CTC&G (Connecticut Cottages & Gardens) SEPTEMBER, 2021 by Cottages & Gardens Publications

COTTAGESGARDENS.COM | SEPTEMBER 2021

NEW SEASON OF

STYLE

www. pe r i od a rch i t ec t u re l t d . c om

Mah Jong. Modular sofa with elements, designed by Hans Hopfer. , Constellation collection. Upholstered in Stained wooden bases, Alezan finish. In-store interior design & 3D modeling services.1 Quick Ship program available.2

This year, Roche Bobois is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Mah Jong sofa, designed in 1971 by Hans Hopfer. To celebrate this milestone, the Mah Jong is dressed in new designer fabrics and set on elegant platforms that enhance its silhouette and comfort. True to the Mah Jong’s original identity, this new design makes the piece more modern than ever.

Fabrics by

French Art de Vivre Photos by Michel Gibert and Baptiste Le Quiniou, for advertising purposes only. Zulma Editions. 1Conditions apply, contact store for details. 2Program available on select items, subject to availability.

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Reflect your personality. Exquisitely. Our Crosswater London collection combines inspired design and meticulous craftmanship to create a bath space that will take your breath away. From vanities and tubs to faucets you’ll find a total bath solution that’s distinctively you. Join the many craftsmen and women who come to Bender to create their next masterpiece. Experience the entire curated collection at a Bender Showroom near you. bendershowrooms.com | 203.498.5184 Hartford | New Haven | Norwalk | Waterbury decorative plumbing | kitchen & bath cabinetry | tile & stone © 2021 Bender Plumbing

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FEATURES 62

Natural Connection Transforming a Greenwich home to complement its bucolic setting by

Mindy Pantiel Trisha Estill

photographs by

Above + Beyond A new weekend house gives the owners more than they expected By Elena Bowes Ellen McDermott

photographs by

Italian Renaissance Reimagining and restoring the gardens surrounding an enchanting Lake Como villa Text and photographs by James Doyle

Setting the Scene A California couple’s Litchfield County second home captures the essence of iconic Connecticut by

David Masello Gruen

photographs by John

on the cover

“Italian Renaissance,” page 76. photograph by James Doyle

From “A Natural Connection,” page 62. Photograph by Trisha Estill

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN ORRICKANDCOMPANY.COM

GREENWICH

C onnecticut C ottages & G ardens • S eptember 2021 •

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COLUMNS 38

Travel by Design

DEPARTMENTS 26 Editor’s Letter

Family Tree

Uncover the most interesting or salacious skeleton(s) in the closet when tracing your family roots by

Letter from the CEO

DJ Carey

Contributors

Jewelry Linked-In

Make a bold statement this fall with chunky linked jewelry updated with mixed metals and diamond elements Harriet Mays Powell

What’s New

Marketplace

Out of the Box

Inspiring Surfaces

Learn more about these Connecticut movers, shakers and makers

Elevate your space with new looks in tile, quartz, glass and stone by

Catriona Branca

104

Meet the Designer

Design Notes A peek inside the latest buzz-worthy design news happening in the area

Robert Couturier

Raised in Paris, architect and interior designer Robert Couturier executes grand-scale commisions all over the world but calls Connecticut home by Sharon

Mary Fitzgerald

King Hoge

Deeds & Don’ts Inside stories behind area real estate deals

Diane di Costanzo

100

Resources

BOTTOM: COURTESY OF DROMOLAND CASTLE

Calendar

RingsEnd.com | 800·390·1000

Andersen Big Doors are on display in our Darien and Branford showrooms.

Your Inspiration. Our Expertise.

cottagesgardens.com /cottagesgardens •

@cottagesgardens •

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OUTDOOR OASIS Whether you are looking for a complete revamp or a new hobby, these garden designs will surely trigger your inner landscape designer. Go to cottagesgardens.com/gardens to get started.

MAXIMALIST

BEHAVIOR

It’s never too late to start looking for your vacation home. Head to cottagesgardens. com/dailydeeds for your next summer getaway.

OUTDOOR OASIS, DAILYDEEDS: TIM LENZ; MAXIMALIST BEHAVIOR: MICHAEL PARTENIO

Decorative wallcoverings are here to stay, so why not join in on the fun? Find your wallpaper inspiration at pinterest.com/ cottagesgardens

Building the Contemporary Home Phone: (203) 588-1556 Email: info@yankeecustombuilders.com Address: 24 Field Point Rd | Greenwich, CT 06830 Website: www.yankeecustombuilders.com

EDITOR’S LETTER

Nature’s Lead September. You know, like the old kind of September. But, alas, it seems ‘that ain’t happening!’ But things are happening. This month ushers in change. And dependably, Mother Nature spoils us with a beautiful and explosive color show. I recently attended an outdoor garden party hosted by a very creative couple. As I was touring their impressive vegetable garden, the host pointed out a pot of zinnias capturing the early evening sun. It was glorious to look at the fiery orange and yellows become illuminated by the sun. A talented florist, he pointed out that Mother Nature creates a new palette to signal what lies ahead in the next season. Perhaps that is why I always look forward to the seasons changing. For me, it is exciting to see something new and different. New clothes, finally! Maybe some in-person business events. Fundraisers to help charities that have suffered during the pandemic. Each season has something special to offer—a new palette, a new style of living, let’s say—and each one is equally engaging. ■ Think about a world in which everything stayed the same; how boring life would be. If you look at something for too long, or do anything repeatedly, it loses its appeal, and you become bored with it. I know, having lived on two islands—one with its monochromatic desert colors, and the other, a riotous subtropical garden. I remember becoming numb to the beauty around me. That beautiful landscape almost disappeared with time, and I am sure that is why my parents would take the family to Austria to ski for a month, to get a change of scenery. ■ In this issue, I relate to a couple who live in sunny California but were looking for a second home in New England that would allow them to take in the beauty of winter and experience snow! We are more connected to nature than we think, and these seasonal changes, once dreaded, might be good for us in the end. We all need change to feel stimulated, to find a new point of view, despite all that rages around us. That is the challenge we all face this month, and beyond.

