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12 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
tend to pay more concentrated attention to climate this time ofyear. When both the temperature and the duration of availablesunlight dip below a certain lower bound, it tends to foster,shall we say, contemplativeness. Possibly for that reason, workon assembling the group of homes in this issue made me curi-ous about how our region’s weather affects our interior design.
Back in September I heard a talk at the Boston DesignCenter by Keith Bradshaw of the firm Speirs + Major, proba-bly the brightest star right now in the firmament of interna-tional lighting design. One point he made about the compa-ny’s work was that projects in different parts of the world canrequire not only different aesthetic styles, but even differentkinds of light. When designing an opera house in Scan-danavia, a very warm, yellow feel is wanted; for a shop insteamy southeast Asia, a much cooler white light would bepreferred—all due to the emotional influence of climate.
It’s clear that similar weather-based preferences are opera-tive in architecture and interiors. Have you ever had the mis-
fortune to stay in someone’s beach house in February? Notso much fun. Those white ceramic tiles that lie so pleasantlycool beneath padding bare feet in July have become warmth-sucking fiends; the screened porch where chairs are kickedback and prosecco is sipped on Labor Day is now an obsta-cle-strewn deep freeze with no purpose but to frustrate aquick traverse from car to back door.
So what about year-round houses in New England? Whatdo we do in a region that combines the torrid brightness ofsummer, with its spacious, almost endless-seeming days; thefrigid darkness of winter, whose days are over almost beforethey’re properly begun; and pretty much every other knownconfiguration of light and meteorological condition in be-tween? Just how does one create an interior that will be liv-able and welcoming through all of that?
When in doubt, poll the experts. Mechanics aside (sizeand placement of windows, depth of eave overhangs, use ofinsulated shades to regulate heat transfer while preservingviews), one overall theme quickly stood out in the advice Ireceived: flexible planning. As Westport’s Trudy Dujardinsuggests, “The simplest approach is to change slipcovers—use red or deep colors for the holidays and winter, white forsummer. The regular upholstery serves for the rest of themonths. Also, cashmere throws can be swapped out for sum-mer with lighter-colored pillows and silk throws.”
Tamson Hamrock of Kismet in Southport agrees: “Whenone creates a foundation of neutrals, it’s easy to swap out theodd pillow and add simple accessories to suit one’s mood.”But, she continues, “seasonal changes are not necessarilyabout changing the decor, but bringing in simple things thattouch the spirit. Light a fire, burn some candles, put daffodilsor paperwhites on the table.” For her, it’s most important to“nourish the soul.” And that’s advice we can all take to heart,no matter the season.
From the Editor
In Pursuit of theAll-Season Interior
MIC
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16 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
On the cover: Rustic and modern mingle in the diningroom of designer Claire Maestroni’s Greenwich house.Photograph by Björn Wallander. To see more of thishome, turn to page 66.
Featured Homes46 Complementary Copy A design duo reprises its work in a New Canaan home, but the fresh
new result is so much more than a duplicate of the old. ARCHITECTURE: LOUISE BROOKS, BROOKS
& FALOTICO ASSOCIATES • INTERIOR DESIGN: PETRA AND WHITNEY ROBERTS, BOXWOOD HOME &
INTERIORS • PHOTOGRAPHY: BRUCE BUCK • TEXT: ERIN MARVIN • PRODUCED BY KARIN LIDBECK BRENT
56 Patience Makes Perfect A piece here, a piece there, and over time a New Canaan designerachieved just the combination of glamour and comfort she envisioned. INTERIOR DESIGN:
KRISTIN GALLIPOLI • PHOTOGRAPHY: JOHN GRUEN • WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL
66 French Connection A Greenwich designer’s home reflects both her European upbringingand the joie de vivre that has served her well in a life filled with adventure. ARCHITECTURE:
RUDY RIDBERG • INTERIOR DESIGN: CLAIRE MAESTRONI, MIS EN SCENE • PHOTOGRAPHY: BJÖRN
WALLANDER • TEXT: MEGAN FULWEILER • PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL
78 Eternally Graceful Casual and comfortable for the children, chic and sophisticated for thegrownups, a young family’s first house is designed to suit them for a lifetime. ARCHITECTURE:
JOHN CURRIE • INTERIOR DESIGN: LAUREN MUSE • PHOTOGRAPHY: MICHAEL PARTENIO • TEXT: PAULA
M. BODAH • PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL
Departments12 From the Editor
26 Artistry: Ahead of the Curve Where some see a troublesome invasive vine, artist LauraSpector sees elegant arbors, benches and other curvaceous forms waiting to be brought to life. BY NENA DONOVAN LEVINE • PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER BAKER
34 Designers on Display: Generous Inspiration A host of recent charity events featuredConnecticut designers in top form. BY PAULA M. BODAH
• • •90 Design Life Our candid camera snaps recent gatherings that celebrate architecture and design.
96 Perspectives Designers Amy Andrews, Catherine Avery and Connie Beale set a cozyhearthside scene.Wish List: Paul Guzzetta shares his favorite home design products. 104It’s Personal: Favorite finds from the staff of New England Home. 106
108 New in the Showrooms Unique, beautiful and now appearing in Connecticut shops and showrooms. BY KARA LASHLEY
112 Resources A guide to the professionals and products in this issue’s featured homes.
119 Advertiser Index
120 Sketch Pad Designer Amy Aidinis Hirsch hits on a clever use for beadboard.
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEFKyle [email protected]
HOMES EDITORStacy [email protected]
SENIOR EDITORPaula M. [email protected]
MANAGING EDITORErin [email protected]
ASSISTANT ART DIRECTORSJared [email protected] [email protected]
ASSOCIATE EDITORKara [email protected]
CONTRIBUTING EDITORSCheryl and Jeffrey [email protected] Lidbeck [email protected] [email protected]
CONTRIBUTING WRITERSRegina Cole, Caroline Cunningham,Megan Fulweiler, Robert Kiener,Christine Temin
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERSRobert Benson, Bruce Buck, Tria Giovan, Sam Gray, John Gruen,Richard Mandelkorn, Laura Moss,Michael Partenio, Greg Premru, EricRoth, James R. Salomon
• • •Editorial and Advertising Office530 Harrison Ave., Suite 302Boston, MA 02118(617) 938-3991(800) 609-5154
Editorial SubmissionsDesigners, architects, builders and home -owners are invited to submit projects foreditorial consideration. For informa tionabout submitting projects, e-mail emarvin@nehome mag.com.
Letters to the EditorWe’d love to hear from you! Write to us atthe above address, fax us at (617) 663-6377or e-mail us at letters @nehome mag .com.
SubscriptionsTo subscribe to New England Home ($19.95for one year) or for customer service, call(800) 765-1225 or visit our Web site, www.nehomemag .com.
Upcoming EventsAre you planning an event that we canfeature in our Calendar of Events? E-mail information to calendar @nehomemag .com, or mail to Calendar Editor, NewEngland Home, 530 Harrison Ave., Suite302, Boston, MA 02118.
PartiesWe welcome photographs from design- or architecture-related parties. Send high-resolution photos with information aboutthe party and the people pictured topbodah @nehome mag .com.
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22 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
PUBLISHERBetsy Abeles [email protected]
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, NEW ENGLAND HOME’S CONNECTICUTRoberta Thomas [email protected]
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVESAndrea [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
PRODUCTION MANAGERGlenn [email protected]
MARKETING AND ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATORKate [email protected]
CIRCULATION MANAGERKurt Coey
NEWSSTAND MANAGERBob Moenster
• • •
Editorial and Advertising Office530 Harrison Ave., Suite 302Boston, MA 02118(617) 938-3991(800) 609-5154
Advertising InformationTo receive information about advertising in New England Home, please contact us at(800) 609-5154, ext. 713 or info @nehomemag .com.
• • •
NCI Corporate Offices2305 Newpoint ParkwayLawrenceville, GA 30043(800) 972-0189
Home Design DivisionPRESIDENTAdam Japko
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONSStuart Christian
DIRECTOR OF PUBLISHING OPERATIONSRick Higgins
CHAIRMAN/CEODaniel R. McCarthy
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERGerry Parker
GENERAL COUNSELSusan DeesePhotos by David Sloane
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26 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
rtist Laura Spector is allergic to right angles. Onthe other hand, she’s never met a curve she didn’tlike. What she likes best—and uses to create her
art—are sinuous, rope-like vines called oriental bittersweet.In her hands the twisty vines become striking pieces of fur-niture and landscape art, some cast in metals like aluminumand bronze. She made her first piece, a bench, nearly twentyyears ago and has pushed rustic up against refined eversince. • In search of her raw material, Spector forages in
woodlands and wetlands beyond her Fairfield studio andthroughout the Northeast. If she needs a quantity, she em-ploys a battery-powered Sawzall to cut down the climbingvines. If fewer will suffice, she throws a bow saw over hershoulder and clambers up to reach them. When she’s donecollecting, she flings the harvest onto the bed of her redpickup and heads back to the studio to begin her work.While the vines are alive, they are pliant, even if not readilyso. Four weeks after cutting, they are dry, rigid and useless.
Where some see a troublesome invasive vine, artist Laura Spector sees elegant arbors, benches and other curvaceous forms waiting to be brought to life.TEXT BY NENA DONOVAN LEVINE • PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER BAKER
A
Artistry
Ahead of the Curve
DOTSIE DORAN
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NICOLE LIMBOCKER
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Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbicula-tus) arrived in North America from Chinain the late nineteenth century as an orna-mental garden plant, but it is now bestknown as an invasive pest. The vinespreads widely and wildly, strangling treesand eventually killing any foliage it em-braces; its green tendrils become thickerand woodier over time. After obtainingpermits to harvest it from protected wet-lands and other properties, Spector clearsout the invader and, through her artistry,renders it ornamental once again.
“It’s a dance,” Spector says of the trans-formation. A piece is “alive when it’s done.It’s still got energy, like when a dancerholds a pose.” As one might guess fromher gestures and turns of phrase, Spectormajored in dance at Bennington College.She describes her work as “more JoséLimón—very fluid—than Merce Cunning-ham—structured, angular.”
She is just as agile today as she was incollege and, at less than one hundredpounds, seemingly as delicate as a woodsprite. “But her arms and upper body are so
28 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
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strong,” says Barbara Israel, a longtimeclient and the author of Antique GardenOrnament: Two Centuries of AmericanTaste. “They have to be,” she says. “Lauraloves being in the woods pulling vinesdown.” (Spector’s most recent piece for Israel certainly appears to have been an un-dertaking: measuring nine feet tall, eightfeet wide and five feet deep, the majestic
seating arbor, titled Dangerous Beauty, ar-rived at Israel’s property on a flatbed truck.)
Her forays into the woods haven’t leftSpector unscathed, however. She has con-tracted both malaria and Lyme disease inpursuit of her art. While she acknowledgesthe risk, hiring someone to harvest thevines for her simply isn’t an option. “I’mworking with a feeling,” she says. “I have to meet [my pieces] where they live.”
