CTC&G (Connecticut Cottages & Gardens) MARCH 2022

connecticut cottages & gardens

march 2022

COTTAGESGARDENS.COM | MARCH 2022

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In-store interior design & 3D modeling services.1 Quick Ship program available.2

Sense. Large 3-seat sofas and ottoman entirely quilted, designed by Studio Roche Bobois.

Cestello. Cocktail table, designed by Gabriele Fedele.

Deforma. Side table, designed by Linde Derickx.

Made in Europe.

French Art de Vivre Photos by Flavien Carlod and Baptiste Le Quiniou, for advertising purposes only. Architect: Enric Ruiz-Geli. TASCHEN. Éditions Zulma. 1Conditions apply, contact store for details. 2Program available on select items, subject to availability.

every property has a story..... it begins with a vision seventyacres.com legacy meadow design for a private connecticut estate

Spec i al P r om ot i o n

Building the Contemporary Home www.yankeecustombuilders.com

Now Open!

125 E Putnam Ave Greenwich, CT 06830 203.900.7767 www.kohlersignaturestoregreenwich.com

From simple to intricate designs, California Closets systems are custom designed specifically for you and the way you live.

C O N N E C T I C U T 565 Westport Ave, Norwalk 203.924.8444 W E S T C H E S T E R 16 Saw Mill River Rd, Hawthorne 914.592.1001 californiaclosets.com

@caliclosetsct

©2022 California Closet Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Each franchise independently owned and operated. CT HIC #0657205

MEG BROWNING ARCHITECTS

1599 POST ROAD EAST, WESTPORT, CT 06880 | 203-259-3333 | GARRETTWILSONBUILDERS.COM

A&D BUILDING, NYC MAMARONECK, NY MOUNT KISCO, NY GREENWICH, CT 866.245.6882 W W W. B I L O T TA .C O M WITH SHARPE DEVELOPMENT & DESIGN PHOTOGR APHY BY LESLE Y UNRUH

Vilna. Pagnon & Pelhaître Made in France

why settle for ordinary when you can experience excellence eggersmann since 1908

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cottagesgardens . com

FEATURES 56

Night Heron House A simple and serene sanctuary becomes a home for a couple with artistic flair by

Catriona Branca Theo Coulombe

principal photography by

74

Naturally Timeless This home is a saltbox on the outside and a Bauhaus-inspired space on the inside by

Eva Hagberg Nancy Elizabeth Hill

photographs by

64

Gabled + Gorgeous A new home takes in Long Island Sound from all angles by

David Masello Ellen McDermott

photographs by

84

Angular Sensation Architect and interior designer deliver a young family’s forever home

by Mindy Pantiel Principal photography by Eric Striffler

From “Naturally Timeless,” page 74.

Photograph by Nancy Elizabeth Hill

on the cover “Naturally Timeless,” page 74. photograph by Nancy Elizabeth Hill

architecture | interior design workshopapd.com 87 greenwich avenue, ste. 6 new york | nantucket | greenwich | palm beach

C onnecticut C ottages & G ardens • M arch 2022 •

cottagesgardens . com

COLUMNS 42

DEPARTMENTS 24

Marketplace

Editor’s Letter

Light Vision

We asked Candace Pereira and Rina DiMarte of Chloe Winston Lighting Design to shed some light on the hottest fixtures found at this year’s Lightovation show in Dallas

26

Letter from the CEO

44

104

Spotlight Modern Etiquette

An interior designer turns a childhood gift into an atelier for modern living

94

Wine Shaken, Not Stirred!

Gin, or just as often vodka, makes for a superior martini by

Baroness Sheri de Borchgrave

104

Meet the Designer

32

Contributors

34

Calendar

42

37

What’s New Out of the Box

The housing market is hot and so are these building products by

Woods + Dangaran

California architects Brett Woods and Joseph Dangaran explain the appeal of midcentury modern design

by Sharon

King Hoge

Mary Fitzgerald

40

Design Notes A peek inside the latest buzz-worthy design news happening in the area by

Mary Fitzgerald

48

Deeds & Don’ts Inside stories behind area real estate deals

37

by

Diane di Costanzo

102

Resources

ARTEMIS landscape architects www.artemisLA.com

Connecting You With Nature

203.683.1808

cottagesgardens.com /cottagesgardens •

@cottagesgardens •

@cottagesgardens •

/cottagesgardens

@COTTAGESGARDENS Follow us on Instagram for the latest updates and inspiration.

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ECLECTIC ELEGANCE

348 likes cottagesgardens In the dining room of Bernt Heiberg and Bill Cummings’s home in Southern France.

Photo: @gaelleleboulicautpics

Let maximalism warm your winter and explore some of our most inventive home tours at cottagesgardens.com/home-tours/eclectic.

MEET THE

MAKERS Find fascinating interviews with the area’s best and brightest designers and artisans in our archives at cottagesgardens.com/tastemakers.

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ctc&g cottagesgardens.com march 2022

ECLECTIC ELEGANCE: ELLEN MCDERMOTT; @COTTAGESGARDENS: GAËLLE LE BOULICAUT; MEET THE MAKERS: HOLLIS CHURCHILL

Côte d’Azur France

OFFERING DECORATIVE PLUMBING & LIGHTING, VANITIES, CABINET & DOOR HARDWARE. CONTACT US TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. Since 1917 • www.TorrcoDesignCenter.com • 203.479.6935 STAMFORD • FAIRFIELD • DANBURY • NEW HAVEN • EAST WINDSOR • WATERBURY

EDITOR’S LETTER

Measure Up! magazine, I see so many beautiful homes.

Following a day on a photo shoot, I am known to go home and announce we need to move or rework our home! After 18 years, my family pays no attention to these pronouncements! Seeing too much of a beautiful thing does have its drawbacks. ■ When Harry and I were looking to buy a house in Fairfield County, we had a long list of what we wanted for our first home. Back then, the renovated barn was all the rage, and we wanted something that we could put our style into. Well, we didn’t get a barn but a wonderful farmhouse that needed a little bit of love. Over the years, we reworked almost every space in our home and doubled its size at one point. The size and scale of the house still works for us as empty nesters. ■ Recently, our friends stopped by on their way to Maine pulling their Airstream. I should add that these friends own two beautiful homes.

As they pulled into our driveway—a left-hand turn that took great skill—I could not wait to see the inside of the Airstream and see how it was designed. I have always been fascinated with the layout of a space, large or small. I appreciate good and thoughtful design. So, as I stepped into this 28-foot silver beauty, I was amazed at the layout and how luxurious it felt.

It was not as cramped as I expected, and a few well-placed windows provided natural light.

And from under the sides of the roof, patio awnings pulled down to create outdoor living spaces. I could see why they were planning to spend four weeks traveling with their home through the Canadian Maritimes. It sounded fun! ■ While I am not ready to sell our house and live on the open road, I am looking at homes—whether on a foundation or on wheels— with a renewed focus on the thoughtfulness of design. And it also reminded me of the need for professional builders, architects, interior designers and space planners. Good design is a must, no matter what the square footage.

DJ Carey Editorial Director djcarey@candg.com

A 28-foot Airstream offered a lesson in well-thought-out design.

CAREY: CHICHI UBIÑA; HAIR AND MAKEUP BY WARREN TRICOMI SALON AND SPA, GREENWICH

I

n my role as editor of a design

We Make

ELECTRIC

...Too.

bevolo.com• •504-522-9485 (504) 522-9485 • 521 Conti • French Quarter • New Orleans bevolo.com • 521 Conti • 304••318 316Royal • 318 Royal • French Quarter • New Orleans

LETTER FROM THE CEO

Name Dropping

A

dconlonarchitects.com

celebrities. Their names are dropped in the way that Lichtenstein, Basquiat and Sherman were slipped into conversations by the art cognoscenti.

It’s probably why this issue—dubbed the “architecture issue”—is so popular. With the current focus on redecorating and designing our homes, everyone wants to be in the know.

■ Since I joined this company in 2009, our Innovation in Design Awards (IDAs) have presented the Innovator Award to spectacularly talented practitioners in the world of design.

Architects have been well represented in this category from the outspoken Robert A.M. Stern, the over-the-top Peter Marino, the first woman Dean of the Yale School of Architecture, Deborah Berke, the pioneer of Hamptons’ modern architecture Harry Bates, to the artistry of David Rockwell. The 2021/22 HC&G Innovator Award will be presented to internationally renowned architect Lee Skolnick this summer in the Hamptons. We are proud to feature great architects in every issue of our magazines and are constantly in awe of their work. ■ There are more names for you to drop appearing in this issue too! Enjoy!

Marianne Howatson CEO/Publication Director mhowatson@candg.com

C&G Innovator Award recipients include (from top left) Robert A.M. Stern, Peter Marino, Deborah Berke, Harry Bates, David Rockwell, and this year, Lee Skolnick.

11 Grumman Hill Rd. Suite 1B Wilton CT 06897

HOWATSON: DOREEN BIRDSELL; BERKE: WINNIE AU; ROCKWELL: BRIGITTE LACOMBE

203-544-7988

rchitects are the new

ENVISION LIFE AT

Combining the architecture of a historic candle-wick mill with modern industrial features, The Mill offers a unique residential experience in the heart of downtown Westport. Residents will enjoy concierge living with all the amenities of a fine custom home.

