique light fixtures illuminate the kitchen island. Facing page top: The butler’s pantry is wallpapered in “Tile Tales,” a documentary print by Brunschwig et Fils. Facing page bottom: Antique prints enliven a son’s room. The pine chest holds keepsakes.
his music fills the house. The icing on the cake in this room is the art. The owners have been collecting nineteenth-century European paintings for three decades. The dining room sits adjacent to the living room, highlighted by an antique mahogany Georgian table. Ribbon-back dining chairs wearing scalloped slipcovered seats gather around the table like girls in party dresses. Dainty Staffordshire plates frame the antique sideboard, which is perfectly set off by the window and its silk balloon shade above. Add some light from the custom chandelier, a bit of glimmer from the sconces and an Aubusson carpet to assure footsteps fall as lightly as snow and the dining room becomes one of those memorable settings guests recall for friends. Cooking duties fall to Karen, but so well-choreographed is the kitchen even everyday chores are hassle-free. The beautifully integrated appliances (two dishwashers, two fridges) are top-notch, but concealed to maintain a low profile. “We used Calacatta marble for the countertops, but topped the island with butternut. It’s a good balance,” Karen explains. A highly efficient butler’s pantry swathed in a whimsical Brunschwig et Fils paper links kitchen and dining room for ease of entertaining. If tastes evolve over time, the master suite must be a culmination of desires, lessons learned and savvy. Unlike the more masculine bedrooms visited If tastes evolve these days by their grown sons, the couple’s own over time, the sleeping quarters are master suite ultra feminine. “Enveloping,” is how Karen demust be a scribes their space. culmination A hand-painted Louis of desires, XVI bed from Julia Gray cozied up with Matouk lessons learned linens sets the luxurious and savvy. tone. Armchairs (one a custom version of its nineteenth-century twin) covered in dreamy blue Scalamandré velvet keep the lush rhythm going as does the French-patterned carpet. There’s a standing antique mirror, too, a silver tray table and rosecolored lamps to elevate the lady-like vibe. The sitting area with fireplace in the posh master bath is a sheer stroke of genius. “We actually meet here quite a bit,” Alex says. “We have a cup of coffee and discuss our schedules.” Karen cleverly covered the hearthside chairs in terrycloth to erase any worry over wet towels or hair drippy from the shower. Particularly striking, once more, is Alex’s focus on details. Marble floor, handpainted commodes and soaking tub aside, the eye is drawn again to the lovely architecture. No lowly role for this grooming room. Like the rest of the house, it’s a dazzling oasis any traditionalist—or modernist—couldn’t help but adore. • Resources For more information about this home, see page 127. 70 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
An antique tea table resides between the master bedroom’s velvet-covered chairs. Facing page top: The couple’s handpainted Louis XVI bed is from Julia Gray, New York. Facing page bottom: A heated marble floor ups the master bath’s comfort level.
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A Backdrop for Living A simple palette serves as a serene setting for a creative woman whose life—both personally and professionally—centers on her Haddam home. WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL • PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURA MOSS • WOODWORKING BY TIGER CARLSON
Over the years, the 1840s Federal-style house had been given a mansard roof and Victorian flourishes. In renovating, Robin Grassi followed her instincts rather than adhere to a particular style.
“Architecture is just so satisfying to me. The moldings, the structure, are my art.”
R
obin Grassi lives with no art on her walls and few accessories to speak of. Only one wall of her Haddam home sports a color other than white, and you’ll only find wallpaper if you visit the small downstairs powder room hung in leopard print. Throw pillows are as scarce as songbirds in winter, as are knickknacks, souvenirs and collectibles. • For Grassi, home is a backdrop for life, a canvas that she has meticulously planned and designed to fit her busy, creative existence. Consider it the antidote to the high-definition, iPad, BlackBerry, 3-D, laptop, Wii world we live in—what a relief to revel in simplicity. • It was 1990 when she stumbled on the 1840s Federal-style house that along the way had been given a mansard roof and a few Victorian flourishes. Recently divorced and the single mom of a four-month-old, she was looking for somewhere to raise her son, not a particular style or location. The house may look large now, thanks to Grassi’s renovations, but at the time it was just the right scale for her needs. “The third floor was all attic then, so three bedrooms didn’t seem so big,” says Grassi, a petite blond with bangs that brush the tops of her eyelashes. “It looks grand now because of the columns and the big back porch, but it wasn’t when I bought it.” • The house needed little work and she kept the furnishings simple. It was here that she raised her son and ran her business working with foreign manufacturers to create rugs and textiles for the American market. • “They send me a basic product they can make and I give them recommendations on color and design packaging,” she says. Hundreds of samples a month arrive at her home, so organization is key. • In 2002 she married Chris Grassi. The house was due for some updates and Chris encouraged her to make the house just as she wanted. • The couple embarked on a
76 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
The living room plays out a simple, neutral palette with a black-accented vibe. Previous page clockwise from top left: An outdoor dining area off the kitchen is a popular warm-weather hangout. Grassi designed the house’s curved doorway. The exterior brackets on the tower addition match those anking the back door.
“I didn’t renovate the house with a purist heart. I think the end result came
A deep Jacobean brown stains all the floors. The marbleized globe ceiling fixture was brought in from the front porch ceiling.
out kind of cool, though.�
The pale palette is broken only by an accent wall in green, a custom color chosen to reflect a bit of the outdoors. Facing page clockwise from top left: An antique mirror reflects the dining room tablescape. The thick turned legs of the dining table reflect some of the home’s heavier architecture details. The third-floor staircase leads to the new master suite.
“I like a type of decoration that stays the same. It’s a good backdrop to my life.”
major renovation, adding a pool and patio, bumping out the kitchen a few feet, finishing the attic into a master suite, and completing a tower on the second and third floors to give themselves a walk-in closet and extra office space. They added columns to the front porch, giving the facade a more stately feel, and ripped off the back porch, replacing it with a raised stone patio large enough for an outdoor dining area and stone fireplace. “Chris really pushed me,” says Grassi. “He worked in New York during the week and I worked on the house.” She conceived and oversaw the bulk of the work, often designing as she went along. The ideas for the large architectural brackets flanking the back door came from a building in New York, while the master bath vanity is a variation on one she saw in a magazine. As she thought ideas through and looked to magazines for inspiration, her partner in crime was local woodworker Tiger Carlson. “Tiger’s a local craftsman who has no idea how talented he is,” says Grassi. “He did everything—windows, doors, moldings, staircases, brackets, kitchen cabinets, mantels . . . on and on. He’s a peach of a guy.” Grassi gravitated toward items with patina and simple lines, like the Rocky Mountain hardware she used throughout the house and the concrete counters in the kitchen. Woodwork was also important. She designed it to look like furniture, incorporating feet, cabinets and drawers. In the kitchen, a row of thin, stacked, built-in drawers add to the graphic nature of the space and provide storage for placemats and silverware. If a certain corner was lacking character, beaded board was added to the ceiling or the interior architecture was beefed up until it met with her approval. “I didn’t renovate the house with a purist heart,” she says. “I think the end result came out kind of cool, though. I brought it up to date.” Fall 2010 New England Home’s Connecticut 81
Nestled in a sea of white walls and leafy green plants, the master suite feels like a tree house. Facing page clockwise from top left: A small dining area off the kitchen features a round table that Grassi cut down to ďŹ t the space. A page from a magazine inuenced the vanity design in the master bath. Narrow built-in drawers add a graphic note.