Spector’s fearless artistry has garneredher an impressive roster of clients, fromNew Jersey’s Grounds for Sculpture park to luxury hotels. Her whimsical furniturepieces—benches, chairs, tables, head-boards, lampsand mirrors—have caught theattention ofcelebrities likeOprah, Sting andCindy Crawford. Manhattan stores such asBergdorf Goodman and designer Cather-ine Malandrino’s boutique have featuredher work in displays. Spector’s large-scalespheres, which she designed as garden fol-lies, have been used to particularly dramat-ic effect. The W Hotel in Dallas set one ofher six-foot spheres on a pedestal in thehotel courtyard and lit it from within. ForHolly Hunt’s 2008 Art Basel/Miami exhibit,
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Spector linked three of the spheres, thetallest of which overshadowed the artistherself, in a bold ball-and-chain motif.
Though she’s grateful for the recogni-tion she’s received, including a recentnomination to Interior Design magazine’slist of “design icons,” Spector forthrightlysays, “That’s not my agenda.”
In fact, she was hesitant to begin sellingher work at all. After college and ten yearsworking in advertising, TV programmingand marketing, including a stint in LosAngeles, New York City–bred Spector re-turned to Connecticut with her youngfamily. As Spector relates it, she had justput the eldest of her two sons on thekindergarten bus and, feeling forlorn,wandered into the woods. That’s when she saw her first bench amidst the vines.Then, it was just a matter of figuring outhow to realize—or perhaps obey—the vision.
Initially, she created herpieces for herself alone,but word got aroundand a client soon ap-proached her to buythat first bench. “Itwas like selling yourkid,” she says with agrimace. For a timeafter that Spector madetwo of everything: “myone-for-them-and-one-for-me phase,” she calls it. Todayher work is commissioned, but she’s stillguided by what she discovers in the
woods: she may well venture out for aheadboard and see a table instead.
Because her artist’s eye is uniquely herown, Spector isn’t worried about otherspurloining her designs. On the contrary,she takes great pleasure in sharing her
craft through the furniture-making classes she teach-
es. Her students firstexamine a bench
base and a finishedbench, followed by a “group-struc-tured improv”using randomvines plucked
from a ready pile.Homework is to
bring their own vinesto trade with other stu-
dents. Besides schooling themin the use of saws, drills and clamps, “Myjob is to open their eyes,” Spector says.
“When you turn someone’s light on, theystart creating their own great stuff.”
As for her own creative sparks, Spectorrecalls annual six-month pilgrimages toParis with her French-born mother andtwo sisters, begin-ning when shewas seven. In par-ticular, she citesthe Art Nouveaucurves of thecity’s ironwork metro entrances, designedby Hector Guimard, as an early artisticinfluence. More contemporary yet equallycurvaceous, jewelry designed by ElsaPeretti inspires Spector with its “organicmovement.”
But more than anything else, Spectorexplains, “Nature directs me in this collab-oration. I see the furniture in the woods; I don’t make it.” •Editor’s Note To see more of Spector’s work,visit www.lauraspectorrusticdesign.com
Artistry
Clockwise from aboveleft: Echo nightstand(2009), 30"H × 28"W ×28"D; The Living Stair-way (2008); Ball folly(2003), 4' diameter
30 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
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n just three short months last autumn, dozens of thegifted professionals who live and work in Connecticutlent their creative energy to no less than four events
showcasing the amazing breadth and depth of talent—andheart—in the local design community. The spaces we high-light here were among the very best.
• • •CYNTHIA MASON HERNANDEZ’s topical design for WestHartford’s DESIGNER SPACES AND MARKET PLACES creat-ed a buzz. In a dining room vignette she called Wall Posts,Hernandez explored connections and communication, con-trasting the intimacy of sharing a meal with the high-tech
chatter—emails, texts and Facebook and Twitter postings—that surrounds us all daily. “We’re all bombarded with formsof communication that weren’t there when we were kids,” she says. “This is about the juxtaposition of our public andprivate lives.” Hernandez started by painting horizontal blackand white stripes on the walls of her vignette and invitingfriends to write “posts” all over them. One wall holds a mul-titude of black-and-white photographs that depict people engaging in various forms of communication. A corner isbedecked with draperies of Kravet fabric in a chain-link pattern “representing connection,” says Hernandez. “It’s allabout becoming more interconnected the closer you come
A host of recent charity events featured Connecticut designers in top form. BY PAULA M. BODAH
I
Designers on Display
Generous InspirationM
ICH
AE
L P
AR
TE
NIO
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Public/Trade
to the center of the table,” she says.Black and white seemed like the right
palette, but, says Hernandez, “My normalM.O. is lots of color.” She couldn’t resistthe bright pop that molded Panton chairsin chartreuse added to the scene.
• • •For the past sixteen years, ALBERTHADLEY has spearheaded Southport’sROOMS WITH A VIEW. This year the eventturned the tables, honoring the interna-tionally acclaimed designer (and Connecti-cut resident) by asking designers who haveworked with the design guru over the years
to design vignettes that pay homage tohim. BUNNY WILLIAMS, notable residentof Falls Village and a design powerhouseherself, did more than simply honorHadley; she incorporated him into her vi-gnette. She began with an enlargement of a photograph of Hadley’s own garden, thensuperimposed a photo of the designer ontothe garden scene.She hung the pic-ture of Hadley inhis garden behinda set of Frenchdoors, so that thedesigner seems tobe looking in onthe space she cre-ated. Everything in the vignette, Williamssays, is something she knows Hadley loves.The Maya Romanoff paper she used on the
walls was something she knew he wouldapprove of. “The gilded sunburst, thebright red-lacquered ceiling, books, ob-jects, drawings—he loves so many things,”
she says. “I used bits and pieces of thingsthat remind me of him.”
Williams used pieces from her ownBeeline Home collection, including thetable, upholstered armchair and a mirror,to round out her vignette.
• • •VICTORIA VANDAMM harked back to oldEurope in her vignette for INTERIOR INSPI-RATIONS in Old Lyme. She remembers see-ing homes in the south of France wherepeople place their modern furniture againstVenetian plaster walls that are cracked withage. Using that recollection as inspiration,she created a vignette that is, says says, “allabout antiquity meeting the modern.” Dec-
orative painter Julie Hardridge, of Redding-based Architexture Studios, created thewalls with their mottled orange tones. Tothis antiqued interior Vandamm added the
stark contrast of a glass-topped Lucite-basedtable and a glass-and-nickel console. Fur-ther contrast comes from black-and-whitephotographs by Vandamm’s husband, KevinDailey, surrounded by contemporary blackframes. Tying the two extremes together is a Dunes and Duchess candelabra. “It’s amodern take on an old design,” Vandammsays. And like the rest of her vignette, itcombines the best of old and new worlds.
• • •Designers took on whole rooms for Stam-ford’s SHIPPAN SHOW HOUSE. PATRICIALAPIERRE, of Greenwich Design Archi-tects, took a decidedly nontraditional slantin the library. “When you think of the li-
36 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
Previous page: CynthiaMason Hernandezexplored the contrast between private andpublic communication.Above left: BunnyWilliams honored AlbertHadley. Above right: Old Europe inspired Victoria Vandamm.
Designers on Display
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CreativeINTERIOR DESIGN
Violet Nastri, ASID | [email protected] | www.crinteriordesign.com
brary, you usually thinkof green and red,” shesays. “I decided to gowith the unpredictable.”LaPierre painted thewalls Prussian blue, andthe library shelves andtrim a soft gray. “Whitewould have been tooharsh,” the designer says.Reds in a glorious vari-ety of shades fromstrawberry to fuchsia to burgundy enliven thespace, and accessoriesfrom the seashells scat-tered on shelves to theanimal print rug add atouch of whimsy. “Li-braries are often seriousand stiff,” LaPierre says.“This is a happy room.”
The bedroom of one of the owners’daughters is a happy place, too—a peacefulsanctuary for the preteen who sleeps there.TONY LYONS, of Bartony Design in East-
on, consulted at length with his youngclient. “She told me she likes blues andgreens, and that she reads a lot,” he says.“She likes Rumpelstiltskin because the lady
was a princess and she got the baby back.”Fairytales, magic and happy endings
all figured into Lyons’s design plan, whichbegan with a selection of Zoffany andSanderson fabrics in the client’s favoritehues. A baldachin canopy crowns thebed, and nearby stands a charming skirt-ed table with dainty booted feet. Otherfurniture includessmall-scale easychairs from the1940s and a deli-cate writing deskpaired withPhilippe Starck’sLucite Louis Ghost Chair. “I got to playwith scale,” Lyons says, “which created asort of magical effect.”
• • •Magical, in fact, describes the result whendesigners are given free rein to expressthemselves. The visitors who flocked tothese events were no doubt inspired bywhat they saw, and thousands of dollarswere raised for local charities. That, indeed,is a happy ending. •
Designers on Display
38 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
Above: Patricia LaPierreeschewed a traditionallook for her ShippanShow House library. Left: Tony Lyons broughta sense of magic to ayoung girl’s bedroom.
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46 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
A design duo reprises its work in a New Canaan home, but thefresh new result is so much more than a duplicate of the old. TEXT BY ERIN MARVIN • PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUCE BUCK • ARCHITECTURE: LOUISE BROOKS,BROOKS & FALOTICO ASSOCIATES • INTERIOR DESIGN: PETRA AND WHITNEY ROBERTS,BOXWOOD HOME & INTERIORS • BUILDER: THAYER WEST, WEST CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION• PRODUCED BY KARIN LIDBECK BRENT
COMPLEMENTARYCOPY
Winter 2011 New England Home’s Connecticut 47
The great room’s neutral palettemakes a perfect backdrop for thehomeowner’s colorful art collection;a Thomas Nozkowski hangs over afireplace mantel custom-designedby architect Louise Brooks.
48 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
Twin iron lanterns painted to look like bamboo hang above a Holly Huntdining table. Facing page left: The library’s paneled walls are knotty pinefaux-painted to blend with the rest ofthe house. Facing page right: Shiplapboard paneling on foyer walls addswarmth and an air of informality.
Winter 2011 New England Home’s Connecticut 49
f imitation is the sincerest form of flat-tery, what better compliment could anew homeowner pay his designers thanasking them to copy a scheme that theythemselves had created once before—and in the same house, no less?
Ron Marks was newly divorced andlooking to start over with a clean slate
when he found a lovely Shingle-style house in thepicturesque town of New Canaan. Built by architectLouise Brooks of Brooks & Falotico Associates, itboasted a gambrel roof, bay windows, a screenedporch and a fieldstone terrace overlooking a cultivat-ed landscape of just under an acre, yet it was smallerand less traditional than the house he’d shared withhis ex-wife. It spoke to his need for a cozy home thatwas manageable for a single person, though stillroomy enough for his daughters when they visitedfrom college.
“Right away I knew this was a special house,” saysMarks. “The quality was high. The crown moldings,the hardware, the light fixtures—it was all done first-class. It had everything I wanted in a home—theright number of bedrooms, the right finishes—and I didn’t have to change anything structurally.”
Inside, the house was just what he was searchingfor aesthetically, and since he planned to move inwith little more than a few suitcases, some tennisrackets, and a large number of books and artworks(furnishings had been left with his ex-wife), he askedthe original owners to sell it fully furnished.
