New England Home Connecticut Summer 2017

Celebrating Fine Design, Architecture, and Building

CT Special Focus: Kitchens and Baths

Theatrical Chic

Connecticut’s growing taste for sleek, modern style

Summer 2017

Display until October 16, 2017 nehomemag.com

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n at u r a l ly b e a u t if u l

S i n c e 18 8 2 A m e r i c a ’s O l d e Ismt pOor ri et enrtsa lo Rf ut hg eI m D ea ad lee rRsuhgi sp B ep so tr tHear n&d m 203.865.0567

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AMERICAN MADE & FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE LIGHTING

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In This Issue

Summer 2017 I Volume 8, Issue 3

78 88 98 Featured Homes:

78 A Modern Classic

The traditional facade of a New Canaan home opens to an interior with a bright, airy feel and a fresh, elegant look.

Text by Bob Curley I Photography by Michael Partenio I Produced by Stacy Kunstel

88 Once Upon a Time…

Happily ever after begins here, where a clever redo makes a tiny stone house in a picturesque, woodsy Darien neighborhood feel both snug and spirited.

Text by Megan Fulweiler I Photography by Michael Partenio I Produced by Stacy Kunstel

98 Special Focus: Kitchen & Bath Design

Connecticut kitchens and baths that are a beautiful union of style and utility.

Text by Paula M. Bodah

EDITOR’S NOTE:

You may notice something different about this issue. Our creative director, Robert Lesser, has come up with a new graphic look for the magazine, that we think makes an understated and elegant setting for Connecticut’s best residential design. We hope you will agree!

On the cover: Designer Tori Legge’s quiet backdrop, with dashes of silver and gold, lets art such as the dining room’s bold Jeremy Holmes sculpture stand out in a New Canaan home. Photograph by Michael Partenio. To see more of this home, turn to page 78.

Summer 2017 | New England Home Connecticut 13

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In This Issue

Summer 2017 I Volume 8, Issue 3

111 Perspectives

136

30

Classic garden accents; Rebecca Tier Soskin envisions a cheerful garden room; Max Bender on the latest in bath and kitchen design; a trio of Connecticut textile artists.

122 Design Life Our candid camera snaps recent gatherings that celebrate architecture and design.

Edited by Tess Woods

130 Trade Notes

New and noteworthy happenings in the Connecticut design business.

By Paula M. Bodah

132 Calendar

Special events for people who are passionate about design.

38

Edited by Lynda Simonton

111 16 From the Editor 22 Artistry: Building Emotion

Litchfield artist Michael Quadland explores the rainbow of human feeling in constructions that evoke the inherent beauty of crumbling industrial surfaces and worn metal.

By Allegra Muzzillo I Photography by Visko Hatfield

30 In Our Backyard: True Originals

Two Connecticut furniture makers— one responding to the beauty of nature, the other to the specific needs of designers—prove you don’t have to leave the state to find just the right piece.

136 New In The Showrooms

Unique, beautiful, and now appearing in Connecticut shops and showrooms.

Edited by Lynda Simonton

140 Resources

A guide to the professionals and products in this issue’s features.

142 Advertiser Index 144 Sketch Pad

A kitchen’s structural challenges are faced and solved in beautiful fashion with new technology and a creative approach.

By Debra Judge Silber

38 Design Destination: Stamford’s Silk Road

For busy designers, the emerging Waterside Design District brings New York showrooms closer to home.

By Debra Judge Silber I Photography by Laura Moss

47

Special Marketing Section:

Portfolio of Inspired Renovations

14 New England Home Connecticut | Summer 2017

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Editor’s Letter

Connecticut Crosscurrents

O

ne of the (many) things I find interesting about overseeing a family of regional design magazines is the curious sort of perspective a tight focus can give. There is a publication that shows up from time to time in my mail: the official bulletin of the Transferware Collectors Club. This quarterly newsletter is dedicated to examining a single type of ceramic, produced predominantly in a single county in England, and its writers tend to dwell to a great extent on a fairly brief period bridging the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

But within this narrowly defined area of interest or taste, what an amazing profusion of detail bursts out of the pages! Faint variations in the color or sharpness of a pattern, minor changes in the mark of a single maker that can provide clues to dating, at what angle a particular depicted character may hold his tankard, say—all of these subtleties are not only distinguishable and discussed, but become important guideposts for the initiate. Although

For subscriptions call (800) 765-1225 or visit nehomemag.com See additional great content at:

16 New England Home Connecticut | Summer 2017

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transferware isn’t an interest that I personally share, the degree of passion and microscopic knowledge on display is somehow touching.

Residential architecture and design in Fairfield and Litchfield counties can be looked at the same way. When we first started New England Home Connecticut, I knew that the houses felt different, somehow, from apparently similar ones only fifty or a hundred miles away in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. And over time, my eye has become accustomed to the minute clues—it might be a particular quality of the stonework, or a certain forthrightness of the gables—that, even if I can’t necessarily define them in words, distinguish a large Georgian home in Greenwich from one in the tonier suburbs of Boston.

Connecticut residential style brings to mind a pond fed by the convergence of several streams, where the waters swirl together, mixing in part, and in part retaining their separate colors. The genteel, understated looks that Tim Street-Porter and Annie Kelly documented in their book Litchfield Style are one current in the flow, gradually giving way to a more buttoned-up formality as you near Long Island Sound. And a simplified, modern, but typically glossy chic is rapidly making its way northeastward from Manhattan. Here and there, a rivulet of Adirondack rustic threads through it all.

Look carefully at the pages that follow and you’ll see most of these, and more. Plus, this issue is home to our always popular annual focus on kitchens and baths. Those projects, too, share commonalities but are varied in approach. Taken all together, it adds up to a geographical area that is tightly circumscribed, but a trove of style that is not.

—Kyle Hoepner

Find more at nehomemag.com

Our editors and a fascinating lineup of guest blog­gers share beautiful photography, design ideas, and advice every week on the New England Home Design Blog.

The site also features ongoing content updates, where you’ll encounter house tours, interviews and commentary, before-and-after stories, and other special items for lovers of great home design.

Sign up for our Design Discoveries editorial ­e-newsletter and get weekly updates on luxury home style, including the latest products, upcoming events, and green ideas.

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C o n n e ct i c u t Editor-in-Chief Kyle Hoepner khoepner@nehomemag.com Homes Editor Stacy Kunstel skunstel@nehomemag.com Senior Editor Paula M. Bodah pbodah@nehomemag.com Creative Director Robert Lesser rlesser@nehomemag.com Digital Content Director Lynda Simonton lsimonton@nehomemag.com Copy Editor Lisa H. Speidel lspeidel@nehomemag.com Contributing Editors Cheryl and Jeffrey Katz candjkatz@nehomemag.com Karin Lidbeck Brent klidbeck@nehomemag.com Debra Judge Silber dsilber@nehomemag.com Contributing Writers Fred Albert, Regina Cole, Bob Curley, Megan Fulweiler, Robert Kiener, Maria LaPiana, Allegra Muzzillo, Dan Shaw, Debra Judge Silber, Lisa H. Speidel, Kris Wilton Contributing Photographers Robert Benson, John Gould Bessler, Tria Giovan, John Gruen, Laura Moss, Michael Partenio

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Editorial Submissions Designers, architects, builders, and homeowners are invited to submit projects for editorial consideration. For information about submitting projects, e-mail ­edit@nehomemag.com.

Letters to the Editor We’d love to hear from you! Write to us at the above address, fax us at (617) 663-6377, or e-mail us at ­letters@nehomemag.com.

Upcoming Events Are you planning an event that we can feature in our Calendar of Events? E-mail information to calendar@nehomemag.com, or mail to Calendar Editor, New England Home, 530 Harrison Ave., Suite 302, Boston, MA 02118.

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Parties We welcome photographs from design- or architecture-related parties.

Send high-resolution photos with information about the party and the people pictured to lsimonton@nehomemag.com.

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C o n n e ct i c u t Publisher Kathy Bush-Dutton kbushdutton@nehomemag.com Associate Publisher, New England Home Connecticut Roberta Thomas Mancuso rmancuso@nehomemag.com Executive Sales Manager Jill Korff jkorff@nehomemag.com Sales Managers Kim Sansoucy ksansoucy@nehomemag.com Robin Schubel rschubel@nehomemag.com David Simone dsimone@nehomemag.com Marketing Designer Jared Ainscough jainscough@nehomemag.com

The popularity of outdoor living has brought a new focus to outdoor lighting. Creating areas outside your home to enjoy adds to the livable square footage of your property. Deciding to add landscape lighting is an investment in pleasure, safety and curb appeal.

Production Manager Glenn Sadin gsadin@nehomemag.com Marketing, Events, and Sales Executive Tess Woods twoods@nehomemag.com •

Subscriptions To subscribe to New England Home ($19.95 for one year) or for customer service, call (800) 765-1225 or visit our website, nehomemag.com.

Advertising Information To receive information about advertising in New England Home, please contact us at (800) 609-5154, ext. 713, or info@nehomemag.com.

Editorial and Advertising Office 530 Harrison Ave., Suite 302 Boston, MA 02118 (617) 938-3991, (800) 609-5154 •

New England Home Magazine, LLC Managing Partners Adam Japko, Chris Legg Finance Manager Kiyomi DeBay kdebay@nehomemag.com Accounts Receivable & Collections Manager Beverly Mahoney bmahoney@esteemmedia.com

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Artistry

Building Emotion

Michael Quadland explores the rainbow of human feeling in constructions that evoke the inherent beauty of crumbling industrial surfaces and worn metal. published novelist, accomplished • Ph.D., artist. Michael Quadland is all three, but he

confesses that it took him a few years to circle back to his first love. When he was small, Quadland dreamed of being an artist. “From the time I was five or six, I began painting and making three-dimensional constructions down in my parents’ basement,” he says.

He even majored in art while at Dartmouth College,

but succumbed to his parents’ advice to choose a profession more secure, more sensible.

Fast-forward thirty-five years or so, after a career practicing and teaching clinical psychology in New York City (and three novels later), and Quadland has returned to art, creating highly textured works that are, at once, paintings, architectural models, and sculptures. “It was natural to go back to painting,”

Untitled diptych (2016), acrylic and hardware, 18"H × 18"W

| text By Allegra Muzzillo | Photography by Visko Hatfield | 22 New England Home Connecticut | Summer 2017

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Artistry

“I love that moment just before trying something new, because I run the risk of ruining the whole piece,” says Quadland.

clockwise from top

left: Remnant (2014),

acrylic and hardware, 9"H × 8"W; untitled diptych (2014), acrylic and hardware on panel, 24"H × 26”W × 7”D. Asian Sun (2014), acrylic on panel, 48"H × 48"W; untitled diptych (2014), acrylic on panel, 12”H × 25”W

says Quadland. “Writing a novel is a three-to-fiveyear enterprise, whereas a painting takes three to five weeks to complete. The immediate gratification really appealed to me.”

Perhaps it’s no surprise that the self-proclaimed purpose of Quadland’s work is to stimulate an emotional response—just as it was back when he was a practicing clinician. “We’re all trained to be so intellectual, verbal, and rational that the emotional aspect of our lives is often ignored,” he says. “I’ve been interested in people’s feelings, and in my own feelings, for years.”

The pieces in Color, Quadland’s first series, were very literally explorations into color; they also adhered to a grid-style structure, which he says, helped get him started on his creative journey. Early paintings consisted of cloudlike bursts of bold acrylic paint in primary hues that intermingled via a loose color-field technique à la Rothko, Diebenkorn, and Frankenthaler—three of the artist’s early exemplars.

“These paintings were about finding myself, find-

ing my own sense of color, and finding my niche,” Quadland says.

During this time, he discovered manmade composite panels, which are his preferred canvases today due to their moisture-resistant and anti-warping properties. His early works were composed solely in acrylic. With a paintbrush, a palette knife, or straight-edge tool (or a combination of all three), Quadland applied colors in separate layers—sometimes as many as twenty—allowing them to dry before meticulous hand and/or machine sanding.

The process was repeated, layer after layer, until colors were revealed in various vibrancies. “Sanding was interesting to me because of the randomness of what

24 New England Home Connecticut | Summer 2017

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Artistry

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Detail of Industry #11 (2014), mixed media on panel, 24”H × 24”W

came through,” he says. “There were some really nice surprises, but it was a very long process.”

He has since embraced faster methods. In fact, his media of choice (acrylic, plaster, concrete) are indicative of the way he works as an artist. “I’m a fast painter, and I’m a fast mover in general,” he says. These materials dry quickly, so he is always working double-time toward completion. He has also moved toward neutral and metallic surfaces. Now he takes cues from both the early twentieth-century Ashcan and 1930s–’40s WPA schools, wherein, he explains, “the unadorned industrial landscape was tended to, appreciated, and celebrated for its beauty.”

His newer Industry series was also born of research and development. By incorporating various metals, such as tubular rods, his works look as if they are legitimately functional—like big fragments of odd hardware. “I really liked how the rods worked—not only visually, but mechanically,” he says. When he moved to a new studio out in the country that sits, fortuitously, adjacent to an old farmer’s landfill, he began finding rusted metal in the ground. “So I started incorporating it—sometimes between painted pieces or applied to the pieces themselves,” he says.

Quadland has perfected his unique technique so thoroughly—by scoring and roughing up a panel’s surface, applying premixed concrete or plaster to form peaks and valleys, and covering the outcome with metallic paint or sheets of silver and gold leaf—that he essentially deceives the viewer, producing pieces that look (and feel) like actual metal constructs. His works are dense, thought provoking, and transformative. “Many people who see the paintings touch them, thinking they’re actual metal,” he says, laughing. “It always pleases me because that’s the effect I’m after.”

Happy accidents, too, play a large role in Quadland’s work.

In fact, this may be what excites him most about his process. “I love that moment just before trying something new,” he says, “because I run the risk of ruining the whole piece. And I love those surprises, too.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: To see more of Michael Quadland’s work, visit michaelquadland.com.