S C H E D U L E A VISIT

THEMILLWESTPORT.COM | 203-984-6869 All property images are artist renderings

41 Richmondville Avenue Westport, Connecticut

march 2022 PUBLICATION DIRECTOR

Marianne Howatson EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

DJ Carey DESIGN DIRECTOR

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Alexis M. Walter

Catriona Branca

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Kristen Hoge

Mary Fit zgerald

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR

EDITOR AT LARGE

Sarah Russo

Sharon King Hoge

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Sheri de Borchgrave, Diane diCostanzo, Helen Klisser During, Eva Hagberg, Jamie Marshall, Tovah Martin, David Masello, Mindy Pantiel, Harriet Mays Powell, Alexa Stevenson, Susan Tamulevich CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Julie Bidwell, Willie Cole, Tria Giovan, Robert Grant, John Gruen, Neil Landino Jr., Tim Lee, Tim Lenz, Ellen McDermott, Anastassios Mentis, Keith Scott Morton and Eric Richards, Costas Picadas PROOFREADER

Annette Rose-Shapiro C&G MEDIA GROUP EDITORIAL DIRECTORS

DJ Carey

Kendell Cronstrom

DESIGN DIRECTOR

Alexis M. Walter COTTAGESGARDENS.COM

Stacey Farrar , Beth McDonough Charlie Hobbs dailyDEEDS.COM EDITOR A nne G iordano CONTRIBUTING EDITOR A nn L oynd B urton PRODUCER Michael Ekstract DIGITAL INTERNS A nnika H olmberg , J acquelyn S hannon EDITORS AT LARGE

EDITORIAL WEB ASSISTANT

PRODUCTION SERVICES

International Color Services

HEADQUARTERS

40 Richards Avenue, 4th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06854 Phone: 203-227-1400 Fax: 203-226-2824 Copyright © 2022 by Dulce Domum, LLC. All rights reserved. Cottages & Gardens is a trademark and a service mark of Dulce Domum, LLC. Reproduction by permission only.

The publisher and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material.

march 2022 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Marianne Howatson PUBLISHER, HC&G

Pamela Eldridge | 631-329-3067 ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, NYC&G

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Next Steps Marketing Thea Selby and Karen L. Cunningham

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Without Uschi, it wouldn’t be Clarke.

Spend an hour at a Clarke Showroom and one thing is clear: your time with a Clarke Consultant is the most valuable part of your kitchen journey.

While they’re not designers, these are the people designers call on when it comes to appliance recommendations. You won’t buy anything at Clarke, so there’s simply no pressure. What you can do is compare more Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove models than anywhere in New England. Explore a living portfolio of kitchens created by the region’s top designers. You will leave inspired with new knowledge to make your appliance selections with confidence.

Born in Belgium, Uschi Samaritano speaks five languages and is also fluent in selecting just the right appliances for your lifestyle.

She is an accomplished cook, passionate gardener, avid apiarist and is known by homeowners and designers alike for her valuable insights for outfitting extraordinary kitchens.

New England’s Official Showroom and Test Kitchen Boston & Milford, MA • South Norwalk, CT 800-842-5275 • clarkeliving.com

CONTRIBUTORS

We asked our contributors to share their favorite building in Connecticut. Here’s what they had to say.

LOUISE BROOKS

JERRY L. HUPY

MARCIA TUCKER

NANCY ELIZABETH HILL

Interior designer Marcia Tucker calls herself a “practicing modernist.” In keeping with that genre, she admires the work of architect Philip Johnson.

“The Glass House by Philip Johnson, with its perfect proportions and its simplicity, is considered one of the first, most brilliant works of modern architecture and my favorite building in Connecticut,” remarks Tucker. “The house is really a simple glass box designed to reflect the surrounding landscape. It makes a statement about the intimate connection between classicism and avant-garde modernism.” Turn to page 64, “Gabled + Gorgeous” to see how Tucker handled the interiors of a distinctive Darien home.

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ctc&g cottagesgardens.com march 2022

“My favorite building is the one that is on the boards,” says Jerry Hupy of the nationally renowned architectural firm of Shope Reno Wharton, based in Norwalk. “I began working at Shope Reno Wharton in 1989, straight out of graduate school, became a partner in 1996 and a principal in 2011. This year will mark my 33rd year, and I love coming to work each day. We have a great staff of talented architects; we get to work with involved clients and inspired teams on beautiful homes in wonderful locations around the country.” His enthusiasm for his craft is evident in the architectural design of the home featured in “Angular Sensation” (page 84).

Nancy Hill has had the privilege to photograph many singular Connecticut homes, including a home designed by the late architect Warren Arthur and his wife Mai, found on page 74, “Naturally Timeless.” Years ago, she photographed another architectural archetype, and a personal favorite, the Frederick J. Smith house in Darien overlooking Long Island Sound. “Designed

by Richard Meier & Partners Architects, the home was finished in 1967 and is a great example of modern architecture,” says Hill. “Taking advantage of the views and landscape, the home is a time capsule of modern building techniques.”

BROOKS: PETER OLSON, HUPY: LDM; TUCKER: KARISSA VAN TASSEL

Louise Brooks, the founding partner of Brooks & Falotico, is passionate about design and architecture. The firm’s projects, located throughout the country, are informed by the location, landscape, and clients’ lifestyle, as illustrated in the waterfront home found on page 64, “Gabled + Gorgeous.” Brooks selected the Yale Center for British Art—the final design by internationally acclaimed, modernist architect Louis I. Kahn— as her iconic Connecticut landmark. She notes,“I appreciate this building’s simplicity of form and materials and the clarity of the expression of structure and function.”

C A R D E L L O

A R C H I T E C T S

w w w . c a r d e l l o a r c h i t e c t s . c o m W e s t p o r t ( 2 0 3 )

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G r e e n w i c h

8 5 3 - 2 5 2 4

1 CALENDAR

March 2022

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STEVEN MILLER EXHIBIT

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The Byrde + the b is pleased to announce an exhibition of recent paintings by the extraordinary colorist and New York Citybased contemporary abstract artist Steven Miller. Miller works in oils on canvas in combination with images inspired by nature. Open now through March 26.

Byrde + the b, 10 Titus Rd., Washington Depot. For more information, visit byrdeandtheb.com or stevenwmiller.com.

THE ORCHID SHOW:

JEFF LEATHAM’S KALEIDOSCOPE

Returning for its 19th year, the New York Botanical Garden presents its popular orchid exhibition, “The Orchid Show: Jeff Leatham’s Kaleidoscope.” Lifestyle icon and floral designer to the stars, Jeff Leatham is set to reinvent his dazzling creations, transforming each gallery of the exhibition in NYBG’s historic Enid A. Haupt MAY Conservatory into a different color experience, like the turn of a FEB kaleidoscope. Opening February 26 through May 1. The New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY. For more information, visit nybg.org/event/the-orchid-show.

BEYOND THE BLUEPRINT

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MAPLE BOILDOWN

HBRA of Fairfield County presents its annual “Beyond the Blueprint” panel presentation with media sponsor CTC&G. This year’s panel includes renowned local architects. Guests will get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into designing and building homes. Wednesday, March 2, 6 p.m.–9 p.m. The Water’s Edge at Giovanni’s, 2748 Boston Post Rd., Darien.

For more information and to register, visit buildfairfieldcounty.com/upcomingevents.

The Stamford Museum & Nature Center is one of the only two official maple sugar producers in Fairfield and guests are invited to see firsthand how maple syrup is made in its very own Sugar House + Cidery. This adults-only evening of maple sugaring will feature fresh syrup tastings from the 100-plus mature maple trees found on the 118-acre campus, along with maple beer, maple whiskey, and a maple-inspired snack box. Thursday, March 3, 6 p.m.–8 p.m. Space is limited for social distancing. Members: $25, nonmembers: $30. Stamford Museum & Nature Center, 39 Scofield Rd., Stamford. For more information and to register, visit stamfordmuseum.org.

To list your upcoming event in our next issue, contact Jennifer Barbaro at jbarbaro@candg.com 34

ctc&g cottagesgardens.com march 2022

STEVEN MILLER EXHIBIT: COURTESY OF STEVEN MILLER; THE ORCHID SHOW: COURTESY OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN; BEYOND THE BLUEPRINT: PAUL BICKFORD FOR LANDINOPHOTO

NOW THROUGH

From New York City to Washington Depot

hitecture: Mark P. Finlay Architects, AIA Photography: Peter Murdoch

DISTINCTIVE HOMES ADDITIONS & RENOVATIONS

203.966.0726 www.hobbsinc.com CONNECTICUT • NEW YORK • NEW JERSEY

WHAT’S NEW

Out of the Box THE HOUSING MARKET IS HOT AND SO ARE THESE B U I L D I N G P R O D U C T S | P RO DU C ED BY MARY F I TZ GE R AL D

PAINT MAGIC

Sporting one of Sherwin-Williams top shades, Salty Dog, this door provides a pop of color and a welcome entry to the home. The contrasting siding is painted in Alpaca.

Try out SherwinWilliams’ ColorSnap Visualizer to test out different color combinations before picking up a paintbrush. sherwin-williams. com.

STEP INTO THE FUTURE

Thinking of downsizing? The Nestron Cube 2 could be your answer. This prefabricated tiny house is fully loaded with a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living area all outfitted with built-in furniture. The home is delivered ready-to-use upon arrival. $59,000, visit the website, nestron.house.

LUCKY NUMBER

Add a rustic touch to your home with Atlas Homewares’ Jagged Hammered house number in aged bronze. $19, available through Nukitchens, nukitchens.com, atlashomewares.com.

march 2022 cottagesgardens.com ctc&g

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WHAT’S NEW

ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW

James Hardie just launched the Hardie Architectural Collection, designed in collaboration with architects.

The portfolio of five architectural panels—in the brand’s signature fiber cement—features textures inspired by nature and accompanying metal trims. jameshardie.com.

FIRST IMPRESSION

The garage door is often the first thing you see when approaching a home, so why not make it memorable.

Clopay’s Reserve custom door brings the beauty of wood in Extira, a weatherresistant wood composite. $4,000, as shown, available through East Coast Overhead Door, Milford, ecgaragedoors. com, clopaydoor.com.

FIRED UP

The Firelog Technology of the Wilderness gas fireplace by Ortal gives the illusion of a woodburning fire with taller, more realistic flames. The standalone, three-sided fireplace is available in a white, red or black firebox. Price upon request, available through Fireplace and Outdoor Living, Greenwich, fireplaceandoutdoorliving.com, ortalheat.com.

SCANDI-SOURCE

Stuga, a direct-to-consumer company, markets the style and simplicity of Scandinavian design in sustainably harvested hardwood flooring. Greta, shown here, is a classic wide plank floor with an ultra-matte acrylic finish. $9 per square foot, stugastudio.com.

LIGHT THE WAY

INSIDE OUT

The contemporary aesthetic and expansive glass of Marvin’s Ultimate Swinging Door is fabricated in extruded aluminum and wood, with the option of an inswing or outswing configuration. Price upon request, available through Ring’s End, ringsend.com, marvin.com.