“Your home should be a place of serenity. Nothing to get in the way, no obstacles.”
Friend Liz Bazazi, a space planner near Hartford, gave Grassi ideas for using her rooms to their maximum potential. She spied an area on the roof of the third floor she envisioned as a secluded deck and helped Grassi lay out the plan for the third-floor master suite that opens onto it. Once again the house is Grassi’s. She and Chris split in 2009 and her son is now in college. Meticulously kept, simply decorated, quiet and serene, it is home to a woman without regret. She’s still a minimalist, exercising a palette of white, dark chocolate and touches of green. Most of her furniture is slipcovered in white, including all of the sofas in the living and family rooms and the dining room chairs. Simple shapes, stained tables and vintage-looking lighting are all part of the look. A few books lie scattered on the window sill of the third-floor bedroom, giving the only hint of disorder. “I like a type of decoration that stays the same,” says Grassi. “It’s a good backdrop to my life. I have never found any artwork that I love enough to live with every day. I’m drawn more to architecture. Architecture is just so satisfying to me. The moldings, the structure, are my art.” The single green-painted wall in a sitting room off the living room was long contemplated before Grassi committed to it. She says it’s the color of the greens outside, her attempt to keep everything as natural as possible. The custom Pratt & Lambert shade perfectly shows off an arched-back sofa covered in linen that was her grandmother’s. As we are constantly stung with stimuli, Grassi knows just what she needs to maintain her creativity and the calm her home achieves. “It’s so serene to have a blank canvas,” she says. “Your home should be a place of serenity. Nothing to get in the way, no obstacles.” • Resources For more information about this home, see page 127. Fall 2010 New England Home’s Connecticut 83
740 Boston Post Road • Sudbury, Massachusetts 01776 Phone 978-443-3638(MA) • 401-789-5889(RI)
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Heart of the Matter
A desire for a bigger, better kitchen inspired a New Canaan family to build a whole new house where the kitchen of their dreams takes center stage. TEXT BY PAULA M.
BODAH • PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURA MOSS • ARCHITECTURE: MICHAEL SMITH • INTERIOR DESIGN: HEATHER M CWILLIAM-AUTORE • BUILDER: WALTER CROMWELL, COUNTRY CLUB HOMES • LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE: JOHN C. DE FEO, MODEL PROPERTIES • PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL
86 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
A half-wall and columns separate the large living room into two more intimate seating areas. Facing page clockwise from top left: The living room includes a well-equipped bar. Arches like this one in the foyer add a touch of formality throughout the interior. The kitchen was the starting point for the home’s design.
Fall 2010 New England Home’s Connecticut 87
W
e all know how even the simplest home project seems to take on a life of its own. A fresh coat of paint, and suddenly the sofa looks dingy. New upholstery renders the window treatments hopelessly wrong for the room. Before we know it, we’ve spent twice as much time (and goodness knows how much more money) redoing a room we thought just needed repainting. • That process—on a much larger scale—is how this appealing Shingle-style house in New Canaan came to be. • The homeowners’ original aim was a larger, upgraded kitchen for the house they’d been living in for fourteen years. “Next thing we knew,” recalls the husband, “we were off down a different path.” • They looked around at other houses with an eye toward buying something with a kitchen that better suited their needs. They talked to the original builder of their house, Walter Cromwell of Country Club Homes, about remodeling. Ultimately, the idea of getting exactly what they wanted proved too alluring. “We ended up deciding to build a new house,” the homeowner says. • There was no question that the construction would be trusted to Cromwell, who, with his sister Carolyn Wheeler, runs the company their family started in the 1950s. The couple also knew they wanted designer Heather McWilliam-Autore to work the same magic on their interiors that she’d performed in the house they were leaving. On Cromwell’s recommendation they added Wilton architect Michael Smith to the team. • The owners, who have three teenagers, didn’t necessarily go into the process with the image of a Shingle-style house in mind. “I
88 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
Porches, like this favorite spot for morning coffee, are deeper than the standard. Facing page top: Symmetry defines the front of the Shingle-style house. Facing page bottom: In back, symmetry gives way to interesting roof lines, a turret, porches and a fieldstone chimney that serves four fireplaces.
Fall 2010 New England Home’s Connecticut 89
Deep blue walls and a barrel-vaulted ceiling with shimmering silver paint bring drama to the dining room. Facing page top: Casual comfort reigns in the more rustic family room. Facing page bottom: A nook in the master suite provides a cozy spot for relaxing.
90 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
don’t know that we had a clear view of precisely what we wanted,” the husband says. “We’re not really formal people, so we wanted to be sure to create a house to be lived in, not a museum to be walked around in. If there was a theme we started with, that would be it.” Smith took all the factors into consideration—the wedge-shaped lot on a hill overlooking a pond, setback requirements that guided the building’s siting and the family’s wish for a comfortable, casual home whose heart would be a stylish and functional kitchen—and suggested the coastal New England–inspired result. From the driveway the house presents a modest face that belies its 10,000 square feet. “We designed the house to be fairly narrow from the front, but quite long behind that, partly due to the shape of the site and partly because we didn’t want it to look like a gigantic house,” Smith says. Perfect symmetry defines the front, where steeply pitched twin peak roofs flank a bell-shaped dormer on the attic floor and two second-story bay windows project prettily above the overhanging roof that tops the gracious columned porch. White cedar shingles and siding and white trim with the occasional flourish complete the classic coastal feel. At the sides and back of the house, symmetry gives way to a series of interesting roof lines, dormers, porches, a turret and a massive fieldstone chimney that serves basement, outdoor, first- and second-floor fireplaces. Inside, Smith’s work began with the all-important kitchen, situating the eighteen-by-thirty-foot room on the spot that offered the best views of the pond. “It truly is the heart of the house,” he says. “Everything flows from there.” Here, the wife can indulge her love of and talent for cooking, making use of a wealth of granite-topped counters, a freestanding walnuttopped center island with a second sink and plenty of drawer and counter space. Appliances are disguised by white paneling, and little cabinets with retractable doors hide small appliances between uses. Designer McWilliam-Autore brought elegance and modernity to the room with her introduction of satin nickel hardware, a contemporary light fixture above the island and a backsplash of nickel mesh over a light linen fabric. A casual dining area anchors one end of the room, though in warm months the family is more likely to take meals on the porch that sweeps across the kitchen and family room. Smith designed the porches to be deeper than the standard six to eight feet, the better to fit chairs and tables comfortably. “My wife loves the patio outside the kitchen,” the husband says. “Looking on to the pond when you’re having your coffee on a nice summer morning—it’s very peaceful.” In both architecture and decor, the interior maintains a blend of the formal and the casual. Beginning in the foyer, with its Venetian-
In both architecture and decor, the interior
maintains a blend of the formal and the casual.