26 New England Home Connecticut | Summer 2017

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In Our Backyard

True Originals

Two Connecticut furniture makers—one responding to the beauty of nature, the other to the specific needs of designers—prove you don’t have to leave the state to find just the right piece. tree that falls in the forest may not make • Aa sound—but let that same tree fall on a city

street, and it’s likely to make a major statement.

Particularly if it falls into the hands of Ted and Zeb Esselstyn.

The two brothers run City Bench, a company that collects felled trees from urban streetscapes and suburban yards, slices them into slabs, and shapes them into unique pieces of furniture. It’s a mission that employs hand-craftsmanship to capture the beauty of nature while reconnecting us with the forgotten practice of using every resource. “It’s what they did hundreds of years ago,” says Ted, an artist who hit on the idea when a commission for the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority led him to consider the connection between people and the waste they produce. “We’re just reconnecting the circle.”

For Zeb, celebrating the life story engrained in these slabs is what City Bench is all about. “These urban trees have such a hard life, yet they survive,” he

ABOVE: Craftsmen at City Bench used slabs from a reclaimed rainbow heartwood tulip tree for this bench commissioned by a Utah family. A variety of species were fused together to create the base’s arch. LEFT: brothers Ted and Zeb Esselstyn created their own version of a wingback chair in walnut for a ­Westport ­client.

| By Debra Judge Silber | 30 New England Home Connecticut | Summer 2017

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Photos by Derek Dudek

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In Our Backyard

ABOVE, CLOCKWISE

FROM TOP: City Bench’s

Floating Beech Table was designed with acrylic legs at a client’s request. Ted Esselstyn prepares a giant sugar maple for milling in New Haven. The more traditionally figured Wadsworth Maple Windsor Bench is named for the turn-ofthe-century Middletown estate from which its wood was harvested.

says. “They always have a story to tell.” Some come to City Bench scarred by nature or by man (some are embedded with metal, glass, and other urban debris); others with connections to our own past. Among the most stirring stories preserved by City Bench is

that of the Lincoln Oak, planted on the New Haven Green in 1909 by Civil War Veterans marking the centennial birthday of the assassinated president. Uprooted by Superstorm Sandy in 2012, the tree’s heritage remains preserved in a public bench in City Hall.

The brothers obtain most of the wood for their projects from the city of New Haven, which removes more than 600 trees annually and provides land on which City Bench operates its sawmill.

In turn, the brothers deliver woodchips, benches, and bridges for city parks and schools. The rest of the wood comes from local tree wardens and homeowners reluctant to part with favorite trees whose age or location require removal.

With the assistance of woodworkers Ben Komola and Graeme Stasyshyn, the brothers produce 80 to 100 pieces a year at a rustic compound they built in their Higganum backyard. In one of those buildings, raw slabs lean upright against a wall, chalk marks detailing their origins: red oak from Elizabeth Park in Hartford, elm from Grove Street in New Haven, cherry from a yard in Westport. Faint grain lines hint at the graceful and sometimes tempestuous patterns that will emerge as the wood is shaped and smoothed.

RIGHT, CLOCKWISE

FROM TOP LEFT: Custom pieces from Old Mill Road Table Company mimic popular designs while catering to a client’s specific needs.

They include a white lacquered dining room buffet, a turnedpedestal entryway table in oak, and an oak console table with a whitewashed top and base stained metallic silver.

32 New England Home Connecticut | Summer 2017

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City Bench photos clockwise from top: Derek Dudek, Graeme Stasyshyn, John Giamatteo.

Old Mill Road Table Company photos by Doug Fornuff

6/21/17 9:37 PM

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In Our Backyard Faced with a tight deadline, Old Mill Road Table Company’s Tom Dwyer designed and built the oak Sweep table for a client in Aspen, Colorado, in a week.

FACING PAGE: Among Dwyer’s most popular pieces is this pedestal table specifically designed to pair with a banquette.

Photos by Doug Fornuff

The slabs are dried in a kiln the brothers built themselves and leveled on a homemade jig before they’re assembled in the adjacent workshop into dining tables and countertops, bench seats and desks.

The majority of City Bench’s work is by commission, but some finished pieces are available at their showroom/warehouse (open by appointment). Most designs are simple, yielding to the experience of the tree, although some incorporate steel, Lucite, or a splash of color into the legs. “We try to keep our hands off the slab,” says Komola, “and let the wood speak for the piece.”

At Old Mill Road Table Company in Bridgeport, Tom Dwyer furnishes his designer-clients with his own brand of wish fulfillment. He designs and builds hyper-customized versions of popular furniture styles, meeting his clients’ exact specifications to an extent that traditional manufacturers can’t match. “When

a designer comes to me, they don’t say, ‘Design me a table,’ ” Dwyer says. “They say, ‘This is what will fit my client.’ So I make whatever they want.”

With the help of three carpenters, Dwyer produces roughly a dozen tables a month. In less than four years he’s gained a following among the region’s top designers, and his creations grace entries, dining rooms, and offices from Connecticut to New Zealand.

Although he built his family’s first dining room table more than thirty years ago, Dwyer doesn’t

34 New England Home Connecticut | Summer 2017

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City Bench 73 Maple Ave., Higganum (860) 716-8111 city-bench.com Old Mill Road Table Company 67 Poland St., Bridgeport (917) 690-9814 oldmillroadtable.com

Willie Cole

see himself as a woodworker. His talent for tablemaking lies instead in the communication and visualization skills he developed running an advertising graphics firm during the waning days of New York’s Mad Men era. He’s not the magician, but he’s the guy who makes the magic happen. “I do, now, exactly what I did in advertising,” he says. “I’m in the client’s corner. I know what they want, and I know how to get it.”

Designers bring Dwyer sketches or photos of the

piece they envision (he keeps a magnifying glass on hand to spot the details), along with their client’s unique specifications. The resulting design might swap walnut for oak, metal for Lucite, or stone for glass. It might be taller or narrower or wider than the piece that inspired it—whatever it takes to recreate the image in the designer’s head. While that can lead to more than a few challenges, Dwyer embraces their cause. “They tell me what they want to do. Then it’s my problem to make it work.”

Full-Service Interior Design Serving Fairfield and Westchester Counties dinaspaidal@gmail.com | 917-579-6959 dinaspaidalinteriors.com

Summer 2017 | New England Home Connecticut 35

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Design | Build | Renovate | Maintain

FLETCHER DEVELOPMENT LLC

NORWALK, CT

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|

203-289-6166

|

High Performance Construction

FLETCHERDEVELOPMENTLLC.COM

5/30/17 3:45 PM

Electric Heating Products that Have No Equal! has long been world-renowned as the premium manufacturer of Euro-style radiators for hot water and steam heating systems. We are pleased to introduce a Runtal Electric line that includes Baseboard, Wall Panel and Towel Radiator designs. Suitable for both retro-fit and new construction, Runtal Electric products provide a very efficient and comfortable radiant heat. They are an excellent source of primary or supplemental heat and a problem-solver for areas needing additional heat.

They are attractive (available in over 100 colors), durable and easy to install.

For more information or a dealer near you, please call 1-800-526-2621 or online at www.runtalnorthamerica.com.

Towel Radiators

Baseboards

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Wall Panels

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Design Destination

Stamford’s Silk Road

For busy designers, the emerging Waterside Design District brings New York showrooms closer to home.

the “Waterside” in its name does set • True, an expectation that Stamford’s newest design

destination involves boardwalks and beach grass in addition to samples and swatches. While that’s not the case—the area south of I-95 along the mouth of Rippowam River remains unavoidably industrial— there’s no shortage of lovely things to look at. They’re just found inside the showrooms.

As of this summer, the stretch of Fairfield Avenue between Selleck and Congress streets was home to eight showrooms, with at least one, and possibly two, notable new tenants expected to move in by fall. For designers and their clients who live or work in Connecticut or Westchester County, New York, the area is rapidly becoming the number-one excuse to avoid a time-consuming schlepp to Manhattan. “They can

be in and out in twenty minutes,” says Jennifer Flynn, who oversees the open, light-filled sample room at Stark/Scalamandré.

Though Fordham Marble was the first on the scene, in the 1980s, it’s only been in the last few years that the area achieved critical design mass. “We knew the area was becoming a destination for designers,” says landlord Jeff Goldblum, who then redoubled his efforts to attract more businesses that cater to the trade. His own business, SWC Office Furniture, is unique in its focus on commercial spaces; the remainder of the street’s occupants cater specifically to residential designers. Most of the showrooms here are strictly to-the-trade. While a few welcome the occasional retail shopper, even they reserve their best prices and special services for professional design-

Shops and showrooms in Stamford’s Waterside Design District offer a wide array of home goods, including midcentury finds at AWK Design Antiques (above, left) and the latest in luxury fabrics at Stark/Scalamandré (above, right).

| Text by Debra Judge Silber | Photography by Laura Moss | 38 New England Home Connecticut | Summer 2017

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Seaside Luxe Lifestyle COASTAL CHIC GIFTS & HOME DECOR

FINE ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

Tony Scar​petta

CUSTOM INTERIORS

Diana James, Principal 34 C Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead MA 781-990-5150 livingswellmarblehead.com

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Design Destination

Schwartz Design Showroom

J.D. Staron

ABOVE: J.D. Staron, a to-the-trade rug showroom, has thousands of patterns and a variety of weaves to help designers create unique custom rugs for clients. ABOVE, RIGHT: Owner Alexis Varbero showcases transitional and classic furniture, bold lighting, and contemporary accessories in her Schwartz Design Showroom.

ers. So if you’re not one and you plan to shop in the district, it pays to bring a pro along.

Two years ago, the Fairfield Avenue showrooms officially organized as the Stamford Waterside Design District to help lure clients south of I-95. It appears to have worked: the SWDD will hold its third Market Day on October 26, and its second Holiday Stroll this December. “What’s amazing is how much we’ve grown already, and how national brands want to be here,” says Alexis Varbero, owner of Schwartz Design Showroom and a tireless district booster.

It’s certainly a change from ten years ago, when rug maker J.D. Staron opened the street’s first textile showroom. Featuring the designs of Polish weaver

Jakub Staron, the showroom’s thousands of patterns merge classic European and Eastern motifs with innovative weaves for a vast, customizable selection of area rugs and broadlooms. Working strictly with the trade, the shop caters to designers whose clients “don’t want what everyone else has,” says partner Rick Zolt.

Located on the second floor of the building housing Staron, the U.S. headquarters for Dedar serves both as a showroom and operations hub for the Milan-based luxury fabric source. Despite its low profile, the office has a following among dozens of Connecticut designers who enjoy an espresso while they gather their memo samples. The family-run business, which merged with Hermès in 2011, is decidedly high end, with bestsellers that run more than $100 a yard.

One door down, Schwartz Design Showroom showcases transitional and classic furniture pieces, bold lighting, and accessories with the contemporary flair favored by owner Varbero. SDS opened in the district only two years ago, but the showroom’s roots

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Custom Builders of Luxury Homes and Renovations Ben Krupinski Builders | 13 Arcadia Rd Suites 11 & 12 | Old Greenwich, CT chrisq@bkbuilder.com | 203 990 0633 | bkbuilder.com

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Design Destination

AWK design Antiques

Stark/ScalamandrÉ

ABOVE: Alison W ­ idmann Kinney mines estate sales for the eclectic collection of midcentury furniture and accessories she offers at AWK Design Antiques. ABOVE, RIGHT: Stark/Scalamandré’s fabric and wallpaper showroom is for designers only, but the well-stocked rug showroom is open to all.

run deep—back to 1945, when Varbero’s grandfather launched the family’s furniture business in New Jersey. (Varbero, who took over the business three years ago, still shuttles back and forth.) Pieces from California designers Shine by S.H.O., Seventh & 7th, and Dan Parish cozy up to standbys from Century, Baker, and McGuire. This spring, Varbero introduced Eric Kuster, the showroom’s first European line. “I want our clients to always be seeing something new,” she says.

One door down, it’s upstairs again to Kravet, where the fabric focus includes the multitude of designer names offered through the store’s namesake brand as well as Lee Jofa and Brunschwig and Fils.

With some 36,000 samples, the small showroom

is “pretty packed,” admits manager James Botelho.

Upholstered headboards and seating samples represent Kravet’s custom furniture options, accessorized by pieces from Curated Kravet, the brand’s edited collection showcasing global design trends. Select carpet, wallcovering, and trimmings round out the showroom’s offerings. Despite the limited space, “We pretty much have something for everyone,” Botelho says.

In the snug basement of AWK Design Antiques, Alison Widmann Kinney broadens both the timeline and appeal of midcentury with an eclectic collection that dates from 1950s to the 1980s. Purchased through estate sales (“This is one of the best buying areas in the country,” Kinney says), the collection includes the designs of Karl Springer, Tommi Parzinger, Paul Evans, and George Nelson in addition to Isamu Noguchi and Harry Bertoia. These well-known names share space with unnamed but no less iconic forms from twentieth-century manufacturers: a pair

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WAKEFIELD design center

Curated by Designers for Designers

Instant Gratification | Finishing Touches and Makeovers by Appointment Only

To The Trade Only 652 Glenbrook Road, Stamford, CT 06906 T: (203) 358-0818 F: (203) 602-7738 info@wakefielddesigncenter.com | www.wakefielddesigncenter.com

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Design Destination

fordham marble

Fordham Marble opened in the Bronx in 1905 and took up residence in Stamford in 1988, where its wares include an outdoor area with a broad variety of stone slabs and, inside, a seemingly endless array of tiles in a multitude of sizes, materials, and styles.

of space-age bentwood shelves from the 1960s, a brass and glass cocktail cart, a Chinese-red Regency table with elephant heads for legs. “I buy what I like; it’s a labor of love,” says Kinney, whose affection for organic forms is evinced by the unexpected appearance of a tortoise shell or tusk among the polished metal, glass, and plastic. Retail shoppers are welcome, but the best prices go to designers.

You’ll need a designer to gain admittance to the voluminous collection of fabrics and wallcover-

ings across the street at Stark/Scalamandré, but anyone can shop for rugs in the adjacent showroom.

Now open on Saturdays, it offers knee-high stacks of carpets to flip through along with a back room containing more than 500 broadloom remnants.

