New England Home NEXT 2022

Greenwich | NYC | Montauk | Martha’s Vineyard | Big Sky | Montecito

132 Water Street, South Norwalk, CT 203-831-9000

132 Water Street, South Norwalk, CT 203-831-9000 nukitchens.com

Perhaps you’re fresh from the city, about to embark on a suburban adventure, or maybe you’ve been living in Connecticut and now you’re ready to level up your home. Our mission at Next Connecticut is to inspire, inform, and, above all, excite you for the journey ahead.

I’m reminded of the recent presentation architect Robert Dean and I were invited to give at the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society. We discussed the town’s history with American modernist architecture, evident in the many notable midcentury modern homes still standing today. The advent of the railroad in the late nineteenth century provided direct access to and from New York City, luring urbanites to Connecticut’s rolling landscape. Later, as accomplished modernist architects set up shop for the same reason, their work was influenced by the picturesque countryside. Homes nestled into the land rather than loomed above it, and steel and concrete gave way to local fieldstone and wood. After World War II, young city dwellers were drawn to the friendliness and intimacy of small-town living and brought with them a sophisticated urbanity. The midcentury modern home, with its open floor plan perfect for entertaining and its easy access to the outdoors, embodied the adventure of their new life.

Lucky for us, design professionals can help make our suburban dreams a reality with a home that uniquely suits us. It is most definitely a journey, but a rewarding one. Rest assured you are not in uncharted territory.

JENNA TALBOTT

@jennatalbott

In Print

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P.S. MAKER CULTURE

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Artists have been drawn to the Silvermine region since the early 1900s. A new exhibit opening November 17 at the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society explores the life and work of one of Connecticut’s most influential artist communities. The Silvermine Art Colony (1908–1922) continues through April 30, 2023, and includes watercolors, drawings, and prints by twenty-three artists. New Canaan, nchistory.org

Binged Netflix’s Blown Away? Now explore the work of fifty contemporary glassblowers at Fired Up: Glass Today at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. The exhibit features live demonstrations and related programming through February 5, 2023. Hartford, thewadsworth.org

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Forward-thinking design from New England Home

Editor in Chief Jenna Talbott jtalbott@nehomemag.com

Editor at Large Clinton Smith csmith@nehomemag.com

Creative Director Robert Lesser rlesser@nehomemag.com

Managing Editor Erika Ayn Finch efinch@nehomemag.com

Market Editor Lynda Simonton lsimonton@nehomemag.com

Copy Editor Lisa H. Speidel lspeidel@nehomemag.com

Senior Contributing Editor Paula M. Bodah

Contributing Editor Karin Lidbeck Brent

Contributing Writers

Bob Curley, Maria LaPiana, Tovah Martin

Contributing Photographers

Jane Beiles, Mindy Briar, Jessica Delaney, Erin Kestenbaum, Stephane Kossmann, Tim Lee, Tim Lenz, Julia D’Agostino Pierce, Jacob Snavely

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

L etters to the Editor We’d love to hear from you! Email us at letters@nehomemag.com

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Forward-thinking design from New England Home

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familyfriendly

The homeowners modified the RH bed to give it a tent-like feel.

The bedding is from Pottery Barn, and the custom carpet is from Carpet Trends in Rye, N.Y.

Coming of Age

Style and whimsy play well together in these timeless kids’ rooms.

by MARIA L A PIANA

ON SAFARI

The stars on the ceiling shimmer even more after nightfall in this dreamy room, says Erin Coren, who, along with Lina Galvão, designed the space for a young son of Greenwich clients. The room’s classic details and an existing safari-style bed inspired the

family friendly

theme, say the designers (whose firm, Curated Nest Interiors, is based in Cos Cob). The idea was to create a space with a spirit of adventure that didn’t feel too childish. The bed is low to the ground for practical purposes. Starry night wallpaper from Cole & Son makes it feel like you’re sleeping in the great outdoors. “Instead of drawing your eye away from the low ceiling, we wanted to emphasize it,” says Coren. To reinforce the theme, they chose an animal-print carpet and a dresser that calls to mind a vintage campaign chest. “We wanted to evoke the feeling of a luxury safari,” says Coren.

Photography:

CLASSIC COLORS

It was a tall order. The Farmington client asked Georgia Zikas to design two discrete children’s rooms—a spacethemed bunk room for two brothers (ages ten and eight) and a polar-opposite, pink-onpink haven for their seven-yearold sister. “The client wanted ‘sophisticatedly fun’ rooms that could be decidedly childlike now and age gracefully as the kids got older,” says Zikas. The designer delivered. A deep blue galaxy-like wallpaper from Romo informed the boys’ room

Interior design: Curated Nest Interiors

Jacob Snavely

Clever details like felt animal heads from Fiona Walker England elevate the room.