They declined but gave him the next best thing:
the names of their decorators, Petra and WhitneyRoberts of Boxwood Home & Interiors.
Marks was so taken with the house’s comfy-but-chic style, he asked the mother-daughter design teamto reconstruct the look and feel of the interiors thatthey had created for the original owners. The overalldesign scheme wouldn’t be an exact replica—Marksdidn’t share the previous owners’ love of antiques,
so a few pieces were replaced with more contempo-rary versions—but it would certainly be a quality re-production. “It was a really fun project both timesaround,” says Whitney Roberts.
The home’s blushing pink exterior leads to a neu-tral-toned interior, where subtle shades of soft gray,blue and sea-mist green on the walls set a calmingpalette. Beige strié wallpaper envelops the spacious
Subtle shades of soft gray, blue andsea-mist green set a calming palette.
I
50 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
Brooks designed all of the kitchencabinetry (also facing page bot-tom). Facing page left: A sculptureby Guy Dill. Facing page right:The house is affectionately knownin town as “the pink house.”
Winter 2011 New England Home’s Connecticut 51
first-floor great room, which is bookended by hand-some fireplaces bedecked in decorative diamond andoval moldings designed by Brooks. The open, infor-mal layout leaves plenty of room for a comfortableseating area of plump brown couches and cream-colored linen chairs, as well as a large X-base diningtable that seats eight. Green in the toss pillows, cash-mere throw and artwork above the mantel adds apop of color. Texture is provided by the sisal carpet,and the zebra-print window treatments offer unex-pected pattern play. Light flows freely through multi-ple sets of French doors that open onto the terraceand, in one corner, the screened porch. The greatroom gives way to the large kitchen, where Brookscustom designed white kitchen cabinetry and a mar-ble-topped island.
Thanks to large-paned windows that bring in outside views, light floods the stairway leading to thetop two floors, which hold the master suite as well as bedrooms for Marks’s daughters and guests.
Swedish elements—the soft gray wash on foyerwalls, the chairs gathered around the dining table,barstools in the kitchen—are intermixed with the oc-casional animal print and a nod or two to old PalmBeach, such as the blue pagoda-like light fixture inthe master bathroom, the iron lanterns painted tolook like bamboo that hang over the dining roomtable and wicker seating on the screened porch. Thehouse is “casual but still elegant, sophisticated butlivable,” says Petra Roberts.
The home’s neutral palette, plentiful wall spaceand abundant natural light make it the perfect back-
drop to showcase Marks’s extensive art collection.“I’ve been passionate about art since I was in col-lege,” he says. “My roommate, luck of the draw, wasthe son of a very prominent art-collecting family inBeverly Hills.” So while their fellow students hungposters of Farrah Fawcett or Led Zeppelin, they dec-orated their wall with an original drawing by Ma-tisse. “I was very fortunate to be exposed to that,”Marks adds. “It awoke a sleeping giant within me.”
His collection is impressive, to say the least. Drawnto abstract expressionist, postmodern and contempo-
52 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
rary art, he owns about seventy significant works byartists such as Mel Bochner, Robert Kelly, JoanMitchell, Helen Frankenthaler, David Shapiro, Louise
Bourgeois, Jean Dubuffet and Alberto Burri (a famedItalian painter and sculptor who was also Marks’s
uncle). Other than sunlight, most of the home’s light-ing had previously come from lamps, so Marksbrought in a specialist to add sixty-five spots aroundthe house to better highlight his collection.
A large Frank Stella painting in the entrance hall is a favorite of Marks’s; it once hung in his office atGoldman Sachs, and he used his first Wall Streetbonus check to buy it. A Thomas Nozkowski hangsover one of the fireplaces in the great room, and oneof Marks’s newest acquisitions, a colored-pencildrawing by Mark Grotjahn, graces the far right cor-ner. A work by Sam Francis adorns the stairway lead-
The house is “casual but still elegant,sophisticated but livable.”
An orchard print adds pattern to therobin’s-egg-blue master bedroom. Facingpage top: Handwoven Elizabeth Eakinsrugs cushion feet both upstairs anddown. Facing page bottom: One of twomaster bathrooms, this boasts a lightgray-and-white basket weave tile floor.
Winter 2011 New England Home’s Connecticut 53
ing to the media room, which doubles as a galleryand includes works by such prominent artists as RossBleckner, Jasper Johns, Peter Reginato, Joseph Mc-Donnell and Nancy Graves. The mudroom serves asa second mini gallery. In fact, not a room in thehouse is without art; even the backyard is home tolarge sculptures by Bernar Venet and Reginato.
Bookshelves in the downstairs library are linedwith monographs of all the artists Marks has evercollected (or wanted to). “I’ve amassed a pretty goodcollection,” he says. “But it’s never complete becauseyou never have all the art you want.”
Though the house may have started as a repro-duction, each eclectic element, personal touch andbeloved painting makes it a unique work of art en-tirely its own. •Resources For more information about this home, seepage 112.
56 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
PATIENCEMAKESPERFECTA piece here, a piece there, and over time a New Canaan designer achieves justthe combination of glamour and comfortshe envisioned. WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY
STACY KUNSTEL • PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN GRUEN •
INTERIOR DESIGN: KRISTIN GALLIPOLI
atience might be Kristin Gallipoli’s finestdecorating virtue. It didn’t matter that theHarvey Probber table in her New Canaandining room sat chairless for two years.When she finally found the perfect set of tento go with it, at an auction house in Chicago,
she didn’t have to worry about relocating any filler chairs thathad held their places. • In fact, that whole “we’ll use this untilwe find something we like” attitude completely contradicts thedesigner and store owner’s personal philosophy. “It wasn’t im-portant for me to furnish my home all at once,” she says. “Iwasn’t going to buy a bedroom suite or a matching set of livingroom furniture. It’s like waiting for a guy. It can’t be just anyguy; it has to be the right guy. I’m willing to wait, because theperfect thing makes me happy. For me, it’s not necessary tohave pieces just to fill the room.” • Gallipoli’s been seekingand finding great things since she was ten, when she started
P
A Buddha gazes over the living roomwhere antiques mix with new pieces.Facing page top: Animal prints andgeometrics make a chic pairing.Facing page bottom: A collection ofsterling-silver boxes shows designerKristin Gallipoli’s penchant for display.
Gallipoli found the 300-year-old Tibetan thangka in a junk shop. Thefuchsia mohair on the chairs is byKravet. Facing page top: The midcen-tury modern cabinet is by Kaare Klint.Facing page bottom: The secludedlot has an expansive backyard.
working with her father, who renovated Vic -torian houses in Providence, Rhode Island. Itwas her last residence, though—the PhilipJohnson–designed Wiley House in NewCanaan—that lit her passion for midcenturymodern. “I taught myself about midcentury,”she says. “It was like learning to cook. I knewwhat I liked, but I didn’t know what it wascalled. I got every catalog from all the modernauction houses and tons of books.” Now sherattles off the provenance of just about any piece as if it were hernative tongue.
Gallipoli’s current home is a Cape-style house that she hasspent the last three years filling a bit at a time with treasures foundthrough auctions, on eBay, at flea markets and antiques shows, in galleries and local shops. Last year she began channeling herfunky-bold taste into a new outlet—her own store, Mason, indowntown New Canaan.
“I wanted to open a store where I would walk in and wanteverything there,” she says of the collection of design books, mid-century modern furniture and new and vintage accessories. Ger-man pottery from the 1960s mingles with Danish coffee tables andlow-slung chairs Gallipoli has re-covered in gorgeous linen. Shecalls the look “glamorous comfort,” and she works to make sureit’s livable. Her two teenage children, she notes, have grown upamid these things.
“In my store, it’s original,” she says of the classic pieces byHenry Bertoia, Niels Moller and other masters of midcentury de-sign, “but I want it to look new. Everything is so pristine. A good
Winter 2011 New England Home’s Connecticut 59
Stark walls became theperfect blank canvas forshowcasing her unconven -tional sensibilities.
David Hicks fabric pairs with cheetahspots and zebra stripes in the sun-room. Facing page top: Sally Mann’sNightblooming Cereus hangs abovethe mantel in the library between thesunroom and kitchen. Facing pagebottom: The vibrant hues make thesunroom Gallipoli’s favorite space.
Winter 2011 New England Home’s Connecticut 61
part of my day is spent looking. I do all the buying for the store.The store has Kristin written all over it.”
She has since opened another location inside Stamford’s Hamp-tons Antique Galleries, this one filled with Warren Platner chairs, a Mastercraft console table, a Roche Bobois sofa, modern paintingsand plenty of sculpture.
So does she often keep her treasures? “I have to give up a lot,”says Gallipoli. “I stick with what I own—otherwise my housewould be a rotating mess. There are hundreds of things that whenI’ve sold them I feel like my heart is breaking.”
Still, her house is full of prizes like the round dining table in hersquare dining room, a Kaare Klint cabinet from the 1950s andthose perfect chairs, now covered in a fuchsia fabric by Kravet.
Gallipoli launched her design plan by painting the whole houseoff-white. Those stark walls became the perfect blank canvas forshowcasing her unconventional sensibilities. In a space off the fam-ily room, a photograph by Sally Mann hangs above the fireplacebetween busts of her children that she commissioned from Con-necticut artist David Boyajian. Flanking the fireplace are six feet ofbooks wedged into Sapien bookshelves. The living room, dominat-ed by an enormous Buddha and a large Charles Hollis Jones Lucitetable covered with a collection of sterling silver boxes, appears staidin comparison with the sunroom and its riot of sunburst colors.On one side of the window-walled room a squash-colored sofapiped in red holds a slew of colorful pillows, including one byJonathan Adler embroidered with the Studio 54 logo. Two proto-type chairs by the Danish designer Hans Wegner sit opposite in aneye-popping David Hicks pattern. A vibrant rug accents the furni-ture, along with a pair of hot-pink Moroccan poufs, which Gal-
62 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
lipoli sells at the store in the more subduedshades of white, silver and gold.
“It’s my favorite room,” says Gallipoli. “It’s oneplace where I just really let color take over. WhenI said I was going to cover my sofa in orange withred piping, people were like, ‘She’s lost it.’ ”
Other rooms, such as the all-white kitchenand breakfast area and the neutral-hued master suite, stand inserene contrast. In the bedroom, Gallipoli played up the simplicityof the wood-and-metal Eames bed by keeping the bedding sleek.Legless nightstands protrude from the wall while a Curtis Jeré rainsculpture takes flight on the wall above the bed. The simple sheercurtains are the only ones in the house. The iconic hand chair byPedro Friedeberg was another of her finds.
“My home is not a Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware home,”says Gallipoli. “It’s important that people fill their homes withthings they love. If it doesn’t all go together it doesn’t matter.”
But in corner after corner of her two-story house, things do gotogether in tidy, magical ways. A trio of elf heads sits at the top ofthe stairs outside the door of the master bedroom; the vintageBuster Brown flag above them was a steal at $15.
