athome in Fairfield County - May/June 2020

THE SPRING ISSUE! h au t e s t u f f

goods

CHAIR AFFAIR

VERY BERRY

+ g a r d e n g u ru s

GROWING TRENDS $5.95 MAY/JUNE 2020

athomefc. com

AMY AIDINIS HIRSCH INTERIOR DESIGN

amyhirsch.com

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203 661 1266

contents MAY/JUNE 2020 vol. 15 | issue 3

features

departments

22

4 PRESIDENT’S NOTE 6 EDITOR’S NOTE

LIVABLE LUXE Color, texture and pattern offer a family-friendly spin on luxury.

36

GRAND TOUR

8 GET THE GOODS Color trend: Deep Sea Shades; Berry Season; Golden Hour

An antique home embraces a more modern approach while honoring its history.

54

VACATION VIBES A new home welcomes high-end design for a laidback lifestyle. i nt e rv i ews b y l au re n f et t e r m an

14 HAUTE STUFF Chair Ware

Living room designed by lulu HOME.

22

16 SHOP TALK Local design news, the latest collections, haute happenings and more 64 LAST WORD Pros share which garden trends get the green light.

ATHOME IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY MAY/JUNE 2020, VOL. 15, NO. 3. ATHOME IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY (ISSN 1941-9503) is published six times annually (Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sep/Oct, Nov/Dec) by Moffly Media, Inc., 205 Main St, Westport, CT 06880. Periodical postage paid at Westport, CT, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes (Form 3579) to ATHOME IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY, PO BOX 9309, Big Sandy, TX 75755-9607. US subscription rates: $19.95/1 year, $29.95/2 years; Canada and foreign US$40/1 year, US$60/2 years.

on the c ove r pi m lic o i nteriors

| ph ot o gr a ph y a m y v is ch io

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41 W est e l m s t r eet, G r een W ich , ct

tel . 203.622.7000

W W W.Va n der h or n a rchi t ec ts . com

vol. 15 | no. 3 | may/june 2020

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hank you. Together, in this crisis, we can adapt, change and become something new. Our lives are altered. Our community is straining to accommodate the realities of disease and economic distress. The outlook is uncertain. We want it to be over. Desperately. And when it is, we will be different.

The most valuable lessons lie in our power to come together and help each other.

Our priorities are to stay healthy, doing our duty to stop the spread so that friends, family and strangers alike stay safe, and to keep our homes and workplaces financially afloat. Then, do whatever extra we can.

I am proud of my community. Small acts of kindness break the quiet and isolation. Executive Editor Cristin Marandino going for a socially distant walk and talk with my eighty-four-year-old mom. Production Director Kerri Rak making 246 joyfully designed equipment tags as gifts to our first responders. My wife, our business manager, tripling her EMT volunteer hours to be on the front lines.

Our friend, Ariana, dropping off groceries for my family.

Economically, it is dire for so many. Businesses are in distress, and staff and vendor reductions are the consequence. Small local businesses are particularly hard hit, often lacking the resources to weather a long storm. Our restaurants, the heart of our community, where we connect with each other, are trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy for us by offering takeout and delivery.

They struggle to take care of as many employees as they can on so much less.

Moffly is a small family business, too. As you see with this much thinner May/June issue, we are also being impacted by the crisis. My priority is to take care of our team and our customers. We are as resolute as ever to help people live life better and help businesses thrive. Our partners—your retailers, restaurants, businesses and professional services—are feeling the economic slam. The necessity of social distancing makes Amazon more than a temptation. Yet our retailers, with their unique offerings and personal services, are what make our area special. Reach out to your favorites for delivery.

Connect. Support. Keep us strong.

Most importantly, thank you. We are grateful for your support as readers, as partners and as customers. We believe in the indomitable spirit of our community.

Lastly, with gratitude, I ask you to take action and help the most vulnerable in our community. This group has grown exponentially in just the past few weeks.

Please make a donation to Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Resiliency Fund at fccfoundation.org. The FCCF will ensure your donation reaches the right hands for greatest impact. One action taken by many has an indelible impact. Together we have the character to work through this crisis.

sales & marketing

Amy Vischio amy.vischio@moffly.com

publisher, athome, greenwich, new canaan•darien, fairfield living

editorial

Jonathan W. Moffly—jonathan @moffly.com

senior editor

Lauren Fetterman—lauren. fetterman@moffly.com market editor

Megan Gagnon—megan. gagnon@moffly.com advisory editor

Donna Moffly—donna.moffly @moffly.com

publisher, westport•weston•wilton

Gabriella Mays—gabriella.mays @moffly.com publisher, stamford

Karen Kelly-Micka—karen.kelly @moffly.com account executive

Jennifer Frank—jennifer.frank @moffly.com

contributing editors

account executive

editor, new canaan•darien

Julee Kaplan

Hilary Hotchkiss—hilary.hotchkiss @moffly.com

executive editor, greenwich

account executive

Cristin Marandino editor, fairfield living; stamford; westport•weston•wilton

Diane Sembrot art art director, front of book

Garvin Burke—garvin.burke @moffly.com production director

Kerri Rak—kerri.rak @moffly.com design assistant

Taylor Stroili—taylor.stroili @moffly.com digital media

Rick Johnson—rick.johnson @moffly.com account executive

Jennifer Petersen—jennifer.petersen @moffly.com partnership and big picture manager

Kathleen Godbold—kathleen.godbold

@moffly.com events director

Rachel Shorten—rachel.shorten

@moffly.com business president

Jonathan W. Moffly business manager

Elena Moffly—elena.moffly

digital media manager

@moffly.com

Amber Scinto—amber.scinto @moffly.com

cofounders

digital editor

John W. Moffly IV & Donna C. Moffly

Diane Sembrot—diane. sembrot@moffly.com

TO SUBSCRIBE, renew, or change your address, please email subscribe@ athomefc.com, call 877-467-1735, or write to athome in Fairfield County Magazine, 111 Corporate Drive, Big Sandy, TX 75755. U.S. subscription rates: $19.95/1 year (6 issues); $34.95/2 years (12 issues); $44.95/3 years (18 issues). Canada and foreign, US $36/year. Prices are subject to change without notice. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without express permission of the publisher. ©2018 athome in Fairfield County Magazine is a registered trademark owned by Moffly Media. The opinions expressed by writers commissioned for articles published by athome in Fairfield County are not necessarily those of the magazine.

FOR QUALITY CUSTOM REPRINTS/E-PRINTS, please call 203-571-1645 or email reprints@mofflymedia.com

PUBLISHERS OF GREENWICH, FAIRFIELD LIVING, NEW CANAAN • DARIEN • ROWAYTON, WESTPORT, STAMFORD and athome magazines 205 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880. Phone: 203-222-0600; email: mail@moffly.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Lemuel Bandala: call 203-571-1610 or email advertise@moffly.com SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES: email subscribe@athomefc.com or call 877-467-1735

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PHOTOGRAPHY: JONATHAN MOFFLY PORTRAIT: VENTURE PHOTOGRAPHY, GREENWICH

president’s note

creative/editorial director

FINDING A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR IS EASIER THAN EVER. Stamford Health Medical Group believes primary care is important for keeping you and your loved ones healthy. With more than 130 primary care physicians and specialists across Fairfield County, we make it easy for you to find a doctor close to home.

We offer flexible hours that fit your schedule, and we accept most health insurance plans.

To make an appointment, visit StamfordHealth.org/PrimaryCare or call 888.898.4876.

DARIEN • GREENWICH • NEW CANAAN • NORWALK • RIVERSIDE • STAMFORD • WILTON

editor’s note /SEASON OF HOPE

Come on and Zoom—collaborating on athome while working from home.