The bunks are fitted with Crate & Barrel bedding in a solar-system motif.

The artwork is from Etsy.

family friendly

theme and palette, while the girl’s passion for pink and love of the canopy-like mosquito netting over her bed launched her room’s style. The children were all in on the design meetings. “The key,” says Zikas, “is to invest in pieces that will stand the test of time—and have fun with in-the-moment pieces that bring the kids joy.”  n

EDITOR’S NOTE: For details, see Resources.

Interior design: Georgia Zikas Design

Photography: Jane Beiles

Zikas designed a custom dresser in graduated shades of pink.

The designer’s favorite element is the Sister Parish pink scalloped wallpaper: “It’s super fun but classically elegant,” she says.

The sweet bedside table is from Madre.

Avid readers, the boys love their bedside sconces and acrylic book racks.

“The client wanted rooms that could be decidedly childlike now and age gracefully as the kids got older .”

—INTERIOR DESIGNER GEORGIA ZIKAS

25 Walls Drive | Fairfield, CT 06824 203-254-1971 | segerson.com

ARCHITECT: HANNAH I. ROBERTSON ARCHITECTURE

what’scooking

Chef’s Choice

The custom-made pendants are wrapped in Schumacher’s Elton Cotton Check fabric. “They add a nice softness to the space,” says designer Kate Smith.

Designer Kate Smith cooks up a handsome and highly functional Frenchinspired remodel of her own kitchen.

by LISA H. SPEIDEL

The fridge, which is tucked behind the cabinetry, is seamlessly integrated into the design.

Smith had the existing hardwoods refinished and stained with an eye-catching harlequin pattern.

Photography by Erin Kestenbaum

And for that, we thank the A-list LA’s, designers, and architects who trust us with their landscape installations.

And for that, we thank the A-list LA’s, designers, and architects who trust us with their landscape installations.

And for that, we thank the A-list LA’s, designers, and architects who trust us with their landscape installations.

For more than 30 years, our brand has stood for integrity, service, and excellence. Please keep holding us to it.

For more than 30 years, our brand has stood for integrity, service, and excellence. Please keep holding us to it.

For more than 30 years, our brand has stood for integrity, service, and excellence. Please keep holding us to it.

Reliable excellence in landscaping, masonry and lighting.

Reliable excellence in landscaping, masonry and lighting.

203.855.7854 www.freddyslandscape.com Offices in Fairfield and Greenwich

203.855.7854 freddyandco.net 40 Belmont Street, Fairfield, CT

203.855.7854 www.freddyslandscape.com Offices in Fairfield and Greenwich

203.855.7854 www.freddyslandscape.com Offices in Fairfield and Greenwich

We’re known by the fine company we keep.

We’re known by the fine company we keep.

We’re known by the fine company we keep.

what’s cooking

The 1858 Greek Revival in Farmington had character in spades. The kitchen, however, had fallen prey to an eyebrowraising renovation in the 1990s that clashed with the home’s charming overall aesthetic. Undeterred, designer and homeowner Kate Smith forged forward. “I had wanted a house that was a bit of a project, so I could put my own stamp on it,” she remembers. “I was excited to gut the kitchen.”

Down to the studs it went, courtesy of builder Andrew Veselak of A.V.E. While Smith retained the original footprint, everything else—save the built-in hutch from the 1940s—met its demise in the dumpster. A handsome La Cornue CornuFé range in Provence Blue, coupled with a recent trip to Paris, pro-

The brass range hood is from CopperSmith. “I wanted something as elevated as the range but that didn’t compete,” says Smith.

A herringbonepatterned runner in a soft French blue covers the stairs that lead to the back half of the house. “It was once servants’ quarters; now my husband and I are the servants,” jokes Smith.

vided the color palette as well as some inspiration for the space. “I wanted colorful, light-filled, print-driven,” says Smith. “I love patterns, textures, and a layered look.” And she also needed functional and family-friendly: she and

A built-in hutch houses Smith’s large cabbage ware collection—a lovely pop of green in a sea of blue.

what’s cooking

Kate Smith relaxes in the breakfast nook, which features a built-in banquette covered in spillproof Sunbrella performance fabric; the abstract painting is by Bridgeport-based artist Linda Colletta.

her husband, Ted, like to entertain and they have two active young kids.

Smith opted for creamy white cabinetry, brass accents, gray Georgia marble on the counters, a walnut-topped island, and a showstopping paper from Lee Jofa on the walls to tie it all together. “I love how the wallpaper mimics the wild branches outside,” she says. “It brings that botanical look inside.”

