East Coast Home + Design May/June 2017

EAST

COAST

HOME+DESIGN CONNECTICUT | NEW JERSEY | NEW YORK

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EAST

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HOME+DESIGN MAY / JUNE 2017

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ISSUE 86

Style Overhaul

Antique and Modern Mix in New Jersey Story by Jessica Rivest Photography by Peter Rymwid

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Living Languages

Take a peek at a transcendent home created to celebrate life along the shores of the Long Island Sound Story by Deborah Brannon Photography by Joshua McHugh, Neil Landino and Steve Turner

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Designing a Dream

Blending Styles in New Canaan to Create a “Sparkling Beauty”

Story by Deborah Brannon Photography by Jane Beiles

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Editors Letter Ask the Experts Kitchens and Baths In the Field

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Melange Designers Picks Outdoor Spaces Events

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E A S T

C O A S T

HOME+DESIGN May / June 2017

ISSUE 86

Editor-in-Chief Matthew J. Kolk mattkolk@me.com 203-820-1092 Managing Editor James Eagen

CUSTOM HOME BUILDING with YOUR HEALTH IN MIND

Contributing Writers Deborah Brannon, Lisa Gant, Susan Heller, Lollie Mathews, Jennifer Jackson-Outlaw, Jessica Rivest, Kait Shea Contributing Photographers Jane Beiles, Michael Biondo, Phillip Ennis, Tria Giovan, John Gruen, John Hannon, Paul Johnson, Neil Landino, Mark La Rosa, Tim Lee, Daniel Milstein, Janice Parker, Durston Saylor, Debra Somerville, Eric Striffler, Jonathan Wallen, Woodruff/Brown Photography Copy Editor Elena Serocki Graphic & Web Design East Coast Home Publishing

Publisher Shelley E. McCormick shelley_mccormick@yahoo.com 203-545-7091 Account Managers Alessandra Flanagan Patrick Giddings Lollie Mathews Business Development John Oleynick East Coast Home + Design 111 Forest Avenue, Fairfield, CT 06824 Fax: 203-286-1850

East Coast Home + Design is published six issues per year. To subscribe: www.eastcoasthomepublishing.com; Subscriptions: one year, $28; two years, $50. Back issues can be purchased at www.eastcoasthomepublishing.com. For editorial inquiries: Editor, East Coast Home + Design, 111 Forest Avenue, Fairfield, CT 06824 or e-mail: mattkolk@me.com. For advertising inquiries: Please call Shelley McCormick at 203-545-7091. Reproduction whole or in part without permission is prohibited. All projects described in this publication are for private, noncommercial use only. No rights for commercial use or exploitation are given or implied. The opinions expressed

203.921.9426

www.newgenerationhomesCT.net

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EAST COAST HOME PUBLISHING 111 FOREST AVENUE FAIRFIELD, CT 06824 EASTCOASTHOMEPUBLISHING.COM

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170 Mason Street Greenwich, CT

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Tel. 203.489.3800

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www.hiltonarchitects.com

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EDITOR’S LETTER E A S T C O A S T

HOME+DESIGN November / December 2016

ISSUE 83

Editor-in-Chief Matthew J. Kolk mattkolk@me.com 203-820-1092 Managing Editor James Eagen Contributing Writers Deborah Brannon, Lisa Gant, Susan Heller, Lollie Mathews, Jennifer Jackson-Outlaw, Jessica Rivest, Kait Shea Contributing Photographers Jane Beiles, Michael Biondo, Phillip Ennis, Tria Giovan, John Gruen, John Hannon, Paul Johnson, Neil Landino, Mark La Rosa, Tim Lee, Daniel Milstein, Janice Parker, Durston Saylor, Debra Somerville, Eric Striffler, Jonathan Wallen, Woodruff/Brown Photography Copy Editor Elena Serocki Graphic & Web Design East Coast Home Publishing

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Publisher he physical character of many cities and towns are Shelley E. McCormick monitored by various Building and winter.

ZoningSure, departe definitely lucked out this we shelley_mccormick@yahoo.com ments within individual borders.

In the of had a their few days of “true” winter withcase some 203-545-7091 Connecticut, responsibilities are left up towith the snow, these but now that we are into March, 169 different cities and towns borders as Account Managers the time change right within arounditsthe corner, Lisa Dearbornto take a look around our Connecticut has no county governments. we have a chance Giddings homes and plan our projectsPatrick for spring.

Lollie Mathews These boards are often made up of civic minded volunteers doing their civicofduty insure their town is one that isofa desirable place In light last to years drought, Chiamulera Austin Ganim BusinessEva Development to live with and us work.

We admire these people givingplantings their time, shares a beautiful variety of drought resistant to Randi K. Lehrman, Esq.for enthusiasm and Marketing dedication. insure your home can maintain regardless the water levels. & Salescolor Advisor to the GoldofCoast Coast Home + Design However, we all live in East a rapidly changing world.

Where Our Melange department has been taken over by some of peoples our fa111 Forest Avenue, Fairfield, CT 06824 preference in lifestyles as fast technology, an vorite designers sharingchanges their looks forasSpring.

Greatcreating new picks Fax: 203-286-1850 imaginary between status quo of many zoning and insider“tug-of-war” resources to help guidetheyou. and building regulations and a new generation of home buyers looking in different many aspects, as from nimblyour as Experts possible.in the Field We also to getlive, three lessons on three vastly different topics: Trends in new lighting from the In our 5th Annual Builderslight and show Architects Roundtable, Lightovation International in Dallas, The Art we of look UnEast Coast Home + Design is published six issues per year. To subscribe: www.eastcoasthomepublishing.com; Subintoscriptions: someoneofyear, issues in issues order create a dialog on this ever derstanding a these Client and onat Closet Design. $28; two years, $50. Collaborating Back can beto purchased www.eastcoasthomepublishing.com.

For editorial inquiries: Editor, East Coast and Home +how Design, we 111 Forest Fairfield, CTto 06824 or e-mail: our mattkolk@ changing environment canAvenue, all adapt insure citme.com. For advertising inquiries: Please call Shelley McCormick at 203-545-7091. Reproduction whole or in part withies and towns their while remaining This isis prohibited. amaintain veryAll projects informational one,areIforhope this assists inrights the outissue permission describedindividuality in this publication private, noncommercial use only. attracNo use or exploitationneeds are given orof implied.

Thecurrent opinions expressed writers for articles published by East tive fortocommercial the changing its residents. process of making your home, your home.andbyfuture Coast Home + Design are not necessarily those of the magazine.

I hope you find this important article as informative and thought Best, provoking as we do. EAST COAST HOME PUBLISHING

Matthew Matthew

111 FOREST AVENUE FAIRFIELD, CT 06824 EASTCOASTHOMEPUBLISHING.COM

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Special Dads Deserve a Special Garage.

Give One To Yours This Father’s Day

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Outdoor Offerings with Dazzling Design MELANGE

EDITOR’S PICKS - Our favorite new outdoor furniture lines for 2017

ARHAUS ARHAUS.COM

Spinnaker An outdoor spin on an indoor classic. The Spinnaker Sofa and Swivel Chair are constructed of, and covered by, all-weather materials to ensure it stays as pretty as the day you brought it home. Underneath the Sunbrella®/Outdura® slipcovers are marine-grade frames,

Hamptons Dining A simply elegant design, our Hamptons Outdoor Dining Collection is inspired by classic, English gardens. These all-weather furnishings are artisan-crafted from natural teak hardwood. Their beautiful frames are hand-finished to emphasize the wood’s coloring and unique, organic features.

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Manhattan With a chic, sophisticated aesthetic, our Manhattan Collection’s contemporary teak framing is defined by clean lines emphasized by horizontal slats. Beautiful teak wood is perfectly selected for outdoor gathering spaces, featuring rich coloring and naturally protective oils which resist the elements.

Bourdeaux Crafted by hand using reclaimed elm—salvaged from beams collected from centuries-old buildings—our Bourdeaux Collection will be the focal point of your outdoor space.

Hamptons Seating A simply elegant design, our Hamptons Outdoor Dining Collection is inspired by classic, English gardens. These all-weather furnishings are artisan-crafted from natural teak hardwood. Their beautiful frames are hand-finished to emphasize the wood’s coloring and unique, organic features.

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BARLOW TYRIE BARLOWTYRIE.COM

Titan Titan is designed with thick teakwood boards purposely using teak that has visual imperfections and blemishes, such as knots, to give it a rustic “farmhouse” appeal. It features a “hidden” storage/ice bin in the 1 ¾ inch thick top, as well as a large storage drawer, towel bars at either end and pull-out addition to the top that increases the usable area from 54 to 71 inches. The frame is made from tubular aluminum with a durable powder-coat black painted finish.

The Titan 39 inch square table joins the very popular Titan Rustic range. Perfect for smaller spaces, it seats four comfortably.

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Monterey Designed by Mark Tyrie, the awardwinning Monterey armchair and deep seating chair in new “Chalk” cording joins the Monterey range. Inspired by the mid-century modern movement, the chair features a teakwood frame and all-weather woven cord made from Textilene®/Olefin® fiber.

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CRADLE Indulgently conceived by the talented eye of respected Danish designer Henrik Pedersen, Cradle is the epitome of luxury. More than large enough for two, Cradle surrounds and comforts. With a selection of shades, privacy can be adjusted to suit. A variety of finish and fabric options as well as an integrated side table mean you can create your very own haven. Henrik states that he has “often seen indulgent pieces of furniture designed to accommodate two and yet somehow feeling ostentatious and contrived”. His objective with Cradle “was to create private space that was as subtle as it was effective - full of options to hide away or party - an infinitely changeable piece that could be used whatever the mood and wherever the place.”

GLOSTER

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GLOSTER.COM

GRAND WEAVE Conceived by noted Danish designer Henrik Pedersen, Grand Weave makes a statement equal to its name. Accustomed to designing product for international markets Henrik carefully selected the oversize, tactile man-made fibres to be stylishly woven around the beautiful aluminium frame to make a deliberately bold statement. Henrik Says “We are simple creatures. In nature often scale means strength and integrity and I considered this in the selection of the broad fibres used in this design. I want to inspire comfort and trust critical parts of the relaxation process.”

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polished, supple, rustic, refined, easy, chic, comfortable, time-honored

Style for your entire home

WE CALL IT CASHMERE & BLUE JEANS TM

GRID Grid - a name that describes both function and mind-set. A grid of complementary units forms the basis of a totally flexible seating system where you can combine various indvidual elements to meet your specific needs.

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WWW.LISADAVENPORTDESIGNS.COM DURHAM CT & NAPLES FL 860-316-5718

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JANUS ET CIE JANUSETCIE.COM

SLANT COLLECTION JANUS et Cie, the leading designer and supplier for inventive indoor and outdoor design, builds on the success of Slant, introducing a new armchair and dining tables, each with impressive, stylish details. The new Slant Armchair boasts distinct darting in the cushion, creating a tailored look that parallels the architectural, linear design of the chair, and the collection as a whole.

KATACHI COLLECTION JANUS et Cie introduces Katachi, named for the Japanese concept that combines “kata,” meaning form, and “chi,” meaning magic. “Katachi is for lovers of craftsmanship. The meticulous construction yields graceful designs that are magical, ergonomic masterpieces,” says Janice Feldman, JANUS et Cie founder and collection designer.

MATISSE COLLECTION JANUS et Cie introduces Matisse, a minimal collection ideal for hospitality projects. The value-driven seating is at home in a variety of applications from poolside to balconies. Special attention to durability includes mesh encased articulated foam cushions ideal for high traffic areas and a powder coated aluminum frame. The frame’s mesh walls aide in keeping costs—and weight—down, while offering a dependable product to be installed outdoors for use year over year.

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CORTINO COLLECTION JANUS et Cie introduces Cortino, a handsome collection of seating for residential, applications. Cortino is truly at home in any setting, serving as a suitable counterpoint to a more classic environment, or seamlessly meshing with an already contemporary space.