LAST CALL

ENTER YOUR PROJECTS IN 17 CATEGORIES! ATHOMEFC.COM

DEADLINE MAY 19 Bath Design Bedroom n Commercial Space n Dining Room n Entryway n Kid’s or Teen’s Bedroom n Kitchen Design n Landscape: Less than 1 Acre n Landscape: Greater than 1 Acre n Living Space n Modern Architecture n Office/Library n Play Space n Pool House n Renovation n Traditional Architecture: Less than 7K Feet n Traditional Architecture: Greater than 7K Feet n n

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ver the past few months, we’ve all been ushered into a new season of life, one that has completely altered how we live, work and stay connected. Everything may feel uncharted, uncertain and challenging ahead, but there is comfort to be found in looking back. That’s why we thought it fitting to feature this elegant Ridgefield home on our cover. With interiors by Pimlico Interiors, this historic home, built in 1787, was updated for modern living but maintained its antique charm (see “Grand Tour” on page 36). Those details are a daily reminder that in its 233 years, this home has lived through countless seasons of life, hosting happy occasions as well as standing strong through tough times. We suspect that your own home has been tested these past several weeks, perhaps like no other time you can recall. Its functionality and use of space, the materials, the colors, the fixtures and furnishings all play into how it works (around-the-clock and potentially with more family members in it) and how it makes you feel. “In the comfort of your own home” is a commonly used phrase for a reason—and we sincerely hope you’re finding comfort in yours.

Also in this issue, Cami Fareri Luppino and Alana Irwin of lulu HOME helped the Murray family begin their next chapter in a new build in Greenwich by creating a chic yet comfortable interior full of texture and unexpected touches (“Livable Luxe” on page 22). Then in Rowayton, Amy Zolin of Clarity Home Interiors channeled the island of St. Bart’s in a new summer/weekend home furnished with luxurious yet laidback pieces and pops of color (“Vacation Vibes” on page 54).

To designers, architects, builders and landscape professionals, this is your last reminder to enter the A-List Awards. With seventeen categories ranging from single rooms to entire homes, there’s a wide variety of ways to enter your best work and make 2020 the year you make the A-List. To enter or learn more, visit athomeatlistawards.com and read our FAQs and submission guidelines.

We’ve extended the deadline to May 19, so there’s still time to get those projects in so you can be at the top of our readers’ lists when it’s time to improve their own homes.

AMY VISCHIO Creative/Editorial Director amy.vischio@moffly.com

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goods/COLOR by megan

gagnon

DIVE IN TO THESE DEEP SEA SHADES

2

WILLIAMS SONOMA Schumacher mixed salad plates; $59.95 for set of four.

Westport; williams-sonoma.com

3

WEST ELM Dip dye napkins; $34 for set of four.

Westport; westelm.com

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BUNGALOW 5 Ernest side chair; $827. meadowblu.com

i l ove using anal o gous c ol ors— c ol ors that are next t o each other on the c ol or wheel— and my favorite c ombination is blue/green. b oth c ol ors remind us of nature: blue evokes fl owers and birds, while green reminds us of leaves, gr ass and trees.

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MADE GOODS Elias coffee table; $900. mecox.com

—claire paquin, clean design

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Mykonos Muse; $95. assouline.com

4

CARLYLE COLLECTIVE Oyster wall sconce; price upon request. carlylecollective.com

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ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

ASSOULINE

203.489.3800 y

hiltonarchitects.com

ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS

goods/BERRY SEASON

2

FRESH PICKS TO SWEETEN YOUR SPACE

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berry t ones are full of joy and fire. from the blush of pink cheeks t o the bl aze of a deep cherry red, these t ones wake up a space. —sandra funk, house of funk

7 1 SCHUMACHER 5009062 Britt border in berry; to the trade. fschumacher.com

2 STRAY DOG DESIGNS John O ceiling light; $1,050. straydogdesigns.com

3 HD BUTTERCUP

4 KGBL

5 PETER DUNHAM

6 ALAIN GILLES

Melrose chair in deep pink velvet; $695. hdbuttercup.com

Johansson cabinet; price upon request. kgblnyc.com

Bukhara pillow in pink/orange; $175. hollywoodat home.com

Contrast bed; price upon request. property furniture.com

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7 PATRICIA URQUIOLA LA sunset table; starting at $2,971.60. suiteny.com

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

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RingsEnd.com

Shop Paint Online

goods /GOLDEN HOUR LET THE SUN SHINE IN

2 7

1

3 1 ANTHROPOLOGIE

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yell ow is an extremely versatile h ue, especially when paired with c o oler gr ays and warmer wo od t ones. another way t o inc orp or ate this cheerful c ol or is t o use it in b old wallpaper pat terns.

Striped ceramic stool; $168. Greenwich, Westport; anthropologie.com

2 CLÉ Indian saffron zellige tile, 4”x4” x 3/8”; $2.10 per piece. cletile.com

3 HYGGE & WEST Bloom wallpaper in marigold; $175 per roll. hyggeandwest.com

4 BEND GOODS

—douglas graneto, douglas graneto design

5 SERENA & LILY

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7 athomefc.com

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Campania round beach towel; $78. serenaandlily.com

6 HAY Spot votives; $50 for set of five. us.hay.com

7 MATOUK Alexandra pillowcase in goldenrod; $144 for pair. matouk.com

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

Wave table; $1,560. bendgoods.com

R OBERTA S CHIL L ING

RENE C A Z A RE S

BLUEPRIN T

A N TONI A

SH A MSI A N

B A K ER

T H AY ER C O G G IN

LAZAR

V EREL L EN

SCHWARTZ DESIGN SHOWROOM A N I N T E R I O R S C O L L EC T I V E , C U R AT E D F O R T H E T R A D E

SCHWART ZDE SIGNSHOWROOM.COM

haute stuff / CHAIR WARE by megan gagnon

SITTING PRETTY WITH SELECTS FROM SCHWARTZ DESIGN SHOWROOM

1

3

2 4

5

7

6 1 RENE CAZARES

2 LEE INDUSTRIES

3 THAYER COGGIN

4 VERELLEN

5 LAZAR

6 JIMECO

Malibu chair

2617-01 chair

Feelin’ Groovy swivel chair

Sullivan club chair

Amara dining side chair

Marseille lounge chair

All items sourced through Schwartz Design Showroom, Stamford, 203-817-0433; schwartzdesignshowroom.com athomefc.com

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7 ROBERTA SCHILLING Canela chair

WESTPORT SHOWROOM

203.227.5181 BETHEL SHOWROOM

203.790.9023 Exceptional Products, Personal Service

gaultstone.com

shoptalk THE LATEST DESIGN NEWS

“

above: In Barbara Sallick’s latest book, stunning photographs of

world-class kitchens, personal anecdotes and essays by renowned food experts await.

KITCHEN MATTERS THE LATEST BOOK BY THE WATERWORKS CO-FOUNDER IS GUARANTEED TO INSPIRE

I

f you truly want to create the perfect

experience you want it to be. To help you get

kitchen, don’t miss this new book by

into that mindset, Sallick brings together

Barbara Sallick, an icon of American

photographs of world-class kitchens from

design for over four decades and the

notable interior designers and architects,

co-founder of Waterworks, the premier luxury

along with personal anecdotes and essays by

kitchen and bath brand, and the company’s

renowned food experts. Written in an engaging,

senior vice president of design. In The Perfect

informal tone, this book guarantees that when

Kitchen (Rizzoli New York; $55), Sallick

you walk into your final kitchen, you’ll feel

invites you to settle in and think about what’s

perfectly at home.

most important to you in your kitchen and

The Perfect Kitchen doesn’t tell you how

the result you want to achieve. Key to any

to negotiate with a contractor or what

successful kitchen design is vision, and in her

measurement your drawers should be—there

own inimitable way, Sallick sets you up for

are plenty of detailed books for that. Instead, it

success.

takes your mind on a journey of inspiration and

It all starts with balancing the feeling you want to create in your kitchen with the

emotion that’s indispensable, and that no other book comes close to. athomefc.com

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Now that we are all sequestered in our homes, we’re being forced to reckon with the design and function of our kitchens like never before. Unwittingly, you’re gaining knowledge you can act on: Are there any updates that could make a real difference in the space? Remember, the kitchen is the pivotal space for the family— a telephone room, study hall, media room, office and game room all rolled into one—not to mention a place to prepare meals.