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ctc&g cottagesgardens.com march 2022

Handcrafted since 1945, Bevolo’s lanterns add an elegant, Old-World touch to a home’s façade. The Montecito lantern on a Rodin bracket hails from Bevolo’s Signature series and is available in gas or electric. Price upon request, bevolo.com.

WHAT’S NEW

DOOR INTEL

Masonite recently unveiled its M-Pwr Smart Door, a fully intergrated door system with built-in technology, including motion-sensing LED lighting, a Ring video doorbell and a Yale Home Smart Lock.

Masonite premium fiberglass doors are available in a variety of styles, colors and finishes with multiple glass options. Price upon request, masonite.com.

MAGNETIC PERSONALITY

The Inox TL7Magnetic Tubular Latch is the industry’s first magnetic latch for interior doors, eliminating the need for the oldfashioned strike-plate and providing a quieter, sleeker mechanical movement and aesthetic. Offered in stainless steel, oil-rubbed bronze, graphite black and satin brass, the ergonomic lever is also ADA-compliant.

Price upon request, available through Simon’s Hardware & Bath, NYC, simonsny.com, inoxproducts.com.

WINDOW WATCHING

Andersen’s latest addition to its A-Series patio door portfolio is the option of builtin blinds. Located between the panels of insulated glass, the cordless design easily raises, lowers and tilts to control the sunlight.

Available through Interstate Lumber, Westport, interstatelumber.com, andersenwindows.com.

GO DUTCH

Who doesn’t love the charm of a Dutch door? A manufacturer of custom wood doors, Simpson Door Company can turn almost any door— contemporary or classic—into a Dutch door. Thermal sash doors start at $3,200, available through Ring’s End, ringsend.com, simpsondoor.com.

DECKED OUT

Imagine the curve appeal of Trex composite decking, constructed here with Trex Transcend deck boards and Trex Signature Mesh Railing. For more design ideas, download the Trex Augmented Reality Decking and Railing Visualizer. Decking, $4.50 per linear foot, railing, $75–$110 per linear foot, available through the Home Depot, homedepot.com, trex.com.

march 2022 cottagesgardens.com ctc&g

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DESIGN NOTES

Design Notes A P E E K I N S I D E T H E L AT E S T B U Z Z - W O R T H Y D E S I G N N E W S H A P P E N I N G I N T H E A R E A

FURNITURE DISRUPTORS

ELEVATED ENTERTAINING

Purveyor of entertaining essentials in contemporary designs Hudson Grace is setting up shop in NYC, and owners Monelle Totah and Gary McNatton couldn’t be more thrilled. “We are honored to open our first location in NYC. We are about gracious entertaining and gifting and believe the brand is a natural fit for NYC’s ‘urban modern’ style,” say the founders of the San Francisco brand. Hudson Grace is a great source for elevated dinnerware, glassware, linens and candles, as well as vintage and one-of-a-kind items, available online and now at Hudson Grace’s hip West Village location. 405 Bleecker St., NYC, 917-338-4500, hudsongracesf.com.

PAST MEETS PRESENT Two iconic British companies, Liberty and Farrow & Ball, have collaborated to coordinate paint and interiors fabrics.

Fifteen shades from the archive collection of Farrow & Ball have been matched with complementary fabrics from heritage-brand Liberty’s Modern Collector range.

“Pairing our iconic designs with exquisite paint colors has added another dimension to the collection, and we are so looking forward to seeing them together within homes,” says Genevieve Bennett, head of design interiors at Liberty. Farrow & Ball’s color curator Joa Studholme adds, “Like the fabrics they complement, they feel both exciting and dependable.” farrow-ball.com, libertylondon.com.

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ctc&g cottagesgardens.com march 2022

The father-and-son team of Alex Willcock and Felix Conran (grandson of the late Sir Terrance Conran) are shaking things up in the furniture industry. Maker & Son creates sofas and armchairs from natural and sustainable materials, but the real news is their direct-to-consumer business model. With a fleet of mobile showrooms, Maker & Son will come to your home so you can try before you buy. The solid hardwood frames and removable covers in linen/cotton, corduroy or velvet are designed for comfort and longevity. Launched in the U.K. in 2018, the business took off and Maker & Son expanded to the U.S. in early 2021. Now, they have added a brick-andmortar location in NYC as an additional way to experience Maker & Son’s furniture. Coordinate a site visit via phone or the website, or stop by the NYC location. 49 E. 10th St., NYC, 929-277-0195, makerandson.us.

WEDDING SEASON

A Little Something White, a premier wedding destination for Connecticut-area brides for nearly a decade, has expanded its repertoire in a new 13,000-square-foot space (the former home of Brooks Brothers) located in the heart of downtown Darien. “This beautiful new space allows us to offer an even more memorable experience without compromising what has made us special for the last nine years,” says Ashley Krauss, founder and owner of A Little Something White. The bridal boutique now offers evening wear, cocktail dresses, “mother-of” attire and flower girl dresses. Men are welcome too—the shop is providing made-to-measure tuxedo and suit collections. “The driving force behind the move was to provide an even better experience for brides and to diversify our business, but by offering bridal party dresses, along with gowns for other events, we can also form deeper relationships with our brides and their families through the years,” adds Krauss. A formal ribbon cutting will be held on March 10, 4–8 p.m.

987 Post Rd., Darien, 203-309-5110, alittlesomethingwhite.com. —Mary Fitzgerald

RingsEnd.com | 800·390·1000

Your Inspiration. Our Expertise.

MARKETPLACE

LIGHT VISION WE ASKED CANDACE PEREIRA AND RINA DIMARTE OF CHLOE WINSTON LIGHTING DESIGN TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE HOTTEST FIXTURES FOUND AT THIS YEAR’S LIGHTOVATION SHOW IN DALLAS

FINE ART finearthl.com

We chose the Strata LED ring sculpture for its unique ombre finish and eye-catching crystal. We’d love to see this piece in a foyer, dining room or living room.

KALCO LIGHTING kalco.com

The stunning Sussex pendant flaunts a frosted glass center encapsulated by a clear glass exterior. It would be perfect to hang in multiples over a kitchen island.

MODERN FORMS modernforms.com

The Ultra smart fan combines a UV-C radiating LED module with a powerful fan. The fan circulates the air through the ultraviolet UV-C module, which serves to reduce airborne viruses for improved air quality.

HAMMERTON STUDIO studio.hammerton.com

Inspired by tumbled stones, the Pebble fixture gives off a calming, “zen-like” vibe. We see this in a bedroom or living room.

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MARKETPLACE

HUDSON VALLEY LIGHTING hudsonvalleylighting.hvlgroup.com

We fell in love with the gorgeous dark marble of the Hayden light bar. It can be hung horizontally or vertically­—perfect as a picture light or vanity light, by itself or in a pair.

TECH LIGHTING techlighting.com

The versatile Collier fixture exudes luxury and sophistication with gorgeous faceted Czech crystals. LED modules are fully encapsulated and interlocked with solid brass connectors.

Available in multiple strands, you can create your own design by draping several fixtures in a living or dining room—or hang straight in bundles of two to flank a mirror in a powder room.

GENERATION LIGHTING generationlighting.com

We admired the matte finish of the Cenotes ceramic table lamp, and its organic look and lines. Suitable for a bedroom, den or living room, it provides a contemporary coastal feel.

HUBBARDTON FORGE hubbardtonforge.com

We were drawn to the Brooklyn fixture because of its combined finishes and floral-like appearance.

We love how the pendants can be arranged in a line or staggered to add visual interest. This would be impressive in a dining room.

ALLEGRI allegricrystal. com

CORBETT LIGHTING corbettlighting.hvlgroup.com

The unique design of the Emerald light fixture produces an extraordinary effect.

Light from the opal shades reflects off the handcrafted, gold-leaf plates for a warm glow.

We love this chandelier’s retro-glam look. It would be stunning in a dining room, living room or foyer.

This “never seen before” Allegri crystal sconce brings glam to the exterior of your home with precisioncut Firenze crystal and advanced LED technology.

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SPOTLIGHT

Modern Etiquette

S

A N I N T E R I O R D E S I G N E R T U R N S A C H I L D H O O D G I F T I N T O A N AT E L I E R F O R M O D E R N L I V I N G

hari Lebowitz was an interior designer in New York City who moved to Westport, got engaged, and when she couldn’t find a place locally to make her wedding invitations, opened Bespoke Designs in Sconset Square. “It was a natural transition as interiors and entertaining are inextricably tied together,” says Lebowitz.

Her love of stationery came long before the discovery of the joys of entertaining. “When I was 12 or 13, my mother gave me beautiful personal stationery from Crane. It had my name engraved in all lowercase letters in bright green and was engraved with a small butterfly in two colors. I was obsessed with it.” In 2020, Bespoke expanded from stationery into everything for entertaining at home. “When designing an interior, I specify substantial products that are timeless: furniture, wallpaper, and window treatments that you will have and love for years. When entertaining, you have the opportunity to create a different experience that will surprise and delight for your guests.”

Live Beautifully The creative visionary behind Bespoke Designs, Shari Lebowitz, knows how to entertain in style—from selecting the appropriate invitation to setting the perfect table.

SPRING AND SUMMER ENTERTAINING TRENDS • Smaller events, usually sit-down dinners, will continue for some time.

• Color is everywhere: in crystal glasses and vases; lacquered serving pieces; flatware; mouthblown glass candleholders, even candles.

• Vintage silver adds a bit of sparkle and some European flair.

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JULIA D’AGOSTINO AND KATE JORDAN

• Handwoven Iraca palm continues to be strong with interesting mixes of colors, new forms and weave patterns. I love our large leaf-shaped placement for a dramatic effect.

Create a space you love living in.

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5 TIPS FOR A BRIDE IN TERMS OF WHAT IS KEY TO CREATING A BEAUTIFUL SUITE OF PRODUCTS 1. Have confidence in the design team you select.

Q

What was your vision for your shop? I want to give people the confidence to entertain at home.