Fall 2010 New England Home’s Connecticut 91
Copper-toned chair cushions accent the neutral color scheme in the casual dining area. Facing page top: Granite-topped counters and a walnut-topped island provide plenty of working space in the kitchen. Facing page bottom: The master bath tub sits in a nook with views of a pond.
92 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
plastered walls in a shade of summer-fresh green, a series of arches trimmed in white millwork help guide the transition from one room to the next. The palette adheres, for the most part, to soft neutrals— beige, taupe and mocha—with touches of pale blues and greens accented with hints of copper. The chairs at the kitchen island, breakfast table and living room bar as well as the mudroom’s wallpaper and the walls of the butler’s pantry all sport coppery hues. Half-walls, columns and coffered ceilings bring the large living room down to more intimate proportions and offer a number of seating options. To one side of the columns, a white sofa and chairs are matched with raw silk curtains the color of cafe au lait and an Elizabeth Eakins wool rug in shades of beige, taupe and light blues and greens. On the other side, a sitting area with a bold mocha-toned wallpaper holds a fully outfitted bar and comfortable banquette seating. As traditionally elegant as the room is, McWilliam-Autore also incorporated modern touches in the geometric pattern of the rug, a hammered nickel table lamp and a mirrored chandelier that, despite being an antique, has a simple shape that McWilliam-Autore calls “clean and European.” Things take a dramatic turn in the formal dining room, where the walls above the white wainscoting wear a coat of deep blue and a silkshaded chandelier diffuses light upward to a barrel-vaulted ceiling that shimmers with silvery paint. “I’m always interested in how to treat ceilings to make them a little more special,” Smith says. In so many projects, that first small step leads to big changes. For this family, the dream of a better kitchen led to the house of their dreams. • Resources For more information about this home, see page 127. Fall 2010 New England Home’s Connecticut 93
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The Return of by jennifer brabson
Wainscoting
Pro Advice
Michael Yedowitz Wainscot Solutions “Adding architectural detail like wainscoting doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Using a company like Wainscot Solutions is definitely a way to add high-value details.” For more advice from Michael, call 203.730.9700
Where to use it? Entries Use panel wainscoting in rooms and entryways where you can stand back and appreciate it. “Pencil Panel” (see left) works better in close quarters- hallways, mudrooms and utility areas.
Stairs and Hallways Adding the wainscot panels to the wall leading to the living room and up the main stairwell visually enlarges the dining room andprovides a continuous look.
Eating Areas Cleverly adding tall wainscoting panels in a dining room to create a dramatic backdrop. Paneling can also double as the back and sides of a window seat in a breakfast nook.
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Ceilings Ceilings take up the same real estate as the floor, few people consider spending even a fraction of their decorating budget on the ceiling design to make it stand out and up above the rest. Adding paneling to a ceiling will create an aesthetic dimension you never knew existed.
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Design Life Out and about in celebration of design and architecture in Connecticut
THE LOVELY GREENWICH HOME OF TAMI AND DAN MCCARTHY
made the perfect setting for our party to celebrate the launch of NEW ENGLAND HOME’S CONNECTICUT, the newest member of the New England Home family. The fine early summer evening combined with Tami and Dan’s graciousness as hosts made for an event to remember as some 200 people gathered to enjoy hors d’oeuvres by Food Design. We’re still debating whether the tiny waffle cones filled with smoked salmon or the bite-size Should your party be cheeseburgers were our favorites. here? Send photographs You have to love Twitter and Faceor high-resolution images, book for the way they help us keep with information about the event and the people in the us in touch with friends and clients, photos, to New England Home, but there’s nothing quite like quality 530 Harrison Ave., Suite 302, time together. IRWIN FELD DEBoston, MA 02118, or e-mail images and information to SIGN threw the first of what it hopes pbodah@nehome will be many “Tweet-Up” celebrations mag.com. in its Stamford gallery. The gallery’s friends and clients mixed and mingled and cemented bonds formed over months of online conversation. Besides their networking savvy, the partygoers discovered they have congeniality and a love of good design in common. Smart business people know how important networking— in person and online—is. It may be even more important for those who own their companies; sometimes the only person who can understand your challenges is another person at the helm of his or her own ship. That’s the thinking behind the fledgling DESIGN GUILD, a group of people who run designrelated businesses in Fairfield County. Designer Linda Ruderman got the group together at her Greenwich home for an evening of wine, dinner and lively conversation. New Canaan’s Le Beau Chateau, a gracious 1937 mansion styled after a French manor house, was the setting for SPRING AWAKENING, a display of table-top vignettes created by designers and inspired by Broadway musicals. The opening party doubled as a fundraiser for the Summer Theater of New Canaan. IRWIN FELD DESIGN Clockwise from top: Mona Klein Klapper and Marcy Feld • Liz Orgera and Roberta Mancuso of New England Home • Maybelline Te, Tracy Hiner and Liz Orgera • Susan Blumenfeld, Ruth Warner and Mona Klein Klapper • Beth Dempsey and Liz Orgera • Bob and Catherine Avery, Richard Allan Marti Jr. and Laini B. Curcio-Marti • Irwin Feld and Tracy Hiner
100 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
Design Life
SPRING AWAKENING From left to right: Carol Seldin, Mar Jennings, Charles Pavarini III and Melody Libonati • Mary Harrison, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Priscilla Potenza • Danielle Ann Millican and Priscilla Potenza
NEW ENGLAND HOME’S CONNECTICUT From top, left to right: Adam Japko of Network Communications, Mary Kay Daughters, Jeff Brown and New England Home’s Kyle Hoepner • Skye Kirby, Sean Clarke and Katie DeFlorio • Amy Carbone, Oksana Quirk, Dan McCarthy of Network Communications, Tami McCarthy and Tuly O’neil • Kenleigh Larock, New England Home’s Betsy Abeles Kravitz and Mike Larock • Thierry Rosier, Linda Ruderman and Kyle Hoepner • Catherine Avery, New England Home’s Kim Sansoucy and Roberta Mancuso and Victoria Lyon
DESIGN GUILD
NEIL LANDINO, JR.
From top, left to right: Michael Yedowitz, Joyce Clear and Jeff Scott • Carol Kurth, Roberta Mancuso of New England Home and Linda Ruderman • Paula Bodah of New England Home, Rich Rosano, Jordy Scott and Carol Kurth • Rich Rosano and Jordy Scott
102 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
Visionary Landscapes Designed, created and cared for by Glen Gate
Glen Gate is a team of artists and artisans who assume responsibility for your pool and property every step of the way - as architects of the landscape, builders of the vision, and caretakers of the land. We work, think, plan, advise and act in harmony, so everything we do is true to the style and character of your home. For you, it means a seamless process and a higher level of service. To learn about our comprehensive capabilities, call Sheila at 203.762.2000, or visit www.glengatecompany.com.