I hope my book The Perfect Kitchen will help you think about the emotional experience you want to create in your own kitchen, and make it easy (and even fun) to get there, in a space that is truly your own.

”

© THE PERFECT KITCHEN BY BARBARA SALLICK, RIZZOLI NEW YORK, 2020. TOP: KITCHEN DESIGNED BY SHAWN HENDERSON PHOTOGRAPHED BY STEVE FREIHON; BOTTOM: KITCHEN DESIGNED BY BONESTEEL TROUT HALL AND ERIC OLSEN ARCHITECT PHOTOGRAPHED BY MEGHAN BEIERLE-O’BRIEN; BARBARA SALLICK PORTRAIT: COURTESY OF WATERWORKS

above: Barbara Sallick

shoptalk

Seating Be-Stowed

AWARD WINNING THREE LOCAL LANDSCAPE FIRMS ARE RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE

Nordic-meets-California seating SHOWROOM opens in Westport above and below: The winning projects from Artemis Landscape Architects (above left);

James Doyle Design Associates (above right); and Janice Parker Landscape Architects (below).

T

he Connecticut Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (CTASLA) recently announced the winners of the 2020 Connecticut Professional Awards competition, recognizing excellence in landscape architectural design, planning and analysis, communication and research.

Applicants must be a landscape architect or designer in Connecticut, and the entrant or project location must be based in Connecticut.

CTASLA also included Student Awards this year for the first time, inviting eligible students to submit scholastic work for peer review.

The winners of the competition included those in the Landscape Architectural Design/Residential category. Artemis Landscape Architects from Sandy Hook won the Honor Award for its Coastal Contemporary Landscape project in Westport; James Doyle Design Associates in Greenwich won the Merit Award for its Greenwich Modern project in Greenwich; Janice Parker Landscape Architects in

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Greenwich won the Merit Award for its Private Eden project in Redding; and Anne Penniman Associates in Essex won the Merit Award for its Re-envisioning a Hamptons Landscape project in Southampton, New York. For a full list of winners, visit ctasla.org.

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) is the national professional association for landscape architects. ASLA promotes the landscape architecture profession and advances the practice through advocacy, education, communication and fellowship. To learn more about the Connecticut Chapter, visit ctasla.org.

PHOTOGRAPHY: STOWED: TOMMASO RIVA; CTASLA: ARTEMIS AND JAMES DOYLE: NEIL LANDINO; JANICE PARKER: DURSTON SAYLOR

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ormer Wall Street lawyer-turned-serial entrepreneur Elissia Sigalow didn’t set out to start STOWED, much less find a new way to make and ship furniture. After leaving the finance world to start and sell her own business, she was in the midst of slowing to an “almost pause” to focus on her family and their under-construction new home. Not finding ample readily available, well-made pieces from U.S. retailers that fit the Nordic-meetsCalifornia cool look she loved, Sigalow decided to source her own.

What happened next was an odyssey that led her around the world as she called on hundreds of suppliers and met with manufacturers to create the pieces she wanted. Before long, Sigalow had set up what she then realized was an entire supply chain for making and shipping furniture. Not only had she figured out a way to create the look she wanted in her own home, she’d also accidentally built the foundation for the business that became STOWED. STOWED delivers seating that is casual but luxurious. The handmade furniture is a soothing backdrop for everyday life, and it fits seamlessly into your world as it evolves. Imbued with cool Nordic inspiration and an eye for versatility, dining chairs easily become accent seating, and stools graduate to side tables. Each handcrafted wooden and upholstered piece is designed and built to be just as loved in forty years as it is today.

Sigalow also saw an opportunity to tackle a pervasive, industry-wide challenge: the last-mile delivery problem. With a “try on” model of an ottoman (delivered for free), customers can shop without leaving home. Because STOWED’s designer-quality products are light and easy to assemble, all orders are delivered via FedEx, which avoids in-home delivery and professional set-up. 170 Post Road West, Westport; 203-349-5867; stowedhome.com

WAKEFIELD design center TO THE TRADE ONLY

Curated by Designers for Designers

T: 203.358.0818 | wakefielddesigncenter.com | @wakefielddesign

shoptalk

ART OF DESIGN

LARS BOLANDER OPENS A NEW RETAIL LOCATION IN WESTPORT

Building Business A professional women’s council is making its mark

T

he Professional Women in Building

member Robin Carroll, showcased the use of

Council (PWB), within the Home

innovative building materials and methods

Builders and Remodelers Association

in constructing a modern home. To help

(HBRA) of Fairfield County, is dedicated

accomplish this goal, ten additional PWB

to supporting the professional development

members collaborated on the project.

During the current pandemic crisis, the

of women within the home building industry.

Its members include builders, architects, interior designers, stagers, building industry

PWB continues to reach out to members The current PWB board members

information as well as phone calls and

suppliers and support service providers such as financial lenders and marketing services.

through a dissemination of pertinent

Beginning as a women’s networking

emails, and provides value through remote

group in January 2018 with twenty-eight

presentations, networking sessions and

the PWB and principal of Stephanie Rapp

charter members, the PWB currently

organizing to reach out to those with

Interiors, says the group’s mission is to

boasts seventy-two members and has been

immediate needs.

“offer its membership an edge through

recognized by the HBRA nationally as the

peer support, networking and professional

largest and fastest-growing PWB group in

board members include Emilia Ferri of Emilia

development, as women in the building

the country. Members have also gained

Ferri Architecture + Design, Lisa Bancroft of

industry have specialized interests and

benefits through project collaborations.

Fairfield County Bank, Peggy Rubens-Duhl of

unique challenges.” Giving back to the

Most recently, the 2019 This Old House

Fresh Architect, Tarra Del Chiaro of Accurate

community through charitable works and

Idea House in New Canaan built by Karp

Lock & Hardware, and Angela Legg of Go Live

mentoring is also a current goal taking on an

Associates, whose director of design and

X. To learn more about the HBRA and the

expanded role.

residential construction is PWB board

PWB, visit buildfairfieldcounty.com.

Stephanie Rapp, the current chair of

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In addition to Rapp and Carroll, current

PHOTOGRAPHY: STEPHANIE RAPP PORTRAIT: WILLIE COLE

Stephanie Rapp, chair of PWB

PHOTOGRAPHY: NINA CHOI

A

cclaimed interior designer Lars Bolander has brought his signature eclectic elegance to Connecticut with a newly opened shop at 1300 Post Road East in Westport. The creative and artistic scene and varied cultural vibe of the town were an easy draw for Bolander, as was its proximity to New York City. The 2,600-square-foot space encapsulates the vision of accessible grandeur Bolander had for the shop and features both indoor and outdoor space.

The shop offers a mix of contemporary furniture, textiles and decorative accessories from all over the world; the melding of different arts is a signature of Bolander’s work. Umbrellas from Bali, Thai elephant stands, Chinese lacquered pieces and rugs from Indonesia all sit in harmony among Austrian modern furniture, French columns and Italian paintings. A mix of 19th-century Scandinavian and other European antiques will also be featured alongside Swedish pieces, both Gustavian and modern. Bolander commissions various painters, printmakers and sculptors for works and offers custom designs.