Semi-annual sales, the next coming in October, offer savings of 25 percent or more. Separated from the rugs by a glass partition, the spacious, well-lighted fabric showroom offers an oasis of calm. Here you’ll find samples of wallcovering, trimmings, and fabrics

T: 203.769.1150 ROUGHANINTERIORS.COM GREENWICH CT

l

NEW YORK CITY

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PAlM BEACH Fl

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THE DETAILS:

Our Our New New Showroom Showroom Stamford Waterside Design District stamfordwatersidedesigndistrict.com

Kravet 360 Fairfield Ave., 2nd floor, (203) 504-2640, kravet.com

AWK Design Antiques 360 Fairfield Ave. #4, (203) 984-4222, awkdesignantiques.com

Schwartz Design Showroom 330 Fairfield Ave., (203) 817-0433, schwartzdesignshowroom.com

At At Ridgefield Ridgefield Supply Supply is is Opening Opening in in the the Spring Spring of of 2017 2017 Dedar 330 Fairfield Ave., (203) 914-1727, dedar.com

Stark/Scalamandré 375 Fairfield Ave., (203) 899-1771, starkcarpet.com

Fordham Marble 421 Fairfield Ave., (203) 348-5088, fordhammarble.com

SWC Office Furniture 375 Fairfield Avenue, (203) 967-8367, swcoffice.com

J.D. Staron 330 Fairfield Ave. #1, (203) 351-1130, jdstaron.com

Our New Showroom At At Ridgefield Ridgefield Supply Supply is is Opening Opening in in the the Spring Spring of of 2017 2017

from Duralee, Stark (including Old World Weavers, Missoni Home, and Lelièvre and, as of this year, the luxury brand Scalamandré).

Just a few hundred feet down Fairfield Avenue, Fordham Marble’s stacked stone slabs blend in with the neighborhood’s industrial streetscape. But inside the showroom, a labyrinth of spaces target designers’ needs with endless possibilities for walls, floors, patios, and pool decks. There are ceramic, porcelain, and cement tile in sizes from large format

to penny round; there are river stones, glass mosaics, quartz, quartzite, and synthetic surfaces. Founded in 1905 by the grandfather of owner Mario Sardo, the company maintains its fabrication facility in the Bronx but moved its showroom here in 1988 to better serve growing numbers of architects and designers working throughout the tri-state area and southern New England. Little did they know they were laying the foundation for a dedication to design on the gritty city street.

Our NewShowroom Showroom Our Our New New Showroom

At At Ridgefield Ridgefield Supply Supply is is Opening in the Spring of Opening theSupply Spring of 2017 2017 Atin Ridgefield is Ridgefield isSupply Opening

At At Ridgefield Ridgefield Supply Supply is is NOW OPEN! Spring of 2017 Opening in the Spring of 2017 Opening in the Spring of 2017

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We Will Be Featuring an 29 Prospect Street, We Will Be Featuring an 29 Prospect Street, Ridgefield, Ridgefield, CT We Will BeDisplay Featuring an CT 203.438.2626 Extensive Showcase 29 Prospect Street, Ridgefield, CT Extensive Display Showcase 203.438.2626 Extensive Display Showcase www.ridgefieldsupply.com 203.438.2626 www.ridgefieldsupply.com Windows & Doors of Andersen ® Mon. - Fri. 7 - ® 4 • Sat. 8 - 4 • Closed Sunday & Doors of Andersen Mon.www.ridgefieldsupply.com - Fri. 7 - 4 • Windows Sat. 8 - 4 • Closed Sunday of Andersen Windows & Doors ®

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29 Prospect Street, Ridgefield, CT

29 Prospect Street, Ridgefield,• PAINT CT LUMBER •• MILLWORK •• HARDWARE LUMBER •• BUILDING BUILDING MATERIALS MATERIALS •• WINDOWS WINDOWS •• DOORS DOORS MILLWORK HARDWARE 203.438.2626 29 Prospect Street, Ridgefield,•• PAINT CT 203.438.2626 LUMBER • BUILDING MATERIALS • WINDOWS • DOORS • MILLWORK • HARDWARE PAINT www.ridgefieldsupply.com 203.438.2626 Mon.www.ridgefieldsupply.com - Fri. 7 - 4 • Sat. 8 - 4 • Closed Sunday Mon.www.ridgefieldsupply.com - Fri. 7 - 4 • Sat. 8 - 4 • Closed Sunday 12/20/16 11:03 AM Ridgefield_CT-WIN17_1.00_v1.indd 1 Mon. - Fri. 7 - 4 • Sat. 8 - 4 • Closed Sunday

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Since LUMBER •• DOORS 29 Prospect Prospect Street, Street, Ridgefield, CT CT • MILLWORK • HARDWARE • PAINT 29 Ridgefield, LUMBER •• BUILDING BUILDING MATERIALS MATERIALS •• WINDOWS WINDOWS DOORS • MILLWORK • HARDWARE • PAINT 203.438.2626 29 Prospect Street, Ridgefield, CT 203.438.2626 LUMBER • BUILDING MATERIALS • WINDOWS203.438.2626 • DOORS • MILLWORK • HARDWARE • PAINT www.ridgefieldsupply.com

Mon.www.ridgefieldsupply.com - Fri. 7 - 4 • Sat. 8 - 4 • Closed Sunday Mon.www.ridgefieldsupply.com - Fri. 7 - 4 • Sat. 8 - 4 • Closed Sunday Mon. - Fri. 7 - 4 • Sat. 8 - 4 • Closed Sunday

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LUMBER •• PAINT LUMBER •• BUILDING BUILDING MATERIALS MATERIALS •• WINDOWS WINDOWS •• DOORS DOORS •• MILLWORK MILLWORK •• HARDWARE HARDWARE PAINT Summer 2017 | New England Home Connecticut AM 12/20/16 11:03 LUMBER • BUILDING MATERIALS • WINDOWS • DOORS • MILLWORK • HARDWARE • PAINT 12/20/16 11:03 AM

6/21/17 9:13 PM

T R A N S F O R E N OTVAT ON R AI N S SF & O R E N O VAT I O N S &

R M AT I V E OM RC U MSAT T I V HEO M E S CUSTOM HOMES

BEFORE BEFORE

K A R P A S S O C I AT E S K A R P A S S O C I AT E S 2017

BUILDER

OF THE YEAR

HBRA

R E N O V A T2I O C UUS ITLO D M EHR O MOE F S • TCH ON CT NB MR AA NAGEMENT 0 N1S7 • B E S TYREU A RI OH

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BENDER

CONNECTICUT SPECIAL MARKETING SECTION

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The Goal:

The Elements:

The Approach:

A major renovation was well underway at this Southport residence when Austin Ganim Landscape Design, LLC, joined the design team. We were charged with creating a series of garden rooms and terraces in the style of an English cottage garden that take advantage of the site’s topography and adjacent views.

Special consideration was given to the hardscape material selection, given the intimate nature of the site. Coordinating the colors and finishes between the interior and garden rooms resulted in a cohesive experience.

Lilac bluestone and orchard stone were used for the patios and walks, quartzite for the walls, and a three-color blend of boardwalk brick for the drive. In winter, the warm hues of the hardscape provide a delightful contrast to the gray tones of winter.

A combination of fences and plantings, including a European hornbeam hedge, umbrella pine, and evergreen magnolia, were used to address one of the property’s major challenges: providing privacy in this tightly knit community. A four-season approach was used for the garden design, beginning with a spring bulb display, followed by colorful summer annuals, perennials, and roses, and ending with evergreen shrubs for winter interest. The gardens provide cut flowers for bouquets throughout the property.

a u sti n G a ni m a n d Eva C hia m ulera

Austin Ganim Landscape Design, LLC Austin Ganim & Eva Chiamulera (203) 333-2003 austinganimlandscapedesign.com

BEFORE

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The Starting Point:

The Challenge:

The Elements:

Interior designer Elisa Billings’s clients purchased a New Haven home built in 1912 that needed a complete renovation to match the young family’s lifestyle. Wanting a timeless kitchen with a purposeful and efficient design, Elisa partnered with Kyong Agapiou of Bender to create the layout and supply the plumbing and cabinetry.

Kyong’s design included closing the fireplace to create space for hidden spice racks and the range. She opened the wall between the kitchen and the dining room, providing functional counter space and additional seating, as well as space for a dual wine and beverage cooler and a bar sink. For additional cabinetry near the window, Kyong reduced the depth of the wall cabinet, allowing storage to run the length of the wall.

Wanting a bold focal point, the client imported a French Lacanche Cluny range in Griotte with brass trim. This piece complements the stone enamel finish of the Plain and Fancy cabinetry and the unlacquered brass on the Barber Wilsons kitchen and bar faucets provided by Bender. The warm white backsplash and classic honed Carrara marble countertops set a clean and bright tone for this sophisticated, yet fun, transitional kitchen.

Ky ong A gapio u , AS ID , C K D , C AP S

335 East Street New Haven, CT 06511 (203) 787-4288 bendershowrooms.com

BEFORE

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Photo credit: Jim Fiora Stylist: Elisa Billings Architect: Anthony Law Builder: John F. Murphy Construction Co.

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The Goal:

The Challenge:

The Design Summary:

My goal is always to understand the client’s practical needs and design direction—and then take them there.

The challenge is how to re-envision the space, and then unfold a coherent design that stands the test of time.

Spare or busy, colorful or white, old or new—in the end we always find the thing we were going for.

Christine Donner Kitchen Design Inc. C HR I S T I NE DONN ER

11 Meadowbrook Lane Norwalk, CT 06850 (203) 966-0160 donnerkitchens.com

BEFORE

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The Backstory: A new family fell in love with this traditional 1986 colonial home.

Over time, the exterior of the home needed significant repair. The owners wanted to rebuild the exterior with low-maintenance products that would last a lifetime and avoid any future renovations.

The Elements: With help from architect and builder Robert Berger, the owners decided to utilize a combination of Connecticut Stone’s Liberty Hill ThinStone and Full Veneer on this project for its beauty and durability in the harsh New England climate.

Due to this project being a renovation, ThinStone was applied to the existing structure. The Full Veneer was custom cut for the arched front door, an area that needed thicker stone. With stone applied, the owners no longer had to worry about water damage from the failed old siding. The outdoor kitchen utilized two different finishes for the counter and base— a polished Liberty Hill was used for the countertop, and Liberty Hill ThinStone for the base. The stone countertop and kitchen blended beautifully into the rest of the natural stone and landscaped space.

The Outcome: Connecticut Stone helped achieve the homeowners’ goal—create a beautiful and durable home that provides peace of mind, and more functionality for the family. The homeowner took advantage of the space to create an outdoor oasis.

The use of Liberty Hill Granite stone completely transformed the home and brought it back to life.

Connecticut Stone Supplies 138 Woodmont Road Milford, CT 06460 (203) 882-1000 connecticutstone.com T y ra Dellacroce

BEFORE BEFORE

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Architect and builder: Robert M. Berger Architect after photos: Paul Johnson Photography

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The Challenge:

The Goal:

The Design Summary:

The clients had renovated the interior of their 1865 Italianate home, but the exterior was in need of attention. A large porch on the front and side of the house had deteriorated and was missing the roofs of its circular corners. The detached garage, in need of repair, was not complementary to the style of the main house. In addition, the landscape of the property needed updating.

The clients wanted to rebuild their porch and add other areas for outdoor entertaining. They needed a larger garage with ample storage and living spaces for visiting family. They also wanted a landscape that would match the character of their home and provide them with functional and decorative spaces.

We designed a new carriage house in harmony with the architecture of the main house with room for three cars and a second-floor in-law apartment. The main house porch was rebuilt with its circular corner roofs and matching details. We redesigned the landscape, recreating the original semicircular entrance drive with new stone walls, wood fencing and entry gates. We added new walkways and gardens to connect the carriage house and main house, two pergolas for entertaining, extensive ornamental plantings, a woodland garden, a vegetable garden, and an orchard.

S ilv ia F. E rski ne AI A, AS L A

Erskine Associates LLC PO BOX 44, Redding Ridge, CT 06876​ (203) 762-9017 erskineassoc.com

BEFORE

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BEFORE

BEFORE

The Goal: To design a unique organic pool that fits the environment and creates a nautural oasis for the homeowners.

The Benefits: BioNova® Natural Swimming Pools are completely chemical-free, eco-friendly, and healthful for swimming. Natural swimming pools replicate and optimize the conditions found in naturally occurring bodies of water like ponds and lakes, providing water that is clean, clear, and purified the way nature intended—with aquatic plants, beneficial bacteria, and helpful microbes.

The Outcome: With a broad range of design options for these natural pools, from traditional rectangular-shaped pools to completely naturalistic swim ponds, the design possibilities are limitless. Natural pools are self-sustaining and require minimal upkeep. This pool was designed in a pond-like style, and attracts wildlife just as fresh water does in nature.

Plants filter the water and add a serene quality. The goal was achieved.

F re ddy M i r ab al l es

Freddy’s Landscape BioNova® Natural Swimming Pools 40 Belmont Street Fairfield, CT 06824 (203) 855-7854 freddyslandscape.com

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BEFORE

Before: Outdated

After: Hot Date

Built in 1993, back when the Jacuzzi was all the rage, this master bath was in need of a total overhaul.

A complete renovation transformed this dated bath into a modern spa retreat. We created a sanctuary, complete with a soaking tub, a state-of-the-art shower, and a sauna.

BEFORE

BEFORE

M AT T G I AR DI NA

Front Row Kitchens, Inc. 117 New Canaan Avenue Norwalk, CT 06850 (203) 849-0302 frontrowkitchens.com

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The Simple Answer:

The Process:

The Summary:

GWP Contracting is a full-service home improvement provider in Fairfield County, Connecticut. We offer our kitchen, bathroom, and remodeling services throughout greater Fairfield County. Owned and operated by Gary W. Paige, Jr and family, a thirdgeneration tradesman, cabinet and furniture craftsman. The mission of GWP Contracting is to highlight the importance and beauty of woodworking. It is our belief that woodworking is not just a learned skill but an art.