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MOOD COLLECTION The Mood Dining and Lounge Collection adds a handsome grey shade for its signature fabric-strapped back.

The new Grey is a cool-colored counterpoint to the warm, original Earth Brown all-weather Polyolefin fabric, further diversifying its application, looking at home both in rural and industrial installations.

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ASK THE EXPERTS

George Dumitru

P

lease describe your design aesthetic in three words Two words: Design Honesty. It is our duty as architects to deliver an honest, truthful design.

We owe this not only to the client but also to the neighborhood, to the fabric of our society. Too many products out there have a disregard to aesthetics, and the residential landscape has been polluted with houses that pushed the size envelope and totally ignored the aesthetic values.

During the interview process with a client, how do you determine if you are a match for their project?

Although it sounds very complicated (convincing the client that you are the best for their project) in essence it’s a simple process. One knows immediately if there is a degree of trust between client and professional. I do believe that we are hired not only because we will push the project through the myriad of regulations and committees these days, but also because of our expertise. We should be trusted that we will be the ones to match form, function and budget.

What do you see as todays architectural challenges and how are you overcoming this/these challenges?

Trying to convince the clients that not everything they read on the internet is true, nor beautiful. We always preach that to our 26

kids but we are the first to fall prey to that concept as well.

Can you describe an evolution of your work from when you began until today?

I started 32 years ago, doing a little bit of everything in the Hartford area. A lot of water has rolled down the Connecticut river since. Styles have changed, expectations have changed, communities have changed. The beginning of this century also brought back a new appreciation for modern architecture as well, both in the whole concept and in the interior space design and expression. Lifestyle too. There is a new breath out there and we are all excited.

George please give us your famous quote.

We are not designing houses; we are designing homes.

Resources George Dumitru Studio Dumitru 49 Richmondville Avenue #106 Westport, CT 06880 203.226.5156 studiodumitru.com

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Ralph Vuolo

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ow did you get your start in the interior design world?

I Majored in Art and Design in college. Later I studied and received my ASID Certification in interior design and opened my own design company.

What would you say your design style is?

Classic while blending different periods, from traditional to modern.

Name a favorite room in the home that you always love creating?

Living room, which is the space you share with all and can express your style.

What is the hot trend for 2017?

Color and more color!!

How can a client better prepare before interviewing potential interior designers?

Lots of images that express your style from rooms to fashion or art.

Decide how you will use and live in the space.

Now for a little fun: My favorite cocktail is?

Tequila on the rocks with a twist of lime.

One indulgence you allow yourself?

Juniors cheesecake and a fork!

Tell us one design secret you shouldn’t?

Always use a pop of color and carry it throughout the house. Even if it’s a small item it tells a story from one room to another.

Resources Ralph Vuolo Ralph Vuolo Designs 533 Pacific Street Stamford, CT 06902 203.658.8771 ralphvuolodesigns.com East Coast Home + Design

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Rings End: On Outdoor Paints and Stains

Arborcoat Solid Stain

W

hat kind of preparation needs to be done to a deck or other exterior before applying a paint or stain?

In the case of new wood exterior substrates, what needs to be determined is the look you are trying to achieve. For example, whether you want a toned translucent, semi-transparent, semi-solid or solid. Once that is determined, simply following the manufacturer’s label recommendations is all that is required. Most penetrating stains, i.e.; translucent, semi-transparent and semi-solid require one coat only, while most solids require 2 coats. Generally speaking, even new wood should be washed and will require a light sanding to ensure optimal results. Previously painted surfaces coated with translucents, semi-transparents and some semisolids usually require a complete removal of the aged coating system to ensure penetration and a uniform look. Solid stain on siding or decking can usually be recoated, as long as the previous coating is clean and sound. The same is true for latex house paints on the siding of the home. Trim paints need to also be clean and if glossy, sanded to aid in adhesion What projects do you see the most from customers/how would a customer determine what stain is best for the project?

The projects we see most often in our area are recoating siding and refinishing decks. Thinner coatings, i.e.; translucent, semi-transparent and semi-solid will have less longevity and require recoating sooner.

We recommend Benjamin Moore’s Arborcoat systems, whether it is a penetrating system or a solid stain.

What type of paint or stain would you recommend for coastal homes and why?

For solid stain or paint systems on exterior siding and trim, we recommend 100% acrylic latex such as Benjamin Moore Arborcoat latex stains or Aura exterior house paint because they have superior mildew resistance, color retention, gloss retention and permeability, to allow 28

Arborcoat Solid Stain

moisture from inside the home to pass through the film. They are also much more flexible than the alkyds of the past. While acrylics offer the above attributes in solid stain and latex house paint, we recommend Arborcoat’s alkyd formulations when using translucent, semitransparent and semi-solid finishes due to their superior penetrating capabilities.

You carry a wide range of Benjamin Moore products. What are some of the differences between the various Arborcoat stains that makes one kind preferable for a project over another?

What differentiates the various Arborcoat products is their opacity. Translucent and semi-transparent stains are penetrating/thinner stains, allowing more of the wood grain to show through. Semi-solid stains mask more of the wood grain while solid stains cover the wood grain completely. You can expect 4 or more years of service from a solid stain on horizontal surfaces and much longer on vertical surfaces. Translucent and semi-transparent stains in most cases will require yearly maintenance.

What are the best practices for maintenance and upkeep on exterior paint or deck stains?

Being that decks are horizontal surfaces, they can be challenging surfaces. Siding on the home is a vertical surface and therefore receives less punishment from the elements. A helpful tip for decking with our New England winters is to remove snow from the surface whenever possible. This will greatly increase the life of your coating system. It is important when the deck is first coated, regardless of the system, to ensure that all end-grains are properly painted. This will prevent the capillary action of water drawing into your decking.

Resource Rings End ringsend.com

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Arborcoat House: Oxford Brown Deck: Creekside Green

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Arborcoat Stain

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DESIGNERS PICKS

LINHERR HOLLINGSWORTH linherrhollingsworth.com Linherr Hollingsworth, LLC is a full scale residential design firm specializing in creating unpretentious yet, luxurious custom interiors as well as custom product. At LH LLC, both our team as well as the clients all seek the same high value of excellence, including a shared and steadfast regard for function, style, and quality. Linherr’s innate sense of style, attention to detail and years of experience in the industry have gained her firm a notable reputation and loyal following amongst clients and the design community at large. Whether it be designing a custom residential interior project or fabricating custom product (as featured in this article), Linherr and her team’s process is an artful one. Focusing on the subtle, yet sophisticated textures Linherr is known for, her newly launched Collection Bohème with Kravet Couture, offers a refreshing and unexpected point of view to today’s design world. Linherr’s free-spirited yet refined vibe reflects her love of play between dueling contrasts …. Simplicity with an edge and strength with an air of femininity, as shown here with some of her signature patterns in SandTropez, LinkedUp, Bijoux, TothePoint, Vertical Vibe and Wonky Key. Her eclectic mix of product creates an indoor/outdoor blend that is both refreshing and organic.

Knotty Bubbles Chandelier lindseyadelman.com

Sand

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Patrick Naggar Chair ralphpucci.com Bijoux

St. Bartz Coffee Table andriannashamarisinc.com

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Snaka Wacka Posts tuckerrobbins.com

James de Wulf Ping Pong Table jamesdewulf.com

Tendeza

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Raindrop Table vivianbeer.com

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SARAH KENNEDY DOLCE homeworksny.com Spring is a wonderful time to open your doors wide and let the fresh air in, literally AND figuratively. In Italian, the season is called “primavera” or first green. Taking a cue from Mother Nature herself, I think adding a dash of brightness to your interior can lift your mood the whole year through.

Serpent Sconce aretecollection.com I am lucky enough to call these gentlemen my friends and it is a consistent pleasure to see their collection grow. True artistry in its most pure and unique form – I love everything they come up with.

Flowers Coffee Table Book assouline.com Books – ALWAYS a good investment.

Bungalow 5 bungalow5.com Jewelry for your walls! The faceted “emeralds” on this Bungalow 5 mirror bring the idea of reflectivity to new levels.

Trellis Wallpaper pierrefrey.com Wallpaper is a real kingmaker. It utterly transforms a room. This is a classic trellis from the days of Dorothy Draper but with a vibrant green kick. An investment that will stand the test of time.

PS4 Console from Peter Sinnott and Sarah Kennedy Dolce for Chaddock chaddockhome.com The clean simple lines of this console draw you in and the lively acid green plaid knocks you out. The PS4 is a workhorse - it fits into so many interior landscapes. Bonus points: the console can be made in any of Chaddock’s in–line fabrics and leathers or in any custom fabrics. Imagination is your limit.

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Designers Guild designersguild.com A change of seasons is a perfect time to change your pillows. Its an inexpensive way to update a room and add color without making big adjustments.

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Paper Chinois Palais fschumacher.com I’m blushing because I am so in love with this wonderful shade of pink or rose.

Who wouldn’t love to see this fabulous wall paper panel Chinois Palais inspired by antique Chinese silk from Mary McDonald.

SHAWN DIAZ homeworksny.com

Taiuk Sisal Rose thibautdesign.com To be completely surrounded I by this beautiful lush I love Thibaut’s faux grass cloth on the ceiling. I especially like to do it on coffered ceilings.

I always feel that is neglected real estate.

Lingerie Chest currycodealers.com Speaking of candy finally dress for the part with gems from the collection La Vie Boheme. I am obsessed with this collection retrieved from Currey and Company

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Arden Lamp with Pantone Silvery Peony reverse painting and gold leaf trim currycodealers.com The soft glow of blush on all that enter the room would be enhanced by Currey and Co mpany

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KITCHENS + BATHS

At the Heart of Industry: KBIS and Coverings 2017 Story by Deborah Brannon

Industry shows can be absolutely vital to the creative growth and overall prosperity of any business—and that’s certainly true where the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and Coverings are concerned. Whether you’re a designer or a vendor, these shows can help meet your needs, inspire you and improve your business—not to mention give you an opportunity to network and make new friends.

KBIS takes place each January, with its 2017 and 2018 events occurring in sunny Orlando, FL. The show has come a long way in its 53 years—it started in 1964 with around 24 exhibitors and about 250 attendees, and in 2017 it had 596 exhibitors and tens of thousands of attendees. Managed by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), KBIS showcases the latest in industry designs, technology and products, and since 2014 it’s been part of Design & Construction Week with the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders’ Show. Along with direct access to manufacturers, attendees have the opportunity to personally review and compare materials across competitors. There are also demonstrations, interactive exhibits and occasionally even celebrity endorsements: Howie Mandel was there this year to talk about American Standard’s self-cleaning toilet.

Coverings is an independent trade show that focuses deeply and exclusively on tile and stone. This show also took place in Orlando this year, but will be held in Atlanta in 2018. For nearly 30 years, Coverings has been bringing together the best and newest trends and products in ceramic tile and natural stone; it also holds accredited seminars and provides live demonstrations for attendees. Furthermore, Coverings invests back into the industry by dedicating its proceeds to education, advocacy and more. If tile and stone are important to your work, Coverings is one annual event you don’t want to miss.

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TILE AMERICA: JAYME KEELING, VANESSA OLSEN, LANA CAMERA Jayme Keeling and Vanessa Olsen, design consultants with Tile America, both attended KBIS and report that it was an amazing show. (Jayme is the secretary of the Southern New England chapter of the NBKA, while Vanessa is its vice president of communications.) While Jayme found the floor map a bit challenging at times, she notes that everyone she encountered presenting on the floor was affable and generous with their time and explanations of products.