While temporarily closed, the retail shop is available by phone at 203-292-6886 or email at chris@larsbolander.com. 1300 Post Road East, Westport; larsbolander.com

35 elm street. westport serenaandlily.com

LIVABLE color, pattern and texture offer a family-friendly spin on luxury

this spread: In the living room, a curved sofa lends itself to intimate conversations during family gatherings. A Stark carpet grounds the floor, the backs of the chairs are covered in a Kravet Couture fabric and the sconces are from Kelly Wearstler.

LUXE

interview with cami fareri luppino & al ana irwin, lulu home | phot o gr apher jane beiles

in with a cabinetmaker and outfitted a ton of custom built-ins. We also built out the entire basement.

These are clients you’ve worked with before, right?

Cami Fareri Luppino: Yes—the clients are Bruce and Hilary Murray, and

they’re wonderful people and great to work with. Bruce is a SiriusXM NFL Radio host, and Hilary is a luxury travel advisor. They have three boys and two dogs, and we had designed their previous home in Chappaqua. Very sadly, they had a devastating house fire and lost all of their belongings. They never had intentions of moving, but as a result of losing their home, they found this new home in Greenwich built by an amazing builder, Jim Gardiner of CLT Development. They called us and said, “We think we found our home. Would you come look at it with us?” They then brought us on, and it was a very fast turnaround.

From the moment we stepped inside the house for the first time to the moment we received their sign-off, we had all of our orders placed and everything set within three weeks. The house stayed as is, but we did go

What was their vision for their new home? CL: They wanted luxe,

they wanted memorable, they wanted color, and they wanted some unexpected touches. Since we had worked with them in the past, Bruce and Hilary really trusted our vision, and with the timeline we were working with, it was helpful to be on the same visual page as them.

Alana Irwin: I would say the home is very luxe, but in a family-friendly way. For example, there is a grand leather chandelier in the dining room— it’s not glitzy, but it’s still impactful. The home is luxe without the glitz.

CL: It’s livable luxe.

AI: Cami and I looked at the bones of the house and what we thought would work best, and that’s what we presented to Bruce, Hilary and

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opposite: An Arteriors lamp provides a source of light in the living room, and the drapery fabric is from Casamance. this page, bottom left and bottom right: Original art

by Jacques NestlĂŠ is displayed in the living room built-ins; a SkLO vase is an elegant accessory.

MAY/JUN 2020

25

athome

“The dining room is my favorite space. It’s a marriage of everything I love about design .”

—cami fareri luppino

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this page: The family room’s neutral palette gets a dose of texture from a Phillip Jeffries’s wallcovering on the ceiling. A Lee Industries sectional in a Crypton Performance fabric offers ample seating, and an Aronson Woodworks console and a Ben & Aja Blanc mirror create a chic vignette in the corner. opposite: The dining room’s statement-maker is a leather chandelier custom-made in South Africa, and a pair of lamps

by Thomas O’Brien for Visual Comfort flanks a mirror from Modern History.

the boys on presentation day. We prayed that they would love it, and thankfully, they did!

Did you collaborate with other design professionals on this project?

CL: The builder was instrumental. Jim is such a yes man. We’d say, “Do you think it’s possible…,” and before we could finish our sentence, he would say, “Yes.” We felt as if we had all been working together for years, and we really functioned as a cohesive team. This was also the first project for Alana and me together as lulu HOME. How did you arrive on the color palette? CL: There is a continuity in the

various spaces, in the sense that the background colors all seamlessly flow from one space to the next. Each room required its own identity, in that we chose to implement a saturated color into each space, giving them all a different color vibe. The clients are drawn to blue, so that’s definitely a theme throughout, with a different hue of it found in each space.

MAY/JUN 2020

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left: A sofa and chairs from Restoration Hardware and the use of Perennials fabrics on the upholstery ensure the four-season porch is fit for family as well as the Murrays’ two dogs. opposite, clockwise from top left: A custom banquette designed by lulu HOME maximizes space in a high-traffic area; a Cole & Son wallcovering is a whimsical touch in the powder room, and the Roman shade is made from a Zinc Textile fabric; lanterns by Circa Lighting preside over the island in the kitchen, and the cherry sculptures on top of the island are from Arteriors; Hilary’s office is crowned by an Arteriors chandelier, and Vanguard swivel chairs offer comfy perches for clients.

AI: In the family room, we didn’t actually use that much color. We wanted this room to be more layered, neutral and quiet. We didn’t want it to be overpowering with color, but rather relaxing and calm. We think of it as “the Hamptons in Greenwich,” and the Phillip Jeffries grasscloth on the ceiling adds so much texture to the room. We used a lot more color in the bedrooms—we had a lot of fun and went mad with color up there.

texture and the shape and form of the upholstery fabric on the backs of the living room chairs, and we were very mindful about picking the drapery fabrics. Patterns repeating was important. We didn’t want the two rooms to conflict.

AI: When you’re in the dining room looking into the living room, you see the backs of the two chairs in the living room. We came up with the idea to use this structural, almost art-like fabric on the backs of the chairs, and that was the jumping-off point for the living room; we built the space around that. For the dining room, the focus is definitely the leather chandelier, and there is a beautiful gray putty color lacquered on the walls.

The living and dining rooms flow into each other. How did you design these two? CL: I think the rooms are great counterbalances to one

another. There are various structural components that repeat, like the

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“I would say the home is very luxe , but in a family-friendly way.”

—alana irwin

this spread: A wallcovering by Emma Hayes for Bradley launched the design of the master bedroom, and the sofa in the seating area adds another pop of blue to the space. A Currey & Company chandelier is above, and a pair of Arteriors lamps flanks the bed. In the master bath, honed dolomite was used on the floor, in the shower and for the countertop of the dark blue vanity.

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AI: And both rooms are definitely being used—right after we installed, Bruce and Hilary had a party the following weekend!

this spread: In one of the sons’ bedrooms, a blue geometric wallcovering from Kravet is echoed in Roman shades made from a Kravet fabric, and the light fixture above the bed is from Jonathan Adler. In the en suite bath, a graphic Villa Nova wallcovering bears the same tones as the Schumacher fabric used for the Roman shade.

I spy a blue banquette in the kitchen. What was the thought behind this?

CL: The window behind the banquette is on axis with the front door.

From a usage and space-planning perspective, this area was a bit snug for a dining table. Because they’re a large family with kids coming and going, it was important to maintain an open flow from the foyer into the kitchen and between the kitchen and the family room. We designed the banquette to nestle into that corner to buy more circulation space.

The color is more in the living room, and there are more muted tones in the dining room. The star was the chandelier.

CL: We were strategic about keeping the dining room quieter, and to Alana’s point, the artwork is certainly the chandelier, so it was intentional that we didn’t include any other art.

How did the kitchen and family room influence the design of each other?

CL: As we mentioned, there is a reoccurring pop of blue in various shades in the house. We carried the blue into the family room in a more muted way, just in the artwork and pillows. If you’re in the family room looking

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into the kitchen, you see a sliver of the blue banquette, and there’s also a blue door that leads into the pantry. The pantry door is mimicked by the artwork in the family room. Given that they’re adjoining spaces, the layering in and continuity of color were purposeful.

on the carpet that is carried up through the back wall with the wood herringbone pattern, and then we married that with the wallcovering in a similar pattern in the en suite bath. The room is restful on the eye even though it has a lot of big patterns. It’s very consistent.