Smith favored natural materials that patina over time. “I don’t look the same as I did twenty years ago, and neither should a house,” she says with a laugh. And now that the kitchen remodel is complete, new rooms blend seamlessly with old, and the house is poised to age gracefully as a whole. n

EDITOR’S NOTE: For details, see Resources.

Interior design: Kate Smith Interiors

Builder: A.V.E.

Kitchen Confidential

CLEANUP AND STORAGE STRATEGIES FROM A PRO.

• Kate Smith’s husband, Ted, had only two requests during the renovation: instant hot water for his tea and two dishwashers. The designer happily obliged, trimming time off dish duty.

• Smith created what she refers to as an “appliance garage:” a cabinet that holds a mixer, toaster, and other essentials. Thanks to a walnut interior that matches the kitchen island, the cabinet is attractive whether its doors are open or closed.

• Smith designed a cabinet to stow glassware right off the dining room. “The brass grilles from Armac Martin are one of my favorite details in the kitchen,” she says. “I love how the pattern is a subtle reference to the floor pattern.”

play work &

Built-in white-oak shelves in her office provide storage and match the custom white-oak desk.

Steel-and-glass doors divide the attic into distinct spaces. One set opens into her office while the second closes off the lounge and his office beyond.

Head Space

A Greenwich home’s bare-bones attic transforms into his and hers offices and an oft-used lounge. by

ERIKA AYN FINCH

A pair of homeowners in Greenwich surveyed the open studs and claustrophobic staircase of their 2,000-square-foot attic and knew the space could do so much more than store their kids’ baby clothes. Their contractor, Greg Slowik of KG Finish Carpentry, suggested the family reach out to architects Mary Burr and Ryan Salvatore to come up with a game plan.

work & play

Burr and Salvatore opened up the too-tight stairway that climbs from the second floor to the third to make the attic space feel more like a continuation of the overall floor plan. The stairs lead to a landing that acts as a mini gallery for the wife’s burgeoning art collection. From the landing, two sets of steel-and-glass doors open to her office (and a full bath) on the left and a lounge, complete with a newly built woodburning fireplace, on the right. The fireplace acts as a screen for the husband’s office, says Salvatore, which is discreetly tucked behind the chimney. “The primary bedroom sits below his office, so the office is raised,” Salvatore explains. “It’s a cozy space, and with the fireplace, it keeps

him from feeling like he’s on stage when he’s working.”

Built-in shelves, painted shiplap, white-oak floors, and a stone fireplace surround paired with all that steel and glass give the space a modern, clean feel. “The house is traditional outside,” says Burr, “but the clients wanted modern finishes in the attic that could be carried to the lower levels.” And so the transformation continues: construction began on a new kitchen this fall. n

EDITOR’S NOTE: For details, see Resources.

Architecture: Burr Salvatore Architects

Builder: KG Finish Carpentry

The Vermont Black stone fireplace and painted-shiplap chimney act as a screen for his raised office. The first step doubles as the fireplace’s hearth.

“The clients wanted modern finishes in the attic that could be carried to the lower levels . ”

—ARCHITECT MARY BURR

Artwork by Theodoros Stamos hangs just outside her office on the landing.

photo By jenniFer holt

hotcommodities

Let’s Shop!

We asked local style makers about their favorite spots for inspiring decor.

by LYNDA SIMONTON

Jeanne Collins

JerMar Designs, New Canaan, jermardesigns.com

When hosting a party, where do you head for interesting tabletop pieces?

Bespoke Designs in Westport is my go-to destination for unique tabletop decor. Shari Lebowitz has curated an inspiring mix of modern and traditional pieces, which she constantly refreshes and updates, so I’m always circling back for more. I love to set a gorgeous Sunday table, even if it’s just for a casual pizza night, and I photograph it weekly for Instagram. Bespoke inspires me to use the good stuff daily and make it colorful and fresh with fabulous accessories. bespokedesigns.com

OTHER FAVORITES: No. 299, New Canaan and Fairfield, no299.blogspot.com | The Tailored Home, Westport and Greenwich, thetailoredhomect.com | Lars Bolander, Westport, larsbolander.com

hot commodities

Greenwich has an abundance of shopping; where do you recommend for those essential finishing touches for a home?

I attend design shows and markets three to four times each year, finding one-of-a-kind pieces from around the world so no one home looks alike. It’s incredible the impact that thoughtfully styled and curated accessories have on a space. Our gallery receives fresh new items every month, so we source almost everything from our shop, BKI Gallery & Design Studio . I also love Trovare Home in Cos Cob; they have a great selection of modern and vintage finds. bethkrupainteriors.com, trovarehomedesign.com

Glengate Company, Wilton, glengatecompany.com

Beth Krupa

Beth Krupa Interiors, Greenwich, bethkrupainteriors.com

What store would you recommend to a first-time homebuyer searching for pots and planters?