Vanessa was especially excited by BeachGlazz, a company inspired by Lightblocks and experienced in the commercial sector. “My favorite vendor product was by BeachGlazz,” says Vanessa. “We stopped at their booth and learned that they make solid surfaces and countertops. They have primarily worked commercially, and are starting to break the ice with residential and selling their slabs to fabricators. The material was, in fact, not glass but acrylic. It looks exactly like sea glass. The material is indestructible, yet easy to work with. It just looks awesome.“ “I especially loved the new technology arena,” Jayme adds. “It was interesting to see where our wireless technology is headed with home appliances.”

This includes shower systems that can be started with your phone.

Jayme attended Coverings as well, along with Lana Camera, the product manager of Tile America. “Coverings is always a must,” says Lana, explaining that it was a well-attended and important show with excellent representation from a variety of vendors. “Caesar Ceramics showcased a stunning, sleek, contemporary line with slight texture and a hint of shimmer. Lunada Bay Tile presented a new picket shape and dimensional ceramic in metallic.

StonePeak took ‘Best in Show’ with their fabulous display of thin porcelain slabs.”

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“The categories represented expanded on the current trends and took them to the next level,” Jayme continues. “Key trends included matte brass, extruded brick, picket shape, Art Deco, fabric texture and, of course, 2017’s Color of the Year, ‘Greenery,’ for a pop of color. One of my favorites was Art Deco; we saw intricate waterjet-cut designs in Calacatta marble with satin brass inlays, to go with the rising popularity of brushed gold fixtures.”

less than mind-blowing! Delta and Brizo have consistently stayed ahead of the competition by addressing the needs of the consumer with their new kitchen faucets and leak detection systems. Moen also introduced several new faucet lines with a more contemporary flair and their new “U” shower system that can be linked to your phone, allowing you to completely personalize your shower experience.”

BENDER PLUMBING SUPPLIES: MAX BENDER Max Bender’s attendance at KBIS was as carefully planned and executed as any Bender project, revolving around staying on the forward edge of the industry and his many business meetings. As the owner of Bender Plumbing Supplies, he spent his two days on the show floor laser-focused, negotiating deals while still finding enjoyment in discovering new products from established and emerging brands.

MARIA MATLUCK CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS: MARIA MATLUCK “It was a very informative show, and very well done,” says Maria Matluck, owner of the eponymous construction consultant firm, in recalling her experience at KBIS this year. “Some of the booths were over the top. For example, the Kohler booth was the size of a small football field, and it was all live. You could try 20 different rain head shower systems at the touch of a button.” (Kohler was kind enough to provide a plexiglass ceiling so attendees weren’t drenched from playing with their shower systems!) Maria loves attending KBIS, appreciating the edge it gives her in her business: not only does she get to meet manufacturers and examine their brand-new wares firsthand, but she can confidently share these fresh items with her clients.

Max is particularly looking forward to some new offerings from Kohler. At KBIS, he says, “Kohler introduced fashion-forward, high-quality tubs catering to the rapidly growing freestanding tub market.” Its new freestanding tubs embrace aesthetics from classical Rome to Shaker Americana to clean minimalism. Max was also enchanted by the new Amora vanity from Ronbow, particularly in navy with brass pulls, topped in white Carrara marble.

This seemingly minimal, compact vanity opens like a flower to offer a variety of storage options.

KLAFFS: AVA HUNTER Joe Passero, chairman of KLAFFS, had the pleasure of attending KBIS, where he admired the work of four main manufacturers: Kallista, Samuel Heath, Rohl and American Standard. One of the more interesting items he points out is American Standard’s new ActiClean toilet: the water-efficient toilet that cleans itself through a cartridge in the tank. He also highlights Kallista’s new One collection consoles—particularly a vanity beautifully designed by Laura Kirar—and the manufacturer’s gorgeous collaborations with Saint-Louis on its Per Se Descriptive and Script Decorative collections, which sport hand-painted enamel and crystal knobs. Joe’s other picks can be found in his “Cup o’ Joe” column on the KLAFFS website.

LouAnn Torres, general manager of tile and stone at KLAFFS, who attended Coverings, notes that while the factories were well represented, several of the more artistic tile manufacturers were missing this year. Her favorite products, she says, revolved mainly around “interesting waterjet patterns, using metal with marble—also dimensional tiles and a great deal of color.”

She also found herself impressed by the progress made in crafting porcelain tile to look like natural marble!

NAPLES PLUMBING STUDIO: LISA ROOSEVELT Lisa Roosevelt, president of Naples Plumbing Studio, had a great time at KBIS. Although the sprawl of the event over two buildings meant she didn’t get to see everything she would have liked, she found the evening events provided plenty of time for her to meet with manufacturers, ask questions and network. She notes that the wide variety of manufacturers in attendance was a good representation of the industry, with all the major brands present, along with several new to the U.S. market. She especially enjoyed the large interactive displays from household names such as Kohler, Delta, Moen and others.

“Of all the booths we visited, Delta and Brizo were the most impressive, with a full staff able to demonstrate the products and answer questions,” says Lisa. “Delta also went one step further, scheduling appointments for personalized tours. The new Delta designs and technologies were nothing

Maria finds herself excited by the trend towards bronze and gold (including rose gold) in hardware, lighting and bath fixtures, such as those modeled

by Kohler’s faucets. She notes how welcome it is to include such sparkle in fresh bathroom and kitchen designs. Her favorite products from KBIS 2017 include a forthcoming Dacor refrigerator resplendent in a black graphite finish. In describing other new Dacor models, she says, “The industry is integrating technology into many everyday appliances. For example, some refrigerators have a camera inside them, enabling you to access them from your smartphone so you can see if you need anything while you are at the grocery store.” Definitely a modern-day marvel!

NEW CANAAN KITCHENS: REBECCA REYNOLDS Rebecca Reynolds, owner of New Canaan Kitchens, attended KBIS—which she considers an imperative for anyone in the kitchen and bath business.

“Today the show is as important for keeping up with the latest products, emerging trends and technology as it is for being involved in social media events, brand collaborations, networking and face time to continue important vendor relationships,” Rebecca says. She believes that KBIS’s positive growth is both a reflection of and a beacon for the industry’s overall health.

Rebecca considers KBIS a fantastic time to catch up with industry friends and vendor partners, especially if the venue city is a bit of a destination.

“I love to seek out new, unique, small or artisan vendors who may be a new business or showing for the first time,” Rebecca says when asked about favorite products or trends at the show. “It’s not only fun, but it’s essential given today’s competitive business environment and online competition.

One of my favorite resources at KBIS is Thompson Traders, a company from Greensboro, NC, that produces the most stunning kitchen and bath metal artisanal sinks, custom range hoods and freestanding soaking tubs.

For each market I anticipate being wowed by the new creations of the founder, designer and matriarch of the family business. Never am I disappointed.”

Clearly, KBIS and Coverings are two vibrant and vital trade shows showcasing the heart of their respective industries—and driving the bath and kitchen, tile and stone industries forward. While these observations from our designer and vendor friends have provided a peek into these events, if you’re a design professional you may wish to do your business a favor and find a way to attend these exceptional shows.

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OUTDOOR SPACES

Significant Homes

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hen Matt and Whit Matthews of Significant Homes, LLC built a stunning 15,000-square-foot Georgian-style house on a beautiful piece of property near the heart of downtown Greenwich, CT, in the late 1990s, the original pool house remained on the property. After several years, the owners wanted to update the original Postmodern pool house to make it more functional and to match the style of the main house.

Before Significant Homes, LLC could start building, though, it needed to demolish the old pool house without disrupting any of the existing property and immaculate landscaping. This meant the firm couldn’t use the heavy equipment typically involved in demolishing a building. “We actually demo’ed it by hand because we had to have such a light touch on the property,” says the builder’s co-owner, Matt Matthews. Then his team used gas-powered wheelbarrows to haul the materials off the prop-

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erty using a narrow, back driveway through the woods. All the materials to build the new pool house had to be lugged in on the same path as well. In addition to transporting the materials in and out by hand, the construction team needed to do the work over the winter so it would be ready for use the next spring. The crew at Significant Homes, LLC tented and heated the construction area so all the masonry work could be done in the proper temperatures, even though the outside temperatures were freezing.

The new pool house, designed by architect Douglas Vanderhorn, who also did the main house, was planned to look traditional, but also have a contemporary flair. It also needed to be made in such a way that it would not exceed the FAR (Floor Area Ratio) limits on the property. Vanderhorn accomplished this by designing a structure that was open on three sides. Whit Matthews says the challenge in working with an open building like this is trying to create a space that still feels like its own building, while keeping three sides open. “We brought all the features you’d

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see in an enclosed building and bought outdoor, friendly four-season furniture, TV, and appliances, so you’d have everything available in this open structure that you’d have in an enclosed structure,” Whit explains.

The owners of Significant Homes, LLC say the sheer size of the pool house makes it stand out from others—and, indeed, it has won several awards. “You don’t see very many freestanding pool pavilions that are as aesthetically pleasing as this one, with the roof and brick arches,” says Matt. “It is the scale of the building that makes it feel and look important.” The fine materials also add to the feel of grandeur of the building. The roof is made of Vermont green slate with snow guards to protect the surrounding landscaping from large sheets of falling snow.

There are beautiful limestone key blocks in the 12-foot arches, and a lovely brick herringbone pattern is in the kitchen.

Since it sits between the pool and the tennis courts, the pool house also doubles as a tennis pavilion. Whit says the clients wanted a space that could be utilized for both areas, and since the sides are open, they are

able to look at either venue, depending on what is happening in each area. Whit says the team also added a fire pit nearby, which “adds an additional outdoor feature to help celebrate the beautiful grounds on the property, and invite more outdoor activity.”

Matt and Whit Matthews note that the inspiration for the pool house was fine classic architecture that is period-related with a contemporary flair on the inside. The completed project, they say, is everything their client was looking for in the new building.

Significant Homes Matt Matthews Whit Matthews 199 Elm Street New Canaan, CT 06840 203.966.5700 significanthomesllc.com.com East Coast Home + Design

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Lisa Davenport Designs

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estled in the historic South End of Boston is a mid-19th-century brick row house that is spilling with character and charm, both inside and out. The outdoor space is a beautiful courtyard, serene and private. “When you’re in this courtyard, you’d never know you’re just two miles from the heart of the city. It’s an oasis,” says designer Lisa Davenport of Lisa Davenport Designs. She created this peaceful refuge for her semiretired clients as a getaway from the busy city life of Boston.

Davenport says the clients wanted a gathering space with outdoor dining for get-togethers with family and friends, as well as additional storage for their gardening tools. They also sought to incorporate elements from an Englishstyle garden and disguise a large brick wall from their neighbor’s addition. To accomplish this, Davenport created a three-tiered courtyard of tranquility for her clients. On the second tier, she designed a classic New England entry door, complete with a brass door knocker and antique reproduction light. But this entrance isn’t all it appears to be. “Callers can knock until the sun goes down, but they will never receive a response!” says Davenport. “Why? This door, along with the windows and separate entry, are all false, creating a façade to finish the large brick wall of the adjacent property’s 1970s addition.”

The real purpose of the entry is a potting shed. To make it look like it was part

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of the original design, the contractor painstakingly searched for and found reclaimed bricks to match the existing wall and slate for the roof shed. The lowest tier of the stunning space is a slate and brick patio area used for gathering, grilling and dining. The third tier is the actual entrance to the courtyard area. It has a spectacular arched wooden gate and circular stone pattern laid out with brick and slate, like the first tier.

Davenport says this project gave her a chance to share one of her passions, “my love for breathing new life into old materials. Many elements of this project were reclaimed materials.” She loves design because she gets to bring joy to other people, and she loves the emotion experienced when a project turns out perfectly. “Getting to know my clients firsthand, teaching and showing them new products and ideas, and the emotional satisfaction I get when a client is elated with how their project has come to life…it’s like Christmas whenever I complete a project!”