Rooms throughout the house are airy and bright. A ceramiczebra here, a bronze Rodin sculpture there, a smattering of acces-sories adds just enough interest to keep the spaces warm and livedin, each piece chosen with purpose.
“I don’t like clutter. I like to see what I have,” says Gallipoli. “It’s a mistake to fill your house with furniture instead of thingsyou love.” •Resources For more information about this home, see page 112.
Gallipoli played up the simplicity of the wood-and-metal Eames bed bykeeping the bedding sleek.
Neutral tones in the bedroom breakfrom the bolder colors in the rest of thehouse. Facing page top: Pedro Fried-berg’s iconic Hand Chair occupies abedroom corner. Facing page bottom:Whimsical elf heads sit beneath a BusterBrown flag Gallipoli found for $15.
O66 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
Our life paths meander in remarkably unforeseen ways. Certainly, no one—especially interior designer Claire Mae-stroni—needs reminding of that. Corsi-can-born Maestroni was raised and edu-cated in Paris, the glorious City of Light.By the time she met her now ex-husband,this adventure-loving soul had alreadyzoomed all about the globe as an interna-tional lawyer. Marriage entailed evenmore accelerated travel. • But eventually,fate played her hand and the couple cameto rest in Westchester County, New York.Always high on energy and daring, Mae-stroni decided on a career switch. Manyof her past journeys had involved newnests that needed feathering, bringing tolife her unmistakable design talents. With-out further ado, she enrolled in ParsonsSchool of Design and began turning hercreative skills into what would become ahugely successful business. • Her firstbaby step, a fetching retail and interior
Winter 2011 New England Home’s Connecticut 67
FRENCH CONNECTION
A Greenwich designer’s home reflects both her Europeanupbringing and the joie de vivre that has served her well in a life filled with adventure. TEXT BY MEGAN FULWEILER • PHOTOGRAPHY BY BJÖRN WALLANDER • INTERIOR DESIGN: CLAIREMAESTRONI, MIS EN SCENE • ARCHITECTURE: RUDY RIDBERG • BUILDER: ERNIE BELLO • PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL
The living room is filled withwares from the designer’s shop,such as the dueling sofas coveredin Italian cashmere, stools fromthe Philippines and a Belgian rug.Inset: African masks add interest.
This chic, uncluttered state began with a
The study’s sparkly chandelier makes an interesting juxtaposition with the oakfloors and paneling. Facing page clock-wise from top: The streamlined decorincludes the occasional antique piecesuch as the armchair and a gilded mir-ror atop a marble-topped chest in theliving room. The designer finds room inher study for treasured collectibles.
Winter 2011 New England Home’s Connecticut 69
consulting shop nestled in Greenwich, Con-necticut, blossomed so rapidly she undertookan expansion a mere two years later. Today’sshowroom, Mis en Scene, which translatesroughly to “setting the stage,” is an impres-sive 3,500 square feet of solutions for everydesign concern imaginable. The exuberanthigh-quality offerings hail from worldwidemanufacturers; given the profound effecttravel has had on her tastes, it’s unlikelyMaestroni will ever fall prey to the mundane.Her aesthetic is characterized by a bold mixof contemporary and antique elements, awealth of materials and a sophisticatedpalette. It’s highly individualized and—nosurprise, as the French are renowned fortheir charm—incredibly beguiling.
Take the designer’s own home, also inGreenwich. As soon as Maestroni purchasedthe pretty 1940s house,she launched a mas-sive overhaul to give ither stamp. From theexterior color schemeto the backyard patiowith its stellar granitefire pit, nothing is as it was. Thoughtfullypried apart and inject-ed with sparks ofcolor, the revitalizedhouse is all about lightand personality.
It’s almost inexpli-cable—and totally enviable—how Mae-stroni maintains her home’s streamlinedlook while finding room for myriad decora-tive accessories, not to mention space forthree children ages seventeen, ten and seven.“People sometimes don’t realize this is a kid-friendly house. My children have beenraised as I was to take care of things. And
good dose of taking away.
70 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
nothing is too precious or fragile anyway,”says the designer.
Still, if we look to the beginning of theproject for clues, this chic, uncluttered statebegan with a good dose of taking away.Rather than leave the downstairs rooms allhiggledy-piggledy as they were, Maestroni—in consultation with Greenwich-based archi-tect Rudy Ridberg—demolished the wallsand forged an open plan, allowing the spacesto breathe. “I was coming from a darkTudor,” she explains. “I was in need of some-thing modern and airy.”
Today the posh living room, dining room,kitchen and family room spill gently intoone another. Should privacy be called for,sliding barn-style eighteenth-century doorsdo the job, serving as instant partitions be-tween the living and dining areas and thekitchen and family room. A newly addedmudroom accommodates the inevitable wel-ter of coats and boots. And as for light, Mae-
stroni designed agenerous expanse ofwindows to paradealong the entire firstfloor. The bountifulglass maximizes nat-ural light and unitesthe house with theverdant landscape.
Known for herfearless contrasts,Maestroni partnersthe living room’smatte black wallswith a snowy Vene-tian-plastered hearth.
Plexiglass chairs team with a rustic diningtable. “The see-through chairs allow you tolook at the beautiful wood,” she says.
Reclaimed French oak planks cover thefloors, unifying the living spaces. The aged
Reclaimed French oak
planks cover the floors, unifying the living spaces.
Terry O’Neill’s photograph ofBrigitte Bardot sparks the familyroom. Facing page clockwise fromtop: Reinvented stairs sport modernmaterials. The patio features color-ful furnishings. The traditional exte-rior belies the interior’s boldness.
72 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
wood’s hue also brings a note of warmth, asdo plush fabrics and, where there is boundto be prolonged lingering (think familyroom), portly pillows and feel-good throws.Hide rugs—elegantly striped in the livingroom, an edgy circular pattern for the familyroom—are cozy rather than formal or fussy.
The existing garage was repurposed as thenew kitchen, increasing the square footageand boosting the livability factor. Dazzlingwhite Corian counters and gleaming Mieleappliances—hidden within a system of cus-tom-made floor-to-ceiling wooden doors—are in keeping with the slick scheme. Buteven here, objets d’art find their place. Mostintriguing is a cache of decorative treasuresperched on pristine shelves mounted withrustic branch-like brackets.
The kitchen’s adjacent cafe/bar is like the unexpected sweet that tops the perfectmeal. The European-influenced space in-vites morning coffee or evening cocktails.All the necessary bells and whistles are in
place, from fridges to a built-inespresso machine. Twin bistrotables evoke the mood of a side-walk cafe, but there’s the addedluxury of a sumptuous ban-quette and no nosy passersby todisrupt the intimacy.
Originally the house had a pairof staircases. Maestroni disman-tled one and ingeniously re-vamped the other. Retrofittedwith metal and sporting a leather-upholstered guardrail, the rebornstairs defy their ho-hum past asthey make their way to the re-modeled second and third floors.
The latter has been expertly converted froman almost-forgotten attic into a two-bedroomsuite for the boys. Up here, Maestroni took amore casual route, clapboarding the walls to
“I was coming from a
dark Tudor. I needed something light and airy.”
A wire-and-plaster chandelier illu-minates the dining table. Facingpage top and bottom: A bistro-likespace off the kitchen conjures cozi-ness. Facing page right: Branchesmake intriguing brackets to holddecorative objects in the kitchen.
74 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
evoke an indoor/outdoor mood.Her knack for choosing materials is evident
again in the master suite. Gray flannel revealsits underlying sensuousness, wrapping her bedroom walls in a luxurious cocoon. Purple—the color of kings—is the designer’s favorite.Married with gray, shots of the hue enliven thespace without disturbing its tranquility. At
Winter 2011 New England Home’s Connecticut 75
the bed’s head hangs a painting by Jean-MarcLouis. “I love interior design, yet art has al-ways been my main passion,” the many-faceted Maestroni says. “Louis’s work is simpleand unique.”
Pass through her walk-in closet and you’re inthe master bath. Luminous Corian-coveredwalls conjure the cleanliness of a sun-bleached
beach, while a sculptural tub moves center stageto claim the window. If it weren’t for its anchor-ing dark floor, the light-filled space could almostfloat. Like all the other rooms in Maestroni’shouse, it’s a study in elegance, clearly the workof a designer with an unwavering eye. •Resources For more information about this home,see page 112
The designer’s lush upholsteredbed is graced with an oversizedheadboard. The swivel chair is covered in velvet. Top and bottomleft: The glistening master bathhas a contemporary aesthetic.
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Eternally GracefulCasual and comfortable for the children, chic and
sophisticated for the grownups, a young family’s firsthouse is designed to suit them for a lifetime.
TEXT BY PAULA M. BODAH • PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL PARTENIO •
ARCHITECTURE: JOHN CURRIE • INTERIOR DESIGN: LAUREN MUSE •
BUILDER: TIM GILSON • PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL
ity living had been fine for the young couple when they werecollege students, then newlyweds and new parents. But as theirelder son approached kindergarten age and they made plans to enlarge the family (baby number three, a daughter, is on theway), the suburbs beckoned. “We wanted a fresh start,” thewife says. “We wanted a community where our kids could go
to school for the long term, where we’d have friends and family around.” •They settled on the village of Old Greenwich and quickly found a house theyboth loved—a not-quite-finished gambrel-roofed, shingle-clad shore colonial
C
Texture plays a large role in the living room, where walls are treated to a glossy chocolate-brown lacquer,chairs and sofa wear cushy fabricsand the rug is woven in a high-lowgeometric in wool and linen.
that, for all its newness, looks like it was built during thebeach community’s early twentieth-century heyday.
Designed by local architect John Currie and constructedby local builder Tim Gilson, the three-story house displaysthe high quality one would expect in a custom home, fromthe attractive moldings to the family room’s coffered ceil-ings to the arched details above the kitchen cabinets. “Weboth loved it,” the wife says. “We thought the bones seemedreally solid.”
As traditional as the house looks from the outside, Currie’sinterior floor plan follows the more contemporary fashion of letting public spaces open to one another. “We wanted toset a relaxed tone,” the architect explains. “Old Greenwich is beachside, so we were shooting for something elegant, yet informal, a place more conducive to walking around in yourbare feet.”
To that end, the first floor holds smallish living and diningrooms for formal entertaining, while the kitchen, casual din-ing area and family room form an airy space ending in French
doors that open to the backyard. “I really like the layout,” the wife says. “It’s nice to be cooking and still keep an eye on the kids playing in the family room or in the yard.”
While the house was in construction, Greenwich-based designer Lauren Muse lent her expertise, suggesting finishesand wall colors. The new homeowners liked what Muse haddone, so they enlisted her to finish the job for them. “Theywanted to start fresh, so they brought very little with themfrom their city apartment,” Muse says. “They were very openand really let me run with it.”
Muse probed her clients’ likes and dislikes and discoveredthat they tended to prefer solids to patterns and favored neu-tral tones and blues. She also found that, though the two gen-erally share similar tastes, they had slightly different priori-ties. “I like things to look very nice and maybe a little bit
Winter 2011 New England Home’s Connecticut 81
In a nod to the nearby beachfront, the family room sports shades of blue from skyto turquoise against a background of sandshades. Facing page clockwise from topleft: Traditional and casual come togetherin the wide entry hall. The homeownerslove the shore gambrel for its “goodbones.” Family room accessories add someplayful pattern to the solid backdrop.
