LUXURIOUS FITTED CABINETRY FOR EVERY ROOM
INTERIOR DESIGN: RUSTY WADATZ
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF DESIGN
Join us at our new, larger home in the historic Library Building at 1 Main Street in downtown Westport as we celebrate our 10-year anniversary. Similar to our locations in NYC, East Hampton, and Miami, the showroom is curated as a livable home, showcasing our full collection of closets, storage systems, kitchens, bath fixtures, indoor and outdoor furniture, decorative and architectural lighting, and rugs, as well as accessories.
From “Tour de Force” page 46.
Photograph by Ellen McDermott
Holiday Magic
How many times have you said, “Oh, I love Christmas so much, I wish the day would never end!” or “That dinner was so great, let’s do it again!” Well, for some magazine editors, that is often the case. As a young editor, I worked in women’s service magazines, and we always featured extensive holiday decorating stories. The problem was we created and photographed those stories in July (due to our production schedule). Try finding ropes of fresh garland, poinsettias and holly in the middle of summer! So, for me, when December rolled around, decorating an entire house seemed like another deadline. I know; I sound like the Grinch. This year, however, I am especially looking forward to decorating the entire house. It will be the first Christmas for our grandson, Griffin. ■ And while he will only be nine months old, I know that the twinkling lights on the trees, the sparkling ornaments and the collection of Santas will delight him. And I am not alone, those of us on the staff with new grandchildren are equally excited and are planning to be more extravagant. I have already headed to the attic to survey my collection of decorations and start thinking about what magic I can concoct! I say it every year, but this might be the year that I start decorating immediately after Thanksgiving. ■ It is through our children’s eyes that we remember all the moments and magic of the season. We are reminded of how to dream and really use all our senses. I can’t wait to see Griffin’s reaction to the tree filled to the brim with ornaments that have memories of trips and people in our lives, the fun of looking at a gingerbread house and the wonderful smells of sprinkle cookies. And we’ll pull out the books we read to Adaire and keep the tradition alive. Already I feel like a child again. And isn’t that the magic of the season? I wish you all the childlike enchantment of this special time of the year.
DJ Carey Editorial Director djcarey@candg.com
Deck The Halls See “Christmas Magic” on page 64 for a complete look at interior designer Amy Leonard’s home, fully decked out for the holidays.
Where Will You Be for the Holidays?
Remember the times when holiday plans were almost set in stone? Thanksgiving dinners, end-of-year celebrations, and the beloved routines we all looked forward to—then came Covid-19, and traditions as we knew them were put on hold. The first pandemic year made many of us rethink and sometimes relinquish our long-cherished customs. ■ So, what’s the status now? Are we reverting to our pre-pandemic ways, or have our celebrations transformed forever? It’s a bit of both! We’ve slowly returned to in-person gatherings, yet the way we connect during the holidays—and beyond—has undeniably evolved. A recent survey by professional services firm Deloitte has shown that these past few years have broadened our perspectives, presenting new, once-unthinkable ways to celebrate. ■ This shift means traditions are no longer one-size-fits-all. According to Deloitte’s insights, people now prioritize personal preferences over customary practices, especially those they weren’t fond of in the first place. ■ In my own circle, after decades of hosting, the baton is being passed as our children take turns welcoming us into their homes. Honestly, I’m not even sure where I’ll be this holiday season! ■ Wherever you find yourself, and with whomever you choose to gather, I encourage you to embrace both the familiar and the new. This season let’s celebrate our resilience and the strength we’ve gained from overcoming the unthinkable. ■ Happy holidays!
Sunday, November 17
Marianne Howatson CEO/Publication Director mhowatson@candg.com
P.S. Do you know the term “Laptop Luggers”? Deloitte’s 2024 travel survey spotlights these savvy travelers who blend leisure with remote work for more frequent, extended getaways. Interestingly, when I peeked at my company’s vacation stats, it seems no one took a break this year.
NOVEMBER 2024
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & PUBLICATION DIRECTOR MARIANNE HOWATSON
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR DJ CAREY
EXECUTIVE EDITOR CATRIONA BRANCA
SENIOR EDITOR MARY FITZGERALD
ART DIRECTOR KRISTEN HOGE
EDITOR AT LARGE SHARON KING HOGE
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CONTRIBUTING EDITORS SHERI DE BORCHGRAVE, ANN LOYND BURTON, DIANE DI COSTANZO, HELEN KLISSER DURING, EVA HAGBERG, ANN KAISER, JAMIE MARSHALL, TOVAH MARTIN, DAVID MASELLO, MINDY PANTIEL, HARRIET MAYS POWELL, ALEXA STEVENSON, SUSAN TAMULEVICH
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS JANE BEILES, JULIE BIDWELL, WILLIE COLE, TRIA GIOVAN, JOHN GRUEN, HULYA KOLABAS, NEIL LANDINO JR., TIM LENZ, ELLEN MCDERMOTT, READ MCKENDREE, ANASTASSIOS MENTIS, MARCO RICCA, EMILY SIDOTI, RIKKI SNYDER
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November 2024
FROM
SOUTHPORT TO RIDGEFIELD
Join CTC&G at the annual Rooms With A View, celebrating 29 years of outstanding design.
7-10
Twelve designers utilize their talents to create vignettes staged in the library and great hall of the historic, Gothic Revival-style Southport Congregational Church. An opening party will be held on November 7 to kick-start the multi-day show. General show hours: Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday, November 10, 12–5 p.m. Southport Congregational Church, 524 Pequot Ave., Southport. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit roomswithaview.org.
HOBI AWARDS
13
Housing industry professionals from near and far will gather for the 30th Anniversary HOBI Awards Dinner. The HOBI Awards are Connecticut’s most prestigious recognition of excellence in home construction and are presented by the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of CT with media sponsor CTC&G. The evening’s program culminates with a PowerPoint show of the 2024 winning homes. Wednesday, November 13, 2024, from 5 to 9:30 p.m. at the Aqua Turf Country Club in Plantsville. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit hobiawards.com.
A Garden of Promise and Dissent
“A Garden of Promise and Dissent” is the debut exhibition unveiling The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum’s newly renovated campus and Sculpture Garden, including the museum’s interior galleries. This intergenerational group show features 21 artists exploring the animation of the “garden” as a site of personal expression (poetics) and collective action (praxis). “A Garden of Promise and Dissent” will be on view in the Aldrich’s galleries from October 28, 2024, to March 16, 2025, and on the Museum’s grounds from November 17, 2024, to November 2025. On Sunday, November 17, we invite the community to visit the museum for free to celebrate the grand reopening of The Aldrich’s Sculpture Garden. Sunday, November 17, 2024, from 12 to 5 p.m. at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, 258 Main St., Ridgefield. For more information, visit thealdrich.org.
TOP
PETER BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY; BOTTOM: KELLY AKASHI, HEIRLOOM, 2022, COURTESY
In This Issue
WHAT DECORATIONS OR TRADITIONS HERALD IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY?
ELIZA HARRIS
“I mark the beginning of the holiday season with my Rigaud Cyprès candles at night and paperwhite bulbs in clay pots in our front hall. Of course, the wreath and tree are central as we have small children. Since holiday decorations are all about the senses, and taste being among them, my boxes of Lazzaroni Amaretti Di Saronno cookies for friends go out early.” Interior designer, “Guest Appearance” (page 56), sisterparishdesign.com.
AMY LEONARD
“I love to make gingerbread people and give them away at Christmas. I made 600 last year—so the process starts right after Thanksgiving. Nothing like a lot of ginger, molasses and piped gingerbread people all over my kitchen to get me in the Christmas spirit!” Interior designer/homeowner, “Christmas Magic” (page 64), leonardleessdesign.com.
NATHALIE SCHUBERT
“When opening the long-awaited holiday storage bins, I immediately unwrap our family’s Christmas stockings to hang with my children from the fireplace mantel. These stockings were lovingly hand-sewn by my late grandmother from black velvet topped with a fluffy, white cuff. And each one is handpainted by my talented mother, designed with each family member in mind. They hold a special place in our hearts and kick off the excitement of the holiday season, always being the first decorations to adorn our home.” Interior designer, “Tour de Force” (page 46), nichebyns. com.—Mary Fitzgerald
Out of the Box
INSPIRED DESIGN—THE ART OF HANDMADE | BY
MARY FITZGERALD
HELEN O’CONNELL
Practicing the ancient art of stone carving, Irish sculptor Helen O’Connell often works with Kilkenny limestone, a material formed over thousands of years and layered with compressed fossils. “I am inexplicitly drawn to this medium and keep returning to it again and again, ever captivated by its unique properties.” Beannacht, shown here, is part of an ongoing series, “Vessels.” The symbolic bowl form adorned with circles references ancient Celtic stone carvings and ceremonial
craft and natural materials. Established in 1995 in Quebec, Canada, his studio creates contemporary furniture with laminated bent wood veneers shaped with intricate bends, loops and curves. Using responsibly harvested wood, his designs honor the imperfections found in nature and the personality of the material.