DESIGNING AND CARING FOR THE FINEST PROPERTIES, GARDENS AND POOLS - SINCE 1972
Interior Design & Decoration
Cindy Rinfret is the founder of Rinfret, Ltd., which is one of the leading design firms on the East Coast. Her work has appeared in numerous publications including her book, CLASSIC GREENWICH STYLE (Rizzoli). The garden photos featured here were taken at Rinfret’s Greenwich home, Laurel Hill, which was on the cover of the Holiday issue of TRADITIONAL HOME.
354 GREENWICH AVENUE GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT www.rinfretltd.com SHOP 203.622.0204 DESIGN 203.622.0000
Photography by Gary Sloan
In collaboration with Woodmeister Master Builders
Suzanne Novik, ASID 4 North Avenue • Weston, Connecticut 06883 • Tel 203.454.5557 • Fax 203.454.5537 E-mail snovik@suzannenovikinteriors.com • www.suzannenovikinteriors.com
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Perspectives Fresh outlooks on design and resources
The Library: Leather Furniture
• Three area designers imagine a handsome and cozy library • Wish List: Mar Silver shares her favorite home design products
IRWIN FELD
Leather and Wood Desk by Edward Wormley for Dunbar “I love this desk for its rarity and its scale. You don’t see many of these desks, an early 1940s Dunbar. It’s an easy desk for simple letter writing or to use with a laptop.”
LINDA RUDERMAN
Fan-Back Wing Chair “A leather wing chair, like this transitional piece from Edward Ferrell, would look wonderful as a pair, flanking a library’s fireplace to create a sense of sumptuous warmth and richness.”
CAREY KARLAN
Bolero Chair by Hickory Chair “This piece offers what we all want in a leather library chair: comfort, presence and quality. It would translate well in an unexpected shade such as a soft metallic leather, soft taupe or even a contemporary bright leather such as chartreuse!”
108 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
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Perspectives
Throw
IRWIN FELD
Stroheim and Romann Throw “This black eyelash throw, made from Jab fabric, is completely decadent and sumptuous.”
CAREY KARLAN
Leron’s Leida Throw “Beautiful drape, subtle sophisticated colors and a luscious hand—these throws, a blend of lamb’s wool, silk and cashmere, are the height of luxury. I like a throw that is an elegant accessory, not one whose bulk and size threaten to take over the sofa.”
LINDA RUDERMAN
Holland & Sherry Cashmere Throw “There’s nothing better than wrapping yourself in luxurious cashmere as you sit by the fireplace absorbed in a favorite book.”
Irwin Feld’s passion for all things modern is reflected in his 5,000-square-foot loft-style gallery filled with fine art, furniture and lighting with a midcentury feel. His selections can be found at Irwin Feld Design. STAMFORD, (203) 588-0567, WWW.IRWINFELDDESIGN.COM
110 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
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Perspectives
Fireplace
LINDA RUDERMAN
Nineteenth-century Pine and Gesso Mantel “A fireplace is a quintessential piece for the library and plays an integral part in creating a warm environment. This carved pine mantel from Chesney’s ignites that warmth and mixes harmoniously with any transitional or traditional library.”
CAREY KARLAN
Regency Bullseye in Classico Limestone “A lighter fireplace can be very dramatic against a dark painted or paneled wall. Just as important as the mantel is the surround and accessories and I absolutely love this Georgian steel register.”
IRWIN FELD
Vintage Fireplace Surround “Classic meets modern in this 1940s fireplace surround of wood and felted fabric. Whether used in front of a regular firebox opening or as a faux mantel, this piece has the warmth and dimension that can make it a focal point.”
Carey Karlan, owner of Last Detail, a full-service interior design firm, insists on quality workmanship and materials when she’s creating interiors that reflect each client’s aesthetic and lifestyle. Her selections are available through Last Detail. DARIEN, (203) 921-5151, WWW.CAREYKARLAN.COM
112 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
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Southport, Connecticut • (203) 255-4031 Quogue, New York • (631) 653-1481 New Milford, Connecticut • (860) 210-7852 apdarchitects.com
Perspectives
Reading Lamp
IRWIN FELD
Wood and Brass Floor Lamp “This piece is special because it was converted from a torchiere to a regular floor lamp. The base and neck have touches of brightly polished metal that shine against the rich chocolate wood. It is practical and can be used almost anywhere.”
CAREY KARLAN
Evry Tripod Lamp “This piece from Vaughan is a charming little lamp with a lot of confidence and personality. It’s perfect as a partner for a smaller chair. Who can resist the soft gilt finish and pheasant feather shade?” LINDA RUDERMAN
Vaughan Designs Floor Lamp “This mahogany lamp with its burgundy linen shade establishes substantial visual weight by introducing a handsome, organic material.”
Linda Ruderman believes that the journey a homeowner embarks on with a designer should be both enjoyable and educational. She works very closely with her clients, designing their interior spaces to articulate their own histories, passions, needs and desires. Her choices can be purchased through Linda Ruderman Interiors. GREENWICH, (203) 552-9700, WWW.LINDARUDERMAN.COM
114 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
Ma r bl e | G r a n i t e | L i mest on e Ti l es | Ta bl es | C ou n t er Top s Va n i t y Top s | F i r ep l a ces
34 Riverside Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06850 tel (203) 847-6880, fax (203) 847-3902 www.casatellimarbleandtile.com Custom fabrication of marble and granite since 1988
IMAGES BY LAURA MOSS PHOTOGRAPHY
Helen Richardson Interiors Creating Beautiful & Distinctive Spaces
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Perspectives • Wish List
LARA TOMLIN
What are some things you’d love to use in a project?
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Mar Silver, Westport An early love of antiquing was the trigger that led to Mar Silver’s career in interior design. With her characteristic passion for beautiful things, Silver began traveling the world in search of wonderful pieces that she displays in her Westport antiques shop and uses in her interior design business. “I love to use exclusive pieces that aren’t widely available in Fairfield County or anywhere, because I want my clients’ homes to be as personal and unique as they are,” she says. Silver has become known for her sophisticated, serene interiors— spaces that go beyond beauty to nurture the soul. “My approach to design is very organic,” she says. “My signature look combines a neutral palette and sensual textures with a mix of custom-fabricated pieces that I design or find in my travels,” she says. “I also use one-of-a-kind art and vintage lighting, bringing everything together to create modern, sophisticated rooms.” The items on her Wish List are all available through Mar Silver Design. WESTPORT, (203) 341-0413, WWW.MARSILVERDESIGN.COM
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1 Bouvier Chandelier “No room is complete in my book without vintage Italian lighting. I love to add interesting ones in the kitchen or a bathroom. They add a touch of unexpected drama and are extremely pleasing to look at.” 2 Mandala by James Wilkins “I enjoy collecting art, both personally and for clients. For me, art that evokes mood or emotion works extremely well with my design approach. This piece by photographer James Wilkins is a good example.” 3 Matteograssi Dining Chairs “White open-back Italian leather chairs are a great wish-list item when I’m designing a dining room. I love the lines on these chairs, and they’re comfortable.” 4 Nana Wall System “A folding glass door system like the Nana Wall is great for bringing the outside into a room, even when temps drop. They function well, and you can always experience the wonder of nature around you.”