82 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
contemporary,” the husband says. “My wife likes extremecomfort and livability.”
Like Currie’s “elegant yet informal” architectural plan,Muse designed an interior that meets the husband’s desire forsophistication and the wife’s wish for a comfortable, family-friendly environment.
The foyer sets a classic tone with its herringbone-patternedfloor and its wainscoting topped with wide-striped wallpaperin pale neutrals. “I had a vision of what I think an entranceshould look like,” the husband says. “I wanted it to be fairlyclassic, and I think Lauren got that right.” A bleached oakconsole with horn pulls, designed by Muse, and a contempo-rary sunburst mirror add a casual note to the traditional entry.
A distressed trestle table and a wipe-clean banquette make thebreakfast area child-friendly. Right:Clean and classic defines the kitchen.Below: Textured linen chairs and ablack lacquered table are a sophisti-cated mix in the dining room.
Winter 2011 New England Home’s Connecticut 83
In the formal living and dining rooms, Muse indulgedthe husband’s preference for elegance. One wonderful ele-ment often triggers the design of a room, she says. “Some-thing inspires me, whether it’s a piece of fabric or a carpet,and that starts the ball rolling.” In the living room, that in-spiration took the form of the drapery fabric, a neutral linenwith cocoa-colored embroidery. The stitching inspired thewall treatment—a rich, glossy lacquer applied layer bypainstaking layer by New York artisan Roman Kujawa—which looks, Muse says, “like a melted Hershey’s candybar.” The room’s overall effect is one of utter luxury thanksto those gleaming walls and Muse’s introduction of texturein the sofa and chair fabrics, chenille toss pillows covered
“Old Greenwich is beachside, so
we wanted to set a relaxed tone.”
with openwork netting and a stunning wool and linen rugwith a subtle geometric pattern in shades of brown, beigeand the palest blue.
In the formal dining room, Muse began with a wallpaperthat depicts willow-like branches in ivories and light gold.Mindful of her clients’ leaning toward solids, Muse eschewedpattern in the rest of the room, opting for ivory linen drapes,an almost-black table and white chairs. Again, textures pro-vide the interest: the lacquered table, the linen chair backs(the fronts are brushed velvet) and the smooth Lucite chan-delier. A pair of purple-and-yellow cloisonné jars on the dining table adds energy to the quiet color scheme.
The large family room offers all the comfort the wifesought without sacrificing style. “It’s largely neutral, too,”notes Muse, “but it’s a bit brighter, a bit more youthful.”Twin sofas in a striéd chenille face off across an ivory-coloredlacquered coffee table with an inset grasscloth center. Paleblue recesses in the coffered ceiling and accessories in severalshades of blue—a nod to the home’s waterfront location—
brighten the neutral backdrop. And, once more, textures—a grasscloth wallcovering and a geometric-patterned rug in a high-low weave—bring depth to the space.
The kitchen is clean, classic and all-white, from the marblecountertops to the Christopher Peacock–inspired cabinetryto the Ann Sacks mother-of-pearl tile on the backsplash. Achild-friendly breakfast area sports a distressed trestle tableand a banquette covered in a treated fabric that cleans upwith the swipe of a damp sponge.
“I want to design houses that are beautiful and modern andtoday but also very functional,” Muse says. “This house bal-ances the two, and it functions very well for them as a family.”
When they began the process, the wife says, “I was veryfocused on making it a great house for our family. My hus-band was thinking this would be our house forever, so let’smake it amazing.”
In the end, the homeowners agree, they both got exactlywhat they wanted. •Resources For more information about this home, see page 112.
One wonderful element often triggersthe design of a room,
Muse says.
Winter 2011 New England Home’s Connecticut 85
Traditional and modern mix in the master bedroom, where a Lucite-leggedbench keeps company with aged, sil-vered nightstands. Facing page top:A custom bench in the vestibule gives a preview of the tranquil master suite.Facing page bottom: The wide-stripedwallpaper from the foyer reappears onthe stairway to the second floor.
I N T E R N A T I O N A L ®
C O L D W E L L B A N K E R
T h e L u x u r y D i v i s i o n o f C o l d w e l l B a n k e r R e s i d e n t i a l B r o k e r a g e
CBPreviewsLuxuryEstates.com 800.767.0078©2011 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned and Operated by NRT LLC. We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy forthe achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.
GREENWICH, CTGated 10,000+square-foot Doron Sabag Englishmanor with exquisite entertaining venues, a largemaster suite, luxurious pool, brick terraces, winecellar, beautiful vistas and heated 23-car garages.
BARBARA ZACCAGNINI $14,900,000
RIDGEFIELD, CTThis vintage mansion is in a class by itselffeaturing 14 fireplaces, a state-of-the-art kitchen,and majestic ballroom on 3+ acres with a heatedpool and pool house.
MAUREEN KOZLARK $4,500,000
CANTON, CTCraftsman-style lodge with 10,000 square feet of living space on 33+ acres with pool, pool house, brooks, wooden bridges, meditation areas,a trio of ponds, and a campsite.
KATIE FRENCH $2,500,000
RIVERSIDE, CTClassic 1926 renovated six-bedroom Colonial on2+ acres in one-acre zone. Features exquisite moldings, three fireplaces, cherry cabinetry andbuilt-ins. Guest house and English gardens.
LINDA COLLINS $6,950,000
OLD LYME, CTMagnificent and private 4.3 acre Connecticut River compound features 7,200-square-foot main house, two-bedroom guest house, heated Gunitepool and deep-water dock. Superb quality!
JOE RHODES III $4,100,000
STAMFORD, CTOn 2.44 private garden acres, this story-book,one-of-a-kind, 6,230-square-foot French NormandyColonial lodge is a comfortably updated 1925romantic gem.
JACK MULROONEY $2,499,900
DARIEN, CTTastefully restored and expanded 1867 Victorianwith views of Long Island Sound and GoodwivesRiver features original details, a heated pool, guestsuite and a restored original barn.
VALERIE MESEDAHL $4,700,000
WESTON, CTCountry estate overlooking a meadow and theSaugatuck River. Masterfully built featuring deepcrown moldings, custom woodwork, stone terracesand Gunite pool with spa.
MARYLOU JAMIESON $2,689,000
MADISON, CTNew England Colonial features formal living and dining rooms, a custom kitchen, luxuriousmaster suite, and inground Gunite pool complemented by a cabana with Viking kitchen.
CATHY LYNCH $1,599,000
Jean Marie McLaughlin, ASID | [email protected] 203.966.0828 | www.jmacinteriors.net
I N T E R I O R A R C H I T E C T U R E & D E S I G N | C U S T O M M I L LW O R K
R U G S & F A B R I C S I N N A T U R A L F I B E R SMeet Little One, the sheep that is the inspiration for the Private Reserve rug that bears her name. It’s Little One’s fl eece that has been hand shorn and spun into the yarn that is hand woven in our Norwalk, CT studio in order to create one of these marvelous environmentally responsible rugs. Our entire Private Reserve line is made out of all virgin fl eece from our own sheep and sheep from other carefully selected small farms. As a result, each custom made rug is not only completely traceable but feels incredibly personal. That’s the kind of superb quality clients expect from Elizabeth Eakins. And to think it all started with a sheep named Little One.
Our studio is now open to the public with a splendid selection of pillows, fabrics and rugs.
elizabetheakins.com ©
ELIZABETH EAKINS
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90 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
Design LifeOut and about in celebration of design and architecture in Connecticut
show houses and all manner of festive events. We were proudto help designers Tricia Izzo and Carolyn Kron celebrate the grand opening of SHELTER INTERIORS, their new designstudio and store in Milford. Tricia and Carolyn have beenfriends for years, so it’s great to see them join forces.
Our friends at Irwin Feld Design hosted NEW ENGLANDHOME’s fall networking party in their Stamford gallery. Like
all our networking parties, this was a fun, en-ergetic affair where the magazine’s staff
and advertisers joined area designersand architects to sip wine, nibble horsd’oeuvres and make new friends.
The Stamford Museum & NatureCenter benefitted from the lovelySHIPPAN SHOW HOUSE, this year’s
effort from show house promoter extraordinaire Franco Grimaldi. The
1922 home was given a whole new lookfor the lucky family who lives there.
Designer Carey Karlan of LAST DETAIL INTERIOR DESIGNopened her gracious Darien home for a plein air art show. Fine art and fine interior design do, indeed, make a happyunion, especially when combined with a lively social event.
So do fabulous interior design and shopping, as we discov-ered when Cindy Rinfret invited us to her Greenwich shop,RINFRET HOME & GARDEN, for a private holiday shoppingevent. The shop’s wonderfully eclectic mix of accessories hadus wishing we were buying gifts for ourselves as well as thoseon our holiday gift list.
Shouldyour party be
here? Send photographsor high-resolution images,with information about theevent and the people in the
photos, to New England Home,530 Harrison Ave., Suite 302,Boston, MA 02118, or e-mailimages and information to
pbodah@ ne home mag .com.
IT WAS A BUSY AUTUMN IN CONNECTICUT, WITH OPENINGS,
RINFRET HOME & GARDENFrom top, left to right: Darrah Gleason and Patti Ekval • Monika Walker and Ricky Spears • Vince and Anna Cappucci •Jackie Ekholm and Cindy Rinfret
SHELTER INTERIORS From top to bottom: Ellen
Malmon, Tricia Izzo, Carolyn Kronand Michele Scotto • Jenny
McLaughlin and Holly Winslow •Kelly Boran and Michelle Bellucci
MASON STYLE, LLC | 48 ELM STREET | NEW CANAAN, CT | 203.966.6655 | WWW.MASONSTYLE.NET
Design Life
LAST DETAILINTERIOR DESIGN From left to right: Beth Dempseyand Tammy Davis • BethDempsey and Carey Karlan
NEW ENGLAND HOMEFrom top, left to right: Philip Shortt,
Tiffany Allan, Amy Andrews and Liz Hynes • New England Home’s
Glenn Sadin, Betsy Abeles Kravitz and Kate Koch • Steve Cassler and
Irwin Feld • Dan Paquette and AmandaMartocchio • Jane Speroff, CynthiaMason Hernandez and Ann Morris •
Erica DiMartino, Victoria Keating, NewEngland Home’s Kyle Hoepner and Liz
Hynes • Mark and Violet Nastri
92 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
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SHIPPAN SHOW HOUSEFrom left to right: Michael Delaney,Jamie Delaney, Franco Grimaldi, Barbara Malloy, Melissa H. Mulrooney,Howard Malloy, June Rosenthal and Rolf Rosenthal • Katherine andBill Aron, Lynn Villency Cohen and Stephen Cohen • Leslie Bruzik and Lynn Villency Cohen
(203) 622-9070 Studio • (917) 864-4279 Mobile
www.VandammInteriors.com
Interior Design for the Home and Of�ice
VIVandamm Interiors
20 CHURCH STREETGREENWICH, CT
203.625.0491WWW.RIDARCH.COM
RIDBERG+AssociatesArchitects
PARDO PHOTOGRAPHY
96 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
PerspectivesFresh outlooks on design and resources
• Three area designersset a cozy hearth
• Wish List: DesignerPaul Guzzetta’sfavorite items for the home
• It’s Personal: Findsfrom the staff of NewEngland Home
CONNIE BEALETeddy Club Chair from Coup d’Etat “I love this vintage chair from Coup d’Etat! Its linesand sink-into-me appearanceare perfect for the hearthside.”THROUGH PEACOCK & BEALE
Hearthside Comfort: Armchairs
AMY ANDREWSEddie Armchair by Lona Design“This chair is one of my very fa-vorites, incorporating classic designelements with a whimsical twist. Atthe fireside, or in any space, thischair just begs you to relax and putyour feet up at the end of a longday. THROUGH KATHERINE COWDIN, INC.