Raised in Greenwich, artist William Couig now works in New York City. Drawn to the fluidity and physicality of glassblowing, he has been designing and fabricating work for the past 20 years. His decorative accessories, functional glassware and lighting are created in his Brooklyn studio. Couig’s Groove series Orb pendant light fixture can be made in a variety of colors—blue, amber, gray and green—with a bubbled or clear finish. furthurdesign.com.
TOM FAULKNER
BLACK CREEK DESIGNS
Thomas Throop of Black Creek Designs has been practicing woodworking for more than 30 years. His passion began as child apprenticing with his uncle, a boat builder and antique restorer. He describes wood as “a material of great character, depth and warmth.” At his studio in New Canaan, he designs and builds one-of-akind furniture, like the Wharf Road sideboard pictured here. “Wood intrigues me. I find it deep, rich and full of character,” says Throop. “At times it is easily malleable; and other times it can be hard and unforgiving.” blackcreeekdesigns.com.
British designer Tom Faulkner has been crafting furniture and accessories for more than 25 years. The pieces are made by hand in his Wiltshire, U.K. workshop with the help of skilled welders, finishers, painters and cabinet makers. He is known for his sculptural forms and exquisite materials. A recent series, Lily, includes tables and ottomans in amorphous shapes. The tables feature a slender metal stem topped with Venetian glass, marble or metal. “Lily is one of my favorite designs,” says Faulkner. “It was a departure from our typical designs because, until then, all of our most distinctive silhouettes were best seen from the side, but Lily was to be seen from above.” NYDC, tomfaulkner.co.uk.
PIEGATTO
O&G STUDIO
Jonathan Glatt, O&G’s Creative Director and CEO, crafts handbuilt Windsor furniture, honoring traditional American designs and Old World techniques. “We look to the past for inspiration and reinvent the classics for contemporary living,” says Glatt. The studio’s portfolio includes seating, tables, lighting, decorative accents and hardware built by a skilled team in
“Our vision is to breathe life into spaces with art that seamlessly blends utility and beauty, transforming each environment into a realm where nature’s elegance feels timeless and impeccably complete,” says Piegatto designer Alejandro Estrada. Based in Guatemala, the design brand produces sculptural furniture and lighting. Over the years, through constant trial and error, they have perfected their craft. Today, they execute their designs employing CNC (Computer Numberic Control) technology. This digital fabrication alows for greater precision with less waste. piegatto.com.
DUMAE
Dumae creator Kym Gold is recognized as the cofounder of fashion brand True Religion, but she discovered her love of pottery after taking a class gifted to her by her son. Today, Gold designs all the sustainably made ceramics—tabletop, décor, lighting and candles—in her company’s downtown Los Angeles
A former business development professional, Samuel Aguirre started working in paper mâché with his son and quickly went from a “hobbyist” to a full-time artisan, returning to school for a MFA in Furniture Design at RSID. “My path toward furniture and craft does not feel like a passion in the traditional sense. It feels more like a matter of fact,” notes Aguirre. “In hindsight, perhaps I never had much say in the matter.” Creating sculptural furniture and three-dimensional objects with paper and natural materials, Aguirre uses resources that are easily compostable or recycled at end of use. samindaman.com.
JODI RABINOWITZ
ABNER HENRY
Marrying Amish craftsmanship with a contemporary aesthetic, Abner Henry pushes the envelope of furniture design. Cutting-edge collections with the Metropolitan Museum of Art and interior designer Sasha Bikoff exhibit the artisty and skill of the company. “We sought with each piece to do something that had never been done before, and we learned that this kind of experimentation requires a lot of grace” says Abner Henry founder and CEO Ernie Hershberger. The furniture is handcrafted in the Ohio factory and can be customized to order. abnerhenry.com.
CAROLINE LIZARRAGA
“I have always had my hands in some kind of arts,” says Caroline Lizarraga. “When I finally discovered decorative painting, I knew I had to abandon all other arts so I could focus on that. It was like falling in love.” The San Francisco decorative artist recently debuted a collection of wallpaper for Parete at Paris Deco Off, and says, “My main objective for the wallpaper was to create almost impossible designs on the wall. They are all so complex that painting them on walls is nearly costprohibitive.” Fringe Benefits, show here, depicts the artist’s take on macrame. carolinelizarraga.com, paretewalls.com.
Collage artist Jodi Rabinowitz spends her days cutting, arranging and pasting paper in her Weston attic studio. Creating art out of the ordinary, she says, “no paper is off limits,” including materials like newspaper, tree bark, grass, banana leaves, cardboard, magazines, candy wrappers and amusement park tickets. Creating a personalized story, each piece is selected for tone and texture, hand cut and intuitively placed. “Life is Colorful,” shown here, is comprised of hundreds of squares cut from magazines, sorted by color and paired with Benjamin Moore paint chips. For a bit of whimsy, Rabinowitz added a hidden “wild card pattern” to each block. onepieceatatime.art.
PASCALE GIRARDIN
Based in Montreal, Canada, atelier Pascale Girardin is an art and design studio specializing in the creation of ceramics. The team believes working with clay requires the artist to be fully present, “to feel it, in order to understand its essence.” The reciprocity with the medium produces art that is at once spontaneous and intentional. The studio consists of more than 10 collaborators including ceramists, sculptors, architectural technicians, graphic and product designers. Art objects include sculptural pieces, functional tableware, vases, stools and lighting. Pascale Girardin’s sculptural installations can be found in commercial interiors throughout the world. pascalegirardin.com.
SAMUEL AGUIRRE
Buzzworthy
Direct-to-consumer brand BenchMade partnered with Westport actress and content creator Eva Amurri on a 19-piece capsule collection of sofas and sectionals. Accessory pieces include a bench, accent chair and ottomans. The BenchMade x Happily Eva After upholstery flaunts sculptural curves with plush deep seating. All the furnishings are made-to-order and handcrafted in the United States with a choice of more than 125 fabric and leather options. Describing the collection Amurri says, “I believe design should be both beautiful and functional—a philosophy shared with BenchMade Modern. Their commitment to creating high-quality, versatile pieces for today’s homes perfectly complements my vision.” benchmademodern.com.
SEA CHANGE
If you’ve been putting off framing your artwork, photos and collectibles, there is a new, cost-effective option in town. Framebridge set up shop in Connecticut this summer with a store in Westport, and plans in place for additional locations in New Canaan and Darien. Founded in 2014 by Susan Tynan, the company was created to ease the framing process with a wide selection of framing styles and sizes. In-store talented designers are available to help with material, color and mat selections. The Westport shop displays a gallery wall celebrating the town’s creative energy with local artwork and memorabilia, inventively framed for inspiration. “We’ve been looking to open a store in Westport for years now so that we can frame more fine art, photographs and memories in person,” says Tynan. “Westport is known as such a special town thanks to the best of what Connecticut has to offer—great beaches, creative neighbors and a small town feel. I can’t wait to see what Westport brings into frame!” 123 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-635-5469, framebridge.com.
BENCH PRESS Designer Dinnerware SUITABLE FOR FRAMING
Interior designer Jeffrey Alan Marks has launched his first-ever rug collection for the Rug Company. Coastal Threads features maritimeinspired motifs in watery blues and sea glass greens in handwoven wool and bamboo silk. “The rugs are so easy to incorporate, they are powerful, yet calm and feel like an old friend that anchors a room,” says Marks. The designer, who previously lived on the West Coast and now calls Connecticut home, has never lived far from the sea, the muse for his designs. The four patterns include: Dunemere, featuring sand dollars in an asymmetrical composition; Windansea, with wave-like ripples; Avalon, echoing coastal wildflowers with delicate tendrils; and Miramar, fashioned in a fishing net motif. The rugs can be tailored in size, shape pile height or color and are available in wall-to-wall carpeting or as a stair runner. NYDC, therugcompany.com.