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5 Gianda Blasco Tipi “I love incorporating unexpected details or elements like these pool tepees. They’re decorative, functional and something you don’t see every day.” 6 Custom Vanity “This stone and wood bathroom vanity is an example of a piece that I custom designed. I love to play with textures to create furniture that is both beautiful and functional.”
116 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
108 River Road, Cos Cob, CT • (230) 661-1107
WWW.COASTALPT.COM CT license #’s NHC 0010367 & HIC 0607818
Models on Display
Fine POST & BEAM Carriage Houses, Garden Sheds & Country Barns, Shipped Nationwide 326 Gilead St. Hebron, CT 06248 www.countrycarpenters.com 860.228.2276
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New in the Showrooms Unique, beautiful and now appearing in Connecticut shops and showrooms BY ERIN MARVIN
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1 Bloom Design introduces Leah, a unique occasional furniture line that’s “bold in its use of sculptural shapes and finish materials—a minimalist fusion of art and function.” This round coffee table, part of the new collection, has a removable suspended fossil insert, making it the perfect conversation piece. NEW HAVEN, (203) 7739992, WWW.BLOOM-DESIGN.NET
2 Potter John Macomber of Greenleaf Pottery has been handcrafting stoneware pottery for nearly thirty-five years, producing richly colored pieces that, according to Macomber, are both delicately designed and extremely durable. We’re especially fond of his new line of handbuilt slab dinnerware, shown here. SOUTH WINDSOR, (860) 528-6090, WWW.GREEN LEAF POTTERY.NET
120 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
3 The Flower Loop vase from Mix Design Store is stylish in its simplicity, made from a delicate yet sturdy free-flowing steel wire. Even better, it comes complete with a high-quality artificial calla lily for those times you’ve run out of fresh flowers. Three or four would make a lovely table centerpiece. GUILFORD, (203) 453-0202, WWW.MIX DESIGN STORE.COM
4 Oh so seasonal, this 1950s Fall Stripe Sofa at Irwin Feld—“one of our current favorites,” says Feld—is covered in alternating orange and brown stripes on a beige background and is framed in dark wood with an elegant curved back and tapered legs. STAMFORD, (203) 588-0567, WWW.IRWINFELDDESIGN.COM
5 Safavieh Home Furnishings recently launched a new Country French collection that includes tables, chairs, settees and benches. The aptly named Provence French Arm Chair, with its chippy white paint finish (called Flax) and beige linen upholstery, would look beautiful at the head of formal dining table. STAMFORD, (203) 327-4800, WWW.SAFAVIEHHOME.COM
6 Atlas Homewares designer Adrienne Morea founded the company fifteen years ago with a guiding principle of creating “jewelry for the home.” These embellished beauties—a new line of crystal knobs and crystal pave knobs and pulls—are created of brushed anodized aluminum along with the crystals. Find them at Klaff’s. SOUTH NORWALK, (800) 552-3371, WWW.KLAFFS.COM
New in the Showrooms
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7 Spark Modern Fires heats things up with the Linear Burner system, which designers can customize to fit their clients' needs. All Spark models feature state-of-the-art burners and controls and offer environmental and design advantages over typical wood-burning fireplaces. BETHEL, (866) 938-3846, WWW .SPARK FIRES .COM
8 Olley Court has some great surprises in store for fall and winter, including a new Verellen couch, the Madeira buffet from Shawna Stoney, a ClubCu coffee table and these gorgeous Metallic Earth linen pillows from Ankasa that are available in a variety of colors and sizes. RIDGEFIELD, (203) 438-1270, WWW.OLLEYCOURT.COM
9 Just in at Hanes & Ruskin Antiques is The Isaac Webb by Lucius Briggs, which depicts the packet ship leaving New York Harbor's Castle Island. Signed in the lower left corner, the painting has been restored to its original condition and is mounted in a period gold frame. OLD LYME, (860) 434-1800, WWW.HANESAND RUSKIN .COM
10The Muu line of modern, sustainable and customizable baby furniture debuts in Connecticut at O Lulla. Shown here is a crib from Muu’s Sam Collection, aimed at “new parents who want to furnish their home with products that are modern and elegant, high quality and durable, and made of sustainable, non-toxic materials.” SOUTHPORT, (203) 292-8880
11 We can’t wait to stretch out on the Deana Chaise, one of the newest designs from Jessica Charles Furniture that’s now available at The House in the Country. With its clean, elegant lines, the chaise, available in a variety of fabrics, would be a comfortable fit in any transitional-style living room or bedroom. WOODBURY, (203) 263-6660
12 The polished nickel on this eye-catching Cascade Chandelier from Studio Steel is a new finish that’s now available at Fairfield Lighting. Studio Steel is renowned for one-of-a-kind custom wrought-iron fixtures; this is the first time polished nickel has been added to their twentyfive-plus selections of available finishes. FAIRFIELD, (203) 384-2209, WWW.FAIRFIELD LIGHTING.COM
122 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
B O X W O O D home & interiors
44 East Avenue New Canaan CT 06840 (203) 972-1010 Fax (203) 972-3030 www.BoxwoodInteriors.com
Photographer - Philip Ennis
Fi nished in Fabric european elegance (860)346-4843
| mark@finishedinfabric.com
Finished in Fabric is a family-operated, European-trained workroom that specializes in antique upholstery done in Old World style with hand-sewn edging and horse hair. The all-inclusive workroom can fulfill all of your home’s upholstery and drapery needs, from decorative pillows, headboards and bedding to fabric walls and complete drapery installation.