CATHERINE AVERYChair No. Three Ninety Five byThe New Traditionalists “The bal-ance of the feminine arms with themasculine leather detailing givesthis chair family appeal. A pair ofthese chairs, which are manufac-tured in Connecticut, would be perfect for relaxing by the fireplace.”THROUGH AVERY DESIGN INTERIORS
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8 8 8 - 4 9 8 - 5 9 8 8 | i n f o @ s h a r o nm c c o r m i c kd e s i g n . c o mWWW. SHARONMCCORM ICKDE S I GN .COM
SHARON MCCORMICK DESIGN, LLC
Perspectives
98 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
AMY ANDREWSDorsey Throw by Sferra “Thesecashmere throws are so soft anddecadent! The herringbone texture and fantastic colors are a wonderful accent to any room.They also make a fabulous gift,even to yourself.” THE LINEN PRESS,OLD GREENWICH, (203) 637-0200
Throws
CATHERINE AVERYHoundstooth Fringe Throw by A Soft Idea“Made locally, this oversized plush throw is avail-able in five different colors. In easy-to-clean 100percent cotton, it’s perfect for the kids to cozyup by the fireplace with hot chocolate on a win-ter evening.” FIG LINENS, WESTPORT, (203) 227-8669
CONNIE BEALERani Arabella’s Capri Throw“This 100 percent cashmerethrow is hip and luxurious at the same time. Made in Italy, itcomes in an array of deliciouscolors.” THROUGH PEACOCK & BEALE
With a passion for good design andwonderful spaces, Amy Andrewsworks to create environments thatbring clients joy when they walkthrough the door. Her goal is to de-sign interior and exterior areas where
the homeowner feels comfortable and inspired.KATHERINE COWDIN, INC., GREENWICH, (203) 661-4844
100 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
Perspectives
CONNIE BEALEFireplace Log Holder from Robert Altman “I love this early twentieth-cen-tury log basket from Robert Altman, oneof my favorite dealers in unusual and in-teresting andirons and fireplace items.He always has something I want to buyfor a client.” THROUGH PEACOCK & BEALE
CATHERINE AVERYMidcentury Fireplace Toolsfrom Greg Nanamura “I love thesleek lines of these brass fireplacetools. The thick green glass baseis a unique and unusual touch.”THROUGH AVERY DESIGN INTERIORS
Catherine Avery partners with herclients to create relaxed, yet elegant,family-friendly interiors. In her view,great interior design must reflect thestyle and taste of the client, evoking a warm and welcoming response from
all who enter. AVERY DESIGN INTERIORS, WESTPORT,(203) 273-0898, WWW.AVERYDESIGNINTERIORS.COM
Andirons
AMY ANDREWSSerpentine Andirons byIronware International“These andirons are great fun.Their hand-forged artisanlook and beautiful finish givethem a warm, unique feel. Putthem near the fireplace for a very special look.” THROUGHKATHERINE COWDIN, INC.
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Cindy Rinfret is the founder
of Rinfret, Ltd., which is one
of the leading design firms
on the East Coast. Her work
has appeared in numerous
publications including her
book, Classic Greenwich Style
(Rizzoli). Cindy Rinfret
designed the elegant dining
room on the left and bathroom
below for a client in
Greenwich, CT. This project
was featured on the cover
of the Inaugural issue of
New England Home's
Connecticut.
354 GREENWICH AVENUEGREENWICH, CONNECTICUT
www.rinfretltd.comSHOP 203.622.0204
DESIGN 203.622.0000
Rinfret, LtdInterior Design & Decoration
102 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
Perspectives
CATHERINE AVERY Sunburst Wall Sculpture “This 1960spiece adds that special touch of ele-gance above the fireplace. With itsvariegated shades of metal, it’s a mod-ern take on a classic design.” IRWINFELD DESIGN, STAMFORD, (203) 588-0567
Mantelpiece Decor
For thirty years, Connie Beale has de-signed beautiful, functional spaces for a diverse group of clients across thecountry. The primary buyer and creativeenergy behind home furnishings storePeacock & Beale, she recently launched
a product development and branding venture, River-bank Creative. PEACOCK & BEALE, ESSEX, (860) 767-1682
AMY ANDREWSSadge Barriers by John Funt (2005)“This oil painting would make anamazing focal point above the mantel,bringing peace, color and depth tothe room. How wonderful it would beto sit with your feet by the fire andenjoy that view!” NELSON MACKER FINEART, THROUGH KATHERINE COWDIN, INC.
CONNIE BEALENola Sunburst Mirror “I hadthis mirror custom made formy store by Vernon MirrorSmith. Handcrafted of an-tiqued Polish glass, it wouldmake a very special state-ment over the mantel.”THROUGH PEACOCK & BEALE
Marble | Grani t e | Limes tone
Til e s | Tables | Counter Tops
Vani ty Tops | Fireplaces
34 Riverside Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06850tel (203) 847-6880, fax (203) 847-3902
www.casatellimarbleandtile.com
Custom fabrication of marble and granite since 1988IMAGES BY LAURA MOSS PHOTOGRAPHY
B O X W O O Dhome & interiors
44 East Avenue New Canaan CT 06840(203) 972-1010 Fax (203) 972-3030 www.BoxwoodInteriors.com
44 East Avenue New Canaan CT 06840(203) 972-1010 Fax (203) 972-3030 www.BoxwoodInteriors.com
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104 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
Perspectives • Wish ListWhat are some things you’d love to use in a project?
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By the time he started his interiordesign business twenty years ago,Paul Guzzetta had already enjoyedan exciting career in fashion, first asa designer for Yves Saint Laurentand later for his own company.Today, he brings his meticulous eyefor fit and fabric to interiors projects,creating rooms impeccably tailoredfor his clients’ lifestyles. “It’s cleanand practical,” he says of his designsensibility, “somewhat trendy butvery comfortable and easy to keepclean and manage.” Case in point: afabulous pet-friendly living room herecently created for a client and herseven rescue dogs. While in the fash-ion industry, Guzzetta crisscrossedthe globe overseeing the productionof his designs, and travel remains hisprimary inspiration. His experiencesabroad provided the spark for 4-orm,his new line of solid mahogany fur -niture. The collection seamlesslycombines haute couture styling anddown-to-earth practicality—a fittingembodiment of Guzzetta’s designphilosophy. THE ITEMS ON HIS WISH LIST ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH HIS FIRM,IH DESIGN STUDIO, STAMFORD, (203) 969-7227, WWW.IHDESIGNSTUDIO.COM 1 Stratum Wallcovering by Weitzner Limited
“This wallcovering is made from a veneer of actual slate and looks amaz-ing. Great for a fireplace, mudroom or powder room, it’s real stone withoutthe mason!”
2 Sydney Coffee Table by 4-orm“I may be biased because I designed it, but I really do feel this table is apractical choice—a great piece for any family room. The center is madefrom Portland cement so it’s virtually indestructible, and the surround woodis solid Asian mahogany.”
3 Varia Ecoresin from 3form“I wish every project could incorporate a bit of this product. 3form cantake almost anything and imbed it in resin to create a solid surface. Itworks particularly well in the kitchen for cabinet doors, partition walls,sliding doors and more.”
4 Boiled Wool from Holland & Sherry“Don’t tell your mother you have a sofa coming in boiled wool. She’ll tell youabout a coat she used to own and probably still has in the closet. But thisclassic fabric is a keeper! It lasts forever and really has an amazing hand: softand cuddly and incredibly durable. That’s why she still has the coat!”
5 Iris Design Studio’s Olinda Light“Is it a light fixture, or is it art? Iris has created a collection of unique walllighting that can accessorize a room as well as provide ambient light. Youcan customize the image, which opens up endless possibilities.”
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Paul Guzzetta, Stamford 1
PAUL ROBIDA
Finished in Fabrice u r o p e a n e l e g a nc e
Finished in Fabric is a family-operated, European-trainedworkroom that specializes in antique upholstery done in OldWorld style with hand-sewn edging and horse hair.The all-inclusive workroom can fulfill all of your home’s uphol-stery and drapery needs, from decorative pillows, headboards andbedding to fabric walls and complete drapery installation.
Photographer - Philip Ennis
(860)346-4843 | [email protected]
26 Arcadia Rd., Suite 6 | Old Greenwich, CT | (203) 540-5350 | www.VictoriaLyonInteriors.com
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FROM TRADITIONAL TO MODERN
106 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
Perspectives • It’s PersonalFavorite finds from the staff of New England Home
Karin Lidbeck Brent,Contributing EditorClassic mill-worked wainscoting, moldingsand reliefs are hallmarks of the traditional ar-chitecture that makes a home feel abundantand luxurious. Handcrafted detailing of thissort never went out of fashion, but its costgave homeowners pause. Enter Wainscot So-lutions, which uses modern materials andtools to create stunning, room-transformingwainscoting that can be installed in hours, notdays, and with more affordability. I metMichael Yedowitz, the mind behind WainscotSolutions, a few years ago when I was stylinga home that featured this beautiful, versatilewainscoting for a national magazine, and Ibecame a fan of his product on the spot. Beyond the wide range of style options thecompany offers, Yedowitz is happy to workwith homeowners to design something toturn ordinary walls, stairs and fireplaces into aunique and personal statement. NEW MILFORD,(860) 354-3638, WWW.WAINSCOTSOLUTIONS.COM
Stacy Kunstel, Homes EditorHaving grown up with various animals stuffed and mounted on
the walls (caribou, wild turkey, pheasant, bass, you name it), I probably should be over the hunting motif that’s been all the
rage for the past few years. But when a look reinvents itself Ihave a tendency to fall for it all over again, as I did when I spied
this painted aluminum deer head on the wall at J. Seitz & Co.Nestled between a pair of oyster-trimmed mirrors and over a bed
covered in Matteo linens, it cast its gaze at me as I admired itsmighty rack from across the room. I love the thought of bringinga bit of nature into my house—without having to feel guilty everytime I look at it. $395. NEW PRESTON, (860) 868-0119, WWW.JSEITZ.COM
Kyle Hoepner, Editor-in-ChiefI’m a bit of a pushover for things that are rough, worn,scuffed, weathered, distressed, ragged, threadbare, pati-nated or otherwise textured in some way that betokensdecades or centuries of use. So you can imagine thepleasure with which I came across this nineteenth-centurycountry chair at Eleish van Breems, Ltd. Hailing from thetown of Pietarsaari in western Finland, this piece is, ac-cording to co-owner Edie van Breems, “one of many such
rustic chairs that can be foundthroughout the Scandinavian coun-tryside. Often made by the farmersthemselves during the long wintermonths, the chairs were paintedusing pigments derived from in-digenous minerals. After 1830 andthe development of chemically derived paints, chairs of this typewould frequently incorporate colorslike the cadmium-based navy blueseen here.” Now if only I had justthe right little hallway corner in
which to tuck it—time to move,I think! $625. FAIRFIELD AND
BRIDGEWATER, (860)354-0700, WWW .EVBANTIQUES.COM
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We can build the “Preferred Lifestyle you so deserve.” Live beyond the walls of your home outdoors.