Kelly Wearstler has partnered with Belgian brand Serax on a contemporary homeware collection. The two groupings—Zuma and Dune—reflect the interior and product designer’s distinctive vison and signature style. “I always look to approach my projects—across both interiors and design—with a sense of no boundaries or restrictions on style, while incorporating functionality,” says Wearstler. “To me, luxury is about textures and sensations, but also storytelling; it is the compilation of a collection of objects, each with their own character, arranged in harmonious composition.” Organic tableware, glassware and serving accessories are presented in a mix of materials in ceramic, stone, glass and metal. Zuma includes porcelain dinnerware in a graphic pattern and amber, ombre glassware. Dune is influenced by the silohuettes and texture and of ancient Greek pottery, offering a two-tone composition of matte and high gloss finishes in alabaster or slate colorways. Wearstler adds, “When styling the collection, I found it imperative to weave together pieces of varying scale with contrasting textures, shapes and functionalities. Yet, it is the inherent versatility of this collection that sets it apart and adds a distinct allure.” serax.com.
By Jhon Ortiz
A Cheerful Kitchen Designed to Last
The accomplished designers at Nukitchens have outdone themselves with this splendid transformation in New Canaan.
Few destinations in a home are as vital for the holiday season as the kitchen, where everyone gathers to cook, connect, and make memories. That’s why most people want a kitchen that will suit them for many years, and special occasions, to come.
To achieve this, sometimes investing in a full renovation is in good order. That was the case for a family with young kids moving into an antique home in New Canaan.
While the property’s charm and good bones spoke to them, the kitchen’s 1980s look didn’t connect to the character of the house and the floor plan didn’t lend itself to 21st-century living. Luckily, the accomplished designers at South Norwalk-based Nukitchens were brought in to remedy that.
Known for their premium, full-service kitchen remodels, Nukitchens seized the chance to give this family the lifestyle they craved. When the designers
by Kyle Norton Photography
Photos
first arrived, the kitchen was cramped with dated cabinetry and had a small doorway leading to the adjacent living room. Its surrounding spaces also felt enclosed and isolated, resulting in a disjointed environment. Simply put, the layout wasn’t ideal for any sort of entertaining.
Nukitchens decided to significantly enlarge the doorway to the living room, which in turn flooded the kitchen with natural light and created effortless nature views through a huge bay window. The mudroom, a drop-zone for the kids to shed their outerwear, also got a chic revamp.
Of course, the kitchen itself is the pièce de résistance. By crafting a timeless, neutral-toned space with chef-worthy functionality and opening it to the rest of the house, Nukitchens gave their clients a sublime heart of the home rooted in longevity.
To read more about this elegant and youthful kitchen makeover, visit cottagesgardens.com/kitchenrefresh
Exploring Eleuthera
A QUICK GETAWAY TO THE POTLATCH CLUB, A DESTINATION HOTEL FOR MID-CENTURY SOCIALITES | BY DJ CAREY
Feeling the need to get away—but not too far away—I took a long weekend and headed to Eleuthera and the newly renovated luxury boutique hotel, the Potlatch Club. I was curious about this favorite destination among socialites, celebrities and royals in the 1950s and ’60s. But even more interesting for a design editor was that the original home— built for a pineapple-plantation owner in 1923—had been designed by Ray James Holman Nathanials, who is credited for introducing modernism to the Bahamas.
The car pulled up to a magnificent house with no circular drive or attendants or other trappings. As I entered, I felt like I was stepping into someone’s home; it was quiet, elegantly decorated with antiques, art, a fireplace, and a floor of antique black and white tiles—plus jaw-dropping views of the turquoise water just beyond. I was greeted with much-needed refreshment and a big smile from Kezang Dorji, the general manager, who led me into the reception area. Its dark furnishings were in sharp contrast to the white walls and light palette of the foyer. My eye was immediately drawn to the whimsical wallcoverings depicting the Bahamas in ink blue on a natural ground. A quick peek into the nearby library revealed a mix of furniture from different periods of the house’s expansion. Vintage photos of the property and socialites from the ’50s and ’60s hung near an antique piano and a game table, while a collection of tennis racquets really made you feel as if this space was a home, not a resort.
The path from the clubhouse to my cottage meandered through beautiful plantings, including a Banyan tree that offered a nice respite from the sun. Hans Febles, one of the owners, told me that when he and his business partner, Bruce Loshusan, started their seven-year renovation of the 12-acre property they took great care to create what had been on the property with the trees, plantings and structures. They saved what they could and rebuilt what they could not.
My cottage opened to a bedroom with a sitting area washed in blue. Design books were stacked on a rattan table, and a white spool bed was dressed with a layered mix of blue and white linens. Interior designer Amanda Lindroth’s simple and relaxed design is evident in all the rooms and public areas, including the Fig Tree, the main restaurant, where a wall of comfy banquettes filled with plush throw pillows and different blue fabrics definitely had Amanda’s signature. I enjoyed a leisurely Asian-fusion lunch there, where unique handwoven pendants suspended at varying heights caught my eye.
On my first morning, I took a walk along the seven-mile-long beach and was greeted with workers clearing the sand of palm leaves. Throughout my stay, I went from swimming laps in the nearby pool to plunging into the ocean. When I needed a break from the sun, I spent time in the gym and even headed to the spa for an hour of pampering. And the Sand Bar, overlooking the crescent-shaped main pool, was the perfect spot for a quiet cocktail.
Other days, I toured Governor’s Harbour with its beautifully colored houses and winding streets. First on my list was visiting the shop responsible for that wonderful wallpaper in the reception area. Everything from yards of fabric to finished goods made this a fun outing. Along the way, I stopped at the fish market since the boats had just come in. It was fun to be in the mix and see all the fishing boats unload their catch. My last stop was the local liquor store to get my son-in-law some local rum that I had tasted the night before.
My days of a relaxing life came to an end too quickly. But my warm memories will serve me well during the cold winter ahead.
Beachside Bliss (clockwise across spread from top left) The original club house has some antiques and a very homey feel. The Potlatch Club covers 12 acres of tropical gardens and pink-sand beaches. My garden-view cottage was airy and beautifully decorated. This pool is located adjacent to the restaurant terrace. Paul McCartney wrote some of the lyrics to “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window” on Potlatch Club stationery. Meditative spots invite relaxation. thepotlatchclub.com.
DEEDS DON’TS
WThat’s Entertainment!
ith the holidays upon us, homes that offer spaces and amenities for parties and weekend guests are top of mind. And the Connecticut real estate market is happy to oblige, with a wide range of entertaining estates—from a modern gem with a soaring atrium to a historic compound on 23 acres. Best of all, you’re invited on this virtual tour, no RSVP required.
PARTY SPACES & PLACES
There’s no better place for hosting a holiday party than the glass-walled atrium-like space in a Litchfield Country home designed by the architect Charles Gwathmey, whose credits include work on the Guggenheim Museum and commissions from the likes of Steven Spielberg and Jerry Seinfeld. The rounded, double-height room—which overlooks a waterfall— is original to the circa-1981 dwelling. Indeed, the Kent home is called the Falls
and over the years, its interiors were expanded and updated by the designer Stephen Sills, with a wheelchair-accessible addition created by Michael Arad, who is best known for his design of the September 11 Memorial in Manhattan. That’s a lot of notable names. But rest assured, the 4,500-square foot gem is so beautifully designed that it feels warm and welcoming—especially around the sculptural, floor-to-ceiling hearth and the open-plan kitchen and dining spaces, also built with rounded, windowed walls. The home sits on 41 acres, featuring a sculpture garden—a destination unto itself—a wildflower meadow and managed trails, as well as a pool, spa, tennis court and bocce court. It lists for $8 million with the Kathryn Clair Team at William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty. Another bold-faced name is attached to a Greenwich Georgian once owned by A-list interior designer Jeffrey Alan Marks and now on the market for $8,995,000. Built in 1928, this ivy-covered beauty welcomes guests with a parterre garden with a fountain and once inside, a gracious foyer and a lovely living room with a handsome hearth and a Venetian plaster ceiling. Other
A Modern Master Featuring a cool contemporary designed by architect Charles Gwathmey, this 41-acre Kent spread is offered for $8 million by the Kathryn Clair Team at William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty in Kent. 203-948-5255.
MICHAEL BOWMAN
highlights of the 10,000-square-foot home include a formal dining room with handpainted De Gournay wallpaper, a Plain English kitchen adjoined by a lacquered butler’s pantry, and a family room with builtin bookshelves, a wet bar and French doors opening onto the back terrace. And come spring when the extensive plantings and specimen trees start to blossom, there’s no better spot for a garden party. Joseph Barbieri of Sotheby’s International Realty has the listing.