Lisa Davenport Lisa Davenport Designs 6 Main Street Unit F Durham, CT 06422 860.316.5718 lisadavenportdesigns.com

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Hoffman Landscapes

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hen a couple with a growing New Canaan family came to Hoffman Landscapes, Inc. of Wilton, CT seeking to create ‘a resort at home’, the challenges were considerable. Safety for the children was of course, paramount for the homeowners and at the same time they wanted a space that was practical as well as beautiful.

In designing the space, Brian Cossari, a licensed landscape architect with Hoffman, had several issues to contend with, not the least was the scale of the house itself. The same Connecticut fieldstone façade of the home was used in the masonry walls surrounding the pool, creating a courtyard effect. The seating walls and step treads were capped with imported Chinese green granite which compliments the pool and spa coping. Finally, stone arches were introduced underneath the deck to create portal doorways. Planting beds between the pool and the home soften the hardscapes.

The homeowners were keen to select patio stone that wouldn’t be hot under bare feet. To achieve this goal, aquastone quartzite was used for the pool terrace and paths. Workers laid out stone samples in the sun and then shot them with an infrared thermometer to determine which stones had the greatest heat gain; those were then eliminated from consideration. Once selected, stones were laid out in a diamond pattern for maximum dramatic effect.

For the pool, a tan pebble finish was applied which provides a beachy look and imparts a soothing green hue to the water.

Privacy is always a concern when creating an entertainment/recreational space of this a magnitude and the abutting neighbor property was quite close to the pool environment. To establish a natural privacy ‘wall’, beech trees were selected to create a privacy hedge. Because its leaves are dormant, staying on the trees in winter, this hedge will provide privacy year- round. To create additional drama, the hedge is up lit at night.

For ornamental plantings, native plants were chosen for environmentally sensitive sections (the property also has a nearby pond and watercourse). A mix of flowering perennials –including phlox, catmint, knock out roses and sedum--and shrubs such as hydrangea and rose of sharon were planted to enhance the pool area. The heights of the plants were carefully considered to preserve the view of the adjacent pond in the rear yard.

While the summer months are the most active in this home, the beauty of the overall space provides year- round enjoyment and privacy for this large and energetic family.

Hoffman Landscapes, Inc. hoffmanlandscapes.com East Coast Home + Design

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Ask the Experts

2017 Fifth Annual Builders + Architects Roundtable Discussion Roundtable.indd 40

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CONNECTICUT...

LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT. SO THEY’RE LEAVING. NOT GOOD.

Yes, it is a slightly inflammatory headline. But if I’d said the future of Connecticut for the next 50 years has everything to do with zoning regulations and land use approvals, would you have even read this far?

Story by Susan Heller | Photography by Neil Landino

Chris Quinn and Foster Lyons

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WHO ARE YOU? HOW COULD THIS AFFECT YOU? WHAT CAN BE DONE? FIRST UP: WHO ARE YOU? Do you work in Connecticut? Are you a retailer here? Do you have a home in any of the 169 towns? Are you a Millennial, a Boomer, do you own or work in any of these businesses in Connecticut?

Professionals: Surveyor Architect Civil Engineer Structural Engineers General Contractor Materials Suppliers: Lumber & Trim Concrete Windows Roofing Doors Drywall Paint Door and Cabinet Hardware Plumbing Fixtures Lighting Fixtures Electrical Materials Tile Materials Appliances Nursery Subcontractors: Demolition Excavator / Sewerage Connections or Septic / Stormwater Management Foundation Framer / Window Installation / Exterior Trim Structural Steel Roofer Plumber Electrician Mechanical HVAC Wood Flooring Tile Installation Shower Glass Insulation Drywall Interior Trim Millwork and Cabinetry Stairs and Rails Painting Landscape Labor and Cleaning Rubbish Removal Because, if you count yourself among any of those listed above, the combination of zoning and land use issues will have a very direct impact on your world. The estimate is that for every house not built, we 42

lose 100 jobs, not including businesses that serve construction sites like food trucks and temporary toilets, or the loss of retail commerce.

That, combined with the other estimate of 25,000 people leaving Connecticut every year has a lot of people very worried.

I’ve covered four out of the last five Builders & Architects Roundtables and this one was by far, the quietest. The most subdued. I might even say ominous insofar as the subject matter under discussion is concerned. It’s about the collision of two major worlds. WHAT WAS: Baby Boomers creating beloved homesteads, and WHAT’S EVOLVING: the Millennials who are now “The Majority” and their desire for minimalism.

Think about how the world of the Baby Boomers played out in the post-war era. Everybody headed for the suburbs and the cities were faced with blight. The same thing is happening today only in reverse and at what some might call, warp speed.

CHRIS PAGLIARO: “We are living through history – a changed clientele that as mature business professionals, we don’t quite understand yet. That does not bode well for our business. The Millennial is nothing like we can relate to in our lifetime. They would rather walk to a train than have 2 acres and a 3-car garage. They want to live in town. They would rather hike on a Saturday than mow a lawn. We used fax machines, they think email is slow and antiquated! Our world is changing before our eyes, and all of us – including towns – need to keep up.”

So what is the fly in the ointment?

169 towns, 169 different Zoning Boards each with different regulations and sensibilities about how to best preserve the character of their town and accommodate (or not) the influx of future generations. Those who serve on zoning commissions are either volunteers or appointees. Their terms run from 2 to 4 years, but multiple backto-back participation is not uncommon. Serving on various boards and commissions within the town planning environment affords the opportunity for an individual to exert influence over a wide range of issues for an extended period of time. Outside of possible political machinations, most people are doing what they consider their civic duty, and for the most part, are not professionals involved in the housing industry; which is both good and bad given the complexity and technicality of the issues they must deal with. That said, consider the following about the regulatory environment before the 2008 Recession hit: ROB SANDERS: “During the go-go years, say the mid-2000’s, I can say there was almost an active effort to retard development through regulation because people were feeling their community character and values were being challenged, things were moving too quickly. So what happened was that in the name of community preservation, the bar and consequently the cost for meeting that bar, was raised for individual home owners.”

Now as so many times in our history, the pace of change has turned on a demographic; that of the Millennials (or Gen Y: 1977 to 1995) who are the largest target market for the foreseeable future. Their preferred life-style (and that of Gen X: 1965 to 1976 and Gen Z: 1996

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Stuart Disston and Mac Patterson

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Ira Grandberg and Howard Lathrop

It’s about the collision of two major worlds. WHAT WAS: Baby Boomers creating beloved homesteads.

WHAT’S EVOLVING: The Millennials who are now The Majority and their desire for minimalism. and later) has everything to do with multi-family housing developments along with the social interaction and direct access to shopping that is attracted to those neighborhoods.

are booming in places like Norwalk and Stamford. However, according to one architect, “It is suicide for single family home builders who are dealing with outdated regulatory environments.”

All over the country, builders and developers are creating a world of town houses, condos, apartment buildings, and single-family housing neighborhoods, each of which is focused around a Downtown. Restaurants, coffee shops, markets, parks, movie houses, clothing stores, mass transportation, all within easy walking distance. It isn’t just the Millennials who are flocking to these mini-Meccas featuring a more integrated, social life style.

HOW COULD THIS AFFECT YOU? Part of the issue for Fairfield County is that basic zoning regulations were written 50 years ago. Almost every new house or development has builders and architects undergoing multiple meetings with a myriad of departments and agencies, none of which are overseen by a coordinating body. An excellent recipe for chaos; multiple agencies saying yea or nay without ever talking to one another, issuing contradictory rulings, resulting in more meetings in an attempt to untie the Gordian knot. Zoning boards are afraid to break precedent even when simple common sense tells them a variance should be granted, because it would open the floodgates to every petitioner thereafter. So the process is ridiculously long, complicated, and expensive.

Remember the old adages that Florida is for the elderly, Arizona attracts rich retirees, and California was hippie and surfer heaven?

Think again. Gorgeous club houses, pools, golf courses, large-screen TV viewing rooms, screened-in pavilions with backgammon boards, chess, and billiard tables are standard amenities in addition to all of the life-style elements cited above often at much more realistic price points. The ease of living is actually creating diverse communities: people from their early 20’s to those in their 80’s, are reimagining life in the “village” reborn and refitted with the technologies of today.

In our part of the world, this seismic shift in life-style is translating to a major advantage for cities as multi-family housing developments 44

Case in point: a typical project, meaning it was not a high-end house; involved a home that was to be 4,820 square feet. There were no major issues, but they had to go through the Zoning Board of Appeals. It took 7 months and $186,000 before they received a simple site plan approval. That’s 92% of the cost of an average home in the United States, before a single shovel hit the dirt. What is the average cost of a home in the U.S.? $202,000, all in.

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Ourdoor

Choice® selection provides an outstanding display of deep blue flowers through early fall, attracting pollinators of all types. The compact form of this sun-loving shrub mixes well with perennials and grasses.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Strawberry Sundae™’ (Dwarf Panicle Hydrangea): In coastal regions, our obsession with hydrangeas is hard to deny.

Although not our first choice when selecting for dry sites, if you must have some hydrangeas in your xeriscape, the panicle form is most appropriate. Strawberry Sundae is a First Editions® Plant, its flowers beginning mid-summer as a creamy white, and transitioning to shades of deep pink. It is suitable for drying or fresh arrangements.

Lavandula x intermedia ‘Phenomenal’ (Lavender): For the gardener who has struggled with overwintering lavender in New England, this recent introduction tolerates both extreme heat and humidity. The evArnold Karp and Robin Carroll ergreen silver foliage of this herb is deer-resistant; its prolific fragrant SCOTT HOBBS: flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

“When the regulatory process takes 6 months to a year, and is uncertain in terms of results, a lot of the fun goes outSky’ of it for client Panicum virgatum Prairie Winds® ‘Cheyenne (RedtheSwitch and for the architect.

Sometimes I can’t even break ground for year Grass): This Proven Winners® nativar begins the season with blueto 18 months waiting for the various approval processes.

If we could green foliage that transitions to a reddish purple in late summer. A figure outat we’d have better worth morewell money of midsizethat grass almost three feet houses, in height, it works in aand mixed greater value, but because of the regulatory environment people are border with perennials and shrubs, as well as an accent plant in conwalking away.” tainer gardens.

STUART DISSTON: Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’ (Stonecrop): Although only a few inches “I have a client who is about to walk away from an 8 million dollar

Ourdoor Spaces.indd Roundtable.indd 45 41

project of thesedum 2 yearprovides approvalyear-round process – his jobThe situation has tall, thisbecause groundcover color. mid-sumchanged.

Two years, that’s a long time.” mer yellow flowers pale in comparison with its foliage, which transitions from chartreuse in spring to shades of orange and red in the fall.

It works well in the landscape as well as in containers and rock gardens.

MATT KOLK: “Let me asktrilobum a question?

Does the(American timing forCranberrybush): the process differ for Viburnum ‘Wentworth’ A large people building versus renovating?” shrub, this American Beauties Native Plants® selection produces white spring flowers that attract butterflies. In late summer, the bright red A chorus of voices sounded mostand of its which agreedredthat berries provide food for songbirds, stunning fall renovation foliage is a could be the most arduous process because reconciling a structure great alternative to the invasive burning bush shrubs. that met code when originally built now faces major uphill battles, sometimes insurmountable.

That leaves the architect and These are just a few of the many plants that,not onceonly established, can better builder, but the buyer and seller in a financial lurch. handle dry conditions. With our ever-changing weather patterns, it is important to make water-wise decisions that reduce our impact on the ANN SELLARS: environment while still creating aesthetically pleasing landscapes.

“This is not just about Millennials. This is also about the regulatory process Resource itself and people wanting to renovate. I explain the whole approval process to clients and their reaction? “WHOA!” Then I get an email, and this has happened Eva Chiamulera, ASLA, PLA three times in the past four months. “We decided to bag this project.”

Austin Ganim Landscape Design, LLC 320 Kings Highway Cutoff HOWARD LATHROP: Fairfield, CT 06824 “I was on the 203.333.2003 Westport Planning & Zoning Commission for 8 years.