It’s not at all about perfection; it’s about being authentically yourself. I might serve prepared food that I pick up, but the table will be really fun. I might mix my grandmother’s china with vintage hotel silver and bamboo flatware with kitschy figurines that I picked up at a flea market. At Bespoke, we have china and crystal and flatware and linens that are really intended for everyday use. And we stock candles in unexpected shapes and colors; hand-crafted ceramics; and perfect hostess gifts. Of course, we also have lots of stationery so you can send an invitation as well as a thank-you note.

Describe your typical client and the services they are looking to use. Weddings

remain a solid core of our business. Couples work with us to be a part of creating a fully-branded, multi-day event. We are just launching our registry; it’s a gift registry, not just specifically for weddings.

People are interested in the highly-curated selection that’s offered and really stepping into color and pattern and texture. Yes, we do offer fine china plates that are white, but you can custom color the edges to bring an extra pop to your table. The ability to create is also a large part of what we do. Not just paper, but linens and ceramics, and packaging and gifts.

TIPS FOR SETTING A TABLE

2. Be open to design ideas and suggestions. We’re pros and really understand if a color will print well or font style will be legible and which papers to specify for which print process.

3. Understanding your budget and how to use it.

4. Set a separate budget for your guest experience: programs, napkins, menus, bar signs and seating charts.

5. Understanding your own style and vibe is important. Being a “romantic minimalist with a bohemian industrial edge” is not really a thing.

• Casual or formal, I never put the fork on the napkin. Your primary wine glass sits at the tip of your dinner knife and knife blade always facing the dinner plate. Dessert fork and spoon at the top of the plate.

• Use linens: tablecloth for formal entertaining and placemats for casual entertaining and always cloth napkins!

• Use Place Cards: I always use them and put the guests’ names on both sides of the card.

• Use seasonal décor: In my dreams I would have peonies all year long, but I use seasonal greens and flowers. If I need a tropical splash in the middle of winter, I’ll set the table with ferns that I brought in for the winter.

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TOP LEFT: VIDLER PHOTOGRAPHY; ALL OTHERS: JULIA D’AGOSTINO AND KATE JORDAN

• Plan: plan, plan, plan.

Entertaining with ease, appearing effortless, takes a lot of planning.

Exquisite.

Exceptional.

Experiential.

Effortless.

Delight in the fun and satisfaction of growing your own food at home… effortlessly.

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Words not commonly used to describe one’s vegetable garden. Words frequently used to describe ours. Your property is an extension and reflection of your lifestyle and impeccable taste.

Homefront Farmers understands this. The organic vegetable gardens we design, build, and maintain are works of art that blend seamlessly into your landscape. Our Homestead Managers are expert growers who take great care of your garden to produce exceptional tasting vegetables. All this to create a joyful experience for you and your family as you savor your weekly harvest.

DESIGN BUILD MAINTAIN EDUCATE EXPERIENCE

DEEDS DON’TS I N S I D E S T O R I E S B E H I N D A R E A R E A L E S TAT E D E A L S

Style for Miles T

here is no one architecture style associated with our

home state. Indeed, “Connecticut style” can mean anything from the Colonial-era saltbox to the midcentury modern—and the newconstruction homes inspired by the “mid mods” built way back when. In keeping with the theme of this issue, we’re featuring a range of architectural styles, along with exciting news of a luxury development in Westport.

In lyme, a spectacular 18-acre estate has popped on the market, asking $4.5 million. Acclaimed architect Stephen B. Jacobs, along with interior designer Andi Pepper, crafted this eco-conscious home to take advantage of the site’s open, lofty views over the Connecticut River.

Green features include a solar system that supplies most of the electricity

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Green House This sustainably built Lyme home lists for $4.5 million with Colette Harron of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty in Essex. 860-304-2391.

ALEXANDER SEVERIN

MODERN STYLE, NEW AND OLD

www. periodarchitectureltd. com

DEEDS & DON’TS Modern World Designed by Harvard Five architect Eliot Noyes, this circa-1977 modern lists for $1,850,000 with Kim Harizman of Compass in Westport. 917-270-5168.

needed and a geothermal system for heating and cooling. It’s a stylish place, too, made of natural wood and stone, inside and out. The most dramatic room is the living room, with its double-height ceilings, 18-foothigh stone wall—inset with a modern gas fireplace—and expanses of glass that open onto the outdoor terrace. There’s also a cool staircase that leads all the way up to the third-floor library and roof deck, and, on the

grounds, a spa-like saltwater pool. It lists with Colette Harron of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty in Essex.

Eliot Noyes was one of the Harvard Five architects who lived—and built houses—in Connecticut, popularizing the style we now call midcentury modern. Noyes was also an industrial designer, most famous for his work on the IBM Selectric typewriter, who advocated for a simple, functional approach to design, whether the resulting product was a gas station logo (he created Mobil’s branding, too) or a home. In Easton, a Noyes-designed house was completed after the architect’s death in 1977 and is now on the market for $1,850,000. It’s an elegant articulation of Noyes’ other hallmark—melding dwellings into the natural world that surrounds them. Thoughtfully renovated by its current owners, the 4,800-square-foot modern retains the architect’s choice of materials, including natural wood, rough-hewn stone and walls of glass. The property also offers an indoor pool and solarium, along with three private acres. It’s listed with Kim Harizman of Compass.

In the 1880s, twine, ribbon and candlewicks were the products churned out by the brick-and-stone mill along Lee’s Pond in Westport. Over the next 150 years, the building was used by an engraver, a bank and as studio space for artists. And this year, after a thoughtful redevelopment of the site, The Mill will open its doors as a collection of 31 luxury condos, still under construction but quickly pre-selling, at prices starting at $1,655,000. The team behind The Mill includes Sam Gault of Gault Family Companies, Joe Feinleib of Coastal Luxury Homes, and architects Marybeth Woods and Bruce Beinfield—all invested in offering beautiful, eco-conscious housing that adds to the community. And located just three miles from the Westport train station, The Mill is as convenient as it is cool. Along with the lofty, modern homes, the development offers a 45-foot-long pool and spa, roof decks, a café and a great room, and all the amenities you’d expect to find at a boutique hotel, including a doorman, a concierge, dog-walking services and more. For more information, check out themillwestport.com.

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TOP: BORGATTA (DPBORGATTA.COM)

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A New View Sited to take in views over Southport Harbor, this Sasco Hill home is listed for $7.5 million with the On the Harbor team at Al Filippone Associates, with William Raveis in Fairfield. 203-256-3264.

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Sasco hill is a lovely coastal road lined with grand homes built to take advantage of views over the Country Club of Fairfield golf course, Sasco Beach and Southport Harbor.

A gracious, circa-1937 Sasco Hill Colonial is blessed with these vistas, along with sweeping views of Long Island Sound. Built by M.I.T.-trained architect Louis Conrad Rosenberg, the 5,200-square-foot home was recently renovated by Mark P. Finlay Architects. And while the classic, white-brick façade looks traditional, the living spaces inside are open, bright and pristine. There’s a formal entry hall with a curved staircase, a wet bar and easy flow to an immaculate, all-white kitchen with an oversized island and a wall of windows. And there are four bedrooms in all, including a main suite with an expansive dressing space and sitting area. It lists for $7.5 million with the On the Harbor team at Al Filippone Associates, with William Raveis.

In our state’s most affluent areas—hello, Greenwich!—it’s hard to find a top-quality home that’s smaller in size. A circa-2020 downtown Greenwich Colonial answers the call with a four-bedroom, sixbathroom home that clocks in at 2,850 square feet. The efficient— yet gracious—interiors offer a heart-of-the-home kitchen with a Wolf double oven, Sub-Zero refrigerator and wine fridge, and walk-in pantry. There’s the much-coveted home office space, a home gym and, to top it off— literally—a rooftop deck with an outdoor kitchen, a pergola and views overlooking downtown.

It’s listed for $3,250,000 with Sarah Muir of Sotheby’s International Realty.

—Diane di Costanzo Small Wonder Measuring just under 3,000 square feet, this newly constructed Greenwich home is listed for $3,250,000 with Sarah Muir of Sotheby’s International Realty in Greenwich. 203-219-1535.

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UNIQUE POINT OF VIEW march 2022 cottagesgardens.com ctc&g

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Entry Point (this page) A large stone step greets guests at this barn-turnedhome in Sharon. “That was the original landing stone for the barn entrance and I wanted to preserve it,” notes homeowner Lizzie Gill. Art Show (opposite page) Untitled (Midnight Sun), 2021, is part of Gill’s “Artifacts’ exhibition recently on display at Troutbeck in Amenia, NY. See Resources.

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NI G HT H E RON H OU S E A SIMPLE AND SERENE SANCTUARY BECOMES A HOME FOR A COUPLE WITH ARTISTIC FLAIR

PHOTOGRAPH BY LIZZIE GILL

BY CATRIONA BRANCA PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY BY THEO COULOMBE

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Open Plan A Jøtul stove (this photo) anchors the living room next to a Crate & Barrel sofa. In the dining area (opposite page), chairs from West Elm surround a vintage Adrian Pearsall table through 1stDibs. See Resources.

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P

ERCHED ATOP A THREE-ACRE PARCEL in Sharon, “Night Heron House” enjoys bird’s-eye views of tree-lined rolling hills. The property backs onto conservation land and the Sharon Audubon Society, thus the inspiration for the home’s moniker. “I wanted to name it after a species of bird, as I have a fascination with the John James Audubon lithographs,” explains artist Lizzie Gill. “It also makes reference to the dark, night color of the barn.” That rich hue—Benjamin Moore’s Soot—was a happy compromise for the new homeowners. “I wanted a dark color for the exterior,” notes Gill. “My husband was set on a blue, so I picked the darkest blue possible without being black.”

Litchfield County’s art scene, natural beauty and convenience to New York City lured this city couple to the country. They drew a two-hour radimarch 2022 cottagesgardens.com ctc&g

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us around Brooklyn, where they were living full time, and landed on the last train stop, Wassaic, which is 10 minutes from their new home. “My husband and I both work remotely, so we decided to take the leap to the countryside,” explains Gill. “We enjoy outdoor-driven pursuits in our free time, and we wanted to be able to tap into them more easily after a day’s work.”