GWP Contracting adheres to our mission by creating high-quality products, and providing employment and training to fellow artisans.

Our relationships with complementary trades and suppliers make us a natural choice for all of your home remodeling needs.

In all of our renovation projects, we meet with the client to learn how they live and then develop creative solutions that add beauty and organization to their renovation.

We design and manufacture all of our own cabinetry, assuring a quality product and installation from start to finish.

GWP specializes in kitchens and baths, home additions and other renovations.

As a family-owned business and a part of the local community, our reputation and integrity are of the highest importance.

We work with every budget and pride ourselves on our long list of satisfied past customers who continue to refer us and return to us for new home design projects.

GWP Co n t r ac t in g LLC (2 0 3 ) 5 1 3 -0 1 9 8 g w ph o m e .c o m

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The Goal:

The Challenge:

The goal for this client was to take the kitchen (which the prior homeowner had renovated) and make it modern and cohesive in style without removing all the existing cabinetry.

The prior owner must have renovated in stages, so the resulting kitchen looked pieced together. The island was dark and overbearing to the space, and none of the cabinets around the perimeter matched in color, style, or hardware.

j an hi lt z

21 Bridge Square Westport, CT 06880 (203) 331-5578 janhiltzinteriorsllc.com

The Design Summary (facing page): We gave the outdated kitchen a facelift by painting all the cabinets a uniform color. We chose hardware that was more contemporary, added a new backsplash, and replaced the center island to coordinate with the existing cabinets. The result is the look of an entirely new kitchen without the cost or disruption of gutting the old one.

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Family Friendly:

Lighten Up:

Bright Ideas:

The clients purchased a home built in 2001 and never felt the existing kitchen worked for their young family. The kitchen and family room were divided by a wall that they envisioned removing to open the space. They fell in love with a Lacanche Range and custom hood, which would act as the focal point of the kitchen. They also added a large island with banquette seating done in a Charcoal Slate color to contrast with the Natural White cabinetry, a desk area, a bank of tall pantry cabinets for storage, and larger new windows for more natural light. The end result is a free-flowing user-friendly space that the whole family can enjoy and gather in at the same time. Mom and Dad cook while their three girls play and do homework.

These empty-nesters own a historic home built in 1883 with a smaller, dated kitchen that was last remodeled in the mid-1970s.

To enlarge the space, they decided to gut the existing kitchen and put an addition onto the back of the house, leaving a clean palette for lots of design ideas. They ended up with a small mudroom off the back entrance, and a sitting and TV area. This prevented the need to change the front of the house, a tricky proposition in a Historic District. They love the open plan with easy movement around the island, and it’s great for entertaining.

The perimeter cabinets are Manchester Tan, while the island is Ember stain on Cherry; all hardware is Antique Pewter.

The existing kitchen lacked storage and adequate counter space. The owners wanted to maintain it as an eat-in kitchen, plus add two stools at the island. We incorporated lots of drawers for easy-access storage. The husband’s wish list comprised one item: a built-in coffee maker and coffee bar. There was also a walk-in pantry that needed to be gutted and completely reworked for more efficient use of space. The cabinetry at the Island is Timber Brown stain on Cherry, while the perimeter is Manchester Tan paint.

Lighten Up

Larry K omisar

Litchfield Hills Kitchen & Bath 154 New Milford Turnpike New Preston CT, 06777 (860) 868-2007 lhkitchenbath.com

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The Goal:

The Challenge:

The Design:

The goal was to completely renovate and expand a 1940s ranch-style house to create a new facade, new family-friendly open living spaces, a new kitchen and entry, additional bedrooms on the second floor, and a playroom and bar in the basement.

The challenge was working within the existing house structure, which was required by local zoning codes. The codes limited enlarging the house footprint, so the only way to increase the square footage significantly was to use the existing footprint and expand upward to the second floor and attic.

The design took advantage of the existing structure and footprint of the home and reconfigured the first-floor interior to create more gracious living spaces and a new kitchen. A small front porch was added, and an existing rear deck was renovated.

The second-floor expansion included three new bedrooms, a new master suite, and a laundry room. The basement features a new bar and a playroom space with access to the exterior.

Michael Smith Architects 41 North Main Street, Suite 101 Norwalk, CT 06854 (203) 563-0553 michaelsmitharchitects.com

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The Goal:

The Elements:

Old Meets New:

To accommodate a growing family, the owners looked to double the original square footage of the existing three-bedroom home to 10,000 square feet and a total of seven bedrooms. The two-year project included a new addition, a new two-story pool house, three bluestone terraces, an outdoor kitchen, a pergola with eight stone piers, a fire pit, tennis courts, a pool surround, and spa.

Stone in all of its varieties was the unifying theme. A monumental thirty-foot-tall exterior fieldstone chimney and a mantle of reclaimed bluestone curbing anchors an outdoor living room that nearly replicates the dimensions of the interior family room, where a two-story limestone fireplace takes center stage.

Views from the house are quintessential Connecticut: farmer’s walls wend through a rolling field. This bucolic scene is juxtaposed with a state-of-the-art, regulation-sized tennis court. Stone was chosen to compliment old and new. Expansive grounds allowed for newly created paddocks, stonewalls, and stone-lined streambeds that recall the Connecticut of years gone by.

O&G Industries Masonry Division Locations: Bridgeport, Danbury, Hartford, Middletown, Stamford, Torrington, and Waterbury.

(866) 748-5694 mason.ogind.com

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The Barn House Estate won three HOBI Awards in 2015 for Best Residential remodel: $3-5million, Best Pool House, and the Best Outdoor room.

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The Starting Point: The wish list: a list of dreams.

The Goal: The word “renovate” means to restore to life, vigor, and activity. To renovate a home is to bring it a new life filled with beauty, warmth, activity, function, and love.

The Challenge: The key to renovating is to add to or remodel an existing home by keeping what is best and removing what does not work.

The goal is to make the final project seem as though it has always been there.

The Design Summary: The job—and the joy—is to fulfill the clients’ wishes beyond their dreams, by creating unimagined spaces while designing within the confines of the existing home.

Patri c i a m . m i l l er

Patricia M. Miller Residential Design LLC. 318 Good Hill Road Weston, CT 06883 (203) 227-7333 pmmarch.com

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Shippan Point Kitchen The Goal:

Greenwich Waterfront The Back Story:

Crescent Beach The Challenge:

This traditional Cape-Cod style house was converted to a modern floor plan. The original kitchen was short on usable counter space, and felt cramped when cooking. The owners now enjoy a more spacious feel and expansive views of the water.

Originally built in 1898, this house required a historically correct restoration. RAC had drawn up plans for a previous owner who never embarked on the project. The current owner found the plans in the house and contacted RAC. The revised project won the 2013 A-List award for “Historical Home Renovation.”

RAC was careful to keep this house grounded. Located across the street from the Rowayton shoreline, it had to be lifted to meet current flood-zone regulations. The new home enjoys a (raised) lower and upper terrace and expanded indoor space with spectacular views.

Shippan Point Kitchen

Robert C ar dello

Dav id L aPi erre

Robert A. Cardello Architects 97 Washington Street South Norwalk, CT 06854 (203) 853-2524 cardelloarchitects.com

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construction

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The Goal:

The Challenge:

The Design Summary:

Our aim was to maximize every square inch of space so buyers can see the full potential of each room.

We were on a very tight timeline. We only had one month to complete the renovation before potential buyers would view it at a scheduled open house.

We transformed these tiny spaces into multifunctional living areas that are light, bright, and inviting. Now our picture-perfect spaces are ready to sell.

J udy Do yl e

5 Myrtle St. Norwalk, Ct 06855 (203) 227-4134 wrightbuild.com

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A Modern Classic

The traditional facade of a New Canaan home opens to an interior with a bright, airy feel and a fresh, elegant look.

Text by Bob Curley Photography by Michael Partenio Produced by Stacy Kunstel

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Less than two decades old, this classically designed colonial home in New Canaan offers no hint of the redesign from the front.

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A silk rug grounds the living room, where a sofa reupholstered by the designer in Venetian velvet and chairs re-covered in Osborne & Little Oriole fabric beckon. Ikat and animal-print toss pillows lend an exotic note. FACING PAGE: Phillip Jeffries wallpaper provides a subdued background that lets the art play a starring role.

Project Team Architecture: Brooks & Falotico Associates Interior design: Tori Legge, Stirling Mills Interior Design Builder: West Construction

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S

erenity is often in the eye of the beholder: for many, a stately colonial-style home on a peaceful New England lane would be the epitome of rest and relaxation, but this version, a spec house in New Canaan— lovely though it was—left Chris and Rachel Baker feeling underwhelmed. The interior, too traditional. The layout, too cookie-cutter.

Overall feeling of zen, lacking.

“The house was really dark,” says Rachel, who admits that her perfect dream house, if she had no kids or dogs, would be all white. “We loved living here, but we wanted to open up the house and let in as much natural light as possible.

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“the Bakers wanted a place where people could gather that was an extension of the kitchen, but not in the kitchen,” says Louise Brooks.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: An upholstered banquette and cafe chairs surround the breakfast area’s Saarinen table. Comfy cowhide-covered swivel chairs fill the sitting space off the kitchen. A zinctopped wet bar features a well for liquor bottles and ample storage for barware. FACING PAGE: A sculpture by New York artist Jeremy Holmes makes a statement on the custom wallpaper that wraps the elegant formal dining space.

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The exterior is very traditional, but we wanted an updated look on the inside.”

From the outset, the Bakers’ desires for the remodel were philosophically clear cut: more openness and entertainment space, less clutter and cleaner lines. Practically, they were less specific, other than a wish for skylights in the breakfast area and a screened-in conservatory at the back of the house. That gave designer Tori Legge of Stirling Mills Interior Design, architectural designer Louise Brooks of Brooks & Falotico, and the team from West Construction plenty of creative space to transform what was essentially a big rectangle into something more distinctive. “The challenge was to take a traditional box into the new century, adding a cleaner, more contemporary vibe without completely dismissing the traditional architecture,” says Brooks. “So many people have homes in that vernacular, and we showed how it can be turned around.”

The front of the home remains essentially untouched, along with the grand entry foyer, which retains the look and feel of a classic center-hall colonial. A few steps in, however, something unexpected and contemporary is revealed, starting with a powder room off the foyer. The room sits between a pair of

arched doorways that stand as an example of the sprinkling of traditional elements kept in the redesign. Completely refinished with a custom concrete sink, chevron-pattern marble tiles on floor and ceiling, and a wall-sized mirror, this compact space is a hint of things to come with its subdued tones of gray and white.

It’s a cool, clean color palette that’s carried over to virtually every room in the house, channeling the muted tones of traditional colonial interiors while eschewing any paneling, stenciling, heavy furniture, or ornate woodworking. In fact, in most of the house, the only hint of color comes from silver and gold accents in rugs and furnishings, the hues chosen by the artists whose works are on display throughout the home, and the floral arrangements positioned here and there by Rachel.

Textures, more than color, add character in Legge’s designs, and patterns tend to show up more in accessories, like rugs and pillows, than in furniture or wallcoverings. “I appreciate bright colors,” the designer says, “but I feel like it’s nice to have a house that’s calm and serene after work.”

“More than furniture or curtains, I love art,” adds Rachel, whose collection includes abstract paintings

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and sculpture. “I wanted to make sure the wallpaper stayed in the background and the artwork popped.”

As the project progressed, it eventually touched nearly every room in the house, from an attic converted to office space to a basement kitted out with a theater room, game room, gym, and yoga/ barre ­studio.

The master bedroom and bath were redesigned, with notable touches like a tall, cushioned headboard behind a bed dressed in taupe, gray, and off-white Matouk bedding and Christen Maxwell pillows in the former, and a Victoria + Albert soaking tub in the latter. A dog bed built into a wall opposite the bed is both practical and whimsical.

The back of the house was bumped out to accommodate a relocated kitchen that offers easy flow between a breakfast nook with a banquette that looks out over the patio, the dining room, a cozy sitting area with cowhide Cooper swivel chairs arrayed before a rustic wood stove, and a wine bar.

Topped with the same Danby marble as the kitchen countertops, the wine bar is centrally located

Textures, more than color, add character in Tori Legge’s designs, and patterns tend to show up more in accessories, like rugs and pillows, than in furniture or wallcoverings.

LEFT: A Victoria + Albert soaking tub in the master bathroom sits between a pair of vanities topped in mitered Carrara stone. ABOVE: The Lucite legs of the upholstered bench at the foot of the master bed add a glamorous touch. FACING PAGE: A fireplace fabricated with London Fog stone commands attention in the family room.

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“When I come home, it feels like a place where I can sit down and relax and be myself,” says Rachel. “We wanted to always have one foot in the outdoors.”

BELOW: White sofas and a cowhide rug, glass cocktail table, and an airy cage chandelier are washed in light in the glassed-in conservatory.

RIGHT: The conservatory doors open onto a stone patio and fireplace. A small deck off the master bedroom sits above the sunny passage between the kitchen area and the wet bar.

in the house, making it the first thing visitors spot as they walk down the entry hall. It’s ideal for entertaining, but it has also rather unexpectedly become an everyday gathering place for the Baker family. “We use it all the time as a buffet, for coffee,” Rachel says, noting that the large pocket doors between the bar and the kitchen can be slid shut for entertaining to discourage guests from wandering off and so “you don’t have to see the messy kitchen.”

“The wine bar concept was unique,” Brooks

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says. “Wine cellars have been coming out of the basement and onto first floors, and the Bakers wanted a place where people could gather that was an extension of the kitchen, but not in the kitchen.”

Stonework matching the bluestone on the patio leads from the kitchen through the sunroom addition to a wet bar and the conservatory at the northwest corner of the home. Originally conceived as a screen house, the copper-roofed conservatory evolved into an all-season space with three walls of outwardopening doors and automatic screens that roll down

to let the breezes in and keep the bugs out on warm nights. A Restoration Hardware cloud sofa is tossed with plush blankets to ward off the evening chill.