We tried desperately to change the regulations, make it easier, and AustinGanimLandscapeDesign.com we did improve it, but it’s still terrible. Clients have said, “We want to build or renovate but we don’t want to go through the Westport

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Rich Rosano, Rob Sanders and Ross Teifenthaler

I explain the whole zoning approval process and their reaction “WHOA!” Then I get an email, and this has happened three times in the last four months.“We decided to bag this project.”

Brenda Costantini and Brian MacDonald

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Artistic Tile

as well as the hope of a story that is not yet over—that creation and life continue. I’d like to acknowledge my collaborators and friends, Corey Grant Tippin and Kim Nelson, who have brought a whole lot ARTISTICTILE.COM of beauty into this world.”

In showcasing their creativity and compassion is this powerful window display project, these top designers each offer a unique design but all convey the same message: spread the word, raise awareness and promote care, compassion and hope in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

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Alberto guides Antonino Buzzetta us through his treasure trove of antiqueAntonino paintings on reverse Antonino Buzzetta Buzzetta Design glass; aFlatiron collection of lions (the symbol of Venice); ancient boxes, some as 39 W 14th Street #504 PUZZLE CHANDELIER beautiful the inside the outside; furniture; glass; and, 32 E. 22nd New York,paintings; NY 10011 Inspired byonaStreet house of as cards, our Puzzle Chandelier is made ofNew course, chandeliers (this is Venice, all). I’ve always been fond of sheets of solid brass layered into after a dynamic York, NY 10010 917.971.0571 The clients wanted an open, free-flowing house composition. that would take adThe Architectural Modernist feel isand warmed by the luminous of212.334.8330 Venetian Murano chandeliers, now I’mup convinced that antique antoninobuzzetta.com Design by Sara Baldwin for New Ravenna, The Aurelia fromGault Sam vantage ofyour a dramatic waterside location ona circular a cove. Sellars Lathrop metal.

Chandelier above table, like is theHang way to go.isPuzzle Delft Collection a modern American interpretation of a cenArchitects and Landscape Architects were fortunate to colourArtemis Nixon, or in a here fabulous Carmina turies oldRoth familiar craft, . Shown isCarmina a foyer. hand Roth cut jewel glass laborate on this classic modern home. jonathanadler.com David Rachtian isLapis, a Venetian ofLolite, partialMica, Persian descent on hisand father’s hassle.”

32 East Putnam Avenue Carmiña Roth Interiors mosia shown in Lazuli, Absolute White erie’s team decided to update them to an off-white finish.

Doing so side.

At hisCT shop we find antique Persian rugs from Tabriz, Kashan, Greenwich, 06830 203.987.5961 Blue Spinel. not onlyHoward helped but also offered the enduring look While Lathrop ofrooms Sellars Lathrop provided the overall dePhoto credit: lighten Chuan the Bing. imagesbychuan.com Isfahan and China, around which one could easily build a room. This CHRIS PAGLIARO: 203.422.0990 carminarothinteriors.com jamieshop.com that couple for wasthe seeking. helped provide a sense of sign the direction housePlus, and the thecolor site, he knew it was important Ibiza Collection thoughtfully arrangedapplicable and packed storeLounge also features glassThis is particularly for antique the Millennials because they uniformity home. from to bring in within Tara M.the Vincenta Artemis, a firm known for its do exrestorationhardware.com ware, silverware, jewelry and out important, sought-after Jewish pieces. not have the patience to wait the development of a project.

They Connie Cooper Connie Cooper pertise in coastal plants and sensitive ecological locations.

Howard grays,catches whites,mytaupes silver, which “really makes decorated the artWhat eyeapartment areand paperweights from the 1950s, would rather rent thanresults—a invest atimeless home that theythat don’t 396 Roadwere East an Connie Cooper The couple thrilled with the home is saysPost he and Tara “worked collaboratively toinmeld theDesigns interior of the work stand out nicely,” she says. with mythological creatures. know when it will be ready or how much it will cost.

They don’t want Westport, CT 06880 58 High Point Road just as with welcoming to their kids as to their adult guests. house the exterior.” to hear, “Public hearing, appeals periods,Westport, Health CT Department 203.221.3117 06880 review, White and was Chiara also integrated into sleeker modern powder Orseola walk me back to the where the tour began, 5-6 weeks for a building permit and then 10 months tointerplay aand yearI am to 203.256.9183 “Hedgerows and stone walls work together to formits thefixtures room, which was long and narrow, and needed toofI pleasantly surprised to find myself in familiar surroundings.

Then build.”

They want answers, deadlines, and an end-game result of Caleb Anderson conniecooperdesigns.com INTERIOR DESIGNER planes and solids that create the designthat aesthetic,” he The palbe small and modern.

Laracircle, believes aresays. important realize we havefinancial made a impact.” large and theywhites have given me a lesson planning and D & D Building Valerie etteuse ofGrant hardscape materials is limited to washed rock, in smaller rooms thatriver have no narrow wininto getting around Venice, too.and dark rooms Suite 1519 Caleb Anderson Valerie Grant Interiors concrete pavers, Ipe wood deck tiles and native stone outcropping. dows or don’t get much light. In this case, Lara “didn’t want CHUCK HILTON: 979 ThirdTuck Avenue Drake / Anderson 14 Friar Circle Retaining walls are natural concrete matching the pavers.

A native to clutter the wall artwork,” she to says, “soa Leaving Venice islong like empty parting with with aagencies lover; I and daydream linger “The problem is there are so many so many interest New York, NY 10022 67atIrving Place, 12th Floor Summit, NJ 07901 stone wall runs adjacent to the road and the parking area. instead I chose a delicately patterned silver-white wallpaper little longer before we’re returning to reality.

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Wecan have a 212.752.5544 New York can NY 10003 917.921.1916 to fill the wall withsomething a bit of shimmer and tons of interest.” comfort ina bringing backagency, home—a beautiful lion, tree, box, historian, wetlands agency, coastal zoning, building, 212.754.3099 valeriegrantinteriors.com Tara white, provided a clean, landscape that keeps fits thethe architecture and The silver andsimple grayLuigi color scheme small room chandelier, a commissioned Bevilacqua fabric all forjust that very spebiologist, structural engineer, lighting consultant, to getI were apMichael Herold drakeanderson.com spectacular waterfront setting.

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Unless clients insist, she tries to steer them away osborneandlittle.com book. colors Linda has selected are the multiple downtown to attract new residents and/or allowing hous142 East 73rd Street mydesignermichael.com A stunning hand-wrought base is topped zincdoor.com into the house, all while becoming part of the shoreline.

To achieve following: 27056-002 Surf, 27059-002 Surf,for 27058-002 from white fabrics on upholstered items, obvious practiThe Antiques &with Co ing toDiva be built. bucolic setting is what love New York, NY 10021 circular tempered glass.

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People, just setting. decide 203.550.2264 the native shoreline vegetation and enhance the natural cove at resisting stains and dirt. spring, they remind me of the water” christopherguy.com antiquesdiva.com to hop over the border Zanzibar and moveTicking to Westchester.

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Bob Tucker, Chris Pagliaro and Nick Sajda

Chuck Hilton and Scott Hobbs

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accessible downtowns, and importantly, a streamlined process for planning and zoning. Case in point; Armonk, NY. They have a specific meeting cycle where representatives from each of the boards sit around a table. Building drawings are presented, everybody weighs in, questions are answered, approvals are granted.

Some builders talked about multiple projects being held up until expensive town feasibility studies are completed, others were begging for feasibility studies because there is a “wild west” mentality in towns that are losing people so that planning and zoning will approve anything.

The question arises, wouldn’t it make sense to have at least one professional; builder, architect or engineer on every planning and zoning committee so that the complexity and real-world consequences could be made clear?

ARNOLD KARP: “We’re lucky in New Canaan, we have somebody who has an architectural background and helps the other commissioners understand the technicalities of whatever request or variance is being considered.”

But that begs the question for the other 168 towns; where would the funds come from to pay a professional to sit on a volunteer board?

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Ann Sellars

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Scott Hobbs and Bob Tucker

There’s an interesting question here, can you legislate good design? This goes back to zoning. Look at Darien – with purposeful, thoughtful design, the town is getting a buzz.

BOB TUCKER: “Change is very hard. Most of the communities we work in create their own difficulties when they take everything and make it non-conforming. The process to address that is 6 to 7 months. Part of the problem is the smaller towns can’t afford the planner to do the planning. They face a major struggle when a big developer comes in and they’re worried it will destroy their town.”

HOWARD LATHROP: “If Connecticut doesn’t do something about transportation, it’s going to kill itself. More people, young people, want to live downtown so they can walk someplace.”

ROB SANDERS: “There’s an interesting question here, can you legislate good design?

This goes back to zoning. Look at Darien – with purposeful, thoughtful design, the town is getting a buzz. Hey, this is great, we can go hang out and have coffee, see a movie, they’ve made the Darien Theater a nice experience, and there’s a little arcade you can walk through, tables outside for dinner. This is what people want.”

WHAT CAN BE DONE? Possible solutions to this crazy-quilt pastiche of planning for disparate locations? Towns must become proactive rather than reactive or risk losing the very thing that makes them unique, the people who live there. Clearly, regional planning with a focus on highways and mass transit as well as an update of antiquated zoning laws that addresses the present and the next 50 years has got to happen. If it doesn’t, the steady bleed of people leaving the state will turn into a hemorrhage.

Where will the money (and the leadership) for such sweeping change come from? Good question.

A final point is one you will hear echoed by every town council and commuter in Connecticut: 50

And I would add to that comment, so they can take a train to work in Norwalk, Stamford or New York City.

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Foster Lyons and Ira Grandberg

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Stuart Disston

Brenda Costantini and David LaPierre

Scott Hobbs and Bill Charney

Cate Teifenthaler, Bill Charney and Nicole Charney

Matt Kolk and Foster Lyons

Sam Gault, Mac Patterson and Guest

Brian MacDonald and Chuck Hilton

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Joe Marotta and David LaPierre

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RESOURCES Austin Patterson Disston Mac Patterson Stuart Disston 376 Pequot Avenue PO Box 61 Southport CT 06890 203.255.4031 apdarchitects.com Ben Krupinski Builders Chris Quinn 13 Arcadia Rd Ste 11-13 Old Greenwich, CT 06870 203.990.0633 bkbuilder.com Brindisi & Yaroscak Brenda Costantini 1082 Post Road Darien, Connecticut 06820 203.656.1948 brindisiandyaroscak.com Charles Hilton Architects Charles Hilton Foster Lyons 170 Mason Street Greenwich, CT 06830 203 489-3800 hiltonarchitects.com Davenport Contracting Brian MacDonald 78 Harvard Avenue Stamford, CT 06902 203.324.6308 davenportcontracting.com

Gault Stone Sam Gault 11 Ferry Lane West Westport, CT 06880 203.227.5181 gaultstone.com Grandberg & Associates Architects Ira Grandberg 117 East Main Street Mount Kisco NY 10549 914.242.0033 grandbergarchitects.com Hemingway Construction Michael Sciarretta Doug Horn 115 Mason Street Greenwich, CT 06830 203.625.0566 hemingwayconstruction.com

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Huestis Tucker Architects Bob Tucker 15 Research Drive, Suite 5 Woodbridge CT 06525 203.248.1007 huestistucker.com Hobbs Inc Scott Hobbs 27 Grove Street New Canaan, CT 06840 203.966.0726 hobbsinc.com Karp Associates Arnold Karp Robin Carroll 34 Elm Street New Canaan, CT 06840 203.972.3366 karpassociatesinc.com

Pagliaro Bartels Sajda Architects Chris Pagliaro Nick Sajda 3 Pine Street Norwalk, CT 06854 203.838.5517 pbs-archs.com

Randy Herbertson and Meredith Donaher

The venue for the 5th Annual East Coast Home+ Design Roundtable was a fabulous space that used to be part of the original Westport Post Office and now goes by the name of TVB. They’re a marketing and branding company with serious street cred and a core connection to Sam Gault of Gault Stone. This year, Randy Herbertson, Principal and Chief Creative Strategist, offered his digs for the event.