Nature puts on a spectacular color show, signaling in a new season. Here, zinnias capture the last rays of summer sunlight.

DJ Carey Editorial Director djcarey@candg.com

CAREY: CHICHI UBIÑA; HAIR AND MAKEUP BY WARREN TRICOMI SALON AND SPA, GREENWICH

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LETTER FROM THE CEO

IDA Redux

Sage Designs

hat a difference a year

makes! ■ The Greenwich Country Club, which hosts our Connecticut Innovation in Design Awards (IDAs), sports a delightful redo. Design Within Reach, our Interior Design sponsor and partner in our CTC&G Players’ Lounge at Greenwich Polo, has opened a new shop in Greenwich under the name of its sister company, Herman Miller. Tribute sponsor Bilotta also opened a shop in Greenwich and Monogram appliances has cooked up a longdistance surprise for attendees at the awards dinner. ■ Anthony Baratta, recipient of the 2020 (and now 2021!) Innovator Award, is developing an eye-catching vignette that illustrates his iconic success in interior design. ■ It’s been a long road and sponsorships are sold out, entries have doubled, and our design professionals are looking forward to finally celebrating together. The date is October 19, and for tickets, go to cottagesgardens.com/ctidas2021. ■ I hope to see you there.

Sage Designs

Esteemed interior designer Anthony Baratta will receive the IDA Innovator Award on October 19, at the Greenwich Country Club.

DECORATIVE GLASS FABRICATION 203.333.5500

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HOWATSON: DOREEN BIRDSELL; BARATTA: KEVIN KAY; BOTTOM: LANDINO PHOTO

Marianne Howatson CEO/Publication Director mhowatson@candg.com

Decorating with nature since

48 ARCH STREET · GREENWICH, CT · McArdles.com

september 2021

GREENWICH · VERO BEACH · WESTCHESTER · NANTUCKET · HAMPTONS

INTERIOR DESIGN

PUBLICATION DIRECTOR

Marianne Howatson EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

DJ Carey DESIGN/PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Julie Curtis-Paktinat

Catriona Branca

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Kristen Hoge

Mary Fit zgerald

EDITOR AT LARGE

Sharon King Hoge

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Sheri de Borchgrave, Diane diCostanzo, Helen Klisser During, Eva Hagberg, Jamie Marshall, Tovah Martin, David Masello, Mindy Pantiel, Harriet Mays Powell, Alexa Stevenson, Susan Tamulevich CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Julie Bidwell, Willie Cole, Tria Giovan, Robert Grant, John Gruen, Neil Landino Jr., Tim Lee, Tim Lenz, Ellen McDermott, Anastassios Mentis, Keith Scott Morton and Eric Richards, Costas Picadas PROOFREADER

Annette Rose-Shapiro C&G MEDIA GROUP EDITORIAL DIRECTORS

DJ Carey

Kendell Cronstrom

PHO TO S B Y CHI CHI UBIN A

DESIGN/PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR

Julie Curtis -Paktinat COTTAGESGARDENS.COM

Stacey Farrar , Beth McDonough Alayna Dixson PRODUCER Michael Ekstract dailyDEEDS.COM EDITOR A nne G iordano CORRESPONDENT C harles H obbs Kathryn Ekstract, Elizabeth G rodman , Annika Holmberg

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ART PRIVÉ GALLERY DIGITAL INTERNS

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Please join us for a reception in Greenwich Thursday, September 23rd, 5:30 - 7:30, Park in Rear, 2nd fl. Featuring Derek Gores, Master of Collage WWW.SANDRAMORGANINTERIORS.COM GREEN WIC H 135 East Putnam Ave 203·6 2 9 · 8 1 2 1

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40 Richards Avenue, 4th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06854 Phone: 203-227-1400 Fax: 203-226-2824 Copyright © 2021 by Dulce Domum, LLC. All rights reserved. Cottages & Gardens is a trademark and a service mark of Dulce Domum, LLC. Reproduction by permission only. The publisher and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material.

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum’s Gala The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum’s Gala

A MANSION FOR THE AGES:

A MANSION FOR THE AGES: Celebrating Architecture & Design Celebrating Architecture & Design Featuring Award-winning Architect David Scott Parker, FAIA Featuring Award-winning Architect David Scott Parker, FAIA

October 16, 2021, 7 p.m. October 16, 2021, 7 p.m.