I would encourage anyone who loves to take on the hunt and has some creative vision to spend a Sunday afternoon at Mongers Market in Bridgeport. It’s a gold mine, with everything from planters to garden accents, and has been a source of several reclaimed industrial and patinaed pieces that have found new life in my personal garden. mongers-market.com

Brandon Jones

OTHER FAVORITES: Terrain, Westport, shopterrain.com | Select Horticulture, Greenwich, selecthorticulture.com

OTHER FAVORITES: Torrco, various Connecticut locations, torrcodesigncenter.com | Safavieh, Stamford, safavieh.com | Wakefield Design Center, Stamford, wakefielddesigncenter.com

BKI Gallery & Design Studio

Trovare Home

hot commodities

Fiona Leonard

Fiona Leonard Interiors, Darien, fionaleonardinteriors.com

What is your go-to shopping spot for a host present?

Found & Design in New Canaan is a favorite spot for unique and unexpected hostess gifts. Not only can we find the perfect thank you gifts, but our design projects are often inspired by the treasures we discover. foundanddesign.com

OTHER FAVORITES: Terrain, Westport, shopterrain.com | Nielsen’s, Darien, nielsensflorist.com | Fairfield County Antique & Design, Norwalk, fairfieldantiqueanddesign.com

Where do you go when you are on the hunt for a unique piece of art?

Carol Kurth

Carol Kurth Architecture + Interiors, Bedford, N.Y., carolkurtharchitects.com

The frequent art rotation at Sorelle Gallery in Westport makes visiting always feel fresh and exciting. We like to experiment with various textures and materiality and love to source pieces that push the boundaries between art and surface. The gallery is a fantastic resource for unexpected finds. sorellegallery.com

Fiona Leonard portrait by Don Hamerman. Carol Kurth portrait by Kristen Jensen

OTHER FAVORITES: RT Facts, Kent, rtfacts.com | LEICHT, Greenwich, leichtwestchester.com | The Hudson Company, Ridgefield, thehudsonco.com

SOUTH NORWALK, CONNECTICUTP. 203.563.0553

SOUTH NORWALK, CONNECTICUT P. 203.563.0553

SOUTH NORWALK, CONNECTICUTP. 203.563.0553

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hot commodities

What is your favorite Litchfield County home store?

I love shopping and visiting George in Washington Depot for so many reasons. They carry unique furnishings and accessories that are vintage and antique. The pieces are often one of a kind, skillfully curated, and globally sourced. I find myself lingering and looking at the impeccable displays over and over again. The shop always inspires.

georgehomect.com

Heide

McCory Interiors, Farmington, mccoryinteriors.com

What local design shop always has something new and unique?

I love RT Facts in Kent for its incredible variety of unusual antiques that bring character and interest to a room. As a bonus, Greg and Natalie Randall also have a stylish line of custom furniture designs. One of my new favorites is their brass fireplace fender. Its padded leather bumper makes for a very comfy perch. rtfacts.com

Kristen McCory portrait by Iris Photography. Heide Hendricks portrait by Amanda Kirkpatrick

OTHER FAVORITES: The Collective, Stamford, thecollectivect.com | The Antique and Artisan Gallery, Stamford, theantiqueandartisangallery.com | The Local Vault, Bridgeport, thelocalvault.com

OTHER FAVORITES: Pergola, New Preston, pergolahome.com | Collinsville Antiques Co., New Hartford, facebook.com/CollinsvilleAntiques | Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market, New Milford, etflea.com

Kristen McCory

Hendricks Hendricks Churchill, Sharon, hendrickschurchill.com

Bill Charney

Advanced Home Audio

Bill Charney founded Advanced Home Audio more than twenty years ago. His experienced team provides clients with design, engineering, installation, and long-term services and support for a wide range of simple-to-use technology. Bill is an electrical engineer and brings more than twenty-seven years of experience to his clients. The company also specializes in intelligent lighting design and home energy grid solutions.

203-922-0051 | advancedhomeaudio.com

Antonio Pippo

Antonio Pippo Interiors

Antonio Pippo Interiors is known for creating an eclectic and creative vibe in homes from Connecticut to Florida, earning numerous features in national magazines. Founder Antonio Pippo is beloved by clients for his thoughtful and personalized approach, which results in warm and inviting interiors.