203.212.3461 thevisualbrand.com

Rob Sanders Architects Rob Sanders 436 Danbury Road Wilton, CT 06897 203.761.0144 rsarchct.com RR Builders Rich Rosano 5 Elm Street New Canaan, CT 06840 203.972.6100 rrbuilders.com Sellars Lathrop Architects Anne Sellars Howard Lathrop 1 Kings Highway North Westport, CT 06880 203.222.0229 sellarslathrop.com Tiefenthaler Ross Tiefenthaler 314 Wilson Avenur Norwalk, CT 06854 203.857.0055 tiefenthaler.com

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Style Overhaul Antique and Modern Mix in New Jersey Story by Jessica Rivest | Photography by Peter Rymwid

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V The living room is the perfect blend of treasured antique pieces the clients love and new pieces to complete their redesign.

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alerie Grant of Valerie Grant Interiors prides herself on customizing and tailoring her designs to the desires of each individual client. Her work with this New Jersey family is a perfect example.

The homeowners’ changing style and their kids becoming teenagers made the clients realize that functionality trumps formality. “The clients wanted a home that felt more comfortable and inviting—something they could enjoy with their kids and reflected their own personal style,” says Valerie. So they planned a redesign of their too-formal home to something with a more modern feel that was authentic to how they really lived with two teenagers in the house.

“Often, when a young couple sets out to decorate their new home, they feel the need for it to seem ‘grown-up,’ so they gravitate toward a very formal or traditional look,” says Valerie. “Once they live there for a few years and their children get a little older, they realize that ‘grown-up’ can include a whole spectrum of looks, and they embark on a redesign.” She worked with the couple to redesign the entire home, including two home offices and the teenagers’ hangout room, mixing their existing traditional pieces with more modern ones to create a beautiful effect.

The project didn’t start as a whole house redesign, but quickly evolved into that. “The couple originally hired me to update the

living room and dining room,” Valerie recalls, “but once they started to see how the look of their home was evolving, they wanted the remaining rooms to feel like they were part of the same home, with a more modern look. Overall, the project took 12 months to complete.” A whole house redesign is a daunting task, but Valerie used her years of design experience to meet the challenge. She and the clients went room by room to create the updated look they were striving for, and Valerie says the project went off without a hitch. “There were no disagreements with the clients,” she says. “They were incredibly easygoing and trusting throughout the process.”

Valerie’s design process started in the dining room, where she mixed some modern pieces among the gorgeous antiques to create a stunning blend of styles. The clients wanted to keep the existing dining table and chairs, antique cabinet and amazing chandelier.

To update the room, Valerie added beautiful color and interest to the walls by using a Venetian plaster with a waxed topcoat to make them really stand out. She used a softened metallic two-color glaze on the ceiling to create a unique look and bring focus to the chandelier. She added an updated the server and a more modern mirror. The updated drapery in a modern pattern and new rug help pull together all the elements and blend the traditional and modern pieces.

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or glaze on the ceiling to continue the flow from the dining room. She also added a printed grasscloth on the walls. Next was the mantel design and the trim details in the room. Valerie says she updated the mantel to better reflect the clients’ style, and worked with them to scale back the trim details so every piece in the room fit with the overall design feel and look they wanted. “The room is a perfect blend of the antique pieces they treasured and new pieces to modernize the look,� says Valerie. She reupholstered some pieces of furniture to make them fit better with the new design and update their appearance. A dramatic ceiling fixture and beautiful original painting on canvas by renowned street artist Retna add a little flair and are great focal points in the room.

The sitting room already featured eye-catching built-ins, which Valerie complemented with a modern turquoise grasscloth on the walls. The clients wanted to keep the stunning ceiling fixture

and coffee table in this room, so Valerie worked with those pieces and added a new sofa, chairs, side table, rug and window treatments to complement them. She chose the pieces so that the sitting room felt like an extension of the living room. To add a special custom detail to the sitting room, the ceiling was stenciled using a varnish tinted with mica powders for an iridescent look.

The foyer was also updated with modern, subtle graphic wallpaper and a complementing patterned rug. In this area, the clients wanted to keep the bench and demilune they loved, so Valerie added a large, beautiful, modern mirror to create the modernized look the clients were looking for.

The kitchen had recently been renovated, but still needed some work to make it fit with the redesign of the home. Valerie updated the breakfast table by refinishing the top to give it a two-tone look; she also added new chairs and a dramatic lantern light fixEast Coast Home + Design

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ture above the table. The details of the lantern make it the focal point of the room: its interior is painted to match the ceiling, which is a gorgeous metallic Venetian plaster in a beautiful pale blue.

The home features “his and her” offices, which were included in the redesign. For “his” office, Valerie kept all the original, handsome built-ins and furniture, but reupholstered the chairs to update the room. She changed the window treatments to one with a modern pattern that complements and does not compete with the beautiful original artwork by renowned street artists Faile and Shepard Fairey. She also customized the ceiling by creating a modern interpretation of a tin ceiling, using a metallic glaze and a custom-cut stencil to create the unique look. “Her” office got an overhaul of the furnishings to update the look. Valerie kept the original wallpaper, but painted the paneling and trim in a Fine Paints of Europe high-gloss charcoal finish. Modernized the existing window treatments and added a new rug bring the look of the office redesign full circle.

The couple’s two teenaged kids needed their space to be updated as well. Originally the room featured built-ins with a desk incorporated into the design, but that didn’t fit with what the 64

teenagers wanted for their space. “This room was probably the biggest challenge,” says Valerie. “Now that the kids were older, they wanted a room they could hang out in with their friends.”

To provide the teens with a cool yet sophisticated space, Valerie kept the two tall shelving units on either side of the built-in, but replaced the center desk with a built-in daybed with a trundle bed. The walls of the room were painted in a custom stripe detail, and a store-bought ceiling fixture was customized to give it a more updated look. Valerie also added new furniture to the room, including stylish blue chairs and ottoman, modern white chairs, and a clean, modern rug and window treatments. The redesign of the kids’ space provides them with a cool hangout place that can continue to grow with them for the next several years.

Once the redesign process on the rest of the house was underway, the couple decided they wanted their bedroom to get a new look as well. Valerie created a clean, modern, tranquil bedroom oasis for her clients. First she took down the old wallpaper and fashioned a custom, hand-finished metallic glazed stencil for the walls, which beautifully complements the already glazed ceiling.

She then updated the existing blue-patterned window treatments, giving the room a feeling of tranquility, and an eye-catching ceiling fixture that complements the large, gorgeous, mixed-medium

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The stunning existing antique chandelier is the focal point of the dining room, while the mirror gives the room a modern feel.

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piece of art by renowned artist Sage Vaughn, which then became the focal point of the room.

and transform the look of the home.”

She strives to transform each client’s vision into reality, she notes, with her passion for design at the heart of everything she does.

Valerie says this project stands out for her because it was a cohesive marBefore establishing riage of existing and her own firm, Valnew pieces, as well as erie spent over 15 a blend of traditionyears in the fashion al and more modern Handsome built-ins in the home office are the perfect backdrop for original industry, working as styles, to create a artwork by renowned street artists Faile and Shepard Fairey. a senior merchanbeautifully designed space. “The biggest challenge was creating a fresh, modern de- diser at renowned brands including Prada, Ralph Lauren, Coach sign while incorporating some of the existing furniture—some and J. Crew. She honed her skills in fashion while catering to a antique and some more traditional,” she says. “I accomplished broad range of customers, and uses that experience and her love this by reupholstering some existing pieces and mixing tradition- for interior design in every home design project. Valerie specialal with more modern ones—a combination I think makes this izes in customizing and tailoring selections to the aesthetic and home feel authentic, like they had accumulated the pieces over budget of each individual client, making each project distinctive, the years.” Valerie also focused on adding custom-design touches personal and creatively inspired. “Every project is a new experithroughout the home. “I have always liked to customize pieces ence; there is no set formula to the way I design,” she explains. and create special finishes on surfaces,” she says, “ whether they “I listen to my clients and try to understand what is important be wall/ceiling surfaces or custom specialty finishes on furniture. to them and how I can help turn their desire into reality. Having This project allowed me to utilize that process to add interest traveled extensively through Europe and Asia on fashion buying 66

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Opposite Top: The kids’ hangout room features a built-in daybed with trundle, custom striped paint, and cool chairs and ottoman.

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The updated master bedroom is the picture of tranquility with its custom, hand-finished metallic glazed stencil on the walls and beautiful window coverings.

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trips, I find my inspiration comes from many different places. From a beautiful hand-knotted rug or luxurious fabric, to a whimsical trim or a unique piece of art, one piece can set the foundation for a room, and everything else evolves from that. I begin by finding the key elements that will make the room function properly and comfortably, and then layer in pieces that will personalize and bring the space to life.�

Valerie’s transition from the fashion world to interior design began over a decade ago. Her family built a home in East Hampton, NY, and she immersed herself in all aspects of the project, including designing cabinetry and selecting furniture, lighting, tile, plumbing fixtures, window treatments and more. Soon after that, visitors were asking her for advice and help with their own design projects. Valerie studied interior design at Parsons School of Design in NYC, and founded Valerie Grant Interiors in 2005. Combining her expertise in fashion with her innate talent and passion for home design, she creates beautiful spaces for all her clients.

Resources: Interior Designer Valerie Grant Valerie Grant Interiors 14 Friar Tuck Circle Summit, NJ 07901 917.921.1916 valeriegrantinteriors.com

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LIVING LANGUAGES Take a peek at a transcendent home created to celebrate life along the shores of the Long Island Sound

Story by Deborah Brannon | Interior Photography by Joshua McHugh

Exterior Photography by Neil Landino | Aerial Photography by Steve Turner

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ow do you encompass a life lived broadly and vibrantly? How do you materialize memories and time spent wandering the globe, building a family and celebrating this riotous thing we call existence? You build a house—but not just any house! It must be a grand manse deliberately designed to embrace your desires and

showcase your experiences in a setting that captivates the eye while sheltering the heart.

So we come to this estate built in Rye, NY, in a cradle of vivid green and mercurial blue, where land meets the Long Island Sound. The owners of this remarkable parcel dreamed of a home that could accommodate all that they are, and assembled a stellar team of professionals to make it happen: Cormac Byrne, an architect and principal with Jones Byrne Margeotes Partners (JBMP); structural engineer

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Eramosa Limestone flagstones adorn the way to the front door.

Kevin Chamberlain and builder Kevin Brenner; interior designers Ellen Hanson of Ellen Hanson Designs, who worked across the entire interior, and Karen Williams, with St. Charles of New York, who focused on kitchen design; Bill Charney of Advanced Home Audio, who performed technological wizardry across the whole estate; and landscape architect David Kraemer of Rutherford & Associates, who made sure everything was located just where it should be.

THE LANGUAGE OF STONE AND SOUND Cormac, whose firm has completed several generous homes and

other structures on this waterfront over the years, speaks fondly about his work on this magnificent estate. “We’ve had the pleasure and good fortune to work with the owner of this unique piece of property for the last 10 years,” he notes. The clients’ family grew and their lives unfolded and in 2010 they secured over two acres of land at the very end of the peninsula. With panoramic views of the majestic Long Island Sound and the New York City skyline, it was the ideal location for their dream home.

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JBMP designed the custom steel front doors fitted with glass sporting a spectacular geometric motif.

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An incredible light sculpture

by Niamh Barry illuminates a marvelous curved glass staircase.

Cormac and his clients had a well-established common language for beginning this project and forging the dream into stone. He and his project manager, Kristen Rinaldi, worked seamlessly with the clients and the rest of the team. “Having designed several homes for them, we understood exactly what they

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were looking for,” Cormac notes.