Featuring the the Exhibitions: Featuring Exhibitions: Health, Healing & Addiction in 19th Century America - sponsored in part by Health, Healing & Addiction in 19th Century America - sponsored in part by ~ Preview ~ Envisioning Space: Architecture Through the Ages - in collaboration with ~ Preview ~ Envisioning Space: Architecture Through the Ages - in collaboration with

For tickets & more info: LockwoodMathewsMansion.com For tickets & more info: LockwoodMathewsMansion.com 2021 GALA DISTINGUISHED BENEFACTORS:

2021 GALA DISTINGUISHED BENEFACTORS:

2021 GALA MEDIA SPONSOR:

2021 GALA GRAPHIC DESIGN SPONSOR: 2021 GALA

GRAPHIC DESIGN SPONSOR:

FOUNDING PATRONS:

The Estate of Mrs. Cynthia The ClarkEstate Brownof

FOUNDING PATRONS:

Mrs. Cynthia Clark Brown

LEADERSHIP PATRONS:

The Sealark Foundation The Sealark

LEADERSHIP PATRONS:

Foundation

2021 SEASON DISTINGUISHED BENEFACTORS:

2021 DISTINGUISHED BENEFACTORS FOR EDUCATION:

september 2021 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Marianne Howatson PUBLISHER, HC&G

Pamela Eldridge | 631-329-3067 ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, NYC&G

Melissa Groher | 860-906-7182 ACCOUNT DIRECTORS

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PRODUCTION MANAGER

Carla Evans | 203-957-3147 DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, EVENTS AND PR

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Direct Marketing Distribution CONSUMER MARKETING

Next Steps Marketing Thea Selby and Karen L. Cunningham FOLLOW #COTTAGESGARDENS

DIGITAL EDITION

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Without Uschi, it wouldn’t be Clarke.

Spend an hour at a Clarke Showroom and one thing is clear: your time with a Clarke Consultant is the most valuable part of your kitchen journey. While they’re not designers, these are the people designers call on when it comes to appliance recommendations. You won’t buy anything at Clarke, so there’s simply no pressure. What you can do is compare more Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove models than anywhere in New England. And explore a living portfolio of kitchens created by the region’s top designers. You’ll leave inspired with new knowledge to make your appliance selections with confidence.

New England’s Official Showroom and Test Kitchen

Boston & Milford, MA • South Norwalk, CT 800-842-5275 • clarkeliving.com

Born in Belgium, Uschi Samaritano speaks five languages and is fluent in selecting just the right appliances for your lifestyle. She is an accomplished cook, passionate gardener, avid apiarist and is known by homeowners and designers alike for her valuable insights for outfitting extraordinary kitchens.

CONTRIBUTORS

TRISHA ESTILL

MICHAEL HALPERN

STEVEN KALUR

JAMIE GARCIA

Steven Kalur is the owner of F+H Architectural Design & Consulting, located in Washington Depot. His firm handles residential new construction and renovation projects. Kalur is adept at transforming traditional New England architecture— homes, barns and outbuildings—into updated and well-thought-out livable spaces, like the home featured in “Setting the Scene” (page 86). “While renovating older homes is not new to me,” notes Kalur, “the most rewarding thing about this particular project was that we were able to take a cramped and poorly laid out antique house, and, through a serious of changes designed to retain the character and feel of the building (including raising the roof and adding a generous shed dormer), make it spacious and modern.”

ctc&g cottagesgardens.com september 2021

When long-time clients asked interior designer Michael Halpern to help them find a charming Colonial home to serve as their weekend retreat, he jumped in enthusiastically. (Turn to page 86, “Setting the Scene” to see the outcome.) Halpern, who owns Halpern Design, saw the South Kent project as an exciting challenge, saying, “Taking a charming antique home and largely keeping the original footprint, yet opening it up to light and air and the beautiful views that surround it, was a delicious design opportunity.” Halpern has worked in Mexico, California, the Hamptons and Martha’s Vineyard but has an affinity for Connecticut. “Wherever I’ve lived, I’ve always found my way back to Litchfield County,” says Halpern.

Jamie Garcia prides herself on tailoring every project to her clients’ interests and aspirations, bringing rooms to life with color, pattern, fabrics and furnishings. Describing the home featured in “Natural Connection” (page 62), she says, “The ebb and flow as you walk from one room into another is a manifestation of the relationship between the client, nature and the space itself.” Garcia previously worked at Ralph Lauren and Scalamandré in NYC, honing her design skills and developng her signature style. The designer is the co-owner of JHUHN in Watch Hill, RI, alongside her twin sister Julie. She resides in Greenwich with her husband, three sons and two King Charles Cavalier Spaniels. —Mary Fitzgerald

ESTILL: MAGUIRE ESTILL; HALPERN: XAVIER GROBET; GARCIA: HARRIS DAVEY, JR.

The Greenwich home found on page 62, “Natural Connection,” was photographer Trisha Estill’s first collaboration with interior designer Jamie Garcia. “Right away I was impressed with her passion for design,” recalls Estill. “She combines a sense of whimsy with a classic and modern feel, and her positive energy is on display throughout her work.” After many years of working in television advertising production, Estill returned to school to earn a master’s degree in photography. She enjoys the creative process of working with interior designers and architects and her images are regulary published in design magazines. Estill is currently working on a book project, which spans 25 years of her landscape and lifestyle work in Nantucket.

1 CALENDAR

September 2021 From Greenwich to Trumbull

2021 FAIRFIELD COUNTY

HBRA GOLF CLASSIC

JL ROCKS GREENWICH OPENING Following the tremendous success of their Westport location, JL Rocks has opened a second location in Greenwich and is celebrating in style! Enjoy a signature JL Rocks beverage and hors d’oeuvres by Aux Délices and try on the latest fashions in fine jewelry. JL Rocks will donate a percentage of sales made that night to Family Centers of Greenwich. Thursday, September 23, 6–9 p.m. JL Rocks, 5 Riverside Ln., Greenwich. To RSVP, contact tracey@foundagency.org.