100 Round Hill Road Armonk, NY 10504 914-462-1289 antoniopippointeriors.com

Beth Krupa Interiors

Beth Krupa

Allied ASID, GREEN AP

19 E. Elm Street Greenwich, CT 06830 203-890-9292 bethkrupainteriors.com bkrupainteriors

From Left to Right: Chuck Willette, Louise Brooks, Vince Falotico, Michael Benjamin

Brooks & Falotico is a residential architecture firm with offices in Connecticut and Palm Beach, FL. With their team of more than twenty talented professionals, founders Louise Brooks and Vince Falotico and partners Michael Benjamin and Chuck Willette have designed homes across the country. The firm is known for transitioning traditional spaces to suit their clients’ modern tastes and lifestyles.

Beth Krupa Interiors (BKI) is an award-winning interior design firm in Greenwich, CT, specializing in high-end residential design and renovations. BKI creates globally inspired one-of-a-kind interiors that are custom tailored, luxurious yet comfortable, and uniquely personal.

Martha Hamalidis

Chris Upholstery

Specializing in all things upholstery, Chris Upholstery is a full-service enterprise, from consultation and design to custom fabrication that fits any client’s need or desire. With longstanding relationships with the most reputable designers in the area, Chris Upholstery has been providing top-quality design and craftsmanship for more than three decades.

73 Main Street Norwalk, CT 06851 203-849-7716 chrisupholstery.com @chrisupholstery

Edie van Breems & Rhonda Eleish

Eleish Van Breems

Eleish Van Breems Home, with stores in Westport, CT, and Nantucket, MA, features owners Rhonda and Edie’s eclectic, chic mix of mostly Nordic contemporary home goods, rugs, pillows, lighting, and accessories combined with clocks, mirrors, and furniture by midcentury masters— all chosen to give you a sense of well-being and balance.

Good Design for All! evbantiques.com @eleishvanbreems

STEPHANE KOSSMANN

Nukitchens

It’s our goal to make your vision a reality. Nukitchens has an entire team that handles it all, from design to installation and everything in between. Your vision won’t be lost in the process because you only need to work with one team of experts.

132 Water Street South Norwalk, CT 06854 203-831-9000 nukitchens.com

Quinndico

Custom Home Builders

146 Sound Beach Ave, Suite 201 Old Greenwich, CT 06870 203-990-3224 quinndico.com

What elevates Quinndico above the competition is Christopher and Ivan’s decades of hands-on experience in every aspect of the construction process. Collectively bringing more than thirty years of residential home building skills and knowledge to each project ensures that there will not be any surprises.

Christopher Quinn Ivan Dic

Joseph Najmy

Stephen Segerson and John Segerson

Segerson Builders

Homeowners and architects have come to rely on Segerson Builders for our attention to detail and comprehensive knowledge. Our superior building systems combined with a robust moral code that emphasizes honesty and fairness leads to a joyful customer experience, while our five-year warranty reflects confidence in our craftsmanship.

25 Walls Drive Fairfield, CT 06824 203-254-1971 segerson.com

King

e Linen Shop

As a purveyor of luxury linens and home furnishings since 1974, The Linen Shop is known for exceptional quality, unparalleled choice, and personalized service. Whether its items designed for easy living or opulent entertaining, we stock the best of everything for bed, bath, and table. We also offer a curated collection of exceptional home accessories.

21 Elm Street New Canaan, CT 06840 203-972-0433 thelinenshopct.com

Elizabeth

In the serene dining room, the custom Dunes and Duchess table is perfectly proportioned for the space. An easy-care Bowood Tweed from Perennials covers the chairs from Eleish Van Breems Home. The drum chandelier is from Visual Comfort. FACING PAGE: The family’s goldendoodle, Pepe, runs through the entryway, past the console table from Interlude Home and the Arteriors Olympia mirror.

Beautiful Bold&

Personality and a fearless palette share the spotlight in this Riverside home.

by MARIA L A PIANA Photography by JULIA D’AGOSTINO PIERCE

Text

Sometimes it takes a minute for things to click. Take one couple, for instance, who spent several months house hunting after selling their Cos Cob residence only to realize their new home was right there the whole time. “We had actually walked by this home several times during our long Covid walks,” remembers the homeowner. “We never imagined it was a spec home.” They fell in love with the Riverside new build because of its modern farmhouse aesthetic and distinctive millwork.

William Lyon had designed the couple’s previous, more transitional home, and they enjoyed working with the Stamford-based designer so much that they called on him again. This time, though, they wanted clean lines and something starkly different. “We always appreciated how William challenged us to step out of our comfort zone and take risks,” says the homeowner, who also

credits builder Mike Radman of RA Building Management with creating a home designed for easy family living.