“JBMP set about designing a stately home that appears as if it had sat on this spectacular property for 100 years.”

To achieve this feat of infusing a contemporary residence with the weathered luster of time, they began with a careful

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A phenomenal vintage chandelier from John Salibello cascades above furnishings in the salon.

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White oak ceiling panels and a polished brass mandala chandelier from John Salibello enliven the salon’s dining area.

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This terra-cotta horse from China rides impishly across a contemporary pedestal table from Egg Collective.

A handsomely worn sculpture of the head of a Buddha stands before a stunning Coromandel screen

and thorough selection of stone and mortar. The design team and the client—who worked closely with them—chose locally sourced granite and labored to ensure that the façade of the home looked like “it was built by a mason from the old country,” says Cormac. Stately carriage lights flank the front door, lending authenticity to the old-world feel. The low-pitch, Vermont blend slate roof is of graduated size and thickness from the eaves up to the roof ’s ridge.

The shape of the residence paired with the stone gives it a Tuscan feel with a hint of the Euopean East Coast Home + Design

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The glass walls of the Cube are also swing doors, inviting sea air and bird calls inside.

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This Gracie hand-painted wallpaper of a flowering tree and flowing water is inspired by a Japanese screen from the 18th century.

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The La Cornue kitchen island invites culinary adventurers to prepare food in tandem; Karen Williams’s “pretty open, pretty closed” cabinet surprises with chartreuse.

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Villa, while the thoughtful use of local materials with their distinct vernacular of color and composition makes this home uniquely New England. Bronze windows complete the effect, opening the way for handsome patinas on the exterior of the home, while allowing for large windows and frames not particularly thick. A stainlesssteel pergola (treated to appear bronze as well) runs the length of the salon along the rear of the house—a canvas for patina, wisteria and vine, creating a unique variation of texture and appearance that could exist nowhere beyond this extraordinary residence.

As with any architectural project of this scale, the team encountered several challenges in the design and construction, but one in particular stood out for the architect, structural engineer and builder. This particular parcel of land includes spots that lie within the velocity flood zone, requiring the team to build a structure suitable to an exposed waterfront, and meeting state, federal and FEMA regulations. This called for a reinforced foundation of concrete and steel that appeared solid, while still providing the structure with flexibility in the face of savage elements. “We had to engineer the foundations of the house to be open enough to let waves and water pass beneath the home unimpeded, while supporting the structure and bracing it against hurricane-strength winds,” Kevin explains. “However, the architectural design of the house was for it to appear to have a solid foundation. So the solution was a concrete pier and footing foundation system. Simple landscape elements like stairs and patios had to be structured with steel and concrete ‘floating’ over open space, rather than by placing fill. Finally, breakaway walls (which could be blown out by wave impact) had to be installed between all the piers to make the house weather-tight and secure for the majority of the time, when seas are relatively calm.”

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The serious necessity of this disaster-conscious foundation design was proven when Hurricane Sandy struck in the fall of 2012. “The footings were poured and the steel reinforcement for the columns were in place when Sandy hit,” Cormac remembers, “but the force and power of the storm bent all the reinforcing and filled the excavation with waters from the sound.” As Kevin notes, recalling what Sandy had left them, “It wasn’t pretty!” The cost in time and materials to create a resilient, reinforced foundation was more than worth the expense.

The team was also focused on presentation and preservation. David Kraemer of Rutherford & Associates, the landscape architect (now retired) on this project, ensured that the site of the residence had the finest views of the sound while also preserving some impressive trees native to the landscape, as well as several stone follies that had been previously erected on the land. In one case, that meant carefully disassembling and reconstituting a stone arch in a different location to frame a walkway.

Asked about his favorite spot in this incredible estate, Cormac immediately mentions the grand glass staircase spiraling between the public and private spaces in the home. “The stair floats and curves from the main, formal part of the house to the master suite,” Cormac notes. “The glass rail curves and bends and is extremely sculptural, 84

so, as well as serving its purpose, it is an aesthetic feat of design and engineering.” A heavy yet airy chandelier descends from high above, its massive links with lighted edges suspended in the center of the spiral, captivating all who see it. Indeed, the homeowner had been attracted to a similar piece displayed at Todd Merrill Studio, so interior designer Ellen Hanson commissioned this chandelier from Todd, to be custom made by Niamh Barry, international artist and sculptor of light. In discussing the stair, Ellen notes, “Though the architecture of the circular stair is modern and somewhat austere, the finish in every part of this space is hand-applied waxed plaster.

Married with the warm white wool and silk runner and the aged stone floors, this passage holds its own in contrast to the lush, colorful rooms it connects and becomes a quiet scene stealer.”

THE LANGUAGE OF TEXTILE AND TECHNOLOGY Ellen’s eye for design and access to the client’s treasure trove of collected art and memories make for an irresistible and elegant interior. “When we saw all the amazing pieces that had been collected over the years, we were reminded of the old-fashioned Grand Tour that all cultured individuals undertook in the 19th century,” she says. “We wanted people to know the homeowners through a layered and intelligent composition of their collection.” The clients had enjoyed an incurable wanderlust, and the scope of their collection is breathtaking and provided perfect details upon which to launch a

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living-focal design.

One paramount concern of this design was to incorporate rest and play spaces for the clients’ large multigenerational family, as well as areas for entertaining beyond the family. The design team accomplished this in the cleverly accommodated salon: this open space

blurs the lines between dining room and sitting room, providing ample space to dine and mingle. Simple dark walnut dining tables by New Classics Creations are flanked by carefully mismatched chairs of moss green, Oxford blue and aspen white, selected and customized from Artistic Frames for their “distinct characteristics that play well with each other and relate to the client’s beloved vintage pieces, East Coast Home + Design

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The master bedroom affects a cool smolder in blackened bronze and silvery champagne.

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while giving the room a collected rather than banquet-hall look,” says Ellen.

These choices are showcased again and again in collected vignettes of furnishings and art exquisitely grouped throughout the home. It was a unique and delightful challenge for Ellen to establish a connected story from such diverse elements. “With so many antiques from so many different places from around the globe,” she says, “we felt the best way to tie them all together was to create a rich and cohesive color palette that would be repeated throughout the house.” Inspired by the colors found in the clients’ beautiful antique rugs, the design team commissioned additional rugs particularly for the salon, where there is one they designed with Doris Leslie Blau after a Viennese secessionist rug, and another by Orley Shabahang, inspired by the molecular structure of sound waves. Each rug is itself a showcase, playing off the stone floors of Dalle de France Marly limestone from Exquisite Surfaces. The blue, gold and gray narrative that infuses the salon is a powerful and alluring motif East Coast Home + Design

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that is repeated throughout the house.

long, useful lives,” she says.

The warm grays in the home resonate handsomely with the bronze metal windows and doors, especially in the master bedroom with its “mixed metal” scheme. A pale, hand-knotted bamboo silk rug and serene gray walls provide the perfect stage for classically elegant furnishings in antique brass, silvered champagne and darkened bronze. A cleanly modern canopied bed—sans canopy—sketches in the space, while the opulent divan and accompanying accent table lend the room a frisson of sensuality. Ornate wall sconces backed by mirrors remind us of the glittering past, and a minimalist working fireplace beckons us toward the future. This carefully orchestrated tension between antique and modern is a signature of Ellen Hanson’s design, which is well worthy of acclaim.

One striking combination of Ellen’s dedication to these ideals stands in the salon: a pedestal table bearing an impish terra-cotta horse. The table is edgy and bright with its back-painted glass top and faceted, polished brass legs—a piece of astounding quality from Egg Collective, which leaves the metals in its furniture unsealed, so they can transform as life is lived around them. The Chinese terracotta horse deserves such a fine stage for its august and mischievous airs, and together the pair is enthralling. This is just one skein of a story in a home filled with stories, woven from memories made in Asia, Europe, America and across the world.

Indeed, “sustainable, local, durable—and luxurious” are the hallmark of Ellen Hanson Designs, and these qualities are splendidly manifested in this residence. “One of the most sustainable and green things anyone can practice is the three Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle,” notes Ellen. She certainly did that, adding another R for “recontextualizing.” She and her team fit the client’s collected and beloved treasures into fresh surroundings, making them feel new again. “Any new pieces were heirloom-quality and locally made, and will have 90

Beyond these conversations of textile, art, furnishings and color, this residence is a fully integrated modern home with world-class technology. Bill Charney of Advanced Home Audio worked hand in hand with JBMP, Brenner Builders and Ellen Hanson to ensure that the finest technological amenities were cleverly hidden away or seamlessly blended with the décor. Bill equipped the residence with house-wide audio and video, with invisible speakers embedded in the ceilings. The home also features a Lutron centralized lighting system and motorized window treatments that permit solar shading for comfort, protection and efficiency. The shades are rolled and hidden

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A beautifully weathered dining table sits beneath the pergola amidst greenery and stone.

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The rough yet stately texture of the stonework, along with the carriage-style lanterns, lend this home an Old World atmosphere.

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in ceiling pockets when not in use.

Bill also ensconced the client’s home cinema, life and safety systems, climate control, gated access, home network and WIFI, and numerous other high-tech wonders. The most challenging aspect of this project turned out to be the same exposed waterfront status that concerned the architectural and construction members of the team: all electronic components had to be kept above the floodplain, which meant the entire design revolved around all vital electronics being located in the upper stories of the residence.

One of the most astonishing aspects of this remarkable technology is how accessible it is. The entire integrated home can be controlled via Savant, a premium whole-home automation system. The homeowners can easily monitor and control virtually any aspect of their home—including access, security, lighting and music—through an app on their tablet or mobile devices.

It wasn’t just this culmination of accessibility that delighted Bill about this project—he was also gratified by their achievements as a team. “We worked really carefully with the design team on every aspect of technology, from communication to security to entertainment,” he says. “We did everything from pressing a button at the front gate to lowering a shade at night to go to sleep—controlling the entire property.

It was a true end-to-end, and demonstrated our ability to provide seamless functionality across the entire house. It was an amazing extent of accessibility that they couldn’t have had any other way in a house of this size.”

THE LANGUAGE OF MARBLE AND MASTERY This home has many hearts, all beating out different tempos of life: the quick cadences of play, the languorous pulse of relaxation, and the variable rhythms of family interplay. And of course there is the “cathedral” of communion and celebration found in every home—the kitchen. Karen Williams collaborated with the homeowner to foster a truly breathtaking space of convivial and functional joy.

Karen’s first order of business was to design a kitchen that could meet several specific needs. It had to be kosher, accessible to family members who enjoyed cooking, and efficient for professional chefs retained for social events. With these guideposts, Karen imagined a spectacular and elegant space that fits the evolving décor and elevates the entire interior.

The choice of showpiece for this kitchen is both inspired and inevitable. A state-of-the-art appliance and positive confection of cabinetry, the La Cornue central island is 12 feet long and custom-made, incorporating a sink, range and numerous storage spaces. “We used a custom-enameled teal finish with accents of satin East Coast Home + Design

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brass and brushed nickel,” Karen says. “Because we were involved early in the design process, the team was able to accommodate all requirements for the range and ventilation system.”

Because of the island’s location, a large and centralized range hood was also required. Karen worked closely with Kevin, and installation was challenging. Kevin described the substantial hood as having a pretty intricate design that was tricky to install since it had to be protected through construction so no damage would occur. Once installed, the generous and translucent hood with 94

integrated lighting wonderfully illuminates the breadth of the island.

Complementary blue cabinets frame the wall to one end of the island—and they contain a delightful secret. “I like the element of surprise,” Karen confides. “One of my signature pieces is something I call ‘pretty open, pretty closed.’ It’s the sliding door pantry that’s as beautiful open as it is closed.” The blue cabinets part to reveal a warm set of shelves painted a lavish chartreuse.