‘A SENSE OF PLACE’

Heather Gaudio Fine Art presents its latest exhibition, “A Sense of Place,” featuring new works by Tegan Brozyna, Simona Prives, and Viviane Rombaldi Seppey. The exhibition will explore the themes of memory, geography and cultural experiences through innovative uses of paper, maps, threads, printmaking, collage and projected imagery. Exhibition open now through September 25. Heather Gaudio Fine Art, 66 Elm St., New Canaan. For more information and gallery hours, call 203-801-9590 or visit heathergaudiofineart.com.

THROUGH

To list your upcoming event in our next issue, contact Jennifer Barbaro at jbarbaro@candg.com

HBRA GOLF CLASSIC: SANDRO DE CARVALHO; JL ROCKS GREENWICH OPENING: HEATHER DESMOND PHOTOGRAPHY; ‘A SENSE OF PLACE’: TEGAN BROZYNA ROBERTS, DOLDRUM III, 2020 PAINTED PAPER, THREAD, WOOD AND NAILS ON WOOD PANEL, 22 X 18 INCHES

The annual HBRA Golf Classic, presented by Ring’s End, is back for another exciting year! The Golf Classic will feature 18-hole and 9-hole tournaments, followed by a dinner. Attendees can enjoy a riveting game of golf, sip cocktails and network with industry leaders. Monday, September 20. 18-hole tournament begins at 11 a.m., 9-hole tournament begins at 2 p.m. and dinner is 4–5 p.m. Tashua Knolls Golf Course, 40 Tashua Knolls Ln., Trumbull. For more information and to register, call (203) 335-7008 or visit buildfairfieldcounty.com.

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Family Tree U N C O V E R T H E M O S T I N T E R E S T I N G O R S A L A C I O U S S K E L E T O N ( S ) I N T H E C L O S E T W H E N T R A C I N G Y O U R F A M I LY R O O T S

ctc&g cottagesgardens.com september 2021

Irish Hospitality (clockwise from above) The 16th-century Dromoland Castle sits majestically on 450 acres. Immerse yourself in the Irish experience at the Dromoland Castle bar. Luxurious accomodations include five-star amenities and services.

information about my grandfather’s side of my family. All I was able to offer was a snippet that my mother shared with me: that her grandfather’s family was from County Cavan—not much to go on, but I wanted to see what Maloney could do with it. She confirmed that the family name, Galligan, was common in Cavan and sent me pictures of the towns and countryside where they lived. She also found headstones with the few names I knew and offered the boat manifest recording when my relatives left Ireland. A more colorful document recounted an argument over livestock that resulted in a physical altercation! The feuding neighbors settled the incident and later became in-laws, eventually emigrating to America together on the same boat! I guess I had my own Hatfields and McCoys moment! Not surprisingly, I learned I have a relative who became a priest. He was part of the family branch that moved to the Midwest, which was news to me. Maloney found a picture of this cousin, and we both laughed out loud noticing my resemblance to him! Yikes! It was a wonderful virtual trip that allowed me to feel so connected in ways I never expected. Now I need a trip to Ireland! –DJ Carey

COURTESY OF DROMOLAND CASTLE

’ve missed traveling during the past 18 months, so when I got the opportunity to be an armchair visitor to Ireland, I jumped at the opportunity. What lured me back was Dromoland Castle’s, www.dromoland.ie, online version of one of its most popular services—a session with its in-house genealogist, Lorna Maloney. Once only offered to on-site guests, it is now available virtually. Memories of this beautiful castle, set on 450 acres of parkland in County Clare, played in my head as I recalled my wonderful visit with my mother there years ago. She booked a few nights for us to be pampered before heading to her rustic cottage on remote Achill Island, where she was doing field research for a year. Almost 10 percent of Americans are of Irish descent, and if you have at least one Irish ancestor, Dromoland’s on-staff genealogist Maloney can unearth a treasure trove of family history. She has been a genealogist for 18 years, including eight at Dromoland. One client found that her ancestor pretended to be a man to join the army, and her true gender wasn’t revealed until after a successful campaign as a soldier. Another family discovered it had links to the pirate queen Grace O’Malley. Maloney has also reunited long-lost relatives, including a Philadelphia family whose roots traced back to County Donegal’s famous Mulhern tweed weavers; she arranged an emotional reunion when they visited Ireland. A Zoom call was arranged with Maloney, but first I needed to do some homework regarding my family history in Ireland. Lucky for me, I have two cousins who have spent years uncovering information about our family on my grandmother’s side. I sent Maloney these details and some

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAUNDERS & ASSOCIATES

CUSTOM HOMES | DESIGN/BUILD | GREEN BUILDING

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WHAT’S NEW

Out of the Box

ART PRIVÉ: DEREK GORES, NYC STRUT WITH SWANS, COLLAGE ON GALLERY-WRAPPED CANVAS, 48 X 48”

LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE CONNECTICUT MOVERS, S H A K E R S A N D M A K E R S | P RO DU C ED BY MARY F I TZ GE R ALD

ART PRIVÉ

Art Privé—an extension of Sandra Morgan Interiors in Greenwich—represents award-winning, established artists and fosters the talents of emerging artists. Sandra Morgan and her daughter, Laird Tolan, possess a deep understanding and appreciation of art and how it enhances a home with color, energy and personality. They curate exhibitions in a variety of mediums and genres and offer art consultation services. Shown here, NYC Strut with Swans by nationally and internationally exhibited artist Derek Gores, who creates collage images with scraps of recycled magazines, maps and advertisements with a “post-Warhol sensibility.” 135 E. Putnam Ave., 2nd floor, Greenwich, sandramorganinteriors.com.

september 2021 cottagesgardens.com ctc&g

WHAT’S NEW

DIANE JAMES HOME

Designers and decorators love to accessorize with faux floral arrangements from Diane James Home. This bouquet of peonies, set in a cane-wrapped vase, is from the Gray Malin collection. Each couture creation is intricately crafted in the Norwalk studio. The company, established in 1988 by Diane James, is now run by her twin daughters, Carolyn McDonough and Cynthia Matrullo. Available online or through the showroom, 112 Main St., Norwalk, dianejameshome.com.