SLEEPING BEAUTIES
O.K., party’s over. now where’s everyone going to sleep? That’s not a problem at an antique Lyme compound that spans 23.25 acres and four houses. The original home on the estate was a 1787 farmhouse that had been moved by previous owners from New Lebanon, Connecticut. But a subsequent owner, an artist, was inspired by Old Sturbridge Village, a sprawling outdoor history museum in Massachusetts. Over the course of 30 years, that artist/owner continued to add to his vision, with projects as varied as a beautifully restored circa1790s barn, now a two-bedroom guesthouse, and a garden featuring 700 meticulously shaped boxwood shrubs. You’d need an entire magazine to describe the property’s pleasures and treasures, but chief among them are two additional structures: an elegant pool house equipped with a kitchen, gym
A Designer’s Digs Once owned by interior designer Jeffrey Alan Marks, this Greenwich Georgian has hit the market for $8,995,000, listed with Joseph Barbieri of Sotheby’s International Realty in Greenwich. 203-940-2025.
ONCE-IN-A-
CENTURY OFFER
The wait is over! A long-coveted property on Soundview Drive in Westport has been owned by the same family for 100 years. Renovated by Robert Gault, the circa-1920 beach house is now a gracious blend of old and new. On the main floor, the open-plan living and dining rooms take full advantage of views over Compo Beach and Long Island Sound. Indeed, all three floors of the 3,500-square-foot interiors have direct water views, perhaps best enjoyed from the primary suite, which boasts a windowed sitting area. Rare for this waterfront neighborhood, the backyard is generously sized and, in the front, the home welcomes guests with a stone wall and dozens of hydrangea bushes. It lists for $5,995,000 with Leslie Clarke of Leslie Clarke Homes, affiliated with Compass in Westport. 203-984-1856.
and double-height living space, and a cool solarium with an ornate glass roof. And on the grounds, there’s a pretty pool and terrace, a cascading brook with a bridge, and a pond. It’s offered for $4,495,000 by Colette Harron of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty.
Finally, in Washington, a historically significant home is on the market, designed by notable, turnof-the-century architect Ehrick Rossiter. Called Rock Gate, the circa-1885, Shingle-Style manse offers house-party-minded owners five bedrooms and six bathrooms. A warm welcome is extended in the grand, wood-paneled entry hall that features a stone hearth—one of eight throughout the house—and an ornately carved staircase. There’s an easy flow to the formal dining room and, beyond it, a thoroughly updated kitchen. There’s a wine room and a library and, on the 3.13-acre grounds, a saltwater pool, an expansive stone terrace and a barn-style garage. It lists for $6,250,000 with Maria Taylor of Klemm Realty.
Diane di Costanzo
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Compound Interest This sprawling, 23-acre compound in Lyme is listed for $4,495,000 by Colette Harron of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty. 860-304-2391.
Rock On In Washington, a property called Rock Gate is listed for $6,250,000 with Maria Taylor of Klemm Realty in Washington Depot. 203-578-0397.
Introducing The Gault Collection
The Gault Collection features custom designed exterior porcelain pavers that reflect the texture, movement and pattern of some of our most popular natural stones adding a whole new dimension in outdoor design.
NOVEMBER
CONNECTICUT COTTAGES & GARDENS
SEASONAL SPLENDOR
Festive Vignette (this page) A small tree tops a Swedish late 18th-century painted tea table inset with manganese tile. Unique Treasures (opposite page) Delicate handblown glass ornaments by Stephen Brucker flank a large shearling Tomte made for Eleish Van Breems Home by a family of sheep farmers in Dalarna, Sweden. The Tomte is a magical household protector associated with the winter solstice and holiday season. See Resources.
MERRY & BRIGHT
STOP BY ELEISH VAN BREEMS HOME THIS HOLIDAY SEASON FOR FRESH TAKES ON SCANDINAVIAN
BY CATRIONA BRANCA PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEPHANE KOSSMANN
STYLE
Last year, we visited Eleish Van Breems Home in New Preston to get a taste of a Swedish celebration of the season. With locations also in Westport and Nantucket, Rhonda Eleish and Edie Van Breems are known for their clean, elegant and fresh approach to interiors, all with a Scandinavian essence. Here, we chat about what’s on for the holidays.
What brought you back to Litchfield County?
Our original store was in Woodbury in an enchanting 1760 gambrel-roof Colonial with a barn and garden. As the times and our lives changed, we found ourselves both raising our families down in Fairfield and relocated the business to Westport, expanding our design department, as well as encompassing contemporary Scandinavian brands and furniture brands such as Verellen, Thayer Coggin and Lee. When the opportunity to open in the old Dawn Hill Antiques building in New Preston presented itself, we were absolutely delighted. Being back in such a wonderful and unique community has totally energized us, and we look forward to decking out the store for the holidays!
When do the holiday items come out?
Scandinavian holiday is such a special time, and we start to bring things out in November. Bringing the outdoors in is such a huge part of that, and so at this time of year, our antique Swedish Gustavian and Rococo pieces are fully bedecked with juniper, fir and holly.
What are some of the gifts you’ll offer this year? Our selection of gifts is varied and reflects our current passions.
Simply Pretty (this photo) Holiday plates and bowls designed by Margarette Hemix for Gustavsberg Porcelain are complemented by red linen Axlings kitchen towels at a table set with 19th-century Gustavian-style dining chairs. Cozy Corner (opposite page) An Enigma 425 pendant light by Louis Poulsen illuminates a Warren Platner chair and ottoman, Model 1705 for Knoll and a 19th-century Swedish faux bois painted chest. Artwork on the far wall is Iceberg by artist Matt Wood. See Resources.
This year, we connected with card makers in England for a selection of truly special Advent calendars and cards. We also have natural herbal skincare and perfume lines from Iceland, design books, festive barware, backgammon sets, vintage Italian and Swedish vases. The luxurious blankets from Johanna Howard in alpaca and chenille to cuddle up under by a fireside are always appreciated as gifts. There really is something for everyone!
Any special items for entertaining?
Our selection of Augarten and Gustavsberg porcelain, Swedish linens, mixed with popular serving pieces by Georg Jensen and jewel-toned glassware by Reijmyre and Murano-crafted tumblers make for a stunning table appropriate for any holiday smorgasbord gathering.
Tell us about the Swedish Tomte gnomes. The benevolent and mischievous Tomte—also known as Nisse in Norway—is believed to watch over farms and bring good luck to those who treat them with respect and kindness. The Tomte’s blessing of your farm and homestead is critical to ensure good harvests and protection. Despite their diminutive size, they are said to possess great strength and wisdom. On Christmas Eve, the Tomte is left a bowl of porridge as an honor and to ensure a good New Year.
What’s your most sought-after holiday item?
Our New Preston store is known for its wall of antique Swedish culinary copper, and the incredible molds make perfect gifts along with our selection of Swedish cookbooks and hardwood cutting boards for every chef in your life.
Do you have any community holiday projects?
Giving back is the most important part of the season, and our company is proud to contribute to the Nantucket Food Bank and Operation Hope in Fairfield, as well as participate in the Nantucket Festival of Trees.
How does a traditional Scandinavian Christmas differ from a typical American Christmas?
As a part of the Scandinavian tradition, there are lots of fun tricksters and supernatural beings who can give and take from you. These beings are often a holdover from Norse mythology and ancient agricultural rituals. For example, the Yule Lads of Iceland visit children in the 13 nights leading up to Christmas, leaving small gifts or potatoes depending on the child’s behavior. These mischievous figures are descended from the mythological jolasveinarnir trolls. In Norway, black cats and elves play a mystical role in gift-giving as does the Joulupukki or Yule Goat in Finland. The Yule Goat in earlier times was significant in that agricultural villages in Sweden, and Finland would construct straw goats to honor the harvest season and ensure a bountiful crop the following year. The goats represented the Norse God Thor’s goats, who drew his sun chariot across the skies. Over time, the tradition has evolved into the iconic Julbock of Swedish Christmas celebrations today.
What’s a favorite memory of a Swedish Christmas?
Rhonda: “I remember making the pepparkakor cookies with my Swedish aunt and my grandmother; I will always associate the delicious aromas of the spices cooking with those happy times. And the European Christmas tree! When we lived in Austria, my grandmother would make fudge, cut it into squares and then wrap each square in foil and adorn with bows, creating tiny individual presents. These were hung on the tree with other gifts of candy for the children.”
Edie: “My favorite Swedish holiday tradition is feeding the wild animals on Christmas Eve. My Swedish-American side of the family loved this heartwarming act of kindness, and as a child, I took it very seriously. From scattering seeds for the birds to leaving out treats of hay, carrots and apples for the woodland creatures, I still cherish this part of the holiday festivities.” ✹
large pots and military lunch pails. Above the sink hangs a rare Swedish kurbit painted folk art piece. See Resources.