The Bakers can often be found in this comfortable indoor-outdoor space year-round, and at any time of day, whether for coffee while watching the morning news or for cocktails at sunset. “When I come home, it feels like a place where I can sit down and relax and be myself,” says Rachel. “We wanted to always have one foot in the outdoors.”

RESOURCES : For more information about this home, see page 140.

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• ONce Upon A Time…

Happily ever after begins here, where a clever redo makes a tiny stone house in a picturesque, woodsy Darien neighborhood feel both snug and spirited.

•

Text by Megan Fulweiler Photography by Michael Partenio Produced by Stacy Kunstel

A slew of Williams Sonoma pillows in a host of summery blue tones raises the living room’s comfort level, while a glass top enhances the dining table’s practicality. Leather-bound books and an antique copper boiler add to the hearth’s charm. The handsome rug pulling it all together is from Ballard Designs.

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If

a child immersed in fairytales were to close her eyes and imagine a cottage, it might look just like the one interior designer Patricia Lapierre’s client stumbled upon. Time and nature had only enhanced its sleeping-beauty appeal.

Far more than just a storybook home, however, the compelling cottage was the creation of American architect Frazier Forman Peters. Found up and down the coast from Maine to Virginia, Peters’s buildings have all the features today’s homeowners value: their

thick stone walls make them energy-efficient, their floorplans are well-organized, and each—no matter the location—relates to its surroundings. Some people admire the stunning Connecticut abode Peters constructed for his own family. But it’s his romantic,

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Project Team Interior design: Patricia Lapierre, New York Architect Designers Landscape design: Barry Bonin, Twombly Nursery

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Garden designer Barry Bonin from Twombly Nursery thoughtfully tamed the landscape and elevated the cottage’s curb appeal. “We took down the overgrown trees and established a lawn,” he says. At the same time, he also added a few Japanese maples and installed a small rear garden. In the living room, accessories from Ralph Lauren Home lend an antique chest fresh personality. A bar tray holds entertaining essentials at the ready.

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An ever-growing collection of copper cookware brings Old World luster to the freshly painted kitchen. facing page: To create a lighter atmosphere for the living room, designer Patricia Lapierre removed the doors that once enclosed the lowest part of the shelving and brought in beachy accessories.

She also embellished a small upholstered chair with nailhead trim, upping its character tenfold.

compact dwellings, like this one, that so often stir hearts.

Tucked away in the picturesque Tokeneke area of Darien, the 1930 cottage was just right for someone looking to downsize. No structural remodeling was necessary. Admittedly, the landscape needed taming, and the place was overdue for a cosmetic lift, but having completed numerous projects with Lapierre, the client was confident the designer could turn things around.

Lapierre was given full rein to select everything, from the palette right down to everyday staples like silverware, towels, and even a mailbox. “It was a dream project,” she explains.

The two-bedroom cottage couldn’t have hoped for a more sensitive hand to guide its overhaul. The fashionable French-born and well-traveled designer is known not only for her attention to scale and proportion, but also her ability to mix high and low. Blending antiques with contemporary pieces, Lapierre achieves a chicness that never grows old. A subtle, eclectic flair that can only be labeled Parisian charm underlies her interiors.

In this home, Lapierre also had a puzzle to solve. In addition to having to recycle furnishings from her client’s previous home, she had to make the 1,069-square-foot cottage functional. “I had to squeeze a dining room and office into the living room.

The challenge was to make it all work,” she says.

Clearly, the designer was successful. Looking around the immensely comfortable living room, who’d change a thing? An inviting blend of upholstered seating by Ralph Lauren and Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams gathers around the hearth. A large desk sits by the window on one side of the room, taking advantage of the natural light. At the room’s opposite end, a skirted table stands ready for intimate dining. Pillows, books, and plants add layers of richness. It’s the sort of calming setting that conjures images of tinkling ice in heirloom tumblers and good conversation unfolding by the hour.

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The master bedroom’s dream-­ inducing horse photos, bed linens, and reading lamp are from Ralph Lauren. Fresh bouquets throughout the cottage keep the rooms connected to the outdoors. FACING PAGE, TOP: Walls painted Benjamin Moore’s Bunny Gray soften the guest bedroom. To introduce a note of texture, the standing lamp wears a burlap shade. “Small rooms can be cozy,” says Lapierre. FACING PAGE, BOTTOM: A black and white towel from Ralph Lauren speaks to the bath’s tiled floor and rug.

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cozy that it became gloomy, Lapierre had the wood floors refinished with a warm, glossy stain. She brightened the rooms, save for the wood-paneled living room, with fresh paint in pale hues. And in that paneled space, she cleverly added a dose of color by giving the backs of the shelves and the inside of the library cabinet a coat of paint in a fetching blue

by Benjamin Moore. It’s a happy hue that—along with the shells and coral on display—reminds visitors the shore is only mere minutes away. A blue and red Hermes scarf (one of the designer’s signature touches) is mounted above an heirloom chest flanking French doors that lead to the sunroom.

The sunroom, a hub of warm-weather activity, is as festive as the living room is refined. Red-andwhite-striped curtains and customized bistro chairs add an instant spark. Continuing her red and blue theme, Lapierre topped heirloom lamps with dreamy turquoise silk shades and covered the round dining table with an indigo-blue French plastic tablecloth.

“It’s got this wonderful bamboo detail and it’s practical,” she says. At night, an oversize bamboo light fixture casts a glow as alluring as a summer moon.

Venture out to the graveled courtyard and the mood of joie de vivre follows. Jaunty striped umbrellas and navy-blue cushioned chairs lend every al fresco meal a Mediterranean ambience. And judging by the number of copper pots and pans in the kitchen, good food—whether enjoyed in or out—is a serious matter on these premises. True, the kitchen is small.

But granite counters and a looks-like-brick tiled backsplash infuse the petite space with personality.

Lapierre repainted the cabinets in Benjamin Moore’s Decorator White, updated the hardware, and added twin Piedmont-style lanterns from Ballard Designs in a burgundy-red shade that echoes the home’s trim.

“They make a statement,” she explains. “Outside at night, you can see the lights through the window.”

Always conscious of how things will be viewed from different perspectives, Lapierre extended the predominantly blue palette to the master bedroom. If the door is left open and guests catch a glimpse from the living room, nothing is jarring. There’s a framed blue-patterned Hermes scarf adding graphic interest and a dainty antique table serving as a nightstand.

P

atricia Lapierre extended the predominantly blue palette to the master bedroom. If the door is left open and guests catch a glimpse from the living room, nothing is jarring.

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A sisal rug defines the sunroom’s dining area. Cheery curtains make a colorful frame for the view. facing page, top: To update the existing outdoor furniture collection, Lapierre had the pieces repainted and outfitted with new pillows and umbrellas. facing page, bottom: A series of steps leads from the living room to the sunroom for easy access day or night.

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The upholstered Ralph Lauren bed is sumptuous, the bedding crisp and tailored.

Right next door, the second bedroom exudes a similar at-ease attitude. Straightforward snowy curtains frame the windows, while the twin beds sport

playful candy-stripe coverlets from Serena & Lily.

A shared bath might be a trial, but since Lapierre swept through, no one has complained. She had the tile reglazed and—as a foil to the room’s beautiful antique tub—cleverly incorporated a modern light from Restoration Hardware. A handcrafted Jonathan Adler zebra rug injects an unexpected note of fun.

As carefree and summery as the rooms are now, they’ll do a reverse come fall. “I believe in seasonal decorating,” Lapierre says. Rugs, pillows, accessories—the designer deftly moves the cottage into the cold months with style. A blue bar tray, for instance, will be replaced with a plaid version that better complements a blazing fire and, possibly, a Christmas tree. This annual switch continually reinvigorates the cottage and, no doubt, her client, too. It’s all part of Lapierre’s irresistible magic which, in the end, couldn’t have found a better place to work its spell.

RESOURCES : For more information about this home, see page 140.

A

s carefree and summery as the rooms are now, they’ll do a reverse come fall.

“I believe in seasonal decorating,” says Lapierre.

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Special Focus:

Kitchen & Bath Design Text by Paula M. Bodah

Connecticut kitchens and baths that are a beautiful union of style and utility.

CREDITS Architectural design: Glenn Smith, Residential Engineering + Design Interior design: Dalia Canora, Dalia Canora Design Builder: Danny and Eamonn Fay Photography: Jane Beiles

A Dash of Panache Canora is the first to admit that, • Dalia as appealingly timeless as white can be, an

all-white kitchen runs the risk of being boring. The expansive kitchen she designed for a young Darien family, however, is anything but dull. Yes, the large (about 865 square feet) space is predominantly white.

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But judicious use of color, as in the warm gray-blue of the island and the blend of blues and whites in the mosaic backsplash, adds a welcome spark. So, too, do touches like the big, bold, pierced-metal pendants that illuminate the island. The streamlined fauxleather stools are hydraulic, so even the littlest kid can belly up to the island with no fuss. The area also holds a dining table that seats ten, a nook with a sofa

and a piano, a bar where the husband stores his wine collection, a den for TV watching, a built-in banquette for impromptu napping, and a built-in desk. The wall above the desk sports a magnetic Pollack wallpaper that stands in for corkboard, helping the family keep track of activities and appointments. “The room satisfies so many functions,” Canora says, “but it’s still spacious and uncluttered.” All that, and beautiful, too.

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Special Focus:

Kitchen & Bath Design

The Family That Cooks Together

passion for cooking • Awasshared at the heart of the renovation

of this Darien kitchen. “We cook a lot, and it’s a gift we hope to share with our sons,” the wife says. “We wanted a real cook’s kitchen where we can work together.”

Architect Chris Pagliaro bumped out the rear wall eighteen inches, creating room for an island and additional counter and storage space. Above the sink and a long expanse of glossy white countertop, the new wall holds a run of windows that ushers in light and visually extends the kitchen into the backyard. The island, with its own sink, means the couple can work together without bumping into each other. Clean, modern, white cabinets get a boost of warmth from walnut trim.

Pagliaro eliminated walls between the kitchen and dining room and between the dining and family rooms to create a sense of openness, then introduced elements to delineate the spaces. A temperaturecontrolled glass wine cabinet that separates the dining room from the breakfast area is “a fun, playful element that keeps communication open but breaks up the railroading of the rooms,” he explains.

Designer Lynn Morgan’s palette of pale blues and fabrics in a variety of textures strike the perfect tone of contemporary glamour.

CREDITS Architecture: Pagliaro Bartels Sajda Architects Interior design: Lynn Morgan, Lynn Morgan Design Builder: Shore Point Builders Photography: Michael Partenio Producer: Stacy Kunstel

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Special Focus:

Kitchen & Bath Design

Let There Be Light

Levitt is not a dark person.

• Keri The kitchen in her Westport home,

however, was altogether gloomy with its heavy cabinetry, midnight-brown granite counters, and walls painted deep blue.

“My whole vibe is sort of modern, eclectic bohemian,” Levitt says. Her kitchen, she felt, should—like the rest of her home— reflect that feeling. She ripped out the upper cabinets, instantly bringing a sense of openness to the space. Then she dressed the walls in shiny white subway tile that reflects the light spilling in through the windows above a new farmer’s sink. She gave the existing lower cabinets a coat of black paint and topped them with white Caesarstone. Stainlesssteel appliances blend in nicely, supporting the room’s smart, snappy look. Her brother-in-law Jeremy Levitt, co-owner of the New York City–based design firm Parts and Labor, created the oversize mirror that hangs above a new desk in the kitchen’s office area, pulling light from outdoors into the space. “The kitchen is the nervous system, the main hub, 100 percent the heartbeat of my home,” Levitt says. “I wanted it to have personality and spirit. It exudes my personal style.”

CREDITS Interior design: Keri Levitt Photography: Michael Partenio Producer: Stacy Kunstel

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Special Focus:

Kitchen & Bath Design

FamilyFriendly Flair

attractive architectural • The details in this new Shingle-style

house in Greenwich provided plenty of inspiration for Michelle Morgan ­Harrison for designing the stylish kitchen. Clean, simple cabinetry molding echoes the ceiling coffers, for instance, while the pretty curves in a transom window are reinforced in the arched cabinetry above the stove, the round-backed island chairs, and the glass-front cupboards that flank the breakfast bar. Morgan Harrison has taken a fresh approach to the classic all-white kitchen, painting the woodwork with a fifty-fifty blend of white and Benjamin Moore’s Silver Satin—a color she calls “a pale greige”—to warm things up. Crystal light fixtures add an elegant touch. Chic as it all looks, this is a hard-working kitchen for a young family.

Refrigerator drawers in the breakfast bar let kids grab their own drinks and snacks.

The good-looking counters are strong,

durable quartzite. The chairs wear vinyl upholstery for quick cleanup. Even the cabinetry’s hardware balances style and function; Morgan Harrison opted for polished chrome for its shine. “And,” she says, “unlike nickel, it’s easy to maintain.”

CREDITS Architecture: Jones Byrne Margeotes Partners Interior design: Michelle Morgan Harrison, Morgan Harrison Home Builder: Pecora Brothers Photography: Jane Beiles

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Special Focus:

Kitchen & Bath Design

Country Comfort designing the addition for • Ina 1950s colonial-style Westport

home, architect Paulo Vicente says, “We wanted to keep the home’s simplicity and purity, but make it feel more contemporary and open. And because it’s in the country, we wanted a bit of rustic charm.” The second-floor master bath illustrates his success. There is a pleasing unfussiness in the walls painted Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White and in the sleek, marble-topped, oak vanity with stainless-steel legs and cutout pulls.

A vaulted ceiling of oak spanning the space between the tub and the glassed-in shower provides a rustic note. There’s a comforting familiarity—albeit with an update—in the large-format basket-weave

tile floor (the dark squares are actually mosaic). A trio of windows of different sizes bring in the pastoral surroundings as a design element of their own. The Sputnik chandelier is a midcentury-modern addition that ties it all together. “The character of the space emulates what we did in the rest of the house,” Vicente says.

We call it a perfect blend of old and new.