Lyon, for his part, was all-in. “We embraced the sleek design elements of the well-constructed, light-filled home,” he says. “We paired the clients’ original artwork from Latin America with bold colors, wallpaper, mixed metals, and texture—yet kept the space simple and livable.”

The project included designing a new dining room and completing the family room, living room, and entry. Lyon reworked the primary bedroom, refreshed the powder room, designed kids’ rooms, created a “chill zone” in the basement, and installed new window treatments everywhere. He relied on performance

ABOVE: The casual dining area is open to the kitchen with its minimalist cabinetry designed and installed by builder Mike Radman. Chairs from Four Hands surround the Gus* table. LEFT: Blue notes in the living room include a Precedent sofa and a painting by artist Fernando Varela. The nesting tables are from Pottery Barn. FACING PAGE: The family room, which features a sofa from Eleish Van Breems Home and deep chairs by Thom Filicia, is furnished with comfort top of mind.

PROJECT TEAM

Interior

Builder:

fabrics to make things easy on his clients, who have two children and a dog. “It was very important to me to make sure they didn’t have to tiptoe around and could actually relax and enjoy their home,” he says.

And details count for everything. “The simple design meant I had to be very particular with what I added to the space,” says the designer. The dining room chair legs and the Dunes and Duchess table, for instance, match the floors exactly. Inspired by the homeowners’ love of color, Lyon also spent time perfecting the finish on the walls in that room. “The paneling was beautiful in white, but when the client hinted at adding green, my mind raced straight to floor-to-ceiling, high-gloss walls in Lush by Benjamin Moore,” says Lyon.

Not surprisingly, that cozy-yet-elegant dining room is a favorite space. “The walls have a unique glow in the evening, which we enjoy sharing with family and friends,” says the homeowner. “We love how it all turned out.” n

EDITOR’S NOTE: For details, see Resources.

ABOVE: Designer William Lyon calls this the basement “chill zone.” Radman installed the cladding on the TV wall. The clients’ own oversized ottoman was reupholstered in a Kravet fabric. RIGHT: Radman designed and installed the built-in desk and open shelving in the kids’ study. FACING PAGE: In the office, the Phillip Jeffries Dojo Weave wallcovering in navy plait complements artwork from Arhaus. A striped Annie Selke rug pulls it all together.

design: William Lyon Designs

RA Building Management

“It was very important to me to make sure my clients didn’t have to tiptoe around and could actually relax and enjoy their home.”

—Interior designer William Lyon

The compact size of the sitting room compelled

designer Prudence Bailey to place a quartet of armchairs around an airy coffee table from Mr. Brown London.

Aimforthe

Prudence Bailey layers shades of blue in the Darien home of a new-to-Connecticut family.

Text by BOB CURLEY | Photography by STEPHANE KOSSMANN

A Julie Neill chandelier from Visual Comfort cascades from the entry ceiling. White coral, a nod to the nearby coastline, frames the Made Goods mirror. FACING PAGE: Lucite chairs add flair and friction to the mix of modern and traditional elements in the dining room. A subtle animal theme is carried through from the chair upholstery to the horse-head sculpture sourced from Eleish Van Breems Home to the hair-on-hide rug.

Ifyou want to understand interior designer Prudence Bailey’s particular genius, look up. The sky was the limit when a California couple commissioned Bailey to devise a soothing design to warm up a Darien spec house with a blend of traditional and modern elements. Working with the relocating couple via Zoom, Bailey went room by room to create a calming sanctuary dressed in shades of blue, a theme that carried through from furnishings and draperies to wallpaper

on the walls and ceilings—the latter a hallmark of Bailey’s unique aesthetic.

The design touched nearly every space in the house and incorporated furniture hand selected and custom made by Bailey; about the only things the clients moved to the new house were a midcentury bar cart and an original Dalí painting that hangs in the office.

An architecturally interesting mix of colonial and Georgian styles, the house lent itself to the kind of

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: In the modern kitchen, the nailhead design on the cornice above the sink echoes the sheen of the metal range hood. A high-gloss ceiling enhances the family room’s sense of space, as do the iron-and-glass panels framing the entry to the adjoining eat-in kitchen. A lacquered Arteriors desk, black Worlds Away coffee table, and an ebony ceiling add masculinity to this office; a blue wool sofa from Hallman Furniture helps ease the transition between the dark flourishes and the light walls.

semiformal elements that the clients desired, with ornate chandeliers and vintage sideboards complemented by tall, narrow windows and coffered ceilings.

But Bailey kept things light—both in palette and style—by pairing disparate elements like Lucite chairs and a heavy wood dining room table, one of the few darker pieces in the home. Other hints of modernity sometimes show up in unusual places, such as the wire-and-rice-paper horse-head wall sculpture and hair-on-hide rug that enliven the dining room.