When Gill and her husband—art advisor and Wave Projects founder Tom Pillar—bought the property, it was clear that it was going to require a lot of effort to create a full-time, year-round home and art studio. A family friend recommended PK Contracting for the project, and they decided to start with the smaller (approximately 1,400 square feet) 1990s post-and-beam barn and to hold off on renovating the 1860s farmhouse until the following year. “The barn’s upstairs needed a gut renovation—we kept the floors and some dry wall, but it was a total renovation,” says Gill.

The upstairs living space was divided into quadrants for bedroom, living room, kitchen and dining. “We actually loosely followed the footprint the apartment had to be more cost effective,” Gill says, “keeping the plumbing and bathroom downstairs where it was already plumbed, etc.” Built-in bookcases and shelving—designed by Gill and Pillar and built by the contractor—help define each area, while efficiently providing much-needed storage.

Kitchen Cachet (top) Ikea cabinets have Semihandmade cabinet fronts and sport drawer pulls from Rejuvenation. An Ikea farmhouse sink has a Moen faucet; appliances include a Bosch dishwasher, KitchenAid range and Fisher Paykel refrigerator. Bedroom Bliss (right) A Chiltern bed is dressed with Brooklinen bedding. Simple Division (opposite page) In a reading nook adjacent to the dining area, books and personal items—like a small bust from Montage Antiques and bowls from Workaday Handmade—fill the bookshelves, which cleverly divide the living space. See Resources.

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“MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH WORK REMOTELY, SO WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE LEAP TO THE COUNTRYSIDE”

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PHOTOGRAPH BY LIZZIE GILL

Smart Steps (left) A Cedar & Moss ceiling light illuminates the entry, where the home’s exterior paint color, Benjamin Moore’s Soot, is repeated on the stair railings and risers. Dream Studio (below, top to bottom) A concrete floor and lots of windows for natural light were essential in the artist’s new workspace. Great Outdoors Living space extends outside with dining and firepit areas just steps from the studio. See Resources.

The home’s exterior color is repeated in small and large doses throughout the interiors, appearing on the Shaker-style kitchen cabinets, stair railing and risers, and living/dining area built-ins. A dining room built-in bench—with an adjacent bar—provides seating at a vintage Adrian Pearsall table. A Jøtul fireplace anchors a corner of the living room, while a digitally projected horse painting disguises a Samsung frame television “We are both art enthusiasts and wanted the option to display art rather than just the black void that televisions can create in a room,” says Gill.

The ground-floor level was a blank canvas waiting for design inspiration.

“The downstairs was a two-horse stall barn with a dirt floor, so that section was completely transformed,” says Gill. Here, a sensible poured-concrete floor is a natural in the art studio workspace, where Gill transfers images to canvas and then uses oil and acrylic paints to create her collages. A new full bathroom equipped with a laundry closet completes the lower level, while walk-out glass doors lead to a dining area and fire pit, and solar panels top the roof. “We are in the process of replacing the panels and they are not currently in use,” notes Gill. “The barn uses hydronic baseboard heat: We endeavored to make it as efficient as possible, while working within the existing building.”

Ensconced in this bucolic setting, Gill draws inspiration from her surroundings when creating her mixed-media works that explore retro Americana in a contemporary context. “I think moving to a small town, steeped in history is something special,” she explains. “Landscapes are now a central theme in my new work!” ✹ 62

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GABLED GORGEOUS A NEW HOME TAKES IN LONG ISLAND SOUND FROM ALL ANGLES

BY DAVID MASELLO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELLEN MCDERMOTT

Peak Interest A new house by Brooks & Falotico, with interiors by Marcia Tucker Interiors, is defined by its series of steep gables that appear to be drawn along the horizon. See Resources.

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N

ot everyone likes geometry. It can be a challenging branch of mathematics. But for the design of a new house in Darien, the architects, interior designer and clients reveled in geometry lessons. As the wife recalls upon commissioning architect Louise Brooks and her firms’ colleagues, Chuck Willette, Vincent Falotico and Michael Benjamin: “I said 66

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to the team that I didn’t want rounded elements.

I wanted an angular house, with strong lines.”

The project’s interior designer, Marcia Tucker, also confirms that directive by saying, “She didn’t want anything too organic in form; she wanted structure, lines, angles. Geometry is what defines this house.”

Rivaling Nathaniel Hawthorne’s famous house of seven gables for effect, this residence (with 10 gables, by the way) assumes a strong, shapely presence on its waterfront site. “The design for

the house began with the premise that everyone’s bedroom was to have a water view,” says Brooks.

“Also, something the client definitely didn’t want was in vogue three years ago—the ‘reinvented modern farmhouse.’”

What resulted is a wholly original structure anchored directly on Long Island Sound, its captivating rhythm of sharp-peaked gables etching across the horizon. When seen from the street, the roofs are punctuated by sober nine-pane windows, while a Tudor-style two-story window

Inside Takes In the family room (above), a Verellen sofa wears a Cowtan & Tout fabric; the coffee table is topped with leather from Garrett Leather; Soho Concept chairs surround a Roberta Schilling table. In the living room (top right), blue velvet chairs complement a wood and marble coffee table; the carpet is from L&M Custom Carpets and Rugs. Casual Dining (bottom right) In the breakfast area, a custom banquette is upholstered in a leather from Garrett Leather. A Sub-Zero wine refrigerator has a custom front panel by A-Design by Artur. See Resources.

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Grab A Seat (this page) Kitchen island counter stools are from Design Within Reach. Flos pendants provide task and mood lighting.

A Julien undermount sink is finished with a Dornbracht faucet. Chic & Stylish (opposite page, clockwise from top) The dining area is illuminated with a Holly Hunt chandelier; the steel console is through Schwartz Design Showroom. Murray is the homeowners’ bearded collie. A Roberta Schilling console is positioned on the landing outside the primary bedroom suite. See Resources.

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element fills one of the bays. “The windows at the front make a very graphic modern façade,” explains Brooks, “and another portion, which connotes a classic Saltbox, is also streamlined in its detail.”

One of the more surprising architectural moments of the house, though, is discovered at the rear, where the very identity of those gables transforms. Where windows are square and minimally articulated on the street façade, in back each gable opens up as an expansive glass wall, allowing for unimpeded views of Long Island Sound, with Manhattan shimmering in the distance. It’s as if the house has two distinct identities, front and rear.

When the client is asked, rhetorically, why she her husband chose this site and why they left behind their traditional center-hall Colonial, she says without hesitation, “The water.” Citing, too, that they had once owned a boat and still spend time with friends on their boats, she adds, “We knew how much march 2022 cottagesgardens.com ctc&g

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Going Up The entry hallway (right) is flooded with natural light and illuminated with Aqua Creations lighting fixtures.

The primary suite (opposite page, top to bottom) has a custom bed dressed with Donghia fabric; a bench from Schwartz Design Showroom covered with Dedar fabric; and a Hubbardton Forge metal ring lamp. A Bungalow 5 bench upholstered in leather provides seating at the bathroom vanity; and the MTI Baths Elise tub has a Newport Brass tub filler. See Resources.

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we wanted to physically be on the Sound. My husband wanted the ability to go out the door and right to the water.”

Tucker, who has worked with the client for 18 years on prior residences, emphasizes that her interior design “had everything to do with the distinctive architecture of the house” and its decided departure from the prior house the homeowners had occupied.

Despite raising their four children in the former house, the family dispensed with their furnishings when deciding to build this new home. “It wasn’t difficult to leave it all behind,” the client insists. “This was a home with far different spaces, and each of our children would now be getting their very own area.”

Given the different scale and style of this house, as well as its open downstairs floorplan, Tucker responded to the geometry by bringing in L-shaped sofas, textured rugs with strongly articulated geometric forms, and shapely lighting fixtures. “There is so much organic shape outside on the Sound, so much surrounding nature,” Tucker emphasizes, “that we created march 2022 cottagesgardens.com ctc&g

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Life Outdoors (left page, clockwise from top) A bar that is inside the house can be closed off to create the ultimate entertaining area furnished with an RH table and chairs, plus Lepere bar stools.

Interior designer Marcia Tucker and architect Louise Brooks pose at the front of the house.

The walls of the kitchen in the pool cabana are papered with a Thibault Design’s pattern. Inviting Elements Harbour Outdoor chaises (above) beckon at the pool; landscape and pool design are by Wesley Stout Associates. The mudroom (opposite page) is equipped with Sferra towels and a mirror from Made Goods. See Resources.

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interiors that were more grounded.”

Tucker also adhered to a consistently neutral palette to foster an overall harmony and sense of calm. “The pops of color that I introduce break up the rooms. Any accent color that we bring in—an orange in the mudroom, a navy blue in armchairs and a banquette—comes back in some way in another room.”

Brooks emphasizes, too, that the design plans were “driven by the views.” So aware are the homeowners of those glorious vistas, that they’ve become experts in Long Island Sound’s weather conditions.

“It’s quite something to be inside and see waterspouts form on the Sound,” says the homeowner. “Every day what we see is different. Swells, rolling waves, white caps, or a surface that’s perfectly flat and still.” While both she and Tucker admit to needing to buy more paintings for the walls, the client says of the water, visible everywhere, “That’s our art.” ✹ march 2022 cottagesgardens.com ctc&g

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Naturally Timeless

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Lakefront Stunner Inspired by the vernacular New England saltbox style, the basic form of this house designed by Warren Arthur and Mai Tsao Arthur is a classic gabled box, detailed with long spans of glass and porthole windows.

See Resources.

A saltbox on the outside and a Bauhausinspired space on the inside

BY EVA HAGBERG PHOTOGRAPHS BY NANCY ELIZABETH HILL

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rchitect and designer Mai Tsao Arthur and her husband—the late architect, lighting designer and entrepreneur Warren Arthur—were, as Tsao Arthur says, “very young” when they’d just begun working in Connecticut on residential projects, using the skills they’d acquired in architecture school at Columbia and a design sensibility informed by stints at Eero Saarinen & Associates and their own lighting design and textile accessories practice, TSAO Designs, to produce work that was lively, playful and steeped in the best ideals of modern design. Full of the enthusiasm that so often accompanies early-career architects, they bought a small plot of land on a lake and set to work on arguably every designer’s most important project: their own home.