AI: We didn’t want any blue in here, and we found that yellow art that we absolutely loved, and we inverted it. We played off of the pattern with the fabric on the Roman shades, and we introduced some citron with the pillows. The bedding is very quiet, the woodwork is quiet, and the carpet is quiet. The room has just a touch of color, but it’s memorable.

What can you tell me about the master suite? AI: We started with the

wallpaper, and we used the blue on the sofa to play off of that wallpaper.

The nightstands are a shimmery grasscloth, the headboard is a dark gray, and the vanity in the master bath is a very dark blue. We wanted the master suite to be beautiful, serene and elegant, but not too feminine.

What about the room with the blue wallcovering? AI: This is a younger

son’s bedroom, and he’s very into Legos. We wanted it to be a cool, inyour-face room, and he loved it. Everything about this room is just fun.

We presented our designs to the boys just as we would to the adults, and none of the boys changed a thing, not even a pillow. At the end of the day,

I see a room with a herringbone pattern behind the bed—whose is this?

CL: This is one of the sons’ bedrooms. He’s older, so we wanted to give him more of an adult room, yet fun for his age. It’s a rather tonal space, so again it was important that patterns repeat. There’s a grid-like form

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above: In another son’s bedroom, a wallcovering by Kelly Wearstler for Lee Jofa adds drama. The chandelier is from Currey & Company, and the Roman shades are crafted from a Zoffany fabric. In the en suite bath, the wallcovering is from Schumacher, and the lighting is by Thomas O’Brien for Circa Lighting.

A photograph from the Conversations series by Christos J. Palios is just outside the door.

these are their rooms, and we wanted them to be happy.

CL: That chandelier was a hard sell for Hilary. But she believed in us, and she believed that if we felt so strongly about it, it would work out well.

AI: We definitely decided to go big or go home.

CL: Bruce and Hilary had not set foot in the house from the second they signed off on the designs until the day we revealed it to them after install.

They were over the moon. It was so rewarding.

—interview by lauren fetterman

Is there a space you love the most? CL: The dining room. It’s a marriage

of everything I love about design. It has super impactful moments. I love a tonal interior. I love the texture of the chandelier. I love the materials, like the mohair on the chairs, the balance of the leather with the lacquer.

It’s a thoughtful, layered space.

AI: She took my mine! [laughs] Cami and I finish each other’s sentences.

Resources:

Any favorite moments on this project? AI: It goes back to the chandelier.

Interior designer: lulu HOME, Greenwich and Bedford, NY; 914-234-8684;

It was the longest lead time we had waited for, and when the chandelier came, we were having such problems installing it. We were just holding our breath as they uncrated it. It was scary! [laughs]

luluhomedesign.com Builder: Jim Gardiner, CLT Development; 646-256-3199 Architect: Marc G. Andre Architects, Fairfield; 203-979-0589; mgandregroup.com

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below: A Design Within Reach chandelier and a grid-like Stark rug furnish another son’s bedroom.

Wood was applied in a herringbone pattern behind the bed.

“There is a continuity in the various spaces, in the sense that the background colors all seamlessly flow from one space to the next.”

—cami fareri luppino

opposite: In the master bedroom, an oversized arched window provides unobstructed views to the Sound. In addition to the coziness of a bedroom hearth, the walls are covered in a soft gray shagreen pattern from Surfaces by David Bonk. In the evening, the room is illuminated by a custom chandelier from Ochre. below: Hirsch designed the ottoman in the bathroom, upholstered in a Perennials outdoor fabric.

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interview with melissa lindsay, pimlic o interiors | phot o gr apher amy vischio

GRAND TOUR

An antique home embraces a more modern approach while honoring its history

This is a beautiful antique home. What drew your clients to it? My clients

and renovated it, so while we did some work on it, we didn’t need to do a full gut job. We incorporated a few key pieces here and there as well as some artwork they wanted to bring over, but they were ready to start from scratch with furnishings and decorating. This was their forever home.

are a family of six, and they really desired living closer to a community and their kids’ activities. With four children, they’re driving all the time, and they loved the idea of being able to walk to town. They found this Federal Georgian-style home in Ridgefield that was built in 1787, and it’s a little over 9,000 square feet. The clients had come from an antique house, and they love the quirkiness and charm these homes can bring.

Before they purchased it, a father-and-son team had completely restored

What was the extent of the updates you made? One major change

was updating the recessed lighting—since the ceilings are on the low side because this is an old house, we changed all of the recessed lighting

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opposite: Glimpsed from the foyer, the dining room is outfitted with a cluster of light fixtures by Profiles; the second-floor hallway is furnished with an ottoman from Hickory Chair in a Rosemary Hallgarten fabric, and the wall sconces are by The Urban Electric Co. this page: The family room seating area is centered on a sleek custom coffee table by Pimlico Interiors. The hanging light fixture is from L’Antiquaire, the rug is by J.D. Staron, and the floor lamp is by Porta Romana.

this page, top left and right: The powder room, tucked under the main staircase, gets the jewel-box treatment with a stunning Nobilis wallcovering, vintage hanging light fixture and sconce by The Urban Electric Co.; artwork by Amy Vischio and a CF Modern offoman grace the family room. opposite: OmbrĂŠ pillows by Rosemary Hallgarten and a floral pillow fabric by the Designers Guild introduce moments of rich color into the family room.

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to a more contemporary, flangeless style so they weren’t as much of a distraction. The clients didn’t want to embark on a full kitchen renovation, so we put in all new countertops and plumbing fixtures, painted the cabinets and replaced a built-in desk with new cabinetry. We also installed a new walnut countertop, sink and faucet in the butler’s pantry, and we changed all of the vanities and sconces in the bathrooms upstairs. In terms of decorating, we used a lot of wallcoverings throughout the house and all new paint. It was about bringing the house to the next level with some fairly significant changes, but nothing major in terms of architectural updates.

she’d say, “I know you know!” [laughs] We were so in sync at the end; it’s really special when you can get to that point in your working relationship.

What was it like working with this client? The wife really appreciates

How would you describe the color palette you chose? The living room

good design, quality and craftsmanship. What I love about her is that she knows what she likes; she’s very decisive. I was able to take what she liked, combine that with the architecture of the home, and create a really strong design. There was great synergy between us, and we would joke— I would bring three fabrics to show her, and I already knew which one she would pick. She would say, “I like that one.” And I’d say, “I know.” And

is the grandest space, and it gets great light throughout the day. I loved the idea of a beautiful cream palette, and I punctuated it with a strong teal and mixed in some cooler grays. The space feels soothing and elegant yet vibrant with the teal. It was just a few moments of it to give it some energy, but not enough to overwhelm the space. It was also important not to compete with architectural details like the windows and columns, but

Since the clients wanted to start new, what were they looking for?

We took a slightly more modern approach from where they had come from, but it was important to still honor the home’s historic architectural qualities. It’s an expansive home with nice proportions, and there’s a beautiful mix of intimate rooms, like her reading room and the husband’s study, and larger rooms, like the living room. It was interesting to balance the charm and casual feel of this house with its elegant grandness.

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rather to enhance them; the cream enveloping the room does that nicely here. For some of the smaller spaces, like the study or the reading room, these were opportunities to create jewel boxes.

Since his study and her reading room both open up to the living room, did you have to design these three rooms together in a sense? A little

bit. I wanted you to be able to look through one room into the next and feel like it all made sense, yet also feel like you were in very different spaces. Because the living room is so large, if it had just flowed into those other two rooms, you wouldn’t have felt grounded. The rooms needed to flow yet feel distinct. His study is bold, and it reads quite well off of the teal in the living room; the sharp contrast of the large cream space and this smaller, saturated room is really dynamic. I made her reading room more feminine with a curved sofa, floral wallcovering and a softer palette of mauves and lilacs. I wanted these smaller, interior rooms to stand out yet not feel disparate from the rest of the house.