In a
Class by itself Tel.: 1 866 851-5113 (toll free)
www.belislewindows.com
R.B.Q. : 8231-1069-27
“It’s like a museum of stone*.�
173 PARK STREET NEW CANAAN
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www.prutting.com Prutting & Company 70 Pine Street New Canaan, CT 06840 Tel: 203.972.1028
West Coast Office: Prutting & Company 2353 S.E. 58th Avenue Portland, Oregon 97215 Tel: 503.233.1253
Visit our blog at www.pruttingandcompany.wordpress.com
PHOTOS BY TARA CARVALHO
New England’s Design Event of the Year… ...A Night Not to be Missed
Come out to honor and celebrate with this year’s interior design, architecture and landscape architecture inductees at The Fourth Annual New England Design Hall of Fame Awards and Gala
November 11, 2010 The State Room, Boston
Tickets on Sale Now! For further information, visit www.nedesignhalloffame.com or call 800.609.5154 Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Hospitality Sponsor
Cocktail sponsor
Event Partner
Flower Sponsor
Host Venue
A portion of ticket proceeds will go to the New England Design Hall of Fame Scholarship Fund
Hosted By
Resources A guide to the products and professionals in this issue’s featured homes
DETAILS, DETAILS PAGES 50–59 Architect: McKee Patterson, Austin Patterson Disston Architects, Southport, Conn., (203) 255-4031, www.apdarchitects.com Interior designer: Nancé J. Vigneau, Vigneau & Associates Interiors, Westport, Conn., (203) 226-0581, www.vigneauandassociates.com Page 51: Dining chair fabric from Cowtan & Tout, New York City, (212) 753-4488, www.cowtan.com, upholstered by Triple S, Norwalk, Conn., (203) 847-8000, www.triples clean.com; decorative painting on inset panels and ceiling by Heidi Holzer Design and Decorative Work, Redding, Conn., (203) 544-9471, www.heidiholzer.com; pair of tole and mirror wall lights over fireplace mantel from Vaughan Designs, New York City, (212) 319-7070, www .vaughandesigns.com; pair of brass star lanterns from Vaughan Designs; fireplace from Chesney’s USA, New York City, (646) 840 0609, www.chesneys.co.uk. Page 52: TRS sofa through Darien Design Center, Darien, Conn., (203) 655-8739, www.darien designcenter.com, with fabric from Cowtan & Tout; Jessica Charles club chairs through Darien Design Center with fabric from Cowtan & Tout; caned library chairs from Edward Ferrell, New York City, (212) 758-5000, www.eflm.com; custom end tables from Nininger & Co., Waterbury, Conn., (203) 574-1925, www .niningerandco.com; coral table lamps from Trovare Home, Cos Cob, Conn., (203) 869-5512, www.trovareathome.com; wool carpet from Elizabeth Eakins, South Norwalk, Conn., (203) 831-9347, www.elizabetheakins.com; woven wood blinds through A&M Drapery, Norwalk, Conn., (203) 847-8000; glass globe lantern ceiling fixture from Vaughan Designs; Powell Buff wall trim color from Benjamin Moore, www.benjaminmoore.com; grasscloth inset panels from Phillip Jeffries Ltd., Fairfield, N.J., (800) 576-5455, www.phillipjeffries.com. Page 53: Stair carpet from Elizabeth Eakins; bench cushion fabric from Hinson & Co., New York City, (212) 688-5538, www.hinsonco.com, upholstered by Triple S; glass globe lantern ceiling fixture from Vaughan Designs; Ivory Tusk foyer wall trim color from Benjamin Moore; grasscloth from Phillip Jefferies; Clandon Storm wall light next to fireplace from Vaughan Designs; fireplace from Chesney’s USA. Page 55: Wicker furniture from JANUS et Cie, New York City, (212) 752-1117, www.janusetcie .com, with fabric from Perennials, Dallas, Tex., (214) 638-4162, www.perennialsfabrics.com. Pages 56–57: Mis B bar stools through Signorello of Westport, Westport, Conn., (203) 221-3200, www.signorellowestport.com; chairs from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Greenwich, Conn., (203) 661-4480, www.mgbwhome.com, with fabric from Cowtan & Tout; chair pillow fabric from Lee Jofa, Stamford, Conn., (203) 504-2640, www.leejofa.com, with trim from Samuel & Sons, New York City, (212) 704-8000, www.samuelandsons.com, upholstered by Triple S; TRS loveseat through Darien Design Center with fabric from Hinson & Co.; woven wood blinds through A&M Drapery; antique trunk from Leonards Antiques, Westport, Conn., (203) 222-7031, www.leonardsdirect .com; cotton area carpet from Elizabeth Eakins; Greenhouse hanging lantern over kitchen island from Charles Edwards, London, +44 (0) 20 7736 8490, www.charlesedwards.com; Newport White granite countertops from Fordham Marble, Stamford, Conn., (203) 348-5088, www.fordhammarble.com; kitchen hardware
r o b e r t
d e a n
a r c h i t e c t s
Robert Bruce Dean, AIA
111 Cherry Street, New Canaan, CT 06840
(203) 966-8333
w w w. ro b e r t d e a n a rch i t e c t s . c o m
Fall 2010 New England Home’s Connecticut 127
interiors
Barbara McEntee | 203.354.0278 | 9:30-4:30 Mon.-Fri., Sat. by appointment Visit our showroom; A Design Destination | 21 Lois Street Norwalk, CT
Resources from Whitechapel, Jackson, Wyo., (307) 7399478, www.whitechapel-ltd.com. Page 58: Custom bed designed by Vigneau & Associates Interiors, in fabric from J. Robert Scott, Los Angeles, Calif., (310) 680-4300, www.jrobertscott.com, fabricated by Triple S; grasscloth wallcovering from Phillip Jefferies; Malabar Grove coverlet through Lynnens, Greenwich, Conn., (203) 629-3659, www .lynnens.com; bedside arm library light from Besselink & Jones, London, +44 (0) 20 7351 4669, www.besselink.com. Page 59: Roman shade in master bath through A&M Drapery, in fabric from Lee Jofa; silhouette shades through A&M Drapery; bath fixtures from Harrington Brass Works, Allendale, N.J., (201) 818-1300, www.harringtonbrassworks .com; Ivory Tusk wall and trim paint from Benjamin Moore; oriental carpet from Stark Carpet, Norwalk, Conn., (203) 899-1771, www.stark carpet.com.
EUROPEAN UNION PAGES 62–71 Architect: Alex Kaali-Nagy, The Kaali-Nagy Company, New Canaan, Conn., (203) 9668254, www.kaali-nagy.com Interior designer: Karen Kaali-Nagy, The KaaliNagy Company Builder: Alex Kaali-Nagy Development Corporation, New Canaan, Conn., (203) 966-8254, www.kaali-nagy.com Landscape architect: Wesley Stout Associates, New Canaan, Conn., (203) 966-3100, www .wesleystout.com Plant installation: Young’s Nurseries, Wilton, Conn., (203) 762-5511, www.youngsnursery.com Page 62: Scenes of North America wallpaper by Zuber, New York City, (212) 486-9226, www.zuber.fr; table skirt by Brunschwig et Fils, North Plains, N.Y, (914) 684-5800, www .brunschwig.com; skirt fringe by MJ Decor from Runk Douglas Hayes & Wheeler Antiques, Southport, Conn., (203) 254-7315. Pages 64–65: Window treatment fabric from Lee Jofa, Bethpage, N.Y., (800) 453-3563, www.leejofa.com; curtain rods from Houlés, D&D Building, New York City, (212) 838-7878, www.houles.com; antique English mahogany tray table from Runk Douglas Hayes & Wheeler Antiques; antique tray table from Nicholas Antiques, New York City, (212) 688-3312, www .nicholasantiques.com; hand-painted oval coffee table and Sheraton cane chair from Julia Gray, D&D Building, New York City, (212) 2234454, www.juliagray.com; sisal carpet by Stark Carpet, New York City, (212) 752-9000, www .starkcarpet.com; red velvet corduroy sofa fabric from Lee Jofa; all dining room fabrics from Christopher Norman, D&D Building, New York City, (212) 838-7878, www.christophernorman collection.com; chandelier from Rue Faubourg St. Honoré, Greenwich, Conn., (203) 869-7139. Pages 66–67: Window treatment fabric by Lee Jofa; carpet from Mark, Inc., Greenwich, Conn., (203) 861-0110, www.markinccarpets.com; sconces and antique andirons from Rue Faubourg St. Honoré, leather ottoman fabric by Edelman, D&D Building, New York City, (212) 751-3339, www.edelmanleather.com; box on mantel from Sallea Antiques, New Canaan, Conn., (203) 972-1050, www.salleaantiques .com; sofa fabric by Lee Jofa; sofa pillows from Nicholas Antiques. Page 68: Custom butternut cabinet hardware by Top Knobs from Canaan Distributors, Stamford, Conn., (203) 356-1000; Tile Tales documentary print wallpaper by Brunschwig et Fils; faucet by Perrin and Rowe from Best Plumbing, Stamford, Conn., (203) 975-9448, www .bestplg.com; Lagos Azul limestone countertop