203.250.1030 • [email protected] www.OutdoorlivingCt.com • www.NightlightingDesigner.com
We are Outdoor Kitchen and Living Specialists
108 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
1 Inspired by the traditional folk art of Indonesia, the Indah tile collection fromAnn Sacks features seven intricate de-signs carved onto antiqued reclaimedteak. (The Weave pattern is picturedhere.) The collection takes its name fromthe Indonesian word for “beautiful,” butwe think Indah’s exotic appeal translatesto any language. GREENWICH, (203) 622-8884, WWW.ANNSACKS.COM
2 Marvin Gardens’ dramatic steel orbs arejust the thing to revive a barren winterlandscape. Made by a Texas artist fromrepurposed agricultural parts, the one-of-a-kind sculptures range from two feetto four feet in diameter and come in avariety of shapes. For added interest, theinterior of each hoop can be painted acontrasting color. WILTON, (203) 544-2020, WWW .MARVIN GARDENS USA.COM
3 New on the scene at Irwin Feld Design,this 1950s James Mont chair is half of avery handsome pair. The chairs’ sculpturalcushions perch on hardwood framesstained a rich espresso and finished withan ultra-glossy French polish. Freshly up-holstered in pumpkin-colored fabric byBergamo, this power couple is ready forits close-up. STAMFORD, (203) 588-0567,WWW.IRWINFELDDESIGN.COM
4 Say buongiorno to Arabella, a saucy lit-tle number that’s just arrived at Signo -rello of Westport. The slant-backedarmchair from Giorgetti swivels seduc-tively atop a bronze-finished base andcan be decked out in an array of come-hither hues. Prefer something more de-mure? Imagine Arabella in white leather.WESTPORT, (203) 221-3200
5 As icicles adorn the outside of your win-dows, your draperies may be feeling a bitjealous. Treat them to some cool bling oftheir own with sleek accessories fromBrimar’s Ice collection. Now available atDesignSourceCT, the line offers sophisti-cated acrylic curtain rods, finials andtieback rosettes (shown here) that won’tmelt come spring. HARTFORD, (860) 951-3145, WWW .DESIGN SOURCECT.COM
6 Rinfret Home & Garden is brimming withluxurious accessories that are sure to heatup a long winter’s night. This richly em-broidered pillow promises to add a touchof warmth and elegance to any room. Orperhaps you’d rather snuggle up underthe store’s sumptuous silver fox throw;lined with cozy fleece, it’s a faux-furdream come true. GREENWICH, (203) 622-0204, WWW.RINFRETLTD.COM/SHOP.PHP
New in the ShowroomsUnique, beautiful and now appearing in Connecticut shops and showroomsBY KARA LASHLEY
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7 ’Tis the season for new beginnings, and this gracious antique fixture just received another lease on life fromRestoration Lighting Gallery, a treasuretrove of one-of-a-kind lighting finds.Lovingly restored and rewired, thisdecade-old beauty retains its originalbrass finish, Favrille-style glass shadesand detailed cast arms. HARTFORD, (860)493-2532, WWW .MY RLG .COM
8 Whether or not you’re having a baronetto dinner, Juliska’s pewter stoneware willlend your home the air of a Europeanmanor. Its metallic finish bespeaks old-world elegance, but the durable glaze ismade for modern convenience: the din-nerware and serving pieces can bepopped directly in the dishwasher, noscullery maid required. STAMFORD, (203)316-9118, WWW.JULISKA.COM
9 Attention bookworms: you’re bound tocovet the lavishly detailed French bib-lioteque from Tara Shaw Maison, a newaddition at Parc Monceau. Standing al-most nine feet tall, this impressively pro-portioned bookcase—a faithful reproduc-tion of an antique piece—will house aserious collection of tomes and bibelots.WESTPORT, (203) 319-0001, WWW .PARCMONCEAU WESTPORT .COM
10 Is it a kitchen or a living space? Poggen-pohl’s +Artesio, an innovative marriageof furniture design and architecture, willleave you wondering. A collaborationwith architect/designer Hadi Teherani,the kitchen concept blurs the line be-tween cooking and living, going beyondcabinetry to encompass walls, floor andceiling. WESTPORT, (203) 227-1723, WWW.WESTPORT .POGGENPOHL.COM
11 Simon Pearce has been playing match-maker, bringing together its signatureglass and hand-thrown pottery in theBurlington lamp. Switch it on, and thelamp’s modest design comes alive as asoft glow illuminates the glass and ac-centuates the gentle curve of the pot-tery base. GREENWICH, (203) 861-0780,AND WESTPORT, (203) 226-2353, WWW.SIMON PEARCE .COM
12 Since its recent debut at Boxwood Home& Interiors, the Newport console fromOomph has caused quite a stir. Like New-port’s famous mansions, the tastefullytrendy table doesn’t shy away from em-bellishment—or over-the-top color. Thoughit enjoys the society of more subduedpieces, this console can’t help but steal theshow. NEW CAANAN, (203) 972-1010, WWW.BOXWOOD INTERIORS.COM
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COMPLEMENTARY COPYPAGES 46–53Architect: Louise Brooks, Brooks & Falotico As-sociates, New Canaan, Conn., (203) 966-8440,www.brooksandfalotico.comInterior designer: Petra and Whitney Roberts,Boxwood Home & Interiors, New Canaan, Conn.,(203) 972-1010, www.boxwoodinteriors.com Builder: Thayer West, West Construction Cor-poration, New Canaan, Conn., (203) 966-7918,www.westconstructioncorp.comArt lighting consultant: Mark Mosello, DesignLighting by Marks, Elmsford, N.Y., (914) 345-5100, www.designlightingbymarks.comLandscaping maintenance: Jessica Livingston,Riverside, Conn., (203) 561-0611Page 46–47: Strié wallpaper by Hinson & Com-pany, Long Island City, N.Y., (718) 482-1100,www.hinsonco.com; pillow fabric by China Seasthrough Quadrille, New York City, (212) 753-2995, www.quadrillefabrics.com; sisal area rugthrough Stark Carpet, Norwalk, Conn., (203)899-1771, www.starkcarpet.com; upholsteredfurniture by Edward Ferrell, New York City,(212) 758-5000, www.ef-lm.com; nickel sconcesby Vaughan Lighting, New York City, (212) 319-7070, www.vaughandesigns.com; artwork byMel Bochner, Thomas Nozkowski, Robert Kelly,Bernar Venet and Joan Mitchell, all from theowner’s collection.Page 48: Dining table by Holly Hunt, NewYork City, (212) 755-6555, www.hollyhunt.com;chairs by Country Swedish, New York City,(212) 838-1976, www.countryswedish.com;custom hand-painted light fixtures throughBoxwood Home & Interiors; wicker chargers,bamboo veneer tray, cutlery and framedplates from The Tulip Tree Collection, Wash-ington Depot, Conn., (860) 868-2802, www.tuliptreecollection.com.Page 49: Faux wood painting in library byMelissa Barbieri Studio, Greenwich, Conn.,(203) 622-6975, www.melissabarbieri.com; artwork above fireplace by Jean Dubuffet,from the owner’s collection; desk by RalphLauren Home, Greenwich, Conn., (203) 869-2054, www.ralphlaurenhome.com; fabrics by Clarence House, New York City, (212) 752-2890, www.clarencehouse.com, Cowtan & Tout, New York City, (212) 647-6900,www.cowtan.com, and Ralph Lauren Home;console table in foyer by Niermann Weeks,New York City, (212) 319-7979, www.niermannweeks.com; hand-woven cotton area rug andstair runner by Elizabeth Eakins, South Nor-walk, Conn., (203) 831-9347, www.elizabetheakins.com; nickel lantern by Vaughan Light-ing; artwork in foyer by Alberto Burri, MarcoBreuer and Bernar Venet, from the owner’scollection; Snowy Egret wall color by RalphLauren paints through Ralph Lauren Home.
ResourcesA guide to the products and professionals in this issue’s featured homes
Visit www.CTHomeShow.com fortickets, exhibitor list & discount parking
CT Convention Center • Downtown Hartford
Proudly produced by your local home builders and remodeling professionals.
for your home!”
The Connecticut Home & Remodeling Show
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114 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
ResourcesPage 50: Colombian black clay soup pot andthree hand-glazed ceramic celadon canistersfrom The Tulip Tree Collection; black platters,bowls and pitcher from The Privet House,Warren, Conn., (860) 868-1800, www.privethouse.com; Juliska bowls by sink andstone plates on island from J. Seitz and Com-pany, New Preston, Conn., (860) 868-0119,www.jseitz.com; strié wallpaper by Hinson &Company; bell jars by Vaughan Lighting; paintcolors by Farrow & Ball, www.farrow-ball.com.Page 51: Exterior trim paint color by Farrow &Ball; all light fixtures by Vaughan Lighting; out-door sculpture by Guy Dill, from the owner’scollection.Page 52: Sisal carpet through Stark Carpet;furniture by Louis J. Solomon, Hauppauge, N.Y.,(631) 232-5300, www.louisjsolomon.com; art-work in master bedroom by Helen Franken-thaler, David Shapiro and Louise Bourgeois,from the owner’s collection; paint color byPratt & Lambert, www.prattandlambert.com.Page 53: Umbrella stand in stairway landingfrom J. Seitz and Company; nickel lantern in stairwell by Vaughan Lighting; cotton hand-woven area rug by Elizabeth Eakins; antique English spindle bamboo tables andrug in master bathroom from The Tulip TreeCollection; custom hand-painted pagodalantern through Boxwood Home & Interiors;paint color by Pratt & Lambert with trim byFarrow & Ball.