DUNES & DUCHESS

HEIDI HOLZER DESIGN & DECORATIVE WORK

After a successful career in jewelry and fashion, Heidi Holzer discovered her true passion—creating decorative finishes for residential and commercial clients. Holzer has been at this for over two decades, working out of her studio in Redding. Her business has grown into a guild of highly collaborative and skillfully trained artisans creating custom treatments, including Venetian plaster, gilding, glazing and faux wood and stone for walls, ceilings and furniture. Similar techniques are used to produce bespoke, handrendered wallpaper for Holzer’s sister company Trowel & Paper. heidiholzer. com, trowelandpaper.com.

FAYE KIM

UNSUBSCRIBED

A newcomer to Westport, Unsubscribed opened in April, offering consciously-made clothing and accessories. The brand’s “slow fashion” concept promotes quality over quantity, expanding the use of vintage and recycled materials and selling socially and ethically produced items. Partnering with the community, the shop spotlights local artists’ work. Berkshire artist Charles Thomas O’Neil’s colorful and graphic paintings are currently on display. 26 Main St., Westport, unsubscribed.com.

ctc&g cottagesgardens.com september 2021

Faye Kim Fine Jewelry has been serving up one-of-kind designs out of her Westport shop since 2003. Kim’s impressive resume includes positions as a pearl buyer for Tiffany’s and a fine jewelry buyer for Bergdorf Goodman. Her investment jewelry is contemporary and sophisticated, exhibiting superb craftsmanship. Services include custom commissions and converting outdated or unworn jewelry into timeless, wearable pieces. Show here, Diamond Bar Line earrings in 18k green-gold with diamond baguettes. By appointment, 491 Main St., Westport, fayekim.com.

DIANE JAMES HOME: JANE BEILES; UNSUBSCRIBED: COURTNEY FORAND; HEIDI HOLZER: PAUL JOHNSON

Dunes & Duchess celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2020. Founded by interiors photographer Michael Partenio and stylist Stacy Kunstel, it all began with a candelabra fashioned by Partenio as a gift for Kunstel. Friends were so enamored with the creation that Partenio and Kunstel decided to present a sampling of their products at the New York Gift Show. Barneys New York placed an order, and the rest, as they say, is history. Over the years, the line has grown to include a full collection of lighting and custom furniture. Shown here, the Super Capstan oval table in maple with a dark walnut stain. Dunes & Duchess sources all its materials locally and builds and finishes each piece in its New Milford workshop. dunesandduchess.com.

See Connecticut's Best Properties 1.

41 Rowayton Avenue, Rowayton $6,495,000 Web#170413514 Karen Bonner 917.716.6250

43 Sturges Highway, Westport $3,988,000 Web#170407173

Helen Cusa 203.451.7731 & Kecia Von der Ahe 818.590.7374

183 Ferris Hill, New Canaan $3,900,000 Web#170409188 Jane Armstrong 203.912.3765

2 Broad Road, Greenwich $11,250,000 Web#170332555 Christopher Finlay 203.969.5511

$15,000,000 Web#170401782

266 Michigan Road, New Canaan

Schuyler Morris 610.505.6888

64 Lantern Circle, Stamford $749,000 Web#170421308 Seema Dohil 203-561-4212

789 High Ridge Road, Stamford $1,050,000 Web#170403599 Gerry Nusbaum 203.219.1528

326 Mansfield Avenue, Darien $4,490,000 Web#170398752 Lisa Graham-Wanzell 917.892.1700

25 Contentment Island Road, Darien $10,500,000 Web#170307251 Mary Lopiano 203.912.4694

10.

212 Milbank Avenue, Greenwich $3,350,000 Web#170403547 Rob Johnson 203.979.2360

Brown Harris Stevens Connecticut, LLC. Licensed in Connecticut. All information is from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, prior sale or withdrawal without notice. No representation or guaranty is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and other information should be re-confirmed by customer. All rights to content, photographs and graphics reserved to Broker. Equal Housing Opportunity Broker.

WHAT’S NEW

GRAYGOODS

Located in the GrayBarns enclave in Silvermine, the Mercantile is the place to shop for ethically-sourced goods. Co-owner of GrayBarns, Nikki Glazer has gathered a carefully curated grouping of products, many exclusive to GrayGoods and made right here in Connecticut. The homewares, linens, aprons, tote bags and picnic fare essentials are inspired by the homespun aesthetic of the once-functional textile mill at GrayBarns. The apron, shown here, is made by an artisan in New Hartford. 193 Perry Ave., Norwalk, graybarns.com.

DEBORAH RHODES

Growing up in the South, Deborah Rhodes was taught the art of setting a beautiful table at an early age. Little did she know, she would one day be designing her own line of tabletop linens and accessories. Rhodes began her career as a fashion accessory designer, creating hats, handbags and scarves. Her business shifted when her client, Henri Bendel, approached her to design a placemat. Today, Rhodes designs her linens, placemats and napkin rings in her Bridgeport studio, but travels to exotic locales to find inspiration, artisans and unique materials. Available through Hoagland’s Greenwich, hoaglands.com, deborahrhodes.com.