Norden Delights (this page) A PH Snowball chandelier by Louis Poulsen hangs in the window above a pair of Theo Club stools by Verellen upholstered in Furocious Arctic fabric. Shimmer & Shine (opposite page) Swedish copper pieces here range from 19th-century copper molds to
Green Splendor (this page) Magnolia garland on the banister provides seasonal contrast to walls painted in Farrow & Ball’s Borrowed Light. A floral arrangement from Vine by Emily Candee sits on an antique plant stand, which is a family heirloom. Fab Finds (opposite page) Nathalie Schubert found the antique mirror at Greenwich Living Design, while the brass reindeer hails from the gift shop of the Biltmore Estate. See Resources
TOUR DE FORCE
DESIGNER NATHALIE SCHUBERT TAPPED HER SOUTHERN ROOTS FOR HER TRADITIONAL-WITH-A-TWIST HOLIDAY DECORATIONS
BY LAURA FENTON | PHOTOGRAPHS BY ELLEN MCDERMOTT
On the outside, interior designer Nathalie Schubert’s New Canaan home is classic Connecticut—crisp white siding and shutters, a cedar shake, gambrel roof, and come Christmastime, a wreath hanging in every window. However, once you step inside, everything is bursting with color and a strong dose of Southern charm. Schubert’s bright, saturated style is no surprise given her 10 years working for Katie Ridder, a New York City interior designer known for her bold use of color, and Schubert’s personal roots in Asheville, North Carolina.
Last year, after launching her own design firm—Niche by Nathalie Schubert—and living in New Canaan for four years, Schubert was asked if she would decorate her house for the Newcomers Club of New Canaan's Holiday House Tour (media sponsor CTC&G ), which raises money for local charities. The answer was an immediate yes. “I do go over the top with my own decorations,” says Schubert. The New Canaan Newcomers Club, who hosts the biennial tour, often pairs homeowners with a design team who do the decorating. But as an interior designer with a sizable collection of holiday decorations, Schubert wanted to do both—donate her house
In The Details (left to right across spread) An oversized nutcracker stands watch over presents, while the family’s velvet stockings—handpainted by Victoria Cort Hall—hang by the fire. A pair of nutcrackers are placed among a faux pine garland from the Biltmore Lamp & Shade Gallery and real pinecones. See Resources
and decorate it—with the help of one key creative partner: Her mom, painter Victoria Cort Hall. “This whole Christmas obsession started with her,” says Schubert. “My mother was basically obsessed with the holidays.”
More than happy to have an excuse to spend extra time with her daughter’s family over the holidays, Hall agreed. The plan was to decorate the house slowly and steadily using Schubert’s extensive trove of ornaments (and a few things pulled from
Hall’s collection). But the first order of business was for Hall to procure a carload of magnolia branches in North Carolina and drive them up to Connecticut. “I didn’t want the short, expensive branches I could get up here,” says Schubert. “I wanted big, thick magnolia branches.” On arrival, Schubert and Hall had to soak the boughs in the bathtubs because there were so many. With the influx of Southern greenery, Schubert draped the entire spiral stairwell banister in magnolias—a real Southern
Chic
In Delights (right page) Vintage water glasses are through Found. Calligraphy is by Victoria Cort Hall. Kravet grasscloth covers the dining room walls, while chairs upholstered in Edelman leather surround an heirloom dining table. See Resources
Comfort (above) In the living room, two feather trees flank Schubert’s collection of blue and white pottery. A custom sofa is upholstered in a Holland & Sherry wool fabric. Dine-
welcome. In addition to the two fresh trees and three faux ones, Schubert draped evergreens and magnolias over mantels and wove fresh evergreen clippings into every room, creating a “ribbon” of greenery throughout the house. “The smell of Christmas is really important to us,” says Hall. “As a designer I want to have all the senses awakened,” adds Schubert.
Each room’s holiday décor was influenced by the design of the room itself. In the library, for example, walls in Farrow & Ball’s Stone Blue inspired Schubert to create an icicle-inspired scheme with a blue-tinted Arabian fir tree. In the kitchen, the women wove edible elements into the trimmings, including homemade pomanders (an homage to a favorite Ashville restaurant that uses fruits and oranges in their holiday décor). Up in the playroom, a faux tree was more playful with colored lights and kid-proof felt ornaments.
Winter Wonderland (this page) A faux tree from Lowe’s brightens up the playroom. The holiday toys are Schubert’s children’s own. Soft Light (opposite page) Farrow & Ball’s Pink Ground casts a warm glow in a daughter’s room, where a custom bed by Charles H. Beckley is upholstered in a Holland & Sherry fabric and dressed in linens from Leontine Linens and Serena & Lily. See Resources
Threaded throughout every room were recurring motifs of birds and feathers, which Schubert says are often found in Southern interiors. The holiday trinkets are also a reminder of Schubert’s hometown. “There’s this little store in Asheville where the owner stocks the place so full of Christmas decorations,” says Schubert. “The day after Christmas, everything’s 50-percent, so if I’m down there for Christmas, I always ship a box home.” Those collected-over-time
decorations are what make Schubert’s house feel like home in a deeper way.
While the decorations were extra festive for the holiday home tour, Schubert says “the house was decorated to fascinate the kids,” (ages 5, 9 and 11). “The magic of Christmas is seeing it through children’s eyes,” says Hall. “I created that for Nathalie, and she continues that tradition.” Schubert adds, “You don’t ever want the magic to end.” ✹
Sleigh Ride (above) Balsam wreaths from Green Up hang from simple red velvet ribbons in every window. Nathalie Schubert and her mother Victoria Cort Hall ride in Nathalie’s 1988 325i BMW. Blue Christmas (opposite page) Farrow & Ball’s Stone Blue paint on the walls and matching Mosaic House tile on the fireplace inspired the icicle theme in the library. The rug is a custom commission from Temple Studio, and a Roger Arlington wallpaper covers the ceiling. See Resources
Guest Appearance
HAVING A TOPNOTCH DESIGNER DECK THE HALLS IS A MAYFLOWER INN & SPA HOLIDAY TRADITION
BY DAVID MASELLO | PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN GRUEN
Deck The Halls For last year’s holiday season, Eliza Harris and her team of designers from Sister Parish Design decorated the trees, stairways, lobby and all public areas of the Mayflower Inn & Spa. Much of the design scheme involved bringing a sense of the outdoors inside. See Resources
After Eliza Harris and her team finished installing their holiday décor last year for the public areas of Washington, Connecticut’s Mayflower Inn & Spa, she hosted a dinner party for 30 there to celebrate the work. She invited, in spirit, the likes of feminist pioneer Gloria Steinem, the late society hostesses Brooke Astor and Babe Paley, novelist Edith Wharton, and even two former First Ladies, Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Michelle Obama—all guests that were living or not.
“We assigned everybody who was actually invited the name of an iconic grande dame—someone from history, recent or of the past,” says Harris. The young designer is well acquainted with iconic women, being the great-granddaughter of Sister Parish, the revolutionary interior and textile designer who founded her namesake firm in 1933. Had the late Mrs. Onassis been at the dinner table, she could have told tales of the work Sister Parish did for her at the White House.
It’s a holiday tradition at the Mayflower Inn & Spa—a venerable 30-room property set amid 58 bucolic acres—to commission a major designer to transform the lobby, dining room and bar, and other gathering spaces. This year’s décor is being created
All The Trimmings (left to right across spread) Some 500 fabric stars crafted from Sister Parish’s Serendipity pattern were fashioned as ornaments. Garlands drape the inn’s main stairway. A colorful wreath made of bayberry is set against a console and patterned wallpaper. See Resources
by Alexandra O’Neill, founder and creative force behind the womenswear fashion brand Markarian—named, by the way, for a series of especially colorful celestial galaxies.
When Harris and her mother, Susan Crater (granddaughter of Parish), who serves as the CEO of Sister Parish Design, were selected for the 2023 job, Harris recalls being given carte blanche in what to do. “The extraordinarily accommodating management at the Mayflower kind of just said, ‘Go ahead, go at it,’” the chief creative officer recalls. She and her team worked with several self-imposed goals: Decorations needed to be made in America, local artisans and suppliers were to be favored, and patterns fashioned by her ancestor should be incorporated. In conceiving the design, Harris stresses, “I think the holidays are a time to be playful with your décor. Nothing should be too precious. I wanted everyone who came inside the Mayflower to feel as if they were coming back inside their own home in Connecticut.”