Any special considerations for the dining room? The biggest design

challenge here is that the dining table is off-center. If you’re looking into the room from the foyer, there is a fireplace on the left and two windows in the back that serve as a focal point. If you were to center the table between those windows, which is what would make sense, you would be too close to the fireplace. Since we weren’t getting rid of the fireplace or moving walls, we had to figure out how to make this room look spatially correct while being off-center. My solution was to put a cluster of light fixtures above the table. A single fixture clearly would have looked offcenter, but a cluster of lights not only tricks the eye but looks great!

How did you determine the best layout for the family room? This is a

comfortably sized space for their family of six. We chose not to put the TV over the fireplace—it’s across from the sofa—and we devised a layout ideal for gathering and watching TV. The appeal of the Chesterfield sofa, which anchors the room, is that there are no loose cushions, so it’s a great

“It was interesting to balance the charm and casual feel of this house with its elegant grandness .”

—melissa lindsay

this spread: Updates to the spacious kitchen included new faucet fixtures by Dornbracht and hanging light fixtures by The Urban Electric Co. The butler’s pantry received a new vintage light fixture, and a Celerie Kemble wallcovering offers a sophisticated feel.

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above: Dining chairs by Baker Furniture are pulled up to a Rose Tarlow table in the dining room. A Phillip Jeffries wallcovering envelops the space. near right and opposite: The wife’s reading room is wrapped in an elegant floral wallcovering by Stark. A rug by J.D. Staron grounds the space, and the demilune tables flanking the fireplace and the wall sconces above the mantel are all vintage. The gently curved sofa, upholstered in a Dedar fabric, and a floor lamp from Circa Lighting create the perfect reading spot.

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“Some of the smaller spaces , like his study or her reading room, were opportunities to create jewel boxes .”

—melissa lindsay

this spread: One of the seating areas in the expansive living room includes a Holly Hunt sofa, vintage club chairs and an antique mirror coffee table through Pimlico Interiors.

above: A vintage brass leaf table lamp is displayed on a set of nesting tables by Edward Ferrell. The rug is by Rosemary Hallgarten. opposite: A custom “tête-à-tête” chair designed

by Pimlico Interiors creatively connects the two seating areas in the living room; a sculpture

by Paul Bloch through Heather Gaudio Fine Art is another point of interest.

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“It’s fun to face the design challenges of an old house. They can lead you to creative ideas .”

—melissa lindsay

family sofa. We upholstered it in an indoor/outdoor fabric, and it has a tight back and seat. The round chairs completely swivel around, and the armless chair facing the fireplace is visually open. This was important because we didn’t want the chair to block the way you walk through the space, yet it’s substantial and very comfortable. There’s an upholstered ottoman off to the side that’s easy to pull up as well. I also loved the symmetry of the two chests on either side of the fireplace, which makes that wall a strong focal point. It was about creating beauty and a strong spatial layout, and making a space that was built for a time when we lived very differently into the best it can be for today.

year. For this room, we mixed the warm with the cool. The warmth of the wood furniture feels very in keeping with an antique home but in a modern way, and there are cool tones with some of the upholstery. We did a wool flannel for the curved chairs and a cotton velvet for the sofa that has more of an elegant feel. We balanced texture with this small moment of color. I love the floral and the moss green; it just works.

How did their master bedroom come together? Two things were

musts. One, she wanted to keep their existing canopy bed; and two, she absolutely loved the rug from their existing bedroom, so we recreated that on a larger scale for their new master. Those were our starting points, and we built on the design from there. It was a decently scaled room, so an upholstered settee at the end of the bed with a vintage coffee table filled in one expanse. We created another moment by the window, with a chair and an ottoman with beautiful lines, that stands on its own. The ceilings

What inspired the purples and greens in this room? My client loves

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this page: In the middle daughter’s bedroom, a feature wall covered in a whimsical wallcovering by Schumacher is a delightful surprise upon entering.

The bed is dressed in linens from The Linen Shop, and nightstands custom through Pimlico Interiors are topped with lamps from Made Goods. In the corner, a vintage Art Deco-style vanity is paired with a vintage acrylic chair for homework sessions, and a ceiling light from L’Antiquaire is overhead.

Vintage sconces placed above the fireplace mantel are another chic touch.

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top left, top right and near right: In the master bedroom, the area rug and the ombrĂŠ drapery fabric are both from Holly Hunt.

A plush settee is pulled up to a vintage coffee table at the foot of the bed, and a club chair and ottoman by Donghia are tucked into a corner. bottom left and bottom right: The youngest daughter’s bedroom is a vision in pink. The canopy and drapery fabric is by Designers Guild through Osborne & Little, and the rug is by Stark. In addition to the custom bed by Pimlico Interiors, seating options include a fuschia leather ottoman by Oly Studio and an ottoman covered in a striped fabric by Duralee. A floor lamp by Stray Dog and a turquoise table lamp by Jill Rosenwald help brighten the room at night.

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opposite: Fun hanging light fixtures by Arteriors and clean-lined floating shelves on either side of the bed free up space in the oldest daughter’s bedroom. The custom headboard by Pimlico Interiors is accented with taping by Samuel & Sons, and the bed linens are from The Linen Shop. above: In the third-floor playspace, Pantone chairs through Design Within Reach are set up for playing games. The built-in window seat and wall sconces were added during the project.

are low, so I was mindful about keeping the room feeling expansive.

Instead of traditional drapery hardware, we created a track that brings the drapery panels up to the ceiling. The ombré pattern of the draperies gives the room a luxurious feel and draws your eye up. It worked nicely with the existing wall color from when they bought the house, so this was the only room we didn’t paint. It has a soothing palette and a great mix of old and new.

you see when you walk in. This room turned out really well despite not having a lot of space. The room with the silver metallic wallcovering is the middle daughter’s, and it could be mistaken for a master—it’s large, and we played up the elegance of it while making it feel fun. There is this beautiful headboard, a Murano glass light fixture, vintage Murano glass sconces by the fireplace and a whimsical feature wall with a cozy tufted sofa and ottoman. She didn’t want any color in her room, so it was an opportunity to let certain pieces shine, like the vintage Art Deco-style vanity that serves as a desk. The pink bedroom is the youngest daughter’s room. It’s fairly large with a fireplace in the corner and a lot of windows, so we had to ground the space and give it hierarchy. The canopy-like bed can also serve as a sofa, and she can create a seating area around it with the chair and ottomans. She loved the pink floral design, and I paired it with an unexpected stripe and blues and grays so it didn’t feel too precious.

How did you give each of the daughters’ rooms a personality?

These rooms were the first design presentations we did, as it was important to the clients that the children’s rooms be complete upon move-in day.

The room with the hanging lights over the bed is the oldest daughter’s room, and she has a cool, funky style. We put this neat wallpaper on the ceiling, fun lights over the bed and floating shelves on either side.

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this spread: The husband’s study makes a bold statement with orange club chairs by Jiun Ho, side tables by Palecek and a floor lamp by Porta Romana.

Tell me about the playroom. This is on the top floor, along with their

throw in iconic columns!” [laughs] When things aren’t done exactly how they would be done today, that creates challenges. But when you can come up with creative approaches to deal with them, that’s when the magic happens. —interview by lauren fetterman

son’s bedroom and a guest room. It was already there, so we did a few things such as adding the built-in window seat, the wall sconces and some built-in shelving for game storage. We also created a very large lounge seating area.

Resources: What did you like about designing and decorating an antique home?