PATIENCE MAKES PERFECTPAGES 56–63Interior designer: Kristin Gallipoli, Mason, New Canaan, Conn., (203) 966-6655,www.masonstyle.netUpholsterer: Artistic Upholstery, Norwalk,Conn., (203) 849-8907Pages 56–57: Mercury glass lamps from TheSilk Purse, New Canaan, Conn., (203) 972-0898, www.thesilkpurse.com; sculpturethrough and throw from Mason; zebra-print pillow from Dovecote, Westport, Conn., (203)222-7500, www.dovecote-westport.com; Lucitetable by Charles Hollis Jones through Mason.Pages 58–59: Cabinet by Kaare Klint throughWright Auction, Chicago, Ill., (312) 563-0020,www.wright20.com; mohair chair fabric fromKravet., Bethpage, N.Y., (516) 293-2000,www.kravet.com; gold goblet from Mason; Sciolari chandelier through eBay; German lavavases from Mason. Pages 60–61: Hans Wegner prototype chairsthrough Mason with David Hicks fabricthrough Lee Jofa, Stamford, Conn., (203) 504-2640, www.leejofa.com; leopard-print ottomanfrom Dovecote; pink poufs and embroideredJonathan Adler pillows through Mason; KofodLarsen rocker and Eames chair throughMason; busts of children by David Boyajian,New Fairfield, Conn., (203) 746-6101, www.davidboyajian.com.
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Page 62: Florence Knoll credenza throughMason; Pedro Friedberg hand chair throughMason.Page 63: Light fixture by George Nelsonthrough Design Within Reach, Greenwich,,Conn., (203) 422-2013, and Westport, Conn.,(203) 227-9707, www.dwr.com; Eames bedthrough Mason.
FRENCH CONNECTIONPAGES 66–75Architect: Rudy Ridberg, Ridberg + AssociatesArchitects, Greenwich, Conn., (203) 625-0491,www.ridarch.comInterior designer: Claire Maestroni, Greenwich,Conn., (203) 422-0567, www .mis en scenegreenwich.comCabinetry: Slavek Milewski, SM Carpentry,Stamford, Conn., (203) 979-4256Builder: Ernie Bello, Greenwich, Conn., (203)223-3412Pages 66–67: Antique African masks and vasefrom Michael Lambrecht through Mis en Scene;bamboo coffee table from Interieurs, New YorkCity, (212) 343-0800, www.interieurs.com; LoroPiana cashmere on sofas, New York City, (212)980-7960, www.loropianausa.com; wood andmetal stools from Kenneth Cobonpue throughMis en Scene; bronze mask, decorative woodcircle, pillows and cow hide rug all through Misen Scene.Pages 68–69: Reclaimed oak flooring and wallpanels in office from Didier Cabuy, Belgium,Okwen table lamp from Bleu Nature, France,framed art by Jean-Marc Louis, living roomarmchair, side table, lamps, chest and gildedmirror all through Mis en Scene.Pages 70–71: Roma bronze bench by stairsfrom Objet Insolite, France, through Mis enScene; flocked wall covering from Romo, NewYork City, (212) 319-7666, www.romo.com; Venetian plaster by Heidi Holzer, Heidi HolzerDesign and Decorative Work, Redding, Conn.,(203) 544-9471, www.heidiholzer.com; ironand wood coffee table from Central StationOriginal Interiors, cowhide rug from LimitedEdition, bronze table lamp from L’Artelier, woolpillows and throw from Arcade Avec, photo-graph by Terry O’Neill, reclaimed oak flooringfrom Didier Cabuy, Belgium, all through Mis enScene; patio’s driftwood and lacquered-metalstools from Bleu Nature, France, sofa and um-brella from Royal Botania, Belgium, throughMis en Scene.Pages 72–73: Natural wood dining table fromCentral Station Original Interiors, High Point,N.C., (336) 885-2055, www.centralstationinteriors.com; Lucite dining chairs from Plexi-Craft, Long Island City, N.Y., (800) 247-5394,www.plexi-craft.com; wire and plaster chande-lier from Philippe Valenzano, France, antiquebarn doors from Stef Antiek, Belgium, clay urnfrom Atelier Vierkant, France, all through Misen Scene.
Comfortably sumptuous furniture,lighting, textiles and accessories for your exceptional coastal home
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Winter 2011 New England Home’s Connecticut 117
Pages 74–75: Bathroom floor tile by Porce-lanosa, Ramsey, N.J., (201) 995-1310, www.porcelanosa; shower glass by Mr. Shower Door,Newark, Del., (800) 453-3667, www.mrshowerdoor.com; Corian wall covering by DuPont,www.dupont.com; ceramic shower bricks byLacava, Chicago, Ill., (773) 637-9600, www.lacava.com; window treatment with Castel fabric by Mis en Scene; velvet swivel chair andpatent-leather stool from Marie’s Corner, Bel-gium, through Mis en Scene; upholstered bedand headboard by Mis en Scene; wall-mountedreading lamps and runners from Limited Edi-tion through Mis en Scene.
ETERNALLY GRACEFULPAGES 78–85Architect: John Currie, Currie Associates,Greenwich, Conn., (203) 232-2813Interior designer: Lauren Muse, Muse Interiors,Greenwich, Conn., (203) 344-9444,www.museinteriors.netBuilder: Tim Gilson, Old Greenwich, Conn.,(203) 253-5945Pages 78–79: Lacquer wall treatment byRoman Kujawa, Miro Art, Chappaqua N.Y., (914) 484-8350; carpet by J.D. Staron Galleries,Stamford, Conn., (203) 351-1130, www.jdstaron.com; drapery fabric, coffee table, armchairs,pillows and sconces through Muse Interiors.Pages 80–81: Hallway wall covering fromSonia’s Place, New York City, (212) 355-5211;console designed by Lauren Muse; family roomgrass cloth wall covering from Kravet, NewYork City, (212) 421-6363. www.kravet.com; coffee table Oomph, New Canaan, Conn., (203)216-9848, www.oomph-home-furniture.com;rug from Stark Carpet, Norwalk, Conn., (203)899-1771, www.starkcarpet.com; console, mirror,ottoman sofas, armchairs, pillows all throughMuse Interiors.Pages 82–83: Dining room wallpaper by Zoffany,New York City, (212) 319-7220, www.zoffany.com;dining table from Plantation, San Francisco,Calif., (415) 565-0888, www.plantationdesign.com; kitchen cabinets by Tim Gilson; globe pen-dants from Remains, Greenwich, Conn., (203)629-1000, www.remianslighting.com; backsplashtiles from Ann Sacks, Greenwich, Conn., (203)622-8884, www.annsacks.com; barstools fromDesign Within Reach, Greenwich,, Conn., (203)422-2013, www.dwr.com; trestle table, chairs,oval light fixture, dining chairs, fabrics anddraperies through Muse Interiors.Page 84: Landing carpet from Stark Carpet;vestibule bench designed by Lauren Muse;console from Lillian August, Norwalk, Conn.,(203) 847-1596, www.lillianaugust.com; sconcesfrom Restoration Hardware, Greenwich, Conn.,(203) 552-1040, www.restorationhardware.com;pillows through Muse Interiors.Page 85: Bedding from Linen Press, Old Green-wich, Conn., (203) 637-0200; bench, fabricsand other furniture through Muse Interiors. •
VISIT US NOW ATwww.shelterinteriorsllc.com
50 BROAD STREETARMORY SQUARE
DOWNTOWN MILFORD, CT203.301.4886
Winter 2011 New England Home’s Connecticut 119
Albano Appliances 18
Amy Aidinis Hirsch 10–11
Apadana Fine Rugs 112
Aqua Pool & Patio Inc. 111
Austin Patterson Disston 109
Back Bay Shutter Co. Inc. 19
Boxwood Interiors 103
Brooks and Falotico Associates, Inc. 55
C2 Limited Design Associates 116
Casatelli Marble and Tile Imports 103
ClearGroup LLC 21
Coldwell Banker Previews International 86
Colony Rug Company 14
Connecticut Home & Remodeling Show 113
Cottage and Bungalow 115
Country Club Homes 25
Darien Design Center 35
Davenport Contracting 22
Design Source CT 39
Divine Kitchens 116
The Drawing Room 4–5
Earthscapes Inc. 2–3
Ed’s Garage Doors 42
Elizabeth Eakins 88
Finished in Fabric, LLC 105
Gardiner & Larson Homes 99
Grandberg and Associates 111
The Granite Group 44
Hilton-VanderHorn Architects 65
iH Design Studio 6–7
Jia Moderne 64
Jmac Interiors 87
Jonathan Wagner 43
Katherine Cowdin 27
Kitchens by Deane Inside front cover
Klaff ’s 89
Lynne Scalo Design 13
Mar Silver Design 1
Marble and Granite Inc. 33
Marvin Gardens 94
Mason Style, LLC 91
Michael Smith Architects 24
Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams 23
Neil Hauck Architects LLC 117
NuKitchens 76
Parc Monceau 54
Preferred Properties 107
Putnam Kitchens 40
Advertiser IndexA helpful resource for finding the advertisersfeatured in this issue
The Residences at Black Rock 41
Ridberg & Associates 95
Rinfret Design Limited 101
Riverbend Creative LLC Back Cover
Robert Dean Architects 20
Runtal North America 15
SB Long Interiors 31
Sharon McCormick Design LLC 97
Shelter Interiors 118
Stirling Design Associates 77
SWS Builders LLC 32
TR Design 37
Urbane Construction 29
Vandamm Interiors 93
Vicente-Burin Architects 107
Victoria Lyon Interiors 105
Wadia Associates Inside back cover
Wainscot Solutions 8–9
Woodmeister Master Builders 45
Wright Brothers Builders 17
New England Home’s Connecticut, Winter 2011© 2011 by Network Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint orquote excerpts granted by written requestonly. Editorial and advertising office: NewEngland Home, 530 Harrison Avenue, Suite302, Boston, MA 02118, (617) 938-3991, (800)609-5154. Corporate office: Network Commu-nications, Inc. 2305 Newpoint Parkway,Lawrenceville, GA 30043, (770) 962-7220.
120 New England Home’s Connecticut Winter 2011
Sketch PadDesign ideas in the making
AS A DESIGNER, I DON’T want to completely reinvent the wheel, but give it a different spin. In this instance I took a very simple design element, beadboard, and turned it on a 45-degree angle. It seemed a particularly fittingmaterial to incorporate into a playroom located in the basement of a Shingle-style house. The space was originally
dark and unfriendly. We tried to make it warm and inviting, a destination for the family to play games, whileadding cabinetry for storage. Initially I sketched multiple ways of creating an interesting pattern—patchwork, bull’s-
eye—and finally decided to turn the material on an angle to create chevrons, forming a diamond element in thecenter section. This allowed for a symmetrical configuration when addressing the cabinets to the right and left of
the banquette. The banquette itself provides a focal point, with an interesting interplay between its curved backrestand the pattern above. Painting the textured areas a dark brown only enhances the unexpected approach, and
the dark color contrasts with the brighter hues of the multi-patterned fabric used on the banquette backrest, addingwhimsy and charm. When designing, I always keep in mind the unpredictability of the simplest form.
AMY AIDINIS HIRSCH, AMY AIDINIS HIRSCH INTERIOR DESIGN, GREENWICH,(203) 661-1266, WWW.AAHIRSCH.COM
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RESIDENTIAL DESIGN ~ INTERIOR DESIGN AND DECORATION ~ CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT(203) 966-0048 ~ WADIAASSOCIATES.COM
APARTMENT ON CENTRAL PARK WESTDESIGNED AND DECORATED BY WADIA ASSOCIATES
Riverbank Creative, LLCWhen details matter
P. O. Box 516Essex, CT [email protected]
Interior Design | Architectural Consultation | Product Design
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