In fulfilling her directives, Harris commissioned a local artisan to make 500 fabric star ornaments, each covered with Sister Parish’s iconic Serendipity pattern, in hues of cranberry-red and spruce-green. Each ornament was hand-stitched, then adorned with a red ribbon. “I wanted the handwork to be visible,” she says, “an indication that these were artisan-made.” Galaxies of stars were positioned on two trees—a towering one in the lobby that is topped by a pair of antique tin angels, and another more diminutive one in the inn’s Garden Room.
Meanwhile, Harris found a manufacturer in New York’s Garment District to make stockings to affix to the inn’s fireplace mantels, with additional stockings stitched to sell to guests at the hotel. Elsewhere in Harris’s design scheme, she fostered a warm glow throughout the inn by designing lampshades from the Sister Parish Serendipity pattern.
Swags of garlands wind their way up the Inn’s main staircase, scroll across fireplace mantels, while wreaths dangle playfully in front of windows. While many of the most conspicuous items used to create the holiday atmosphere were made by hand,
Festive Flair
All of the holiday décor—stockings, ornaments, tree
tablecloths—were
and
by
skirts,
made
local
regional artisans. The throw pillows use Sister Parish’s iconic Dolly pattern, here in hues of cranberry red and pine green. See Resources
others were expertly fashioned by Mother Nature. Dark + Diamond, a noted floral designer, supplied much of the actual greenery. The firm’s husband–wife owners, Katie Patton and Michael Patton, spent time roaming their 10-acre property in Ancram, New York, and nearby woods and meadows for evergreen branches and pinecones, mossy branches and dried blooms of clematis, tree barks and wild mushrooms. “Whatever is growing, I’m foraging,” says Katie Patton, “not like a farmer who grows specific things, but whatever I find in fields and forests.” The wreaths, mistletoe, even the sculptural amaryllis flowers that sprout from tabletop centerpieces were found— and fashioned as décor—by the Pattons.
“It was really exciting to be able to honor the season by carefully gathering and collecting forms from our landscape,” says Patton, whose firm’s name derives from a passage in a Jack Kerouac novel. “It was a great collaboration with Sister Parish. I think our aesthetics, juxtaposed with their beautiful fabrics, managed to reflect the Mayflower and its gorgeous countryside.” Harris adds, “Much of what we accomplished with Dark + Diamond was about bringing nature indoors.” ✹
A Taste Of The Season (left to right across spread) A few scenes from the Garden Room, designed by Celerie Kemble, which is the main dining area at the inn. Katie and Michael Patton, owners of Dark + Diamond, fashioned wreaths to hang from windows, while fabric stars crafted from Sister Parish’s Serendipity pattern adorn a tree. After the design work was complete, Eliza Harris hosted a dinner at a long table set with a cloth made of Sister Parish’s La Fortuna pattern. Table styling was by Mieke ten Have. See Resources
See Resources.
Warm Greetings Greenery lines the mantel (this page) and fills vases including a large white one by Frances Palmer. A fresh wreath (opposite page) from Gilbertie’s hangs in a window.
Christmas Magic
Beloved ornaments and homemade gingerbread cookies set the stage for the holiday season
BY ANN KAISER | PHOTOGRAPHS BY ELLEN MCDERMOTT
Seasons’s Offerings (clockwise from this page) Holiday décor brings some red and green to the sunroom, where a vintage Santa collection is grouped on a table from Ikea; the chair is from Crate & Barrel. A package of gingerbread cookies is ready to be gifted. This vintage Santa was found at an antiques center; he reminded Amy Leonard of old Coca Cola advertisements. See Resources.
esigner Amy Leonard’s home is always a cozy haven, but at Christmas time, it sparkles. Leonard and her husband, Rick, moved in nine years ago, when his parents were putting it up for sale. Some work had been done on the three-bedroom bungalow—adding onto the home and lifting up the ceiling in the living room—when his parents first moved in many years before. Over the years, Leonard has furnished the spaces with carefully selected pieces, inherited antiques—and a few gifts from Ingrid Leess, her longtime designer partner at Leonard + Leess Design, with whom she’s decorated quite a few homes for the holidays. “It’s a storybook house,” says Leess, “but it’s especially magical at Christmas.”
The living room’s high ceilings have space for a cathedral-height Christmas tree, and the Leonards take advantage. They start looking for their extra-tall evergreen in the first week of December, and because they have so many ornaments to display, they also get a smaller one that stands right beside it. Once the trees are home, the couple takes their time decorating. For a day or two, they enjoy the bare branches, then they add sparkling twinkle lights, and finally, they hang the ornaments.
Decorating is an annual walk down memory lane, and the stroll gets longer every year. Each ornament is unique, and each one of them has a story. “Our ornament collection represents certain periods in our lives,” says Leonard,
Favorite Things (this page) Every ornament—from antique angels to childhood art projects—has its own story to tell. Tall Order (opposite page) The Leonards’ six-year-old Border Collie, Daisy, sits in front of the 10-foot-tall tree in the living room. The larger tree tends to get more red ornaments, and the smaller one has a snowier persona with glass objects, snowflakes and snowmen. See Resources.
Festive & Fragrant Leonard uses a Martha Stewart recipe for her famous gingerbread cookies (this page), though she says she can make them in her sleep. Cranberry and rosemary spice up these holiday cocktails (opposite page), prepared in gold-rimmed glasses that belonged to Leonard’s grandmother. See Resources.
“almost a scrapbook of what was going on in our family or what we were interested in.” There’s the delicate Victorian paper angel from Leonard’s mom that always sits high up on the taller tree, and a yellow cab with a Christmas tree coming out of the back from the couple’s 13 years in New York. A quarter-sized wooden bird was purchased at ABC Carpet & Home the year their daughter was born. It’s so tiny that “I panic about losing it every year,” says Leonard. She likes ornaments with some quirk: A pair of small red Converse became holiday décor once Charlie, the couple’s son, outgrew them. A sock snowman was made by one of the children’s kindergarten classmates. “It cracks me up every year,” says Leonard. Hiding a handkerchief among the branches has been a tradition for generations as well.
Once the trees are done, Leonard gets to baking. Though she’s always made cookies at Christmastime, she started focusing exclusively on gingerbread for the holidays when her kids were little. It’s a gargantuan project that grows every year—she made a record 600 in 2023—and the process involves many steps. She
always gets started early, making the batter at the beginning of December and refrigerating it. Then she rolls it out, cuts the dough into shape, puts her gingerpeople into the oven to bake and finally, pipes each with icing. “She is a Santa’s workshop at Christmas,” laughs Leess.
Though the cookies are the stars of the season, Leonard doesn’t mind a few with crooked heads or droopy smiles. “I like the ones that aren’t perfect,” says Leonard, who often boxes them up in funny and unexpected containers—an empty tomato box from Trader Joe’s or a leftover strawberry container—and gives them to friends, family and a few lucky clients. Since she’s baking nearly around the clock, “the house always smells good too,” says Leess.
With twinkling lights and delicious smells coming from all angles, there’s not much else Leonard needs to do to make her house completely holiday ready. With fresh, fragrant wreaths and greenery from local shops, and a few Saint Nicks from her collection of vintage Santas tucked into the home’s nooks and shelves, the house is ready for another season of creating holiday memories. ✹
Martinique’s Volcanic Rum
At the foot of Mt. Pelée, in the shadow of Martinque’s smoldering volcano, hides a historic distillery surrounded by a banana plantation that produces some of the Caribbeans’ most captivating artisanal rums. Rhum J.M’s very fine AOC rhums agricole are distilled in small batches from its own estategrown sugarcane, then aged in custom-charred oak barrels, made at the small cooperage on site.
The volcanic soil helps produce rums with the complexity of top-shelf single malt Scotch.
“Aged rhum agricole from Martinique could be considered the whiskey of the rum category,” says Ben Jones, a fourth-generation descendant from Martinique, whose company added Rhum J.M to its portfolio in 2003.
I first met Jones in 2008, five years after his company, Spiribam, acquired Rhum J.M—then a small, ramshackle distillery with a tiny output and a cult following. For the past two decades, Jones’ company has nurtured the brand, modernized production and transformed it into a global powerhouse, available far beyond the borders of its tropical isle. Its dark rums are highly prized by the same connoisseurs who have made whiskey and Cognac such hot commodities.
Homere Clément, Jones’s great-great grandfather, born in Martinique in the 19th century, is considered the father of rhum agricole Over the years his namesake brand, Rhum Clément, grew to become one of the most celebrated rum producers in the islands.
“You can taste the terroir in Martinique rum,” asserts Jones, who is an ambassador for rhum agricole. Unlike large-scale industrial rums made from molasses, Martinique rum is distilled exclusively from sugarcane juice and holds an AOC designation from France, denoting a highquality product.