CREDITS Architecture and interior design: Paulo Vicente, Vicente-Burin Architects Builder: Keith J. Manca Building Company Photography: Tim Williams

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Special Focus:

Kitchen & Bath Design

A Room of Her Own

bathroom in this Greenwich • The home is a spacious twenty-one feet

long, but it’s barely more than seven feet wide—proportions that posed a challenge for designer Rebecca Reynolds.

The first order of business was to rip out the cedar sauna that dominated one end, the dated fixtures, and—definitely—the 1980s Laura Ashley tile that covered the walls from floor to ceiling. The new homeowner had in mind a spa-like space, sleek and spare, but elegant, too. Reynolds obliged with a feminine palette of lavender and white with Lucite accents that add a hint of glamour. The tub and shower occupy opposite ends of the room.

Reynolds made clever use of mirrors—a pair set into the wall at the back of the tub, and another pair in the walls that flank the shower door—to reflect the ends of the room back to each other, minimizing the long feel of the space. Mirrors float within the twin windows above the vanity, too, maximizing the room’s width without blocking too much light.

Texture, in the grasscloth wallpaper and the white-on-white raised design of the large-format tile, soften any severity, and the reclaimed-wood look of the floor tile adds warmth.

RESOURCES: For information about the professionals, see page 140.

CREDITS Interior design: Rebecca Reynolds, Rebecca Reynolds Design Builder: Seri Bueti, Bueti Construction Photography: John Gould Bessler Producer: Karin Lidbeck Brent

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•Perspectives Connecticut Design Considered From Every Angle

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The Classics

Essential garden pieces for creating an elegant oasis.

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1. Secret Garden custom arbor, Walpole Outdoors, various Connecticut locations | walpolewoodworkers.com 2. Willow Garden Obelisk, Terrain, Westport | shopterrain.com 3. Elwynn bench, Lillian August Warehouse, Stamford | lillianaugust.com 4. Williamsburg birdbath, Restoration Hardware, Westport and Greenwich | restorationhardware.com 5. Antique English lead dogs, R.T. Facts, Kent | rtfacts.com

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Sophie lamp

“This Prussian-blue lamp is the perfect color to mix with the earth tones and vivid flowers of the garden.” | Christopher Spitzmiller, New York City, christopherspitzmiller.com

Perspectives

Style Scheme

Rowayton étagère

“No garden room is complete without a pair of étagères to display your plants and collectibles.” | Oomph, Greenwich, oomphonline.com

Garden of Eden

A cheerful place to relax and recharge, this garden room designed by Rebecca Tier Soskin feels like summer all year long.

Barton chair

“A clean, white chair with simple lines can be very inviting in a room that’s meant for kicking back.

We could all use some down time and a comfortable place to rest our feet!” | Lillian August, Norwalk, lillianaugust.com

Daffodils Print by Paule Marrot

““This piece by Paule Marrot adds a colorful sentiment, making the room feel fresh and whimsical.” | Lillian August

Skol bar

“This beautiful embellished piece

by Bunny Williams sits nicely as a cabinet but doubles as a bar. It’s functional and chic—what more could you ask for!” | New York City, bunnywilliamshome.com

Palm pillows

“Always look to accessorize with a pop of color that brings a certain mood to your space.” | Town House Finds + Designs, Darien, townhousefinds.com

Rebecca Tier Soskin, Rowayton, rebeccasoskin.com

| edited by lynda simonton | 112 New England Home Connecticut | Summer 2017

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Perspectives

Five Questions

Tunes in the tub, programmable showers, even smart toilets—in both looks and function, plumbing has sure come a long way, says Max Bender.

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Why did Bender expand from a plumbing supply company to offering a range of products for kitchen and bath design?

We are a family-owned company with roots that go back to the early part of the twentieth century. My great-grandfather sold surplus plumbing supplies out of the trunk of his Cadillac, and eventually had stores

selling plumbing, heating, and cooling supplies. Three decades ago, we saw the market growing as people began to incorporate more design into their bathrooms, so we added decorative plumbing. More recently, we began offering kitchen cabinetry, tile, stone, and lighting. We have seven showrooms in Connecticut, and we serve all of New England and New York.

| Interview by Robert Kiener | Photography by laura moss | 114 New England Home Connecticut | Summer 2017

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PASSION | EXCELLENCE | SERVICE

2016 HOBI Award Winner Outstanding Custom Home Fairfield County HBRA Builder of the Year

www.DeRosaBuilders.com | 203.769.1804 522 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830

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Perspectives:

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Five Questions

What advice do you have for homeowners who are redoing a kitchen or bath?

You need to surround yourself with knowledgeable teammates, such as a professional general contractor. I am very leery of “handymen.” I strongly encourage people not to hire someone who is a jackof-all-trades. Say a professional costs 10 percent more than the handyman; the job is going to get done right, without delay, stress, and headaches. I recently had clients who bought $12,000 to $13,000 in master bathroom equipment but didn’t hire competent professionals. The waterproofing failed and water leaked into the living room below. They had to tear up the living room ceiling and redo the entire tile job.

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In addition to designers, you also work directly with homeowners.

How does that process work?

With any customer it’s all about finding out what their needs are. There are

so many options. I think our approach is what is different. It’s not about, “Hey what can we sell you today?” Rather it is more, “What are you working on and where can we add as much value as possible?” We don’t claim to be certified designers, but we can look at the space, draw a picture, and brainstorm together to help you create a beautiful kitchen or bath. If you already know what you want (say you saw something online you liked), and it turns out to be too expensive, we can try to reproduce that look with a product that works within your budget.

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What are some of the latest trends in bathroom and kitchen design?

Fairfield County is the first place that picks up trends as they come out of metro New York, but we’re not as crazy-modern as Manhattan. Our clients may not be putting wall-hung, high-lacquer vanities in every bathroom, but they might like an adaptation of the idea. So we offer a wall-hung vanity but add a more traditional Shaker overlay door and a custom Benjamin Moore color instead of a glitzy, lacquered surface. Unlacquered and burnished brass are coming back in a big way

in both kitchens and bathrooms, and spas and steam systems are still very popular.

We just hosted a lighting presentation for designers. It’s amazing how different lighting—say an incandescent bulb versus LED—can affect color. You have to be careful with lighting. LEDs are becoming increasingly popular, and so are cleaner, more modern-looking light fixtures.

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What about high-tech offerings?

You have to embrace technology!

I just put a Kohler VibrAcoustic tub into my own master bathroom and synced it to Bluetooth. It’s a neat feature. Built-in speakers mean you get the music and the vibration from the integral sub woofer that spreads through the tub and the water. There are digital showers that have programmable touch pads. Touchless toilets will sense if you are a woman or a man when you approach and lift just the lid or the lid and the seat, accordingly. Seats are heated, and toilets feature deodorizers and automatic flush. You can even link your toilet to your Bluetooth so it plays your favorite tune when you sit down! | Bender, Norwalk, (203) 8473865, benderplumbing.com

ARTEMIS landscape architects, inc 203.683.1808 Connecticut

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Westchester

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Perspectives

Local Assets 1

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Material World

These Connecticut artists create unique textiles that make a beautiful statement in the home.

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Even though we live in a time of plenty,” says Denyse Schmidt, “my work channels the makers that made do with what they had on hand.”

Evoking a simpler era, the quilt and textile designer’s latest fabric collection, “Washington Depot,” is named for a Connecticut town that’s “very beautiful and sophisticated but still feels a little lost in time.” A medium to lightweight cotton weave, it has both a colorful and a neutral component. But it’s the patterns—“a floral that feels like it could be a wallpaper at a fancy inn, or a friendly dot that somebody at the lunch place might be wearing”—that reflect a sense of place. | Denyse Schmidt Quilts Studio, Bridgeport, dsquilts.com

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It’s no surprise that Donna Gorman’s textiles are popular at resorts. The designer, who logged twenty-four years with the Finnish design house Marimekko, is known for her exuberant patterns in vibrant hues. “I’m not afraid of using strong colors,” she admits, “and I like to mix

and match patterns.” Gorman’s own line, See Design, which spans home decor, clothing, and bags (all printed on natural fibers), has a modern, Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic that’s won many fans (count the execs at Target, Dansk, and Crate and Barrel among them). | See Design, New Canaan, donnagormandesign.com, seedesignshop.com

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Elizabeth Eakins has quite a commute. She lives on a farm in Kansas, where she tends to a flock of 140 sheep, while her flagship studio/ showroom is located in Connecticut.

In fact, this live/work arrangement is in keeping with the textile designer’s ethos; her company makes all of its rugs and fabrics by hand from natural fibers, and Eakins looks to nature for creative inspiration. Her color palette reflects this: expect lots of blues, pale grays, and beiges, and rugs and textiles that can either take a starring role or act as a serene backdrop. | Elizabeth Eakins, South Norwalk, elizabetheakins.com

| By Lisa H. Speidel | 118 New England Home Connecticut | Summer 2017

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Images courtesy of the designers

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Design Life

edited by Tess Woods

Spring Networking Event at Shoreline Painting

Networking Event

CONNECTICUT

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The team at Shoreline Painting & Drywall opened the doors of their brand-new Norwalk location to welcome the New England Home Connecticut family. Guests mingled as they enjoyed cocktails and refreshments, and one lucky winner took home a $1,500 Shoreline Painting gift card.

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| 1. Mike Italiano of Shoreline Painting and Bryan Short of The Sewing Loft of Avon | 2. Karen Bradbury of Closet & Storage Concepts, New England Home’s Roberta Mancuso, Stephanie Rapp of Stephanie Rapp Interiors, and Connie Cooper of Connie Cooper Designs | 3. New England Home’s Kyle Hoepner with Terri Ricci and Rebecca Vulcano of Terri Ricci Interiors | 4. Amy Lindeman of Ridgefield Supply Company and Aleighen Bunkers of DeRosa Builders | 5. Ed Mailhot of Shoreline Painting and Richard Uva of Aqua Pool & Patio | 6. Linherr Hollingsworth and Allison Smith of Linherr Hollingsworth | 7. Beth Krupa of Beth Krupa Interiors, Paul Mattus of Hinged, and Peggy Kebabian of Kebabian’s Rugs | 8. Rob Dean of Robert Dean Architects, New England Home Connecticut’s Roberta Mancuso, and Chris Polidoro of Shoreline Painting | 9. Dick and Barb Laughton of Front Row Kitchens

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Photography by Phil Nelson

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Design Life DesignSourceCT Designer Panel

New England Home Connecticut partnered with DesignSourceCT to host a designer panel at Hartford’s Town & County Club. New England Home editor-in-chief Kyle Hoepner moderated “The Challenges of a Changing Design Business,” a group discussion that included Charlotte Barnes, Michelle Morgan ­Harrison, Richard Ott, Kelly Rogers, and Georgia Zikas.

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| 1. Jillian Gagnon, Kristen McCory, and Georgia Zikas | 2. Kelly Rogers, Alice Brash, and Richard Ott | 3. Linda Graydon, New England Home’s Roberta Mancuso, and Nancy Zwiener | 4. Karen Candee and Peggy Kebabian | 5. New England Home’s Kyle Hoepner and the panel of design pros | 6. Tom Ayars and Kellie Burke

Wakefield “To the Trade Only” Day

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Wakefield Design Center hosted its semiannual “To the Trade Only” Market Day, where attendees enjoyed book signings and presentations on the latest trends and products in the home decor industry. The event featured designers Michael Berman and Meg Braff, as well as Veranda editor-in-chief Clinton Smith.

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| 1. Sponsors Peggy Kebabian of Kebabian’s Rugs, Liz King of The Linen Shop, Andrea Reiner of Innerspace Electronics, Gary Shafran of L&M Custom Carpets and Rugs, Jennifer Koen of Viyet, Josh Kebabian of Kebabian’s Rugs, Tamara Rosenthal of Viyet, and Gina Romanello of Innerspace Electronics | 2. New England Home’s Kathy Bush-Dutton with Clinton Smith | 3. Meg Braff, Tamara Rosenthal, and Deborah von Donop | 4. George Snead, Michael Berman, and New England Home’s Kyle Hoepner | 5. New England Home’s Stacy Kunstel with Chuck Hilton and Amy Andrews Photography by David Sloane

6/22/17 4:11 PM

Save the Date

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Design Life Putnam & Mason Grand Opening

New York-based designers Kim Alessi and Robert Passal had a successful grand opening party for their new Greenwich store, Putnam & Mason. Movers and shakers of the Greater Manhattan design industry gathered to celebrate the urban-inspired studio. Guests also enjoyed a book signing by artist Hunt Slonem.

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Trade Secrets

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| 1. The new atelier opens its doors to a full house | 2. Laird Morgan Tolan and Sandra Morgan | 3. Hunt Slonem signed copies of his book Bunnies | 4. Owners Kim Alessi and Robert Passal | 5. New England Home’s Roberta Mancuso and Stacy Kunstel | 6. Connie Cooper, Antonio Vergara, and Stephanie Rapp | 7. Jan and Christine Hiltz

The Women’s Support Services annual event, Trade Secrets, was held over Mother’s Day weekend. On Saturday, guests enjoyed the Rare Plant and Garden Antique Sale, and Sunday attendees toured four beautiful gardens in Cornwall and Falls Village, as well as in nearby Ashley Falls, Massachusetts.

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| 1. The scene at Saturday’s Rare Plant and Garden Antique Sale, held at LionRock Farm in Sharon | 2. Matthew Patrick Smyth | 3. Bunny Williams | 4. Richard Lambertson and New England Home’s Debra Judge Silber | 5. Patrick Mele and Suzanne Cassano | 6. Dana Brandwein, Laureen Barber, and New England Home’s Stacy Kunstel

Putnam & Mason photography by David Sloane Trade Secrets photography by Michael Partenio

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Design Life Ruth Sherman at Hästens

Ruth Sherman, author of Speakrets, welcomed a captive audience to the Hästens showroom in Greenwich for her talk entitled “Command Any Room: The Power & Purpose to Sell Yourself & Your Ideas.” A portion of the evening’s sales was donated to B*Cured, a volunteer nonprofit organization with the mission to end brain cancer by funding innovative research grants.