INTERLUDE HOME

Interlude Home’s contemporary furniture and home décor is designed at the company headquarters in Trumbull. Partners Carl Philips and Wendy King Philips work with artisans and craftsmen in the U.S. and abroad to create fashion-forward pieces—like the Sutton sofa shown here—wearing luxe materials in a sophisticated color palette. interludehome.com.

EYE HEART HAND

STUDIO ZIGGY

Studio Ziggy’s furniture is a labor of love and a team effort with the help of two carpenter brothers, Ziggy and Tom Brodowski, and interior designer Emily Butler. The premise behind the brand—to create high-quality, customizable furnishings in non-toxic materials and VOC-free finishes. The hardwood Mulberry sideboard, shown here in a Juniper finish, is made in Ziggy’s Southington studio. studioziggy.com.

ctc&g cottagesgardens.com september 2021

Kate D. Spain and her husband, Pete, owners of Eye Heart Hand rugs, are all about authenticity. Each rug begins with the design, executed by Kate in her Bridgeport studio. Only sustainably-sourced wool from a single family farm on the South Island of New Zealand is used; then the rug is handwoven by GoodWeavecertified artisans in India. Each rug is hand-numbered and hand-signed by the designer, the shepherd and the rug maker. eyehearthand.earth.

DESIGN NOTES

DETROIT COOL Two heritage brands, Crate & Barrel and Shinola Detroit, have joined forces on a new collection of exclusive handcrafted furniture and housewares. Featuring 115 pieces, including furniture, textiles, bedding, home décor and lighting, each product celebrates craftsmanship in Shinola’s signature Detroit cool style. Watchmaker details like top-stitched leather, along with textured textiles and clean-lined construction, add to the handsome and comfortable designs. Available through Crate & Barrel, Westport, 203-222-9500, crateandbarrel.com. WALLFLOWERS Rifle Paper Co.’s. signature florals and charming illustrations, inspired by Anna Bond’s handpainted artwork, are brought to life with York Wallpaper’s premium peel-and-stick technology. The collection delivers the quality of traditional wallpaper in an easy-to-use format and is offered in seven brandnew patterns, including a peel-andstick mural, Strawberry Fields. Anna Bond shares her enthusiasm for the new designs, “As we have seen our customers excitedly welcoming our wallpaper patterns into their homes,

we wanted to create a brand-new peel-and-stick collection featuring colorful, inviting prints and patterns. From moody colorways to luscious florals, I hope each design inspires our customers to bring new beauty into their homes with this do-it-yourself friendly format.” Availble through Rifle Paper Co., riflepaperco.com and yorkwallcoverings.com. QUILTING BUZZ Textile artist Victoria van der Laan offers a fresh look at an old craft. Paying homage to traditional

ctc&g cottagesgardens.com september 2021

A peek inside the latest buzz-worthy design news happening in the area piecework in a modern vernacular, she has created on an assemblage of quilts, shams and decorative pillows for Annie Selke. The bright colors and graphic patterns are inspired by landforms with names like Boulders, Blades and Stones and iconic quilt patterns—Plait Patched and Mod Cabin—that reinterpret classic quilting in a contemporary style. Hailing from a long line of women makers, van der Laan blurs the lines of craft and art, saying, “I see the work of Sol LeWitt, Josef Albers and Frank Stella, and I think, that’s a quilt.” Notes Annie Selke, President and Chief Vision Officer of the Annie Selke Companies, “Van der Laan’s quilts and textile works are the embodiment of craftsmanship and artistry, and invite you to think about the age-old tradition of quilt making in an entirely new and modern way.” annieselke.com. NEW AMERICANA Designer Max Humphrey has designed a collection of window treatment fabrics for Hartmann & Forbes. The textiles are handcrafted of sustainable natural materials and represent Humphrey’s love of all things Americana, including cable knit sweaters, quilts and the simplistic appeal of grain sacks. Born in New Hampshire, his East Coast sensibility is blended with the laid-back comfort of the Pacific Northwest of his current home in Portland, Oregon. Hartmann & Forbes is known for its bespoke windowcoverings in sustainable fibers harvested from rapidly renewable, wellmanaged ecosytems, hand picked for color, texture and the inherient subtle variegations that add textural

authenticity. The textiles are handwoven on a loom utilitzing techniques refined over generations. Available through Holly Hunt, D&D, NYC, hartmannforbes.com. ARCHITECTURAL LIGHTING New York City Alora designer Charles Lighting Pavarini III has designed a lighting collection with Vancouver-based lighting manufacturer Alora Lighting. The fixtures premiered in June at the Dallas Lightovation show. The transitional designs feature classical details incorporating LED technology and are executed with the craftsmanship and manufacturing capability of Alora Lighting. Pavarini’s grandfather is credited with shaping such historic NYC landmarks as the Seagram’s Tower, the State Theater at Lincoln Center and the United Nations. His grandson’s designs also tell an architectural story in rich metals of soft brushed vintage brass and edgy urban bronze, paired with alabaster, wood and glass. Available through Fashion Light Center, 68 Putnam Ave., Greenwich, 203-869-3098, aloralighting.com., parvarinidesign. com.—Mary Fitzgerald

Hartmann & Forbes

JENNIFERANDERSON-DESIGNS.COM

JEWELRY

Linked-In M A K E A B O L D S TAT E M E N T T H I S F A L L WITH THE KIND OF CHUNKY LINKED JEWELRY NOT SEEN SINCE THE '80S. THIS CLASSIC S T Y L E G E T S U P D AT E D B Y E M P L O Y I N G M I X E D M E TA L S A N D A D D I N G D I A M O N D E L E M E N T S FOR EXTRA GLAMOUR. B Y H A R R I E T M AY S P O W E L L

Faye Kim’s 18k green-gold and diamond baguette hinged bracelet. $23,000, by appointment at Faye Kim, Westport, fayekim.com.