“Compared to behemoth brands, our island rum is different in style and character,” says Jones. The rum is distilled at lower alcohol to capture natural flavors. Rather than a sweet finish, its grassy, vegetal notes conjure up fresh-pressed sugarcane. “Martinique rum is one of the most terroir-driven spirits,” he says, “I’d liken it to mezcal or Armagnac.”
Today Rhum J.M has become one of the world’s most ecologically sustainable distilleries, repurposing the by-products of distillation. On Earth Day in 2023, the distillery launched a new three-year-old blend, Terroir Volcanique ($47), which has a rich round flavor with saltiness and a smoky finish. “Karine Lassalle is a magician,” Jones
says of his master distiller. “She’s able to thread the alchemy of the natural rum and the wood and bring forth the sugarcane flavor through doublechar barrels.”
The rum has the sort of smoky finish usually found in the most prized single malt Scotch. “Terroir Volcanique has really taken off and just might be the gateway drug for scotch drinkers,” says Jones. Rum is having a moment, and the prestige category priced between $35–$200 is exploding, almost a generation after the whiskey renaissance. The distillery also produces a trio of Atelier aged rhums ($40 each): Épices Créoles (with Créole spices); Jardin Fruité (reminiscent of an orchard); and Fumée Volcanic (with hints of volcanic smoke).
For visitors to Martinique, both Clément and J.M have become major attractions—Clément, with 240,000 visitors annually, is among the most heavily trafficked distilleries in the French-speaking world. “Martinique is an epic place for spirits tourism,” says Jones. “You can hike the volcano, enjoy the white sandy beaches, and take La Route des Rhums, visiting around eight wonderful distilleries.” —Baroness Sheri de Borchgrave
THIS SMALL-BATCH ISLAND RUM THRUMS WITH STYLE AND CHARACTER
Island Allure (clockwise across spread from top left) Rhum J.M distillery in Macouba, Martinique; Fumée Volcanic with a Rhum Old Fashioned cocktail, cinnamon garnish; Ben Jones, an ambassador for rhum agricole
Photo by Paul Bickford
CTC&G 20th Anniversary Party at Greenwich Polo
CTC&G celebrated 20 years with Fletcher/Wakefield and Design Within Reach at the CTC&G Players’ Lounge
1. Perfect view of the polo match from the tent’s edge 2. Builder Ryan Fletcher, Design Within Reach’s Thomas Hassler, C&G Media Group CEO & Publication Director Marianne Howatson, CTC&G Editorial Director DJ Carey, and DWR’s Katie Bath 3. Fletcher/Wakefield cofounder George Snead and designer Amy Zolin 4. Kristen Greenberg and Amanda Groher with sponsor The Prisoner Wine Co. 5. The DWR Smile Lounge photo booth was a hit. 6. Lisa Oakes, Matt Brown, Sherri Brown, and Mila Fletcher all of Fletcher/Wakefield 7. CTC&G Editor at Large Sharon King Hoge with CTC&G Editorial Director DJ Carey 8. A stunning grazing table from Graze With Mi 9. Views from the CTC&G Players’ Lounge showcasing the stunning furniture and polo field. 10. Fletcher/Wakefield’s Beth Cannon, designer Fiona Leonard, and designer Elena Phillips
Apply to be a stop on the annual C&G Insider Tour at The 2025 Kitchen and Bath Show, led by CTC&G’s Editorial Director DJ Carey.
CT IDAs Judging Breakfast
Guest judges teamed up with CTC&G Editorial Director DJ Carey to select the 2024 IDA winners at Gault Stone & Landscape Supplies
1. Designer Jamie Drake taking notes 2. Designer Matthew Patrick Smyth, CTC&G Editorial Director DJ Carey, architect Joeb Moore, designer Sarah Robertson, designer Wesley Moon, and designer Jamie Drake 3. Behind the scenes of beautiful landscape design 4. Designer Sarah Robertson and architect Joeb Moore carefully evaluating each entry. 5. Sneak peek of the IDA entries 6. DJ Carey going over each entry with the judges
Rooms With a View Designer Cocktail Party
CTC&G co-hosted the RWAV Designer Cocktail Party to celebrate the RWAV Class of 2024 Designers with Editorial Director DJ Carey
1. Class of 2024 Designer Chris Desmone, RWAV Design Chairman Parker Rogers, and Advisory Board member Sydney Frazier from Hadley Café 2. RWAV Executive Director Christopher Phillip delivering closing remarks for the evening 3. CTC&G Editorial Director DJ Carey with RWAV Executive Director Christopher Phillip 4. A sneak peek at one of the designer’s sketches for their vignette, which will be staged at the event 5. The RWAV Class of 2024 6. Guests mingling on the stunning back deck of the beautiful Westport home 7. RWAV Executive Director Christopher Phillip with the hostess and Westport homeowner Peggy Reiner
THE TAILORED HOME
The Alpine Lounge’s slightly amorphous feet take on the shape of river stones. Horizontal channeled upholstery contrasts against sloping wood frame. A sage leather is paired with a tonal faux fur for a texture story.
203.292.9111 / thetailoredhomect.com @thetailoredhomect
NUKITCHENS
DESIGN STOPS
MUST-HAVES FOR THE DESIGN-OBSESSED SHOPPER
Chop, strain, organize, and mix to prepare a meal easily. Quickly and conveniently transform your kitchen to a serve station or set out drinks and hors d’oeuvres to create an ideal entertainment station. Galley Work Station, call or visit Nukitchens for more information. 203.831.9000 / nukitchens.com @nukitchens
MAYFLOWER HOME ORGANIZING
Transform your home into a stylish, organized haven with Mayflower Home Organizing. Say goodbye to clutter and hello to chic! Schedule your free consultation today! 203.952.4554 / mayflowerhomeorganizing.com @mayflowerhomeorganizing
THE POST
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RESOURCES MORE
MERRY & BRIGHT
Pages 40–45: All items available at Eleish Van Breems Home, evbantiques.com. Glass ornament, Stephen Brucker. Shearling Tomte and gnomes, Eleish Van Breems Home. Vase, Just Andersen. Gustavian cabinet, painted chest, blue painted tea table, mangel board, snowball chandelier, console, Gustavian-style dining chairs, copper, Murano glassware, Swedish Kurbite folk art, Eleish Van Breems Home. Pendant light, Louis Poulsen through Eleish Van Breems Home. Warren Platner chair and ottoman by Knoll through Eleish Van Breems Home. Artwork, Matt Wood Fine Art. Stool, Verellen. Holiday plate, Margarette Hemix for Gustavsberg Porcelain. Kitchen towel, Axlings Linne.
TOUR DE FORCE
Pages 46–55: For more information on the biennial Newcomers Club of New Canaan’s Holiday House Tour and to purchase tickets, visit newcanaanholidayhousetour.com.
Interior design, Nathalie Schubert, Niche by Nathalie Schubert, nichebyns. com. Entryway: Wall paint, Farrow & Ball. Floral arrangements, Vine by Emily Candee. Art, Nathalie Schubert and Victoria Cort Hall. Mirror, Greenwich Living Design. Reindeer, Biltmore House Gift Shop. Ornaments, Yesterdays Tree. Living room: Nutcrackers, Old World Christmas Shoppe and Value Drugs. Faux pine garland, Biltmore Lamp & Shade Gallery. Wrapping paper and ribbon, Etsy. Dining room: Grasscloth wallcovering, Kravet. Dining chair upholstery, Edelman Leather. Tape trim, Mokuba. Chandelier, Stuf Antiques. Rug, Temple Studio. Drapery fabric, China Seas. Wine glasses, Amazon. Water glasses, Found. Candles and candle holders, Fritz Porter. Placemat, Pier1. Living room: Sofa fabric, Holland & Sherry. Sofa trim and throw pillow, Claremont. Lumbar pillow, Virginia Di Sciascio. Pottery, Found. Feathered Christmas trees, Biltmore Lamp & Shade Gallery. Painting, Victoria Cort Hall. Chair fabric, Castel. Sconces, Visual Comfort. Purple vases, John Rosselli Antiques. Coffee table, The Antique and Artisan Gallery. Flower arrangement, Vine by Emily Candee. Wall paint, Farrow & Ball. Kid’s playroom: Wall paint, Farrow & Ball. Daybed, Charles H. Beckley. Daybed fabric, Romo. Carpet, Kaleen. Tents, Amazon. Tree, Lowes. Garland, Hobby Lobby. Photographs, Venture Studio. Girl’s bedroom: Wall paint, Farrow & Ball. Bed, Charles H. Beckley. Bed
fabric, Holland & Sherry. Throw pillow fabrics, Tulu. Monogram lumbar pillow, Leontine Linens. Duvet and bedding, Serena & Lily. Bedside table, lamps and tree, Target. Ceiling light fixture, Wisteria. Library: Wall paint, Farrow & Ball. Rug, Temple Studio. Chair leather, Dani. Tile, Mosaic House. Accent chair, Hamptons Antique Gallery. Ceiling wallpaper, Roger Arlington. Light fixture, Orange Antiques. Garland, Biltmore Lamp and Shade Gallery. Exterior images: Wreaths, Green Up. Schubert’s vintage jacket, Found. Wrapping paper and ribbon, Etsy.