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| 1. Ruth Sherman and 4 Christine Oleynick | 2. Nancy Sheed and Missie Fahey | 3. Beth Krupa, Lori DeRocco, and Pam Einarsen | 4. Kristin Alexander and Lori DeRocco | 5. Ruth Sherman | 6. Dale Troy and Marla Alt

Near and Far Aid House Tour

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The well-known organization Near & Far Aid held its annual Designer House Tour in May. The benefit featured a breakfast with speakers, five home tours throughout Fairfield, Southport, and Westport, and an afternoon tea party catered by Royal Tea Company. The breakfast included a presentation and book signing by Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller, the husband-and-wife principals of Carrier and Company Interiors.

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| 1. This bedroom by Gaelle Dudley 4 was part of the tour | 2. Christine and Jan Hiltz | 3. Tea party guests enjoying views of the Long Island Sound | 4. Ken Gemes with New England Home’s Stacy Kunstel | 5. Mara Miller and Jesse Carrier signing a copy of their book Carrier and Company: Positively Chic Interiors | 6. Linda Blackwell and Gina Manoni having fun in a display car provided by sponsor Jaguar Land Rover Fairfield

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Hästens Beds photos by RH Photography Near and Far Aid House Tour photos by Jane Beiles (1,3,4,5,6), Stacy Kunstel (2)

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Trade Notes

full-service aspect to the company, which has long been lauded for its gracious, classically designed homes. I Greenwich, hiltonarchitects.com

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By Paula M. Bodah

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After ten years as a partner in a design company, Dina Spaidal is striking out on her own with Dina Spaidal Interiors. In her solo endeavor, Spaidal brings her sophisticated, timeless sensibility to clients throughout Fairfield County, Westchester County, and New York City. I Fairfield, dinaspaidalinteriors.com

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1) Designer Kellie Burke outside her new West Hartford studio.

2) The team at Wright Building Company with the Property Brothers, Drew Scott (second from left) and Jonathan Scott (third from right).

3) Designer Dina Spaidal has gone solo.

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Bruce Glickman and Wilson Henley, owners of New York City’s Duane Modern, have joined forces with Betsey Nestler to open George Home.

The new shop offers midcentury modern and antique furniture, art, accessories, tabletop ware, and lots of other unusual and beautiful items for the home. I Washington, georgehomect.com

Congratulations to this year’s winners of the Connecticut Professional Awards from the Connecticut Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Connecticut landscape architects Wesley Stout Associates and Anne Penniman Associates were among the Merit Award winners for residential landscape design, and Wesley Stout also took home an Honor Award for its work for New Canaan’s Halo Studios. To see a full list of winners, visit ctasla.org. I New Canaan, wesleystout.com; Essex, annepenniman.com

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The folks at Litchfield Hills Kitchen & Bath are happily ensconced in their new showroom. The New Milford Turnpike location features the latest in cabinetry, counter and floor surfaces, sinks, faucets, and more in a series of displays that offer endless inspiration for those planning to remodel a kitchen or bath. I New Preston, lhkitchenbath.com

Homeowners in Fairfield County have a new way to take care of their property. Hinged is an online home-management service that helps clients handle everything related to repair and maintenance, from finding the right person to do the job (with a network of rigorously vetted service professionals) to scheduling a contractor to paying for services. Hinged also tracks expenses and offers online tax management tools for work done throughout the year. Best of all?

It’s free for homeowners. I hinged.com

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The Home Design District of West Hartford has a new resident. Interior designer Kellie Burke has opened Kellie Burke Interiors in a renovated 1930s factory. Besides her design services, Burke offers a host of fun home decor finds and luxurious accessories. I West Hartford, kellieburke.com

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Designer Cindy Rinfret is on the move, relocating her Greenwich firm, Rinfret, Ltd., from its longtime spot on Greenwich Avenue to new offices on Lewis Street. In the process, she has closed her home furnishing shop, Rinfret Home & Garden, and plans to focus solely on her interior design business. I Greenwich, rinfretltd.com

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One key to three decades of success for Charles Hilton Architects? Never resting on its considerable laurels. Now the Greenwich firm is branching out with the introduction of Hilton Interiors. Interior designer Amy Andrews has signed on to head up this new component of the business, bringing a

Karen Bradbury studied interior design and worked for many years in corporate real estate, often collaborating on large construction projects.

So when the entrepreneurial urge kicked in, it only made sense to combine her design and organization skills. It was a wise move, as she loves being the owner of Closet & Storage Concepts. And now she has a new feather in her cap, with the announcement that she’s been chosen the 2017–2018 Woman of the Year by the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Fairfield County. I Norwalk, closetandstorage​ concepts.com/norwalk-connecticut

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Chris Wright and Judy Doyle are ready for their close-up—or at least their work at Wright Building Company is. The company transformed two Westchester County homes for HGTV’s Buying & Selling, hosted by the Property Brothers (a.k.a. Jonathan and Drew Scott). The shows aired in April and May, so if you missed them, keep an eye out for the reruns. I Norwalk, wrightbuildingcompany.com

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Calendar

edited by lynda Simonton

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Garden Conservancy Open Days: Litchfield and Fairfield Counties July 15 Tour some of the area’s most exceptional private gardens.

Five gardens will be open to the public including Bunny Williams’s celebrated garden in Falls Village. I $7 per garden, beginning at 10 a.m. For details and locations, go to garden conservancy.org/opendays

1 1) Andy Warhol’s 1983 Bald Eagle is on display at Spring into Summer with Andy Warhol and Friends! at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich.

2) Lectures, luncheons, and a party at the Jethro Coffin House are part of the festivities for Nantucket by Design.

3) Life at sea is the focus at American Waters: A Marine Exhibition at the Lyme Art Association.

JULY Spring into Summer with Andy Warhol and Friends!

Through August 20 While Andy Warhol is best known for his larger-thanlife personality and pop art, his interest in the real and the intimate is explored in this exhibit built on three important works from the Bruce Museum collection.

Many other works will be on loan to the museum, such as Warhol’s silkscreen series of 1983, Endangered Species. I Bruce Museum, Greenwich, (203) 869-0376, brucemuseum.org American Waters: A Marine Exhibition Through August 25 This juried, themed art exhibit features work that highlights life at sea, including ship portraits, fishing scenes, and seascapes. I Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme, (860) 434-7802, lymeartassociation.org 11th Biennial International Miniature Print Exhibition 2017 Through August 27 Small is beautiful at this juried competition for fine-art prints that measure no more than four inches. I The Center for Contemporary Printmaking, Norwalk, (203) 899-7999, contemprints.org Flora/Fauna: The Naturalist Impulse in American Art Through September 17 This exhibit features 70 works surveying the history of artist-naturalists and environmentally conscious artists in America from the 19th through the mid-20th centuries. I Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme, (860) 434-5542, florencegriswoldmuseum.org 67th Annual Art of the Northeast July 8–August 19 Begun in 1949 as the New England Exhibition, the competition was founded by Silvermine Guild members Miriam Brody and Revington Arthur to showcase the art of the region. Over the years, the exhibit has presented works by emerging and lesser-known artists, giving them a platform to reach a larger audience.

The winner receives a generous cash prize and a solo exhibition at Silvermine Arts Center. I New Canaan, (203) 966-9700, silvermineart.org

Ganim’s Garden Center & Florist’s Ladies Night July 20 Grab your friends and head over to Ganim’s Garden Center & Florist for its annual Ladies Night. There will be a plant sale, shopping with local vendors, wine tasting, and treats from favorite local food trucks.

Be sure to stop in and check out the raffle items.

Proceeds from the raffle benefit Bully Breed Rescue.

I 6 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Free, preregistration is required.

Fairfield, (203) 333-5662, ganimsgardencenter.com

AUGUST Nantucket by Design August 1–5 This five-day event offers lectures and social events celebrating creative and inspiring interior design.

The Design Luncheon features Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch of Roman and Williams, and the event will be capped off with “The New Party at the Oldest House” under a tent at Nantucket’s historic Jethro Coffin House. I Nantucket, Mass., (508) 228-1894, nha.org for a full schedule of events and ticket information.

Flower Arranging in the Garden August 11 Florist and horticulture professional Debbie Brown will take you into the Hollister House gardens to teach how to cut and condition flowers for arrangements.

Guests will create their own floral arrangements to take home. I Registration is limited, 2 p.m.–5 p.m., $30 HHG members, $35 non-members. Washington, (860) 868-2200, hollisterhousegarden.org Garden Conservancy Open Days: Maywood Gardens August 26 Tour this private estate’s sunken perennial garden, rose gardens, a woodland path, a 4,000-square-foot greenhouse, and much more. I $7, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Bridgewater, gardenconservancy.org/opendays

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5A Sconset Square, Westport, CT | 203.557.6777 | bespokedesigns.com

REBECCA REYNOLDS DESIGN

Selected by VIKING RANGE as

2016

Kitchen Designer of the Year rebeccareynoldsdesign.com

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203-972-8300

6/21/17 5:13 PM

Calendar

Norwalk’s Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum holds its tenth annual Old-Fashioned Flea Market.

JMKA | architects

ARCHITECTURE • LANDSCAPE • INTERIORS • MASTER PLANNING

Westport | 203.222.1222 Greenwich | 203.698.8888 jmkarchitects.com

SEPTEMBER Two Centuries of New England Gardens: Roseland’s Romantic Gardens September 7 Roseland Cottage’s distinctive boxwoodedged parterre gardens were planted in the 1850s and continue to be maintained in period style. Learn about the history of the gardens, how Roseland’s staff keeps these gardens looking vibrant, and how you can use these ideas in your own garden. I 1 p.m.–2:30 p.m., reservation required, $10 members, $20 non-members. Woodstock, (617) 994-6678, ­historicnewengland.org Hollister House Garden Garden Study Weekend VII Symposium September 9 Hollister House and the Garden Conservancy host the annual Garden Study symposium at the Heritage Hotel in Southbury. Guests will enjoy a series of lectures given by thought leaders in the gardening world, including Jacqueline van der Kloet, Andrew Bunting, Tom Coward, and Jane Garmey. Admission includes breakfast and lunch and wraps up with cocktails and early buying at a sale of rare and unusual plants at the Hollister House Garden in Washington. I 8 a.m.–6 p.m. $185 for HHG and Garden Conservancy members, $200 non-members. (860) 8682200, hollisterhousegarden.org 10th Annual Old-Fashioned Flea Market September 17 The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will hold its annual Old-Fashioned Flea Market on the museum grounds. There will be music, mini-tours of the mansion, and a popular collectibles sale. All proceeds will benefit the museum. I Admission is free, $5 mansion tours. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Norwalk, (203) 838-9799, lockwoodmathews mansion.com EDITOR’S NOTE: Events are subject to change.

Please confirm details with event organizer prior to your visit.

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Heidi Holzer design and decorative work

redding, CT

Wheelock Design 232 Sound Beach Avenue Old Greenwich, CT

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|

We create uniquely personalized and beautiful living spaces by providing our clients the finest decorative artistry finishes for walls, ceilings, floors, cabinety and furniture

H e i d i H o l z e r .Co m |

Wheelock Design at Putnam & Mason 34 East Putnam Avenue Greenwich, CT

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Creating innovative kitchen, bath, and cabinetry designs.

203-527-0020 | chuckwheelock.com

6/19/17 4:25 PM

New In The Showrooms 1

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3. Indoors Out Ready for deck or patio pillows that go beyond the expected stripes and geometrics? Kerri Rosenthal’s painterly renditions, available in outdoor fabrics, are a pretty surprise. | The Concept Gallery, Westport, kerrirosenthal.com

5 1. In the Swing of Things Dangling from a tree or from your ceiling, the Melati hanging chair is perfect for people who aren’t afraid to have a little fun! | Anthropologie, Westport, anthropologie.com 2. Ships Ahoy This delightful ice bucket with an embossed anchor and nautical rope handle will be the star of your bar cart. | Kirby and Company, Darien, kirbyandcompany.com

4. Cooking Alfresco Step up your barbecue game with this modular outdoor kitchen by Daniel Germani Designs. Topped with Dekton by Cosentino, the sculptural ASA-D2 can withstand extreme weather conditions. | Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens, Wallingford, brownjordanoutdoorkitchens.com 5. Table Tops Crafted from hand-screened and sun-dried fabrics, napkins by Collier Rose Ink will add a cheerful note to your summer table. | Home Boutique of Greenwich, Greenwich, homeboutique.com

| edited by lynda Simonton | 136 New England Home Connecticut | Summer 2017

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The Interior Designer’s source for showroom quality custom carpets and rugs at direct prices.

Gary Shafran, Principal Gary@lmcustomcarpets.com | 201-951-0980

The Barn House Estate, Connecticut Winner of three HOBI Awards, 2015

Beth Whitty

Mike Criscione

Landscape De D Design

203-512-4389 bethwhittylandscapedesign.com

Beth Whitty Landscape Design

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MASONRY 203-217-3044 mascbllc.com

860-417-9963 mikecriscionemasonry.com

Mike Criscione MASONRY 6/22/17 1:02 PM

New In The Showrooms

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6 1. Pleasant Perch Putnam & Mason’s Biedermeier stool adds extra seating just where you need it.

The stylish piece has unexpected woven leather upholstery and a curvaceous profile. | Putnam & Mason, Greenwich, putnammason.com 2. Lighting Revival A traditional Pagoda style gets some neoclassic oomph in Jonathan Adler’s Rider pendant light. | Jonathan Adler, Westport and Greenwich, jonathanadler.com 3. Style Icon Oscar de la Renta’s signature style—welltraveled and chic—is reflected in the fashion house’s latest collection in collaboration with Lee Jofa. | DesignSourceCT, Hartford, designsourcect.com

4. Under the Sea Elk Lighting’s Cabo de Gata table lamp brings the beauty of the ocean world right to your table top. | Bender, various Connecticut locations, benderplumbing.com 5. Endangered Species A trip to Brazil opened Michael Aram’s eyes to the beauty and fragility of nature.