The cabinetry around the perimeter of the kitchen glows in an-

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Resources Architect JBMP Cormac Byrne, Assoc. AIA Kristen Rinaldi, ASID, Assoc. AIA 1786 Bedford Street Stamford, CT 06905 203.531.1588 jbmparch.com Interior Designer Ellen Hanson Designs Lisa Hargus, LEED AP 595 Madison Avenue, 39th Floor New York, NY 10022-1614 212.888.8108 ellenhansondesigns.com Kitchen Design St. Charles of New York Karen Williams, ASID 150 East 58th Street New York, NY 10155 212.838.2812 www.stcharlesofnewyork.com Structural Engineer DeStefano & Chamberlain Incorporated Kevin Chamberlain, P.E., S.E.C.B. 50 Thorpe Street Fairfield, CT 06824 203.254.7131 dcstructural.com Builder Brenner Builders Kevin Brenner 362 Adams Street Bedford Hills, NY 10507 914.242.4707 brennerbuilders.com Home Automation Advanced Home Audio Bill Charney 120 Long Hill Cross Road, Suite 2 Shelton, CT 06484 203-922-0051 advancedhomeaudio.com tique silver, framing a full window that offers a superb view of the Long Island Sound.

The bronze of the window is complemented by brass-kissed torch sconces. Bright white marble countertops play off the deep-stained rift and quartered white oak flooring. The ultimate kitchen feels contemporary, yet also classical: an open and airy space that inspires the mind while feeding the spirit.

Like any life well lived and in progress, it’s impossible to capture this home in its entirety.

We may be privileged to catch glimpses of stunning vistas, intimate spaces and engrossing secrets, but glimpses are all we shall have. It’s enough to appreciate the splendor of another life, and be inspired in our own.

Venetian Plaster Philis Himmelfarb 110 Broadview Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10804 914.646.1992 Metalwork Edelman Metalworks 9 State Street Danbury, CT 06810 203.744.7331 edelmanmetal.com East Coast Home + Design

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Designing a Dream Blending Styles in New Canaan to Create a “Sparkling Beauty” Story by Jessica Rivest | Photography by Jane Beiles

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A

growing family and life changes made it clear to Emily Fuhrman’s clients that they needed to move to a larger home. Fuhrman, the founder and designer of Sage & Ginger LLC, recalls that her clients and their two children wanted to stay in New Canaan, CT, but needed more room. After finding a beautiful piece of property on a rare cul-de-sac, the family enlisted the help of Steve Lecher of Lecher Development to design and build their custom home, and hired Fuhrman to tackle the interior design. The entire process took about 18 months, during which time Fuhrman worked with the clients to create a beautiful blend of styles in their new dream home, which they nicknamed “Sparkling Beauty.”

The project was a huge task, as the new residence was three times the size of their old home, and the clients wanted to start from scratch with the interior design and furnish the whole house. Fuhrman says a project of this scope requires planning and lots of communication.

“Because this was a big undertaking and they wanted to do it right, we took our time,” she explains. “We prioritized and focused on one space at a time.” Fuhrman says they worked alongside the builder to incorporate the clients’ wants into the interior design. “We began during the construction phase with a color scheme and lighting fixtures for the entire home, and continued to design room by room.”

The feel of the home is light and clean, with some traditional pieces to

anchor it. Fuhrman says she worked with each client’s style to create a design they both loved. The wife was looking for a lighter transitional feel, while the husband desired a traditional look. Fuhrman achieved the perfect marriage of styles to create a home design that thrilled them both, a combination that resulted in the “Sparkling Beauty” look. The mixing of traditional and transitional styles was the main challenge Fuhrman faced during the project. She accomplished that beautiful blend by mixing light colors and modern art with traditional furniture pieces to create a lighter feel and set a transitional tone throughout the entire home.

The beautiful entrance and foyer set the tone for the design of the house: clean, light and inviting. Fuhrman’s goal was to keep the foyer simple and functional. She didn’t want to overcrowd it, but sought to make it welcoming and fresh. She did that by using her skill for mixing pieces and introducing gorgeous details. “The console is definitely a traditional piece,” Fuhrman says, “but we paired it with a funky little rug with a cool, thick, leather binding on the edge.” It’s those unexpected details, she says, that pushed the design to the next level and created the feel her clients wanted.

The huge, gorgeous kitchen features sleek countertops and stunning white tile, as well as clean, white cabinets and a beautiful hardwood floor. The enormous center island is perfect for the family to gather in the heart of the home, and the unique light fixtures are both beautiful and functional. Fuhrman explains that the clients wanted to keep the kitchen neutral but add some interest as well. “They wanted a East Coast Home + Design

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Stunning chairs create a pop of color in the formal living room while the neutral tones keep it transitional.

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beautiful, clean kitchen, and then we added a little sparkle with the light fixtures and the fun roman shades on the windows,” she says.

Adding unexpected touches adds interest and depth to the neutral, classic space, Fuhrman notes. She chose the engaging artwork for the wall because it adds interest and color to the room, as well as a little sparkle. “It’s actually a photograph stretched over canvas, with a glossy finish to create a cool sheen on it,” she explains. The heart of the home has a classic look that Fuhrman jazzed up with details, while keeping the classic vibe intact.

The family room is welcoming, with the handsome stone fireplace and cozy couch. Fuhrman says the point was to make it a great gathering space. “There’s lots of seating, it’s inviting and comfortable, and it’s a great place for people to relax,” she notes. Indeed, the family room really is for the family, Fuhrman says: it’s the place where the kids hang out and the family gathers together. It needed to be functional as well as beautiful, which Fuhrman accomplished with the large sectional and pops of color in the ottomans, bringing out the fun in the room. Like the rest of the house, the artwork completes the look and feel the clients wanted.

While some homeowners are moving away from a formal living room, it was a must-have for Fuhrman’s clients. To make the space fit with the transitional look of the rest of the house, she suggested the gorgeous blue chairs. “Let’s do a pop with the chairs,” she told them. “Let’s make a statement.” Another fantastic fireplace greets guests in this room, and beautiful artwork adorns the walls. The entrance to the living room is stunning itself: the beautiful arched millwork creates a majestic feel, and the plush fabrics carry that feel throughout the room, while the colors and lines of the furniture help to soften and lighten it. “What’s so pretty are the beautiful, soft curves of the chairs, which really lighten the feel of the room,” says Fuhrman. She adds that it was great to work with these clients, who were always open to her ideas and trusted her to achieve the look and style they desired.

The modern art and stunning chandelier in the formal dining room help to lighten the heavy traditional pieces and create that perfect blend Fuhrman’s clients were looking for. Mixing styles makes the room and each piece in it stand out, she explains. “When you have traditional pieces and everything matches, you expect that,” she says.

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The kitchen is sleek and neutral with a little sparkle in the details.

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“But when you have that juxtaposition with the different pieces, you don’t expect that. Yet it works and turns out beautiful.”

The master bedroom is a tranquil oasis with the calming blue walls and clean window treatments.

Fuhrman says she designed the bedroom as a place for her clients to relax and unwind. Here, the task she faced involved the sheer size of the bedroom. “When you have a space that big, it’s a challenge to make it feel cozy,” she says. But Fuhrman succeeded by creating a neutral space with lots of layers.

“When you add layers to the room, you build and create this very warm, inviting space, even though it’s so big.” The roman shades on the windows are two different fabrics with different textures to create a layered effect. The simple but beautiful fabric headboard is layered with big, fun pillows, and the stunning bench forms another layer at the end of the bed. The mirrored nightstands and crystal light fixture create the sparkle the clients love and add the unexpected to the room, something Fuhrman loves to do in her design. “I love all the different elements instead of everything matching—mixing things up and making this beautiful space.”

Fuhrman believes the key to home design is to pick things you love that also make you happy. She says that in building your style, it’s important to surround yourself and fill your home with things you think are beautiful. She loves working with clients to uncover their design styles and even have them push themselves to unexpected places. She enjoys adding interest by layering textures, mixing finishes, blending old with new, and incorporating graphic art and sculptural pieces. “It’s really all about finding the right balance,” she says. “The design has to work both functionally and aesthetically and embody the homeowner’s persona.”

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This project went off without any issues, Fuhrman says, and she had a great working relationship with her clients. “They know what they want,” she says, “but at the same time, they are open to new ideas and are always responsive, clear and respectful.” It was fun, she

says, to mix both styles and desires to create the “sparkling beauty ” the clients envisioned for their home. She also notes that the couple even evolved in their design desires during the process. “When we began working together, the husband was strictly traditional,”

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she says. “But as I got to know him better and uncovered his funny and fashion-forward sensibilities, I felt he could be pulled out of his comfort zone. His latest request was graffiti wallpaper! I love when clients evolve through the design process. There’s so much great stuff out there, and an artful, unexpected mix is always a terrific look!”

Fuhrman graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Communications and Marketing, but her interest in design was seeded at an early age by her grandfather, who ran a men’s clothing company.

He introduced her to textiles and taught her about artfully mixing colors, patterns and textures. In 2007, when Fuhrman inherited her grandfather’s vintage cloth collection, she decided to follow her passion and officially enter the world of design.

She started designing one-of-a-kind decorative pillows, using her grandfather’s fabrics. To make the pillows even more special, Fuhrman em-

The family room is beautifully designed to be comfortable and inviting.

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Layers and the perfect combination of furniture fill the huge peaceful oasis bedroom without over populating it.

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bellished them with “jewels� she sourced from travel around the world. The pillows were popular among retailers and clients alike. Soon her fans began asking Fuhrman to extend her creativity and passion for design beyond pillows, and use her talents on all aspects of their homes.

Resources Interior Design Sage & Ginger Interior Design Emily Fuhrman emily@sageandginger.com 203.594.9862

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EVENTS

ARCHITECTS & DESIGNERS NIGHT OUT Architects & Designers Night Out started out as a joint venture between Performance Imaging and Brindisi & Yaroscak Custom Builders to reach out to local Architects and Interior Designers to help educate them on some new products and services that are available.

We brought Lutron in to teach their in depth AIA course on “How Good is Good Enough” on the pitfalls LED lighting fixtures which offered Continuing Education credits to the Architects and Designers.

Next we needed to find a venue for the event that could accommodate 50100 Architects and Designers and Clarke Kitchen and Design Showroom graciously offered the use of the spectacular facility in South Norwalk.

Coastal Source LED landscape lighting set up a booth to showcase their high quality LED fixtures and landscape speakers.

Our sister company Advanced System Design (ASD) brought one their amazing HVAC control and monitoring engineered panels, and TRUFIG Architectural mounting systems was there showing how to eliminate wall clutter with their flush mounting platforms. We also featured some designer friendly products like Meljac, Forbes & Lomax invisible light switches, and VESDA very early smoke detection invisible smoke detectors.

The next item on the agenda was on how to get the word out. East Coast Home+Design stepped in and helped with the invitations, contact lists, and successfully marketing the event.

The event started out with cocktails & appetizers from 6:00-7:00 in Clarke Kitchen and Design Showroom, followed by the Lutron presentation from 7:00-8:00 in Clarke’s conference hall, followed by Performance Imaging’s “Integration Without Intrusion” and winded down with more cocktails in the Clarke showroom and the mini trade show floor.

We wanted to make sure the attendees had plenty of interesting new items to look at so we invited some vendors and set up a mini trade show floor.

With over seventy attendee’s and from the feedback received it seemed that Architects & Designers Night Out was a great success!

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W2W Magazine

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EVENTS

ROCK SOLID DESIGN NIGHT On May 3rd, Home Works partnered with East Coast Home + Design and AKDO to invite Architects and Interior Designers to Home Works Port Chester New York Location for our “Rock Solid Design Night” Guest Architects attended a presentation by AKDO on Large Format Materials Integration and earned 1 CEU credit by attending.

Following the presentation, guests enjoyed several hours of networking while being offered a wonderful assortment of hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. A wonderful time was had by all!

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