“I love that there’s some of that friction in the room,” says Bailey. “This

was a young couple who wanted it to feel classic but with a little edge.”

The blues and whites favored by the homeowners fit perfectly with Bailey’s penchant for adding color to ceilings: “I like using blue on the ceiling because it’s reminiscent of the sky,” she says. But other ceiling colors also make appearances to considerable effect. In the husband’s office, for example, the designer boldly chose a black ceiling to enhance the room’s masculine feel, and in the family room a high-gloss green-tinted ceiling reflects both the colors of the furniture and the greenery outside a wall of windows and French doors. A perfectly placed curved sofa permits both window gazing and comfort-

able conversation over a hexagon-shaped Highland House ottoman that doubles as a small table for drinks and snacks.

Bailey says the long-distance relationship with the clients, who never saw the house in person until the project was complete, gave her an unusual degree of artistic freedom. The end result is a dreamy yet modern space designed to make a West Coast family feel right at home in New England. n EDITOR’S NOTE: For details, see Resources.

PROJECT TEAM

Interior design: Prudence Home & Design

Interior designer Dana Ferraro complemented the front hall wallpaper with a vintage bench reupholstered in the ochre colorway of Clarke & Clarke’s Dragonflies fabric.

FACING PAGE : A comfy rust-colored velvet chair and matching ottoman beckon the family to sink in beside the living room fireplace. The gold frames on the mirror, fireplace screen, and artwork add a touch of glam.

Check mate

Strong lines and bold colors bridge a family home’s modern furnishings and traditional architectural details.

Text by TOVAH MARTIN  | Photography by TIM LENZ  Styled by JENNIFER OLSEN MACCARO

DANA FERRARO was searching for continuity for her Ridgefield clients’ new home. On a hunch, the principal of Molly Patton Design asked whether plaid might be a unifying factor for blending contemporary furnishings into a setting with traditional custom-crafted details. And bingo, a design was born. Not only did the young family embrace the idea, but plaids were just one move in a series of daring decisions that elevate a twentyyear-old colonial into a personal space where every element pulls its weight.

The bold details actually star t the moment you walk through the red lacquered front door, which serves as prep for some colorful moments deeper in the design. Getting into the grid, so to speak, also happens in the

foyer where Ferraro selected Phillip Jeffries’ raised-relief Rivets grasscloth wallpaper to set the stage for the plaids to come. The riveted wall speaks to a mustardupholstered entryway bench and leads into a living room with comfy plaid sofas accented by midcentury modern side tables and lamps. “It’s all about the layers,” Ferraro says, summarizing a design philosophy strong on creating 360-degree vantage points. But one element was conspicuously left out of that room. To unify a family with four children ranging in ages from seven to sixteen, Ferraro skipped the television to turn the living room into a social space.

Across the center hall, the dining room needed to do double duty. Beyond hosting sit-down meals for family

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Bold artwork from Natural Curiosities dialogues with the Roman shade in a Brunschwig & Fils fabric, while Kravet sofas express the plaid theme. In the dining room, the Nimbus resin bubble chandelier from Oly is the star. Cobalt-blue glossy lamp shades by Currey & Company flank a large abstract in the dining room.

and friends, it serves as a backdrop for Zoom calls. Rather than erasing the room’s traditional paneling and blue/ green Venetian plaster walls inherited from a previous owner, Ferraro celebrated the details. Drapes enhance the wall color, while a triptych of modern plaid art provides pattern. Lightening the mood in what Ferraro calls the dining room’s “primary color moment,” shiny cobalt-blue lampshades and tall three-armed sconces speak to the whimsical cloud-cluster chandelier. Nothing in this house takes itself too seriously.

Ferraro’s specialty are bedrooms, and she interviewed individual family members to capture the synthesis of their ideal personal space. The primary bedroom is painted midnight aubergine, while creamcolored carpeting and a matching ceiling and furniture keep the room from feeling too dark. “And the diagonal channel-tufted headboard adds modernity,” Ferraro notes.

For a teen daughter with a fondness

for 1970s mod, Ferraro went groovy with a hand-painted rainbow mural floating above a rust-colored velvet headboard, pom-pom-edged pillows, and a daisy bedspread. A teenage son is keen on camping and all things Adirondack. Ferraro coupled a striped wool Pendleton bedspread with a leather pillow, whimsical wall trophies, faux sheepskin stools, and windowpane carpet. With the room’s hunter-green walls and blackout Roman shades, he can blissfully burrow into his domain until noon. But then, the whole house is custom crafted to bridge disparate desires and hunker down in style. n

PROJECT TEAM

Interior

Builder:

design: Molly Patton Design

Heritage Homes

EDITOR’S NOTE: For details, see Resources.