These candlesticks are part of his exotic Rainforest Collection. | Olley Court, Ridgefield, olleycourt.com 6. Chameleon The clean-lined transitional style of the Camden drinks table by Michael Berman for Theodore Alexander works with decor traditional, contemporary, or in-between. | Wakefield Design Center, Stamford, wakefielddesigncenter.com

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The First Thing We Build Is Trust 1 8 R E Y N O L D S S T R E E T | N O RWA L K , C T | ( 2 0 3 ) 8 3 1 - 8 3 0 0 | W W W. S W B U I L D I N G R E M O D E L I N G . C O M

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Resources

A guide to the products and professionals in this issue’s featured homes

A MODERN CLASSIC PAGES 78–87

Architecture: Brooks & Falotico Associates, New Canaan, (203) 966-8440, brooksandfalotico.com Interior design: Tori Legge, Stirling Mills Interior Design, New Canaan, (203) 594 9596, stirlingmills.com Builder: West Construction, New Canaan, (203) 9667918, westconstructioncorp.com Pages 80–81: Pisces wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries, phillipjeffries.com, Oriole lounge chair fabric from Osborne & Little, osborneandlittle.com; pillow fabrics from Osborne & Little and Donghia, donghia.com; lumbar pillow fabric from Nobilis, nobilis-usa.com; Kingston table lamps from Made Goods, madegoods.com.

Page 82: Custom wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries; wall sculpture by Jeremy Holmes, holmesarts.com, dining table and chairs from Molteni&C, molteni.it; gold planters from Arteriors, arteriorshome.com.

Page 83: Chandeliers from Arteriors; Cooper swivel chairs from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, mgbwhome.com; concrete tables from Made Goods; round Saarinen breakfast table and Tolix chairs from Design Within Reach, dwr.com.

Page 84: Sofa from Restoration Hardware, restorationhardware.com, upholstered in fabric from Perennials, perennialsfabrics.com; faux shagreen coffee table from Lillian August, lillianaugust.com; garden stool from Emissary, emissaryusa.com.

Page 85: Nightstands from Molteni&C.; sconces from Restoration Hardware; tub from Victoria + Albert, vandabaths.com/us/americas.

Page 86: Sofas and throw from Restoration Hardware; chandelier and sconces from Currey & Company, curreycodealers.com; cowhide rug from Saddlemans, saddlemans.com.

ONCE UPON A TIME . . .

PAGES 88–97

Interior design: Patricia Lapierre, New York Architect Designers, Greenwich, (203) 247-1122, newyorkarchitectdesigners.com Landscape design: Barry Bonin, Twombly Nursery, Monroe, (203) 261-2133, twomblynursery.com Interior and exterior painting and wood finishing: William Ramirez, WRO Painting, Clinton, (203) 673-5552

Pages 88–89: Furniture from Ralph Lauren Home, ralphlaurenhome.com, and Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, mgbwhome.com; rug from Ballard Designs, ballarddesigns.com; pillows from Williams Sonoma, Williams-sonoma.com; candlestick by Baccarat, baccarat.com.

Page 90: Rembrandt Red exterior trim paint by Fine Paints of Europe, finepaintsofeurope.com.

Page 91: I’ve Got the Blues paint on back walls of shelves and library case by Benjamin Moore, benjaminmoore.com; Hermes scarf above chest, hermes.com; chest accessories and tray and bar accessories from Ralph Lauren Home; wine rack from Pottery Barn, potterybarn.com.

Page 93: Lanterns from Ballard Designs; Decorator’s White cabinet paint and Misty Gray wall paint by Benjamin Moore.

Pages 94–95: Bed, bedding, horse pictures, and lamp from Ralph Lauren Home; Bunny Gray wall paint

by Benjamin Moore; bathroom light fixture from Restoration Hardware, towel from Ralph Lauren Home; rug from Jonathan Adler, jonathanadler.com; Misty Gray wall paint by Benjamin Moore; guestroom bedding from Serena & Lily, serenaandlily.com; drapes and curtain hardware from Pottery Barn; Bunny Gray wall paint by Benjamin Moore.

Page 96: Customized bistro chairs designed by Patricia Lapierre from Glac Seat, glacseat.com; ceiling light fixture from Ikea, ikea.com; turquoise lamp shades from The Accessory Store, stamford shades.com; sisal rug from Ballard Designs; drapes from Pottery Barn; Caribbean Mist ceiling paint by Benjamin Moore.

Page 97: Cushions and pillows from Ballard Designs; umbrellas from Wayfair, wayfair.com.

SPECIAL FOCUS: KITCHEN & BATH DESIGN PAGES 98–109

A Dash of Panache: Pages 98–99 Architectural design: Glenn Smith, Residential Engineering + Design, Ridgefield, (203) 223-2887, residentialengineering.biz Interior design: Dalia Canora, Dalia Canora Design, Darien, (203) 553-9878, daliacanoradesign.com

Builder: Danny and Eamonn Fay, Stamford, (203) 595-9245 The Family That Cooks Together: Pages 100–101 Architecture: Pagliaro Bartels Sajda Architects, South Norwalk, (203) 838-5517, pbs-archs.com Interior design: Lynn Morgan, Lynn Morgan Design, Rowayton, (203) 866-1940, lynnmorgandesign.com Builder: Shore Point Builders, Trumbull, (203) 3746468, shorepointbuildersllc.com Let There Be Light: Pages 102–103 Homeowner: Keri Levitt, Keri Levitt Communications, (917) 751-8380, kerilevittcommunications.com Cabinetry: Anthony Di Tullio, Bridgeport, (203) 5454983, adfurnituredesign.com Mirror fabrication: Jeremy Levitt, Parts and Labor Design, New York City, (646) 248-7321, partsandlabordesign.com Family-Friendly Flair: Pages 104–105 Architecture: Jones Byrne Margeotes Partners, Stamford, (203) 531-1588, jbmparch.com Interior design: Michelle Morgan Harrison, Morgan Harrison Home, New Canaan, (203) 594-7875, morganharrisonhome.com Builder: Pecora Brothers, Greenwich, (203) 8639555, pecorabrothers.com Country Comfort: Pages 106–107 Architecture and interior design: Paulo Vicente, Vicente-Burin Architects, Fairfield, (203) 319-9571, vbarchitect.com Builder: Keith J. Manca Building Company, Newtown, (203) 270-3603, kjmbuilding.com Cabinetry: Strawberry Hill Millwork, Bethel, (203) 790-0550, shmillwork.com A Room of Her Own: Pages 108–109 Interior design: Rebecca Reynolds, Rebecca Reynolds Design, Hamden, (203) 972-8300, rebeccareynoldsdesign.com Builder: Seri Bueti, Bueti Construction, Stamford, (203) 253-2651

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www.robertmsherwood.com

203.798.1547

Robert Sherwood Landscape Architect

Meet Kitchen and Bath Designer, Amy Eisenberg!

As part of our full service design team, Amy is devoted to her work and enjoys close collaboration with her clientele to create extraordinary designs. Bring the plan or we’ll make one for you...

From Concept to Completion.

175 Post Road West, Westport | 203.454.0032 | karenberkemeyerhome.com

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0 5 New England Home’s

FIVE

UNDER FORTY

AWARDS

Join us for the eighth annual 5 Under 40 Awards and step out for an evening to celebrate the industry’s hottest talent.

Ad Index

A guide to the products and professionals in this issue’s featured homes

Advanced Home Audio 19

Lillian August Furnishings + Design 25

Aitoro Appliances 110

Lin Daniels Kitchen Design 113

Apadana Fine Rugs 18

The Linen Shop 125

Artemis Landscape Architects 116

Litchfield Hills Kitchen and Bath 66–67

Austin Ganim Landscape Design, LLC 48–49

M DiMeo Construction 121

Ben Krupinski Builders 41

Marianne Donahue Interiors 117

Bender 50–51, 139

Michael Smith Architects 68–69

Berkshire Wilton Partners, LLC 131

Morgan Harrison Home 10–11

Bespoke Designs 133

O&G Industries Masonry Division 70–71

Beth Whitty Landscape Designs 137 Christine Donner Kitchen Design 52–53

Tickets: nehomemag.com/ 5-under-40/tickets

Crown Point Cabinetry 27

Connecticut Stone Supplies 54–55 Daniel Conlon Architects 26 DeRosa Builders 115 DesignSourceCT 21 Dina Spaidal Interiors 35 Erskine Associates, LLC 56–57 The Federalist 33 Finished in Fabric, LLC 129

SIGNATURE SPONSORS

BACK BAY S HUTTER C O. I NC. a designer’s best friend.

Olson Development, LLC 4–5 Pagliaro Bartels Sajda Architects, LLC 119 Patricia M. Miller Residential Design, LLC 72–73 Phoenix Audio Video 20 The Preserve at Boulder Hills 120 ProSource of Stamford 131 Putnam & Mason inside back cover Rebecca Reynolds Design 133 Ridgefield Supply Company 45 Robert A. Cardello Architects, LLC 74–75

Freddy’s Landscape and BioNova Natural Swimming Pools 58–59

Robert Sherwood Landscape Design 141

Front Row Kitchens, Inc. 60–61

Roughan Interior Design 44

Gatehouse Partners 29

Runtal North America, Inc. 37

Gault Stone 31

S&W Building Remodeling, Inc. 139

Gregory Lombardi Design 23

Schwartz Design Showroom 123

GWP Contracting, LLC 62–63

Shope Reno Wharton 1

HBRA of Fairfield County 143

Shoreline Painting & Drywall 2–3

Heidi Holzer Design & Decorative Work 135

Tile America 17

Homefront Farmers, LLC 8–9 Jan Hiltz Interiors, LLC 64–65 JMKA | architects 134

PHOTOGRAPHY SPONSOR

Old Mill Road Table Company 127

Fletcher Development 36

InnerSpace Electronics, Inc. 129

AWARDS SPONSOR

Living Swell 39

Barn Light Electric Co. 6–7

Closet and Storage Concepts 28

PRESENTING SPONSOR

L&M Custom Carpets and Rugs, LLC 137 Landmark Exteriors 34

September 14, 2017 333 Stuart Street | Boston

#NEH5Under40

Klaff’s back cover

Karen Berkemeyer Home 141 Karp Associates 46 Kebabian’s inside front cover Kellie Burke Interiors 12

Torrco 15 Wakefield Design Center 43, 125 Wheelock Design Associates 135 Wright Homeworks 76–77 New England Home Connecticut, Summer 2017 © 2017

by New England Home Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved.

Permission to reprint or quote excerpts granted by written request only. Editorial and advertising office: New England Home Magazine, LLC, 530 Harrison Ave, Ste 302, Boston, MA 02118, (617) 938-3991.

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CONGRATULATIONS CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2017 HBRA OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY AWARD WINNERS TO THE 2017 HBRA OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY AWARD WINNERS

BUILDER OF THE YEAR Karp Associates BUILDER OF THE YEAR Karp Associates

REMODELER OF THE YEAR ERI Building & Design REMODELER OF THE YEAR ERI Building & Design

SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR Clarke Distributors SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR Clarke Distributors

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Marlin Electric BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Marlin Electric

JOHN P. ROWINS PRESIDENTS AWARD MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD Gina Calabro Peter Fusaro HBRA CEO JOHN P. ROWINS PRESIDENTS AWARD MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD Calabro ASSOCIATES COUNCIL Gina AWARD Peter Fusaro HBRA CEO

ASSOCIATES COUNCIL AWARD

Pete Battaglio Hocon Gas

Ken DeLeo & John Doherty Doherty & DeLeo Development

Pete Battaglio Hocon Gas

HALL OF Doherty FAME& DeLeo Development

Ken DeLeo & John Doherty

HALL OF FAME

Kim DiMatteo DiMatteo Group

Gary Fanali City Carting & Recycling

Kim DiMatteo DiMatteo Group

Gary Fanali City Carting & Recycling

HBRA_CT-SUM17_1.00_v1.indd 1

ASSOCIATE OF THE YEAR Steven Roth Elevator Service Company ASSOCIATE OF THE YEAR Steven Roth Elevator Service Company

WOMAN OF THE YEAR Karen Bradbury Closet & Storage Concepts WOMAN OF THE YEAR Karen Bradbury Closet & Storage Concepts

MEMBERS OF THE YEAR Rob & Marc Michaud The Michaud Group MEMBERS OF THE YEAR Rob & Marc Michaud The Michaud Group

NEW MEMBER OF THE YEAR Emilia Ferri Emilia Ferri Architecture NEW MEMBER OF THE YEAR + Design Emilia Ferri Emilia Ferri Architecture + Design

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Lora Mazurak VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Lora Mazurak

5/30/17 5:45 PM

Sketch Pad

Design Ideas in the Making working with Greenwich architect Rich Granoff • While on his own kitchen, we discovered a structural obstacle that posed a

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real challenge for the room’s layout. Parts of the home’s foundation along the exterior wall, where cooling units for climate-controlled wall cabinets were to be located, extended well into the interior space (1). Luckily, the Perlick Corporation had just introduced its “Sottile” line of shallow cooling units, which made a design possible that would still give Rich and his wife the wine and beverage center they wanted (2).

In addition, we conceived a unique solution for the upper cabinet that displays their stemware and serving pieces. Inspiration came from the skylight covering the superstructure of Ghost, a thirty-sevenmeter ocean runner by the award-winning Italian yacht designer Luca Brenta (3). Taken together, the glass-fronted upper and lower cabinets form a perfect complement for an impressive saltwater aquarium at the opposite end of the wall (4, 5). | Chuck Wheelock, Wheelock Design, Old Greenwich, (203) 527-0020, chuckwheelock.com

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Yacht photo courtesy of Vitters Shipyard Kitchen photos by David Barnum

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putnammason.com / 34 E. Putnam Ave., Greenwich / 203-900-1414

C 0 C 00 M M 00 Y Y 0 K 100 K 0

C 0 M 0 Y 0 K 100

HOME FURNISHINGS / INTERIOR DESIGN / AUDIO VIDEO SERVICES DESIGNERS & TRADE WELCOME

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June 14th - International Bath Day

Lighting | Kitchens | Bath | Decorative Hardware | Tile & Stone South Norwalk | Danbury | Scarsdale 1.800.552.3371

Find what’s new in Home Design – Read KLAFFStyle Magazine at KLAFFS.com

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