SUPERIOR GARAGE DOORS DISTINGUISHED WOOD GARAGE DOORS
| 860.633.2973 | www.superiordoorne.com
Fall 2010 New England Home’s Connecticut 129
Resources
from Fordham Marble, Stamford, Conn., (203) 348-4458. Page 69: White stoneware from Country Dining Room Antiques, Great Barrington, Mass., (413) 528-5050, www.countrydiningroomantiq.com; calacatta countertop and tile above stove from Fordham Marble; lamps by David Fuller, Kittery, Maine, (207) 286-3810, www.davidfullerlamps .com; Staffordshire blue and white transfer ware from Country Dining Room Antiques; window treatment fabric by Zimmer and Rohde through Travers, D&D Building, New York City, (212) 7585357, www.zimmer-rohde.com; antique lighting fixtures from Rue Fauborg St. HonorÊ; butternut countertop by One & Co., Norwich, Conn., (860) 892-5180; braided area rug from Stark, D&D Building, New York City, (212) 752-9000, www .starkcarpet.com. Pages 70–71: Sconces at fireplace, antique Limoge figurines and mirror above chest from Rue Faubourg St. HonorÊ; antique plates by Country Dining Room Antiques; blue velvet on French chairs by ScalamandrÊ, New York City, (212) 980-3888, www.scalamandre.com; antique mahogany swivel floor mirror and antique silver tray from Runk Douglas Hayes & Wheeler Antiques; andirons from Rue Faubourg St. HonorÊ; hand-painted Louis XVI bed, chest between windows and rose-colored lamps from Julia Gray; bedding by Matouk, Fall River, Mass., (508) 997-3444, www.matouk.com; curtain and dust ruffle fabric from Travers; curtain trim by Clarence House, D&D Building, New York City, (212) 752-2890, www.clarencehouse.com; embroidered pillow by Chelsea Textiles Ltd., New York City, (908) 233-5645, www.chelseatextiles .com; fabric on chair by bed by Old World Weavers from Stark, www.old-world-weavers .com; regency commode bedside table from Julia Gray; carpet by Mark, Inc.; master bath lighting fixtures and hand-painted antique French commode with faux marble top from Rue de Faubourg St. HonorÊ; embroidered towels from Matouk; carpet by Stark; floral prints from J. Pocker & Son, Westport, Conn., (203) 222-7800; glass bottles above fireplace from Country Dining Room Antiques.
A BACKDROP FOR LIVING PAGES 74–83
nukitchens nukitchens
130 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
Woodworker: Tiger Carlson, Haddam, Conn., (860) 345-3355 Hardware throughout: Rocky Mountain Hardware, Hailey, Ida., (208) 788-2013, www.rocky mountainhardware.com Page 76: Light fixture from Urban Archaeology, New York City, (212) 431-4646, www.urban archaeology.com. Page 78: Vases on mantel from Crate & Barrel, www.crateandbarrel.com Page 80: Custom wall color by Pratt & Lambert, www.prattandlambert.com Page 81: Chandelier from ABC Carpet & Home, New York City, (212) 473-3000, www.abchome .com; dining table and mirror from Old Bank Antiques, Hampton, Conn., (860) 267-0790. Page 83: Bathroom sink from Ann Sacks, Greenwich, Conn., (203) 622-8884, www.ann sacks.com, with Perrin & Rowe faucet through Rohl, Best Plumbing Tile & Stone, Stamford, Conn., (203) 975-9448, www.bestplg.com; Shaws Original kitchen sink through Rohl.
HEART OF THE MATTER PAGES 86–93 Architect: Michael Smith, Michael Smith Architects, Wilton, Conn., 203-563-0553, www .michaelsmitharchitects.com Interior designer: Heather McWilliam-Autore, McWilliam-Autore Interiors, Wilton, Conn., (203) 834-0354, www.mcwilliaminteriors.com
Builder: Walter Cromwell, Country Club Homes, Wilton, Conn., (203) 763-0550, www.country clubhomesinc.com Landscape architect: John C. De Feo, Model Properties, Ridgefield, Conn., (914) 589-0446, www.modelproperties.net Page 86: Bar chairs from Duralee Fine Furniture, D&D Building, New York City, (212) 7524040, www.duralee.com; Marcel fabric in driftwood from Romo, New York City, (212) 319-7666, www.romo.com; hallway rug from Stark Carpet, Norwalk, Conn., (203) 899-1771, www.starkcarpet.com; hallway runner from Kaoud Rugs, West Hartford, Conn., (203) 7620376, www.kaoud.com; pillow from Lillian August, Norwalk, Conn., (203) 847-3314, www .lillianaugust.com; Guilford Green wallcolor from Benjamin Moore, www.benjaminmoore.com, Venetian plaster by Lawrence Oliver, Lawrence Oliver Painting, Norwalk, Conn., (203) 2467636, www.oliverpainting.com; kitchen runner from Elizabeth Eakins, South Norwalk, Conn., (203) 831-9347, www.elizabetheakins.com; counter surface honed Portofino granite through Casatelli Marble and Tile, Norwalk, Conn., (203) 847-6880, www.casatellimarble andtile.com; backsplash tile from Ceramic Design, Westport, Conn., (203) 454-0032, www.ceramicdesignltd.com. Page 87: Chandelier by Currey & Co. through Klaff’s, South Norwalk, Conn., (203) 866-1603, www.klaffs.com; Coronata Star wallpaper by Osborne & Little, Stamford, Conn., (203) 3591500, www.osborneandlittle.com; custom rug by Elizabeth Eakins; Marcel in driftwood and Evellyn in stone pillow fabrics by Romo; table lamp by Barbara Cosgrove through McWilliamAutore Interiors; Spring in Aspen wallcolor by Benjamin Moore. Page 89: Outdoor chairs from Brown Jordan, New York City, (212) 593-1390, www.brown jordan.com. Page 90: Chandelier from Fine Art Lamps through Klaff’s; custom dining table from Sterling Custom Cabinetry, Bridgeport, Conn., (203) 335-5151; chairs from Artistic Frame, New York City, (212) 289-2100, www.artisticframe .com with Komaka Sukoshi fabric from Osborne & Little; rug from Patterson, Flynn and Martin, New York City, (212) 688-7700, www .pattersonflynnmartin.com; Stunning wallcolor by Benjamin Moore; ceiling treatment by Lawrence Oliver. Page 91: Sofa through McWilliam-Autore Interiors with Motif Designs fabric; ottoman through McWilliam-Autore Interiors with fabric by Osborne & Little; armchair fabrics from Anzea, Fort Worth, Tex., (817) 336-2310, www.anzea .com; hanging lamps from Hubbarton Forge through Klaff’s; Bleeker Beige wallcolor by Benjamin Moore; bedroom inglenook sconces and chandelier by Currey & Co. through Klaff’s; fireplace tile from Casatelli Marble and Tile; Pismo Dunes wall and ceiling color from Benjamin Moore. Page 92: Cancun Texture in sunset chair fabric from Calvin Fabrics through Donghia, D&D Building, New York City, (212) 935-3713, www .donghia.com; rug from Merida Meridian, Boston, (800) 345-2200, www.meridameridian .com; chandelier from Boyd Lighting, San Francisco, Calif., (415) 778-4300, www.boydlighting .com; Sefina curtain fabric from Romo; Bleeker Beige wallcolor by Benjamin Moore. Page 93: Faucet from Perrin & Rowe through Klaff’s; curtain fabric by Victoria Hagan Home, New York City, (212) 888-3241, www.victoria haganhome.com; floor tile from Stepping Stones Marble and Granite, Norwalk, Conn., (203) 854-0552, and Westport, Conn., (203) 293-4794, www.classicstones.com, Pismo Dunes wallcolor by Benjamin Moore. • Fall 2010 New England Home’s Connecticut 131
Food Design...