“Because of the lake, you really feel that you’re on your own property,” Tsao Arthur says of the site, which directed the design.

“You feel like you have a very private space there.” At the time of their purchase, in the early ’70s, an intense local planning, zoning

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Stylish Simplicity In the living room (this page), a sculptural staircase brings direction to the high-ceilinged space anchored with a Knoll cantilever table and vintage Ancona chairs.

Two blue glass vases (opposite page) bring visual texture to the kitchen area. See Resources.

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Serene Scene In the living room (this photo), a custom sofa features Gae Aulentidesigned cushions and sits next to a Barcelona table from Knoll. Antique gold balls (opposite page), inspired

by Barragán and acquired at a Newport, Rhode Island, antiques shop, act as sculptural objects next to the fireplace. See Resources.

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THIS HOUSE IS TRULY “SUITABLE FOR THE AREA AND WORKS WITH THE LAND” march 2022 cottagesgardens.com ctc&g

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“WE ARE MINIMALISTS. WE LIKE THE CLASSIC FORM” and permitting process led to the creation of two structures built on existing summer cottage foundations, the larger one of which currently functions as Tsao Arthur’s home.

The couple were trained in the Bauhaus style and developed their design skills during a time when country house architecture was largely dominated by the style of the New York Five (Gwathmey, Hejduk, Meier, Eisenman and Graves). Think white boxes, the prodigious use of angles, glass and rectangles. “It was totally not in keeping with the land,” Tsao Arthur says of the style engendered by those early influences. And so, instead of listening solely to their education, the Arthurs listened to the site and what it wanted.

The result? A saltbox on the outside, a Bauhausinspired space on the interior.

Today, the house exemplifies their shared design approach, one that is as inspired by the large-scale curving swoops of Warren Arthur’s one-time employer, the Saarinen office, as it is with the needs of each site. Tsao Arthur has a degree in interior design from UCLA, which she married to an advance architecture degree from Columbia, and to Arthur’s skills. “We are minimalists,” she says of their overarching approach. “We like the classic form.” Part of this project’s style is due to their breadth of experience coming into perfect harmony with its inhabitants’ drives, and part of that is the sense that this house—with its gable roof, slat siding, and open airy interiors—is truly, as she says, “suitable for the area and works with the land.”

A curved staircase connects the first and second floors, offering a moment of sculptural formalism

Inner Sanctuary (clockwise across spread from right) A workspace is tucked into the second floor, while verticallydetailed wood offers visual contrast to the airy modernism of the overall space plan. In the primary bedroom, table lamps by TSAO Design flank the bed. In the bathroom, a vanity has Grohe fixtures through Albano Appliance. In a guest bedroom, the floor lamp is vintage TSAO Design; the paintings are by Warren Arthur. See Resources.

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Peaceful Surroundings A custom teak gate (left) by Ino Atelier provides a doorway between inside and outside. The lower deck (above) is furnished with table and chairs designed by Richard Schultz for Knoll. See Resources.

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that contrasts with the modest materiality of the exterior, while restrained furnishings from designers like Knoll, Gae Aulenti, and, of course, TSAO Designs—the selections courtesy of Tsao Arthur’s long history working with interiors—bring subtle notes of color, space planning, and orientation to the living room, dining room, bedrooms and alcoved powder room.

Today, Tsao Arthur’s days (Warren Arthur

died eight years ago) are mediated by the house.

She wakes up to a view of the lake, and then makes her way to the small and efficient kitchen, purposefully designed to be tiny, “almost like an espresso bar,” she says. The formal dining room, shaped like an octagon, is illuminated with a skylight inspired, Tsao Arthur says, by the work of the 16th-century Italian architect Donato Bramante: “We wanted a Bramante dome.” (It’s

no minor inspiration; Bramante was a designer of Michelangelo’s St. Peter’s Basilica). Throughout the house, spans of glass invite the eye toward the outside, while articulated windows, including a porthole window on the ground floor, make for moments of playfulness in this otherwise traditional-seeming structure. The project, Tsao Arthur says, feels timeless, yet ever-changing. “There are elements of surprise in every corner.” ✹ march 2022 cottagesgardens.com ctc&g

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ANGULAR SENSATION ARCHITECT AND INTERIOR DESIGNER DELIVER A YOUNG FAMILY’S FOREVER HOME

BY MINDY PANTIEL PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIC STRIFFLER

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Simple Palette A combination of Western red cedar shingles and fieldstone express the more traditional aspects of this Shingle-style home, while the scale of the windows imparts a contemporary feel.

See Resources.

THIS PHOTOGRAPH BY PHILLIP ENNIS

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A

rchitect Jerry Hupy is fond of saying, “We don’t design houses, we design homes. A house is a building; a home is where memories get created.” Little wonder a young couple with three children and plans to build a forever residence knew Hupy was the one to make that happen. “We dreamed of living in this neighborhood and raising our kids here,” says the wife about the Fairfield County location. “We saw Shope Reno Wharton’s work everywhere and really liked the uniqueness of their Shingle-style architecture.”

During initial meetings with the architect, the couple’s desires came into focus. “We didn’t want anything cookie cutter, or any wasted space,” says the husband, who included a great room, covered outdoor living room, playroom off the kitchen, and a flat yard with room for a pool on their wish list.

Thanks to the steep ascent of their site, the last request proved challenging.

In response, the architect situated the structure as close to the street on the east side as possible and, along with using the building as a retaining wall, an ample yard on the south and west side of the house was created.

On the exterior, Hupy dialed back more typical Shingle-style details like sweeping rooflines and protrusions over the windows in favor of a cleaner, more contemporary appearance. For example, he explains, “In this streamlined version, the roof doesn’t come out, it just goes straight down.”

Artful Entry (top) “The homeowners wanted to walk in the front door and see out to the site,” notes architect Jerry Hupy of Shope Reno Wharton about the sweeping entry that accomplishes that goal. The Belgian bluestone floors are from Marble America, and a commissioned painting by Seattle–based artist Kate Neckel fills the wall. High Contrast (opposite page) In the great room, sofas wearing Zak + Fox fabric are juxtaposed with white chairs from Ligne Roset. The ottoman touts indestructible Kravet vinyl. The Counterbalance chandelier is through Blueprint Lighting. See Resources.

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A minimal palette of western red cedar and fieldstone excavated from the site supports the shift, while the medium to dark colors are a nod to the historic Tudor vernacular.

Inside, a gallery-style hallway featuring Belgian bluestone floors, expanses of glass sporting wood sashes painted black for a more industrial look, and a sculptural staircase reinforce the contemporary bent. At the homeowners’ request, the staircase—a combination of thick, solid oak treads, open risers and glass railings—is tucked around the corner so it’s not the first thing visitors see upon entering. “The various components let the light flow through it,” Hupy explains.

Warm white-oak ceilings and floors laid the groundwork for interior designer Maureen Winter McDermott to create minimal, uncomplicated interiors. “With all that character-grade oak providing warmth, we could go modern with the furniture,” says McDermott, who introduced clean-lined Dramatic Dining (left) Walls in Portola Paints & Glazes’ Fade to Black set a dramatic tone in the dining room where chairs from Suite NY surround a 10-foot-long custom table by Adam Maloney. The pendant lighting is by Apparatus. Sculptural Moment (top) A cascading Lindsey Adelman pendant lights the oak, glass and metal switchback staircase. See Resources.

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“WE DESIGN HOMES. A HOUSE IS A BUILDING; A HOME IS WHER E MEMOR IES GET CR EATED” 90

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Kitchen Central Space Copenhagen stools through StudioTwentySeven provide seating at the island (above), which is topped with Vermont quartzite from Marble America. Aperture sconces from Allied Maker flank the custom stove hood. The pantry (right) pendant is from Design Within Reach. The cabinetry is painted in Benjamin Moore’s Iron Mountain.

See Resources.

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deep navy sofas and a dark vinyl ottoman in the great room. With children in mind, she also avoided hard edges. “The swivel chairs are soft and curved, and kids can jump on that ottoman,” she adds.

Visible from the entrance, the dining room’s dramatic black plaster walls draw the eye to the back of the house. “If the walls were white, that wouldn’t happen,” says McDermott. A vintage brass light fixture with white porcelain bowls for shades was selected for its ability to span the length of the 10-footlong ebonized oak table and spread the light evenly. “I think of lighting like little finish notes or jewelry,” she adds.

A substantial island with room for seating on two adjacent sides defines the kitchen, which has quartzite counters and backsplash, custom gun metal stove hood, and plaster walls. “Like all the rooms in the house, it looks sophisticated, but there is nothing too precious,” notes McDermott. “The homeowner even did a stain test on the quartzite before agreeing to use it.”

Not surprisingly, at the end of the day, the parents of three small children wanted to retire to a serene sanctuary, and the designer more than delivered with the primary suite. “They wanted tone on tone, and it’s all about texture,” explains McDermott pointing to the cream-colored walls and a bed upholstered with a mélange wool in an equally soft hue. “The room is like a warm blanket for them to curl up in night.” ✹

Seeing Double (top and opposite page) Sconces from Allied Maker frame mirrors in the primary bathroom. The same Belgian bluestone seen elsewhere in the house creates a backdrop for a Victoria + Albert tub and Rejuvenation faucet.

The Charlotte Perriand Tabouret Meribel stool is through Monc XIII. Guest Suite (right) A four-poster bed from Room&Board is flanked by nightstands through Shoppe Amber Interiors. See Resources.

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WINE & SPIRITS

Shaken Not Stirred!

W

GIN, OR JUST AS OFTEN VODKA, MAKES FOR A SUPERIOR MARTINI

e’ve been through so much—all of us, everywhere—over the last few years, we all deserve a stiff drink.

We deserve a martini, the most timeless stiff drink. Though it’s been around since the 19th century, the martini has gotten stronger over the years. The original formula of a 1-to-1 ratio of gin to vermouth gave way to the vogue for dry martinis, with just a rinse of vermouth (or a few drops of olive brine for dirty martini lovers).