ABOVE: A sleek chair from Highland House provides a perch in the primary bedroom. LEFT: Roman shades featuring an embroidered fabric from Thibaut tie the room’s aubergine walls with its cream-colored carpeting and furniture. FACING PAGE: Stephen D’louhy’s hand-painted mural sets a mod mood for a teenage daughter, while a velvet headboard, shag rug, and mushroom lamp keep it groovy.

COMING OF AGE:

Pages 25–28

O n Safari: Pages 25–26

Interior design: Erin Coren, Lina Galvão, Curated Nest Interiors, Cos Cob, 914-222-0752, curatednest.com

Classic Colors: Pages 26–28

I nte rior design: Georgia Zikas, Georgia Zikas Design, West Hartford, 860-904-5902, georgiazikasdesign.com

Window coverings and bedding: The Finishing Room, Weatogue, 860-490-8704, thefinishingroom.com

CHEF ’ S CHOICE: Pages 30–34

I nte rior design: Kate Smith, Kate Smith Interiors, Farmington, 203-418-7765, katesmithinteriors.com

Builder: A ndrew Veselak, A.V.E., West Hartford, 860-250-1032

Brass range hood: CopperSmith, Minneapolis, Minn., 888-431-4677, worldcoppersmith.com

Cabinetry: Bertch, Waterloo, Iowa, 319-296-2987, ber tch.com

Marble fabrication: Surface, Westport,

475-999-8658, sur faceofwestpor t.com

Walnut island: M.J. Martin Design Woodworking, Old Saybrook, 860-577-5311, mjmartinwoodworking.com

HEAD SPACE: Pages 36–38

Archite cture: Mary Burr, Ryan Salvatore, Carlos Velez, Burr Salvatore Architects, Darien, 203-655-0303, burrsalvatore.com

Builder: Greg Slowik, KG Finish Carpentry, Norwalk, 203-223-7174

Interior millwork: Tom Hurlo, Precision Millwork, Bethel, 203-300-5917, precision-millwork.com

BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL: Pages 52–57

I nte rior design: William Lyon, William Lyon Designs, Stamford, 203-489-5624, williamlyondesigns.com

Builde r: Mike Radman, RA Building Management, Westport, 203-943-3695

Painter and wallpaper: Luis Morocho, Landwide Service, Greenwich, 203-904-6505, landwideservice.com

Art installation: Anthony Francella, Rye Art Gallery & Framing, Rye, N.Y., 914-967-5645, ryeartgalleryandframing.com

AIM FOR THE SKY: Pages 58–63

Interior design: Prudence Home & Design, New Canaan, 203-859-9499, prudencehomes.com

Carpentry: Pawel Cembryznski, PW Painting and Carpentry, 203-550-2544

Window coverings: Diane Sargent, Classic Drapery, Derby, 203-906-5086

Office shades: AMA Shading Solutions, Congers, N.Y., 914-760-1089, amashading.com

CHECKMATE : Pages 64–69

Inte rior design: Dana Ferraro, Molly Patton Design, Fairfield, 203-520-0598, mollypattondesign.com

Builder: Reed Whipple, Heritage Homes, Ridgefield, 203-431-0016

Mural: Stephen D’louhy, Floe Painting, Norwalk, 203-829-9271, floepainting.com

Wallpaper installer: George Ruseski, Modern Wallcoverings, Fairfield, 203-255-4992

Next, 2022 © 2022 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.

South Norwalk, CT 203-957-8686

chloewinstonlighting.com South Norwalk, CT 203-957-8686

TOVAH MARTIN

SHEDDING LIGHT

Interior designer Grace Rosenstein of Atelier Roan could think of innumerable reasons why she needed a potting shed to cap her newly installed Westport cutting and vegetable garden, but few other sheds are asked to provide space to spend nature-focused quality time with a three-year-old. That’s why the shed’s floor plan has a mini potting bench not far from mom’s pine version on wheels. Beyond bonding with her little sprout, Rosenstein is all about continuity and details. Therefore, the

shed’s exterior has the same Cape Cod-style shingles as the main house, the paint color is Farrow & Ball Mizzle, tools are hung from Shaker-style pegs, and the sink features an articulating pot filler from Waterworks. Practicality also comes into play. To conserve space, the bench rolls out of the way when Rosenstein entertains in the garden. The message is clear: indoors or out, beautiful and thoughtful design grows on you. n

Atelier Roan, Westport, atelierroan.co

Photography by Mindy Briar