JLRock’s 14k gold and diamond Missing Link bracelet. $2,800, JLRocks, Westport, Greenwich, jlrocks.com. Sidney Garber’s 18K yellow-gold and diamond Tivoli oval link necklace. $22,300, Mitchell’s, Westport, Richard’s, Greenwich, mitchellstores.com.

ctc&g cottagesgardens.com september 2021

Hermès’ 18k yellowgold double Chaine d'Ancre enchainee bracelet with diamond. $4,800, Hermès, Greenwich, hermes.com.

Milamore’s 18k whiteand yellow-gold Duo Chain bracelet. $2,880, en.milamorejewelry.com.

Tiffany & Co.’s 18k white gold HardWear link bracelet with diamonds. $17,500, Tiffany & Co.,Westport, Greenwich, tiffany.com.

Lux Bond & Green’s 14k yellowgold and diamond necklace. $9,225, Lux Bond & Green, Westport, lbgreen.com.

september 2021 cottagesgardens.com ctc&g

MARKETPLACE

INSPIRING SURFACES ELEVATE YOUR SPACE WITH NEW LOOKS IN TILE, QUARTZ, GLASS AND STONE P R O D U C E D B Y C AT R I O N A B R A N C A

FLUID VEINING

(clockwise from top left) New to the CAESARSTONE Whitelight quartz family, Calacatta Maximus has oversized soft-greige veining intensified by fine copper-gold. Through Gault Stone & Landscape Supplies, Westport, gaultstone.com, caesarstoneus.com. Part of ANTOLINI’s Exclusive Collection, dramatic white, gray and black veins of Silver Dark granite swirl around each other like clouds. antolini.com. Reminiscent of the exotic flower for which it’s named, ARTISTIC TILE’s stone slab Tiger Lily delights with ribbons of electrifying orange and yellow against a background of soft sage green. artistictile.com. Via Lattea, part of the COSENTINO’s Sensa Collection, is a granite stone from Brazil that has a black background with small and soft white veins running through it. cosentino.com. Available in CAMBRIA’s new Satin Ridge finish—a sheen between high gloss and matte—Leabridge quartz features gradations of cool white and warm honey. Through Ring’s End, Norwalk, ringsend.com, cambriausa.com.

connecticut cottages & gardens

september 2021

FLORAL FEELS

(clockwise from top left) Savoy Prints Insho Flowers from ANN SACKS is part of a collection of organic-themed tiles with raised, repeating patterns achieved through Old World Japanese hand-screening techniques. Through Kohler Signature Store, Westport, kohlersignaturestorewestport.com, annsacks.com. Reef—a patterned hexagon tile from NEMO TILE & STONE—creates optical illusions in a variety of patterns and solids; Coral Negative is shown here. nemotile.com. THE TILE SHOP has expanded its line of Laura Ashley porcelain tiles to include Mr. Jones, a pattern inspired by historic prints from the Laura Ashley archive. New colorways feature a soft palette; Midnight shown here. Norwalk, tileshop. com. FIRECLAY TILE’s handpainted Ginkgo tile, part of the Sakura collection, features a fan-shaped pattern inspired by the leaves of the iconic Japanese tree. fireclaytile.com. May—a design included in NEW RAVENNA’s Femme & Function collection, inspired by the legacy of women pioneers in functional art—is shown in honed Ivory Cream with polished Iris, Viola and Olive Glazed Basalto. Through Greenwich Tile & Marble, Greenwich, greenwichtileandmarble.com, newravenna.com.

september 2021 cottagesgardens.com ctc&g

PALETTE PLEASERS

(clockwise from top left) ANN SACKS has expanded its Beau Monde glass mosaic program with six designs that reflect classic elements found in midcentury Modern design; here, Argyle pattern in bronze and cat’s eye in a sea-glass finish. Through Kohler Signature Store, kohlersignaturestorewestport.com, Westport, annsacks.com. Cosmati Moon, a customizable mosaic from ARTISTIC TILE, is composed of bisected circles of rich veined stones in two colorways: Light Multi (shown) and Dark Multi. Through Nukitchens, Norwalk, nukitchens. com, artistictile.com. Desert Wildflowers by Julia Buckingham for COUNTRY FLOORS is a collection of glazed ceramic tiles inspired by the desert flora of the Southwest; available in five colors, Flame Flower shown here. countryfloors.com. AKDO’s Beacon Aster Sapphire Art Glass mosaic is a sophisticated play on geometric layering—diamond shapes combine to form triangles that combine to create hexagons. Bridgeport, akdo.com. NEMO TILE & STONE’s Glow unfolds in four colors, each available in a matte or glossy finish and offered in a mix completed by a holographic finish that creates an iridescent visual rhythm. nemotile.com.