The martini’s origin story has long been in dispute. Some say it was invented in the town of Martinez during the California Gold Rush. Others credit bartender Martini Arma di Taggia who plied his trade at New York’s Knickerbocker Hotel, where John D. Rockefeller is said to have named the drink in the bartender’s honor after tasting the new concoction. Others say the cocktail took its name from Italian vermouth brand Martini & Rossi.

Whatever story you prefer, an elevated base spirit—gin or, just as often, vodka these days—makes for a superior martini. Let’s start with a few remarkable new gins from the far corners of the globe.

Scapegrace Black Gin ($40) from New Zealand makes for a delicious and visually arresting martini. It starts out jet black in the bottle before turning lavender when adding mixers or ice. The chameleon agent behind its seductive color change is the butterfly pea flower, a holy flower in India. This gin was created by three friends from Auckland (two are brothers-in-law), as a sequel to their award-winning gold-hued gin. It adds notes of tropical fruit, pepper, grass and mint to a classic martini.

Mirabeau Riviera Gin ($40), another enticing naturally colorful gin, is made ½ ounce dry vermouth from the same rosé wine grapes as 3 ounces gin or vodka Maison Mirabeau’s bestselling Provence 1. Pour over ice in a mixing glass rosé. The winery’s founders produce and stir vigorously. their gin from the leftover skins of their 2. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

3. Garnish with a lemon twist cinsault and grenache wine grapes. The or olive. final product is infused with botanicals

CLASSIC MARTINI

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Martini Matchup (clockwise from top) Harridan Vodka hails from New York; Nova Scotia’s Fundy Gin has saline sea aromas; Mirabeau Riviera Gin starts as Provence rosé grapes; New Zealand’s Scapegrace Black Gin is a chameleon that turns lavendar.

from their estate near St. Tropez, adding notes of lemon, lavender, jasmine and thyme. And the gin looks awfully good on the bar in its Belle Epoque perfume-style bottle.

For a savory martini with hints of the sea, try Fundy Gin ($50) from Nova Scotia, which features an artist rendering of a humpback whale on the label. On the palate, it’s bracing like a saline ocean spray, with aromas of seaweed, sea salt and lemongrass with hints of pepper and pine. Founded by commercial divers, Fundy Gin uses local botanicals including sun-dried dulse (seaweed) and is distilled in Nova Scotia’s first legal still.

Vodka came later to the martini than gin. Blame its popularity on Sean Connery’s James Bond, who famously preferred his vodka martinis “shaken not stirred.” Kangaroo was the original name for a martini made with vodka.

The first mention in print of using vodka instead of gin is in David Embury’s 1948 cocktail guide, The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks.

While vodka martinis lack gin’s complex botanicals, a unique vodka will certainly spruce up the drink. Broken Shed Vodka ($30), also from New Zealand, is made from the country’s 15,000-year-old mineral rich glacial water and whey protein (a by-product of cheese production). It’s a clean, crisp vodka with a distinct mouth-filling texture.

White rice, another unusual vodka component, is the distillate in Haku Vodka ($28) from Japanese spirits giant Suntory. Filtered through bamboo charcoal, the vodka has lovely floral aromas and a subtly sweet flavor. Clear, clean Haku, if kept in the freezer, can be poured directly into a Martini glass (no shaking required). All you need is a lemon twist.

My last new vodka discovery is Harridan ($60) from upstate New York, among the strongest new vodkas on the market at 88-proof. This potent gluten-free vodka—its name refers to a belligerent old woman—is produced from organic corn by fifth-generation farmer Bridgette Taylor.

She no doubt makes a very mean martini.

—Baroness Sheri de Borchgrave

Get your copy at

cottagesgardens.com/getmycopy

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COTTAGESGARDENS.COM | DECEMBER 2021

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A SPECIAL SECTION

DISCOVER WHY THESE BUILDERS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHEN BUILDING A NEW — OR RENOVATING AN EXISTING — HOME.

FEATURING DAVENPORT CONTRACTING, INC. DOMUS CONSTRUCTORS FLETCHER DEVELOPMENT GARRETT WILSON BUILDERS HOBBS, INC. LEGACY CONSTRUCTION NORTHEAST PRUTTING + COMPANY CUSTOM BUILDERS QUINNDICO CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS UCE FINE BUILDERS, INC.

DAVENPORT CONTRACTING, INC. Davenport maneuvers effortlessly between custom homes, renovations and property management. With more than 35 years in the business, they provide a suite of services including pre-construction estimating and budgets, fixed bids, and construction management. All with the goal of bringing your vision to reality.

Davenport Home (203.324.3030) is a separate division that remodels, maintains and services existing clients as well as the general residential community. Every aspect of each project receives individual attention, enabling their customers to build their dreams!

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ARCHITECTURE BY MICHAEL SMITH ARCHITECTS; PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURA MOSS

DOMUS CONSTRUCTORS

FLETCHER DEVELOPMENT Fletcher Development is an industry awardwinning custom home building company.

For a decade, they have been committed to providing clients with unwavering quality and craftsmanship in every aspect of home construction, creating low maintenance, high efficiency homes that are aesthetically pleasing, healthy, and safe for your family.

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As one of Fairfield County’s leading custom home builders and remodelers since 1998, Domus Constructors, led by award-winning builder, Chris Shea, is the preferred choice for all your home building and renovation needs. Whether your project is a new custom home, renovation of an existing home, or expansion of an existing space, Domus works with you directly to ensure the finished product exceeds your expectations.

Their Mission is to provide customers with an honest, responsible, and accountable service experience as they deliver a job done right.

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GARRETT WILSON BUILDERS Garrett Wilson Builders has been building luxury custom homes in lower Fairfield County for more than 20 years. This client centric firm owes its longevity to an attention to detail and the express commitment to exceed client expectations.

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HOBBS, INC. For more than 65 years, Hobbs, Inc. has been building distinctive custom homes. Working with the most respected architects, designers, craftsmen and suppliers in the industry, the expert Hobbs team delivers a superior building experience. The company has been the recipient of numerous industry awards and is widely recognized for its focus on client service and job safety. Serving Connecticut, Westchester County, New York City, New Jersey and the Hamptons.

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LEGACY CONSTRUCTION NORTHEAST Legacy Construction Northeast is an awardwinning residential construction company trusted for their precise execution, transparent communication, leadership in innovation, and commitment to budget and schedule. They collaborate with some of the most distinguished architects and designers to create state of the art projects throughout Westchester and Fairfield Counties, New York City, and Eastern Long Island. Working with this passionate firm, you can trust that your home building experience will be a rewarding and unforgettable one.

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PRUTTING + COMPANY CUSTOM BUILDERS Founded in 1975, Prutting + Company offers more than 40 years of successful building management experience with new construction, remodeling, and home maintenance. The company focuses on the cutting edge of environmentally-sensitive and progressiveminded construction, executed with precision craftsmanship. They draw from the best of current technologies, to ensure the finished product will have solid and enduring value. In addition to our office in Stamford, Connecticut, we now also serve the Hudson Valley, Berkshires, and other surrounding areas from our new satellite office in Millerton, New York.

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QUINNDICO CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS Quinndico’s founders, Christopher Quinn and Ivan Dic, have been building high-end, luxury residential homes together for decades in the Hamptons, New York City, Westchester, and Fairfield County. What elevates Quinndico above the competition is Christopher and Ivan’s combined 30 years of hands-on experience. From pre-construction through completion, they take pride in being involved in the entire process of each client’s home, making sure the final product is the finest and most intricate luxury custom home imaginable.

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UCE FINE BUILDERS, INC. Based in Litchfield, Connecticut, the award-winning firm’s prominent residential and commercial portfolio throughout Connecticut, the Hudson Valley and the Berkshire mountains, showcases exceptional craftsmanship and the team’s extensive capabilities – including magnificent custom millwork, innovative architectural concrete, and a dedication to sustainable building practices. A reputation for expertise, professionalism, and transparency has been a hallmark of the organization for more than 60 years.

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RESOURCES

Resources & More…

H E R E ’ S W H E R E T O F I N D T H E D E S I G N P R O F E S S I O N A L S A N D P R O D U C T S F E AT U R E D I N T H I S I S S U E

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NIGHT HERON HOUSE

Page 56–63: Interior design and artwork, Lizzie Gill, lizziegill.com. Contractor, PK Contracting, pkcontractingct.com.

Landscape design, Northwest Lawn & Landscaping, northwestlawnlandscaping. com. Exterior: Paint, Benjamin Moore.

Windows, Marvin. Living room: Stove, Jøtul. Sofa, Crate & Barrel. Storage drawers, Ikea. Drawer fronts, Semihandmade. Drawer pulls, Rejuvenation.

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TV, Samsung. Dining area: Chairs, West Elm. Table, 1stDibs. Kitchen: Cabinets and sink, Ikea. Cabinet fronts, Semihandmade. Pulls, Rejuvenation. Faucet, Moen. Dishwasher, Bosch. Range, KitchenAid. Refrigerator, Fisher Paykel. Kettle, Fellow. Water carbonator, Arkel. Bedroom: Bed, Chiltern. Bed linens, Brooklinen. Reading nook: Bust, Montage Antiques.

Bowls, Workaday Handmade. Entry:

ctc&g cottagesgardens.com march 2022

Ceiling light fixture, Cedar & Moss.

Paint, Benjamin Moore.

GABLED + GORGEOUS

Pages 64–73: Architectural design, Louise Brooks, Vincent Falotico, Chuck Willette and Michael Benjamin, Brooks & Falotico, brooksandfalotico.com. Interior design, Marcia Tucker Interiors, marciatuckerinteriors.com. Landscape design, Wesley Stout Associates,

“Night Heron House”

wesleystout.com. Workroom drapery, Cassandra Gilmore, 203-687-5983. Family room: Drapery fabric, de le Cuona. Sofa, Verellen. Sofa fabric, Cowtan & Tout.

Coffee table leather, Garrett Leather.

Chairs, Soho Concept. Table and lounge chair, Roberta Schilling. Rug, L&M Custom Carpets and Rugs. Throw pillows, Judy Ross Textiles. Living room: Chairs, coffee table and artwork, Roberta Schilling. Custom pillows, Holly Hunt.