Interior designer: Pimlico Interiors,

It’s actually fun to face the design challenges of an old house. Sometimes they lead you to creative ideas, because if you were building a new home, you might say, “We’re doing a large living room, but we’re not going to

Westport; 203-972-8166; pimlicointeriors.com Contractor: Keith Gerety, Gerety Building & Restoration, Katonah, NY; 203-531-8100; geretyrestoration.com

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interview with amy z olin, cl arit y home interiors | phot o gr apher chichi ubiÑa

Vacation Vibes A new home welcomes high-end design for a laidback lifestyle

this spread: This new summer/ weekend home was painted in selections from Benjamin Moore: Stonington Gray on the exterior with Floral White on the trim and shutters.

above: The family room opens up to the expansive patio and pool. Floor-to-ceiling windows and doors on the first floor create an indoor/outdoor feel.

This home has an interesting backstory. Yes, it does! The client works

home, we added shutters to the historic house and painted it the same color, but we didn’t use the original house as a point of reference. The client had a completely different vision for the new home.

in the city, has a place in Palm Beach and summers in Rowayton. He owns the historic home next door, and he bought this property because he wanted to build a new house here where he could live during the summer and on weekends while keeping the historic home as a guest house. He’s using both homes to entertain.

What was that vision? He wanted a ton of light, and since a few of the

rooms would have water views, he wanted to take advantage of that.

He loves St. Bart’s, so that was the overall influence with the high ceilings and the beams. All in all, he wanted to create a lifestyle with this house, where he could be completely casual. With the furniture, I blended sophistication with a little more of a retreat, laissez-faire vibe.

We both understood high-end fabrics and high-end furniture, but it still had to look laidback. My goal was to come in and start blending the architecture with the lifestyle he wanted to be immersed in.

You can see the connection created between the two. Even though the

properties are small, there is definitely a meandering feeling between them. They have two distinct personalities—one is historic, one is new— but the landscaping creates this great sense of synergy. That’s really difficult to do, and it’s amazing how the landscape professionals were able to do that. This project was a wonderful collaboration between the client and the entire design team.

What colors were you drawn to? We wanted white and fresh, but I love Did the historic house influence the design of the new one? It’s funny,

color, and he was fine with me including some pops. The first-floor bookshelves we designed are red. Upstairs, there are pops of yellow in the

but they actually don’t relate to each other. After we finished the new

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master—an Hermès pillow he found in St. Bart’s that is on the bed started the conversation. In the guest bedroom, I wanted a crisp green that had a tropical feeling as a nod back to the island, but with a Connecticut vibe.

But whites and neutrals were predominant, and the oak floor gave us a soft palette. The use of floor-to-ceiling windows on the first floor was a great architectural detail from Beinfield. We didn’t want to take away from that, so almost all of the window treatments are sheer.

Did anything in particular launch the overall design concept? When we

were first meeting the client, I was listening to the things he liked. I looked up in my bookcase and saw this Christian Liaigre coffee table book. I gave it to him and said, “Is this the feeling? Is this what makes you happy?” It was really about luxury, and he took that and loved it. So, I decided to paint the beams black in the living room and did a very high-gloss black front door. You can see the black furniture in the living room is just with simple whites. It’s layers of texture; nothing is fussy. In the family room, I picked soft tones of linen in light blues and grays and mixed them up for the pillows. None of them match; there’s a different fabric for each pillow.

I wanted that not-too-put-together look.

Did you incorporate any existing furniture? No, we started fresh with

everything, except for the kitchen, where there are three vintage bar stools the client already owned. We pretty much made everything and customized some furniture, and we bought some Christian Liaigre pieces.

How did you approach the living room as the home’s first impression?

Since you walk right into that room from the front door, you needed a starting point to be in the room. The matching consoles on either side of the door gave me that pausing moment, a place where the client could put down his keys or a guest could place a gift. I wanted those consoles to function as the entry into the room, but the first thing you see when you come inside is that gorgeous stucco wall. I love that there isn’t a big mantel or a heavy, ornamental fireplace. It’s really clean, without any surround.

Beinfield also added a very thin, floating piece of metal above it in the stucco, and it gave it such a chic look; it looks like something you’d see at a resort. I loved the texture of the stucco versus the shiplap on the ceiling and the walls. Because you have to pass through this room while using it as a living space, I also needed to create walkways. The space was really well-proportioned from an architectural standpoint.

below: The family room is furnished with a custom sofa and metal coffee table, both designed by Clarity Home Interiors, as well as two Latin chairs from Christian Liaigre in a Designers Guild linen. Lamps from Circa Lighting sit on a custom table that can be pulled out and expanded for dinner parties.

above: The kitchen was designed by Amy Zolin of Clarity Home Interiors and Bruce Beinfield of Beinfield Architecture and supplied by Nukitchens. Standouts include the Zephyr hood, Wolf range, Sub-Zero fridge, Julien sink, and faucet from Brizo’s Litze collection. Caesarstone’s Cloudburst is on the counters, and white dolomite polished marble from Connecticut Stone covers the backsplash. Hardware from Top Knobs, a set of Anders pendants from Circa Lighting and the client’s own vintage bar stools complete the look. right: In the guest bedroom, the custom bed features a headboard in Schumacher’s Zebra Palm fabric, and the European box pillows are in Schumacher’s Nolita Embroidery on white linen. A pair of Kubrick ottomans from Highland House are in a green Schumacher linen, and the custom flat-weave black-andwhite rug is by Clarity Home Interiors.

above: The living room welcomes you inside with a high-gloss black front door and matching ceiling beams. A pair of custom chairs sits on one side of the custom coffee table, and a Verellen Gregoire sofa in Romo’s Oyster linen is on the other. On the stucco wall, a custom bronze mantel floats above the fireplace, and sheer window treatments by Hartmann & Forbes filter in light.

Points of interest include the client’s black-and-white photography of St. Bart’s and the artwork over the sofa from Clic.

Did the client have any preferences for the kitchen? He wasn’t involved

Beinfield did the beams in the ceiling, and that uniform pattern going across really adds to the structure. We didn’t put shiplap in here, but we wanted to carry that same feeling, so ceiling details were important.

in the design of the kitchen, but he did like the materials. I picked out the wood color, cabinet style and countertops. He didn’t want to deal with stains, so we used a quartzite on the counters. I didn’t want the kitchen to look too industrial, so the tile for the backsplash is a marble. I designed the kitchen with Bruce Beinfield, and it was supplied by Nukitchens.

I see a built-in desk in the guest room. The client can work there if he

needs to, and he has a water view. There is a refrigerator, a pullout printer and plenty of space for his computer. He wanted it to be so that if a guest stays in this room, it doesn’t look like an office. Everything is custom—the rug, the bed, the upholstery. He was happy for me to take some risks in places, like the Schumacher palm print on the headboard. I also love the ottomans at the end of the bed, where a guest could put a suitcase. The client also had some art at the other house, so I grabbed those prints and put them up behind the bed. This room isn’t overdone; it’s very inviting.

Since the family room opens up to the patio and pool, were there any special considerations for this space? We didn’t use any indoor/outdoor

fabrics, but we had everything fiber-sealed so the client doesn’t have to worry about anything. He wanted a dining table in this space, but I said, “You can’t fit a table in here!” But he really wanted to be able to move the furniture and have a dining table, so I designed and made a custom trellis table and put it behind the sofa. It’s just a sofa table right now, but when you bring it out, both sides come up, and you have a full 86-inch table. He loves it, and he keeps chairs stacked in the garage for when he has dinner parties. We were creative to fit what we could in here. We had to lay out things differently, but the scale of the room is really good.

And what about his master suite? I wanted to continue the black-and-

white scheme, but I didn’t want the harshness of black beams up here. I wanted it to be light and airy, and the client loves canopy beds. Everything was custom in here. I don’t really decorate with gray, but this was a space

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athome

“My proudest moment was taking a description of the lifestyle he wanted and creating that for him.”