Events Cater ed Beyond Ex pectations! The Possibilities are Endless...
Outstanding Food, Extraordinary Service & Flawless Presentation Execut ive Chef ~ Michael W. Batt Weddings • Social Events • Corporate Events • Fund Raisers Private Chef Service • Dinner Deliveries • Event & Wedding Planning
28 Old Field Point Road • Greenwich, CT 06830 • T/203.622.0725 • F/203.625.9314
www.fooddesigncatering.com
Award Winning Outdoor Lighting and Living Specialists Free night lighting demos to show you just how good your house looks at night HGTV was here to film an outdoor kitchen designed and built by Preferred Properties Lsc. SEE FOR YOURSELVES: on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/Preferredworld#p/a/u/0/7GZpOCg7D6s
203.250.1030
• Mike.Preferred@att.net www.NightlightingDesigner.com • www.OutdoorlivingCt.com
Photo by Eric Roth. Painting by Bart Gulley, courtesy of art+interiors.
FROM TRADITIONAL TO MODERN
26 Arcadia Rd., Suite 6 | Old Greenwich, CT | (203) 540-5350 | www.VictoriaLyonInteriors.com
Advertiser Index A helpful resource for finding the advertisers featured in this issue
Gardiner & Larson Homes 2–3
Putnam Kitchens 18–19
Ahearn–Schopfer and Associates 41
Glen Gate Properties 103
Quidley & Company 21
Amy Aidinis Hirsch 73
Granoff Architects 29
Apadana Fine Rugs 37
Helen Richardson Interiors 115
Ram Construction 96 Restoration Lighting Gallery 30
Aqua Pool & Patio 45
Hemingway Custom Cabinetry 6–7
Austin Patterson Disston Architects 113
Hilton-VanderHorn Architects 105
Back Bay Shutter Co. 61
HM Oliver Interiors 24–25
BAM Interiors 128
iH Design Studio 36
Beinfield Architecture 72
Irwin Feld Design 22
Robert Dean Architects 127
Belisle Doors and Windows 124
Karp Associates 135
Robin McGarry 38
Boxwood Interiors 123
Katherine Cowdin 43
Runtal North America 44
Brooks and Falotico Associates 101
Kinlin Grover Corporate 107
C2 Limited Design Associates 94
Kitchens by Deane 23
Casatelli Marble and Tile Imports 115
Klaff ’s 124
Ridberg & Associates 85 Rinfret Design Limited 104 Robert Cardello Architects 35
Stirling Design Associates 32 Studio Steel 33 Sudbury Design Group 84
Clarke Distributors 95
Lillian August Inside front cover, page 1
Coastal Point Construction 117
Linda Ruderman Interiors 26–27
Cobble Court Interiors 97
Lynne Scalo Design 13
Colony Rug Company 49
Mar Silver Design 4–5
Country Carpenters 118
Marble and Granite 125
Vermont Verde Antique Marble Co. 46
Country Club Homes 31
Michael Smith Architects 111
Victoria Lyon Interiors 133
Creative Interior Design 47
Neil Hauck Architects 131
Wadia Associates Inside back cover
Davenport Contracting 34
NuKitchens 130
David D. Harlan Architects 20
Olson Development 17
Divine Kitchens 118
Orrick & Company 117
The Drawing Room 8–9
Palmer Industries 113
Earthscapes 10–11
Parc Monceau 14–15
Ed’s Garage Doors 119
Peacock & Beale Back cover
Elizabeth Eakins 60
Peter Cadoux Architects P.C. 99
Finished in Fabric 123
Preferred Properties 133
Food Design Catering 132
Prutting & Company 125
Superior Garage Doors 129 Suzanne Novik Interiors 106 Vandamm Interiors 121
Wainscot Solutions 98 Woodmeister Master Builders 39 Wright Brothers Builders 109 Zen Associates 48
134 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
New England Home’s Connecticut, Fall 2010 © 2010 by Network Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint or quote excerpts granted by written request only. Editorial and advertising office: New England Home, 530 Harrison Avenue, Suite 302, Boston, MA 02118, (617) 938-3991, (800) 609-5154. Corporate office: Network Communications, Inc. 2305 Newpoint Parkway, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, (770) 962-7220.
Award winning builder since 1989 www.karpassociatesinc.com 80 Main Street, New Canaan, CT 06840 Phone 203-972-3366
Renovation Custom Homes Construction Management Consulting
KARP Associates
Sketch Pad Design ideas in the making
WE NAME EACH OF our new custom furniture pieces after our clients’ children, and in this case the commission
was for a new dining table named “Lily.” The name quite literally (and yes, predictably) motivated my first ideas and sketches. The studies of overlaid petals in relief, from which an urn emerges, provided a unique sculptural depth and radial clarity. The Lily table became the third in a series of four based on the forms of the classical urn. The complete design evolved into a large double-pedestal table with scalloped ends, supported by brackets inspired by forms found in pergolas and other classic garden structures. The clients loved the personal reference and character of the petaled urns, but they thoughtfully, at the last moment, decided on a simpler pedestal design for the finished table. Happily, they are now considering resurrecting the original petaled urn for a new dining table, “Lily 2.” DAVID HARLAN, DAVID D. HARLAN ARCHITECTS, NEW HAVEN, (203) 495-8032, WWW.DDHARCH.COM
136 New England Home’s Connecticut Fall 2010
RESIDENCE IN CASEY KEY, FLORIDA
RESIDENTIAL DESIGN ~ INTERIOR DESIGN AND DECORATION ~ CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT (203) 966-0048 ~ WADIAASSOCIATES.COM
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p. 203 661 3540
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f. 203 661 7017
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info@peacockandbeale.com