GUEST APPEARANCE
Pages 56–63: Holiday décor design, Eliza Harris and Susan Crater, Sister Parish, sisterparishdesigns. com. Location, Mayflower Inn & Spa, aubergeresorts.com. Table stylist, Mieke ten Have, mieketenhave.com. Florals, garlands, wreaths and greenery, Katie and Michael Patton, Dark & Diamond Floral Design, darkanddiamond.com. Star ornament fabric, throw pillow fabrics and dining room tablecloth fabric, Sister Parish.
CHRISTMAS MAGIC
Pages 64–71: Interior design, Amy Leonard, leonardleessdesign.com.
Living room: Vase, Frances Palmer Pottery. White planter, Terrain. Paper lantern, Noguchi. Wreaths, Gilbertie’s. Bird ornament, ABC Carpet & Home.
Dessert table: Glass cake stand, Simon Pearce. White pedestal table, Ikea. Black Windsor chair, Crate & Barrel.
SOURCE LIST
ABC Carpet & Home, abchome.com Amazon, amazon.com
Axlings Linne (see Eleish Van Breems Home)
Biltmore House Gift Shop, biltmore.com
Biltmore Lamp & Shade Gallery, biltmorelampandshadegallery.com
Castel, castelmaison.com
Charles H. Beckley, chbeckley.com
China Seas, quadrillefabrics.com Claremont, claremontfurnishing.com
Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com
Dani, gruppodani.com
Edelman Leather, edelmanleather.com
Eleish Van Breems Home, evbantiques.com Etsy, etsy.com
Farrow & Ball, farrow-ball.com Found, foundanddesign.com
Frances Palmer Pottery, francespalmerpottery.com
Fritz Porter, fritzporter.com
Gilbertie’s, gilbertiesorganics.com
Green Up, greenupgroup.com
Greenwich Living Design, greenwichlivingdesign.com
Gustavsberg Porcelain (see Eleish Van Breems Home)
Hamptons Antique Gallery, 203-325-4019
Hobby Lobby, hobbylobby.com
Holland & Sherry, hollandandsherry.com
Ikea, ikea.com
John Rosselli Antiques, johnrosselliantiques.com
Just Andersen (see Eleish Van Breems Home)
Kaleen, kaleen.com
Knoll (see Eleish Van Breems Home)
Kravet, kravet.com
Leontine Linens, leontinelinens.com
Louis Poulsen, louispoulsen.com
Lowes, lowes.com
Margarette Hemix (see Gustavsburg Porcelain)
Matt Wood Fine Art (see Eleish Van Breems Home)
Mokuba (see Etsy)
Mosaic House, mosaichse.com
Niche by Nathalie Schubert, nichebyns.com
Noguchi, noguchi.org
Old World Christmas Shoppe, 828-274-4819
Orange Antiques, orangecircleantiquemall.com
Pier1, pier1.com
Roger Arlington (see Etsy) Romo, romo.com
Serena & Lily, serenaandlily.com
Simon Pearce, simonpearce.com
Sister Parish, sisterparishdesigns.com
Stephen Brucker (see Eleish Van Breems Home)
Stuf Antiques, 828-254-4054
Target, target.com
Temple Studio, templestudiony.com
Terrain, shopterrain.com
The Antique and Artisan Gallery, theantiqueandartisangallery.com
Tulu, tulutextiles.com
Value Drugs, valuedrugs.net
Venture Studio, venturephotography.us
Verellen (see Eleish Van Breems)
Victoria Cort Hall (see Niche by Nathalie Schubert)
Vine by Emily Candee, @vinefloral
Virginia Di Sciascio, @virginiadisciascio
Visual Comfort, visualcomfort.com
Warren Planter (see Knoll) Wisteria, wisteria.com
Yesterdays Tree, yesterdaystreefurniture.com
from “Merry & Bright
Monelle Totah
Growing up in Louisiana, Monelle Totah was enmeshed in Southern hospitality that evolved into a love of entertaining. After studying fine arts, she followed her family’s move to California where she worked in the showroom of a firm selling imported dinnerware and textiles, eventually moving to Williams Sonoma and working with Chuck Williams who taught her to edit and curate. “What a learning experience,” says Totah. “He told me ‘We can sell anything, but we don’t.’” Looking to indulge her passion for product design, a dozen years ago she and a best friend, Gary McNatton, launched their first store, focused on entertaining. Now owned by Crate & Barrel, Hudson Grace was named for the founders’ pet dogs, and Totah’s current black cockapoo, Henrietta Grace, is proud to bear the monogram of the ongoing firm. hudsongracesf.com.
What inspired you to start Hudson Grace? What niche did you want to fill? I was working in retail tabletop, and when you see so many beautiful things, you want people to be able to have them. I wanted to have it there for them.
Why do you specialize in white merchandise? Originally, everything was white—you can see the silhouette. If it’s painted, you don’t see the beautiful sculptural line of a handmade plate or the gorgeous white glaze that it’s dipped in. There’s a modern feel about it and a simplicity. Food looks pretty on a white plate, and it allows you to tell a story with your flowers, glassware and napkins.
But your tabletop accessories are so colorful. We’ll never stray away from white, it will always be the foundation. But I got brave, I wanted to be a little bold. We took a chance to have bright napkins—hot pink, yellow, blue—they’re wonderful. The world needs happiness now, and we want to bring something that makes you smile.
What was the inspiration for the current season’s collection? We’re evolving with color and wanted to shake it up this year, and it came from fashion. I saw an ad—it was chocolate brown with a pink top and a green sweater—it was so unexpected and chic. So brown is a base, it’s kind of a neutral in
my eyes, grounded, it goes with everything—it looks pretty with so many colors.
Why are so many of your products produced overseas? You can find little unique things in European factories—it’s kind of like a family, it’s not just manufacturing. You see an item and it feels like “something my grandfather made.” Things are handmade and hand painted— there’s an authenticity to it.
Your cofounder, Gary McNatton, is just retiring. What is it that made him such a great business partner? He’s a genius, we’re a great complement. In one of our first interviews, I was saying I collect silver, linens, dinnerware, and he said, “I’m a collector too, but I don’t put it all out.”
What is the effect of Crate & Barrel owning the firm? They’re an amazing partner, significant in keeping the brand together, but we can do more things, The sky’s the limit, and I’m excited about the growth we’re going to have.
Why do you love entertaining? I love gathering people in my home. I love cooking, the smells in the house, pouring glasses of wine, it feeds my soul. I like impromptu ‘what are you doing? Come on over.’ Suddenly you’re cooking up a pot of chili or gumbo, the music is on, people are mingling, you’re pouring cocktails. Casual is the best.
How do you entertain at the holidays? Lots of food: a buffet set in different heights—on footed bowls, cake stands. Always a bartender
Table Talk (clockwise from top left)
Hudson Grace cofounder Monelle Totah at the specialty store stocked with the firm’s signature white dishes, colorful accent accessories and, of course, gnomes.
to keep guests hydrated. I don’t always set up a tree, but have lots of greens around. And some wonderful napkins—I love red and green. What’s the origin of your perennial gnome decoration? We found a tiny plastic gnome—twinkly eyes, chubby cheeks, hands hidden behind—it made us laugh and giggle. We sent it off to Italy, and our mold maker created a wonderful reproduction. The gnome has been with us for 11 years—we made him into an ornament this year. He’s our new elfon-a-shelf. —Sharon King Hoge
Faye Kim, renowned for her timeless and refined handcrafted jewelry, is thrilled to announce the upcoming opening of her new boutique in Darien, Connecticut. Soon to be unveiled, this beautifully curated space will showcase Faye’s artistry in fine jewelry, bespoke designs, and an exclusive selection of vintage treasures. While we prepare for the grand opening, we invite you to shop online or visit our showroom by appointment.
Platinum Zambian Emerald Ring
Platinum Emerald Diamond Earrings