Items pictured but not listed here are either from private collections or have no additional details.

CTC&G relies upon the providing party of the image to give accurate credit information.

THEO COULOMBE

from

RESOURCES

from

Carpet, L&M Custom Carpets and Rugs.

Breakfast area: Banquette leather, Garrett Leather. Chair fabric, Houlès.

Table, Roberta Schilling. Chandelier, Flos. Kitchen: Stove, Wolf. Refrigerator and wine refrigerator, Sub-Zero.

Custom refrigerator panels, A-Design

by Artur, LLC. Sink, Julien. Faucet, Dornbracht. Stools, Design Within Reach.

Pendants, Flos. Dining area: Chandelier, Holly Hunt. Steel console, Schwartz Design Showroom. Hallway: Console, Roberta Schilling. Entry hallway: Light fixtures, Aqua Creations. Runner, L&M Custom Carpets and Rugs. Primary suite: Armchair, Roberta Schilling. Bed fabric, Donghia. Bench, Schwartz Design Showroom. Bench fabric, Dedar. Drapery fabric, Holly Hunt. Lighting, Hubbardton Forge. Bathroom: Tub, MTI. Tub filler and hand shower set, Newport Brass.

Sink, Toto. Faucet, Fantini. Bench, Bungalow 5. Towels, Sferra. Covered porch: Table and chairs, RH. Bar stools, Lepere. Hanging light, Artemide. Cabana: Wallpaper, Thibaut. Pool area: Chaises, Harbour Outdoor. Basket, Paola Lenti.

Mudroom: Towels, Sferra. Mirror, Made Goods. Pendant light, Artemide.

ERIC STRIFFLER

NATURALLY TIMELESS

Pages 74–83: Architecture, interior and landscape design, Warren Arthur and Mai Tsao Arthur, TSAO Design, tsaodesign.com.

Living room: Table, Knoll. Chairs, Ancona. Sofa cushions, Gae Aulenti.

Primary bedroom: Table lamps, TSAO Design. Bathroom: Fixtures, Grohe.

Guest bedroom: Floor lamp, TSAO Design. Exteriors: Table and chairs, Richard Schultz for Knoll.

ANGULAR SENSATION

Pages 84–93: Architecture, Jerry Hupy, Shope Reno Wharton, shoperenowharton. com. Interior design, Maureen Winter McDermott, Winter McDermott Design, wintermcdermott.com. Landscape architect, Wesley Stout and Cory Jorgensen, Wesley Stout Associates, wesleystout.com. Contractor, Paul Fontana, Cum Laude Group, Inc., cumlaudegroup.com. Exteriors: Windows and doors, Lepage Millwork.

Interior paint, Benjamin Moore and Farrow & Ball. Foyer: Floor, Marble America.

Art, Kate Neckel. Living room: Rug, Holland & Sherry. Chairs, Ligne Roset.

Leather side table, StudioTwentySeven.

Ottoman fabric, Kravet. Sofa fabric, Zak + Fox. Chandelier, Blueprint Lighting. Dining room: Dining table, Adam Maloney. Dining chairs, Suite NY. Light fixture, Apparatus. Paint, Portola Paints & Glazes. Shelf brackets, Devol. Art, Elizabeth Karsch. Stairwell: Pendant lights, Lindsey Adelman. Kitchen: Stools, StudioTwentySeven. Surface

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“Angular Sensation”

mount and sconce lighting, Allied Maker.

Pendants, Design Within Reach. Stone, Marble America. Pantry: Pendant, Design Within Reach. Cabinetry paint, Benjamin Moore. Primary bathroom: Sconces, Allied Maker. Stone, Marble America.

Tub, Victoria + Albert. Faucet, Rejuvenation. Stool, Monc XIII. Guest Suite: Bed, Room&Board. Nightstands, Shoppe Amber Interiors. Light fixture, Le Lampade.

SOURCE LIST 1stDibs, 1stdibs.com A-Design by Artur, LLC,adesignbyartur. com Aarke, aarke-usa.com Adam Maloney, adammaloneyfurniture. com Albano Appliance, albanoappliance.com Alllied Maker, alliedmaker.com Ancona, ancona-grupa.hr Apparatus, apparatusstudio.com Aqua Creations, aquagallery.com Artemide, artemide.com Benjamin Moore, benjaminmoore.com Blueprint Lighting, blueprintlighting.com Bosch, bosch-home.com Brooklinen, brooklinen.com Bungalow5, bungalow5.com Cedar & Moss, cedarandmoss.com Chiltern, chilternoakfurniture.co.uk

Cowtan & Tout, cowtan.com Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com De le Cuona, usa.delecuona.com Dedar, dedar.com Design Within Reach, dwr.com Devol, devolkitchens.com Donghia, kravet.com Dornbracht, dornbracht.com Elizabeth Karsch, elizabethkarsch.com Fantini, fantiniusa.com Farrow & Balll farrow-ball.com Fellow, fellowproducts.com Fisher Paykel, fisherpaykel.com Flos, flos.com Gae Aulenti (see 1stDibs) Garrett Leather, garrettleather.com Grohe, grohe.com Harbour Outdoor, harbouroutdoor.com Holland & Sherry, hollandandsherry.com Holly Hunt, hollyhunt.com Houlès, houles.com Hubbardton Forge, hubbardtonforge.com Ikea, ikea.com Jøtul, jotul.com Judy Ross Textiles, judyrosstextiles.com Julien, julien.ca Kate Neckel, kateneckel.com KitchenAid, kitchenaid.com Knoll, knoll.com Kravet, kravet.com L&M Custom Carpets and Rugs, lmcustomcarpets.com Le Lampade, lelampade.com Lepage Millwork, lepagemillwork.com Lepere, lepereinc.com Ligne Roset, ligne-roset.com Lindsey Adelman, lindseyadelman.com Made Goods, madegoods.com Marble America, marbleamericaonline. com Marvin, marvin.com Moen, moen.com Monc XIII, monc13.com Montage Antiques, montageantiques. com MTI, mtibaths.com Newport Brass, newportbrass.com Paola Lenti, paolalenti.it Portola Paints & Glazes, portolapaints. com Rejuvenation, rejuvenation.com RH, rh.com Roberta Schilling, rscollection.com Room&Board, roomandboard.com Samsung, samsung.com Schwartz Design Showroom, schwartzdesignshowroom.com Semihandmade, semihandmade.com Sferra, sferra.com Shoppe by Amber Interiors, shoppe.amberinteriordesign.com Soho Concept, sohoconcept.com StudioTwentySeven, studiotwentyseven.com Sub-Zero, subzero-wolf.com Suite NY, suiteny.com Thibaut, thibautdesign.com Toto, totousa.com TSAO Design, tsaodesign.com Verellen, verellen.biz Victoria + Albert, houseofrohl.com West Elm, westelm.com Wolf, subzero-wolf.com Workaday Handmade, workadayhandmade.com Zak + Fox, zakandfox.com

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MEET THE DESIGNER

Woods + Dangaran California natives who met while studying at the University of Southern California School of Architecture, Brett Woods and Joseph Dangaran joined forces in 2013 as Los Angeles-based Woods + Dangaran. Aligned by mutual respect for midcentury modern style, they are known for work that is up to date, timeless, controlled and adapted to the location. “Our structures are warm and lived in, not just spaces for architects to show off their work. We try to strike that balance of design plus the practicality of using the space every day.” The firm is currently creating a 9,000-square-foot home on eight acres in Greenwich, and Rizzoli is publishing a monograph of their work this fall.

While sharing values, they’re “very different people personality-wise.” Joseph and his health-care attorney wife are raising two sons and collect work by local artists.

Married to a private wealth advisor, Brett helps raise their two young children and competes in triathlons. woodsdangaran.com

Inside Out Creating synergy between indoor and outdoor spaces is a midcentury modern tenet, illustrated here in this kitchen and bathroom designed

by Woods + Dangaran.

What’s the appeal of midcentury modern? We’re inspired by its values and accessibility. We love its simple, clean lines, honest materials and lack of embellishment. Great design doesn’t have to be expensive and can be accessible to the masses.

How do you differentiate between the terms contemporary and modern? Contemporary is current, it tends to be a form of modernism that is more playful and experimental. Midcentury modern had a very singular consistent language and philosophy. We try to stay away from trendy— there’s a bigger chance of being timeless.

How are you making the leap from California to Connecticut? Midcentury modern has a strong history in New England. New Canaan was the home of influential modern architects like the Harvard Five and the site of Philip Johnson’s Glass House and the Noyes House. We felt, at some level, right at home.

How do you make modern feel cozy? We let the architecture be the backdrop that is softened by the furniture, rugs, lamps, artwork and furnishings that are the homeowner’s own methods of expression. We see the architecture as the vessel, the container for the life that happens within it.

Why is it important to integrate the interior and exterior spaces? Synergy between indoors and outdoors is crucial to get the most out of the property. With a central courtyard, natural light comes in from not one, but two sides. We always design a courtyard or atrium space.

What’s the contribution of natural materials?

Using wood, stone and local materials make homes feel like part of the local context.

Why is it so important to cultivate trusted craftsmen? We’re expert at what we do, the design, detail, managing, but we’re not the fabricators. The best product is the collaboration between our design intent and their execution.

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Many midcentury modern homes are being brought back to life. What is the challenge of updating? They weren’t designed with the foresight to fit today’s technology–energy, waterproofing, electrical. We find it critical to strip layers and put in systems needed for the next decades. We must find spaces for these systems; there’s a push and pull of client’s needs and historical value.

How do you adapt traditional Connecticut characteristics? For instance, the strong history of stone walls is integrated intimately into the design but with up-to-date detailing. The joint of a fieldstone wall and a ceiling or floor is cleanly executed; there may be a three-quarter-inch reveal.

The earlier architects didn’t have the attention to detail because they were focused on the big idea and trailblazing space.

What is satisfactory about working together?

We’re both very driven and goal oriented, with lots of aspirations both personally and professionally.

We respect each other’s opinions, but our eyes light up at different things. It’s complementary, knowing our strengths and how we use them together.

—Sharon King Hoge

Brooks & Falotico associates photo By ellen mcdermott

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