—amy zolin

this page: A pair of consoles provides a point of entry from the front door into the living room. Custom red shades on Lucite lamps offer a pop of color in the black-and-white space. opposite: Ten-inch-deep red lacquered custom wood bookshelves with metal details lead the way into the kitchen and family room.

opposite: A pair of consoles provides a point of entry from the front door into the living room. Custom red shades on Lucite lamps offer a pop of color in the blackand-white space. left: The master bath is covered in 24-by-24-inch floor tiles; the shower floor, walls and ceiling are faced in Grey Mist polished marble; the shower curb is a slab of Bardiglio; and the custom vanity designed by Clarity Home Interiors is topped with Aurea Paragon, all from Connecticut Stone. Plumbing is from Rohl’s Lombardia collection from Torrco, lighting is from the Finch and Milan series by Tech Lighting, and the freestanding tub is from SLIK Portfolio. below: The light and airy master bedroom is furnished with a custom bed and end tables as well as a bench by Vanguard in Holland & Sherry’s Ellington fabric in Citron. A white Minka-Aire ceiling fan is above, and a custom silk-and-wool rug is underfoot. Lamps from Circa Lighting are perfect for nighttime reading, and a Sandra Jordan Prima Alpaca throw in Sunshine and Heather Grey and an Hermès pillow offer sunny bursts of color.

where gray was a nice neutral, and the Hermès pillow gave us that hit of yellow. For the master bath, I went with him to look at tile and stone. We didn’t want anything traditional, and I found pictures of some mosaics that scale, and he loved them. I wanted the shower to look like a plinth, so the base is mitered so it looks like a block of stone. I designed the vanity, and Connecticut Stone fabricated the top so it looks more like a solid slab.

It’s no fuss, so it won’t stain. I was talking to the client about resale, and I put some lavenders in the room so he could see that it could be a feminine bath as well as a masculine one. It’s a spa-like retreat.

What do you love most about this home? It feels clean and fresh, but it

still has lots of personality. I think it’s easy to design something clean and fresh, but it’s hard to put personality into that. And it can be challenging when everything is new. You don’t want it to look like a showroom; you want it to look like the client, and this house looks and feels like the client.

When you see the home without the layers, you see black and white and red, so it was nice to go “shopping” next door and find things for him. He wanted to leave all of his clutter behind, but he still wanted to have things that were his. That was my proudest moment—taking a description of the lifestyle he wanted and creating that for him. —interview by lauren fetterman Resources: Interior designer: Clarity Home Interiors, Greenwich; 203-340-2468; clarityhomeinteriors.com Architect: Beinfield Architecture, South Norwalk; 203-838-5789; beinfield.com Landscape architect: Richard Hartlage, Land Morphology, Seattle; 206-443-2120; landmorphology.com Landscaper: Chris Harvey-Smith, Create-A-Scape Garden & Maintenance, Norwalk; 203-866-0178

MAY/JUN 2020

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athome

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last word/GREAT OUTDOORS JOE WERNER

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MCARDLE’S FLORIST & GARDEN CENTER

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Palette: Color is meant to give an emotional response, so it should be used differently for every individual. Not every color is for everyone, so I have a dialogue with clients about color up front. White and green will always be a classic.

Water features or lawn sculptures: It’s very exciting to see more artistic expression in landscapes! A piece of art is a great way to imbue a landscape with personality. I enjoy visiting Storm King throughout the year to see their collection of kinetic sculptures— depending on the garden, these can be compelling pieces that add movement and unexpected structure.

Luxury elements: I love providing clients with custom furniture and gates. They can become incredibly personal pieces.

Thresholds between different spaces in the garden provide an opportunity to add unique moments of character. Great hardware not only looks great, it feels luxurious.

Palette: Traditional colors for planting materials in our area tend to be shades of pink, purple and white.

Lately, we’re getting requests for pastel blues and oranges.

Clients are getting more adventurous with plant selections, trying different looks, new combinations, and bold pops of color, like red.

Water features or lawn sculptures: While lawn sculptures tend to be a very specific and personal choice, water features continue to grow in popularity.

The trend of backyard streams and ponds is shifting to the sleeker, more modern look of reflecting pools. The still water reflects the sky and adjacent landscape.

Luxury elements: Fire tables have become popular as an upscale alternative to fire pits.

Clients also love the latest technology, like outdoor audio elements and louvered structures that can be connected to WiFi and controlled by mobile devices.

conteandconte.com

Palette: There was a time when people were requesting green with more green, maybe a hint of white.

Recently, there has been a return to having some fun. People are getting a little bolder with color.

Water features or lawn sculptures: Lawn sculpture is a bit of a limited way of looking at what art can be in the landscape.

There are so many more opportunities such as Earth art, like the Moongate featured above, built by Fairfield House & Garden Co. It’s also common to repurpose salvaged architectural elements as sculptures in lieu of off-the-shelf items.

Luxury elements: We’re seeing things like three-season outdoor pavilions with infrared heating, fans and remote-controlled shades, screens or louvers that provide comfortable living areas for nine-plus months out of the year. There is also a rise in technology in outdoor living spaces, such as high-tech LED lighting and more audiovisual opportunities. athomefc.com

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Palette: Fairfield County loves an understated color palette. Think tone-on-tone greens with a punch of monochromatic color in the form of blooming container gardens or ornamental specimen trees and shrubs.

Garden accessories: Container gardening is very popular right now.

It’s like the “jewelry” of your garden. It serves our lifestyle to have low-maintenance landscapes punctuated with easy-care container plantings. Style-wise, there’s a trend toward

simplicity with tailored silhouettes and an emphasis on symmetry.

Luxury elements: Fiberglass planters are lightweight, impervious to even the harshest Connecticut winters, and available in sophisticated, minimalist shapes and natural finishes that elevate the luxury of any outdoor space.

They make a statement without being loud, which balances the beauty and grandeur of our local architecture effortlessly.

Palette: Each property is unique and gets treated differently to create something special and meaningful. Color palettes for flowers and furnishings do vary, but one common scheme is green and shades of it, especially evergreen plants like boxwoods, taxus, spruce and lawns.

They provide year-round structure and help frame the ephemeral elements of a design.

Water features or lawn sculptures: A big swimming pool is the ultimate water feature. Swimming pools not only look beautiful and enticing, they can also be enjoyed by every family member at every life stage and can get a whole household outside together for some fresh air.

Luxury elements: Many people want fire features to use yearround. They’re a great outdoor destination.

Kitchen gardens are also becoming more popular.

Nothing compares with picking fresh, organic vegetables and herbs from your own garden and eating them that same day.

JOE WERNER: NEIL LANDINO (PROJECT); MATTHEW BIRON: HOFFMAN LANDSCAPES (PORTRAIT AND PROJECT); JOHN CONTE AND CLEO ABRAMS-HORSBURGH: BOB CAPAZZO (PORTRAITS); ROSALIA SANNI: JORGE GONZALEZGUILLOT (PORTRAIT AND PROJECT)

PROS SHARE WHICH GARDEN TRENDS GET THE GREEN LIGHT

YA R D TO TA B LE

During WWII, 40% of Americans’ Vegetables Were Grown at Home

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ARCHITECT: DESAI CHIA ARCHITECTURE PHOTOGRAPHY: PAUL WARCHOL

TISCHLER WINDOWS AND DOORS. UNCOMMON. UNCOMPROMISING.

Tischler und Sohn (USA) Ltd. Six Suburban Avenue, Stamford, CT 06901 Telephone 203/674/0600 • Telefax 203/674/0601