connecticut cottages & gardens

september 2021

MARKETPLACE

FRAGMENTED FORMS

(clockwise from top left) CROSSVILLE’s Cursive is notable for its range of eclectic shapes and nine color options. Each tile has a handmade appearance with a watercolor effect around the edges. Through Connecticut Stone, Milford, connecticutstone.com, crossvilleinc.com. The sinuous motifs of COUNTRY FLOORS’ Wagara—traditional Japanese patterns—are reinterpreted in ceramic wall tiles; available in eight patterns in seven colors; Aka Seigaiha is shown here. countryfloors.com. WALKER ZANGER’s Pop Culture tile series has a bold and graphic black-and-white format that references the Pop Art movement in a variety of geometric patterns (Chess Queen is shown here), solids and mosaics, inspiring unique mix-and-match patterns. Port Chester, NY, walkerzanger.com. Anni, a handcut and waterjet stone mosaic shown in honed Thassos and Celeste, is part of the Femme & Function collection by NEW RAVENNA. Through Bender, Norwalk, benderplumbing.com, newravenna.com. Pressed by hand in Stonington, Argos is part of LILYWORK ARTISAN TILE’s Aegean Collection, inspired by time spent exploring the ancient ruins, Minoan pottery and natural beauty of Crete. Stonington, lilyworktile.com.

september 2021 cottagesgardens.com ctc&g

DEEDS DON’TS I N S I D E S T O R I E S B E H I N D A R E A R E A L E S TAT E D E A L S

Connecticut Classics

ecause connecticut is among america’s first five

states—beat out for the number four spot by Georgia by just five days—we have more than two centuries of home styles under our belt. And while our state’s first housing stock favored the austere Saltbox and unassuming Cape, homes eventually started reflecting the fashions of the time, embracing everything from fanciful Victorian styling to sophisticated modern design. As kids return to their classrooms, we’ve prepared a lesson plan around vernacular architecture, as represented by these six for-sale homes. Class is in session! EUROPEAN ACCENTS

onnecticut’s most lavish homes tend to look to the

Old World for both architectural inspiration and actual building materials. That was certainly the case for the 19,000-square-foot chateaustyle manse in New Canaan, on the market for $15 million. The home’s

ctc&g cottagesgardens.com september 2021

Collectors Welcome This chateau-style manse in New Canaan includes picture-perfect landscaping and garaging for 25 cars. It lists for $15 million with Schuyler M. Morris and Rob Johnson of Brown Harris Stevens in New Canaan and Greenwich, respectively. 610-505-6888 and 203-979-2360.

Move beyond your expectations

16 Raiders Lane, Darien, CT

9 Pettipaug Avenue, Old Saybrook, CT

46 June Road, Washington, CT

BESPOKE ENGLISH MANOR HOME WITH WATER VIEWS

BEAUTIFUL FENWICK BEACHFRONT PROPERTY

BRILLIANTLY DESIGNED MODERN LAKE RETREAT

5 BD | 6 BA | 1 HBA | 6,329 SQFT | $8,400,000

7 BD | 5 BA | 1 HBA | 5,585 SQFT | $6,495,000

5 BD | 5 BA | 1 HBA | 11,000 SQFT | $5,995,000

MOLLY WATKINS | CHRISTINE STRADEN | 203.536.3889

COLETTE HARRON | 860.304.2391

THE GOLDSPIEL GROUP | 917.626.3481

30 Edgewater Hillside, Westport, CT

93 Amenia Union Road, Sharon, CT

30 West Avenue, Essex, CT

180’ OF BREATHTAKING UNOBSTRUCTED WATER VIEWS

ICONIC ESTATE WITH STUNNING VIEWS SITED ON 23+ ACRES

1819 COLONIAL HOUSE BUILT BY CAPTAIN URIAH HAYDEN

6 BD | 4 BA | 2 HBA | 5,185 SQFT | $5,900,000

9 BD | 11 BA | 3 HBA | 12,759 SQFT | $5,500,000

4 BD | 3 BA | 2 HBA | 5,059 SQFT | $2,789,000

KAREN CURTIS | 203.820.3941

DIANA BISSELLE | THE LEGACY TEAM | 917.519.5021

COLETTE HARRON | 860.304.2391

13 Valley Road, Norwalk, CT

28 Shorefront Park, Norwalk, CT

114 Colony Road, Darien, CT

PRIVATE WATERFRONT ASSOCIATION OF WILSON POINT

STUNNING DIRECT WATERFRONT HOME WITH SANDY BEACH

FABULOUS NEW RENOVATION | EXCEPTIONAL LOCATION

5 BD | 6 BA | 5,128 SQFT | $2,400,000

4 BD | 5 BA | 4,167 SQFT | $2,375,000

5 BD | 4 BA | 0.7 ACRES | 5,220 SQFT | $2,350,000

EILEEN K. MURPHY | 203.321.6912

BRUCE BAKER | 203.912.7061

44 South Street, Litchfield, CT

140 Liberty Street, Madison, CT

69 Neck Road, Old Lyme, CT

CIRCA 1855 GEORGE MORRIS WOODRUFF HOUSE

ANTIQUE HOME WITH SEPARATE GUEST COTTAGE

HISTORIC COUNTRY ESTATE WITH GUEST COTTAGE

5 BD | 4 BA | 3 HBA | 5,448 SQFT | $1,750,000

4 BD | 4 BA | 2,426 SQFT | $1,350,000

4 BD | 3 BA | 1 HBA | 2,836 SQFT | $1,245,000

JANE HINKEL | 860.459.0718

BETTE ZOLLSHAN | 203.980.0099

COLETTE HARRON | 860.304.2391

Nothing Compares.

williampitt.com Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

DEEDS & DON’TS

How Grand This English manor home in Darien just hit the market at $8.4 million, listed with Molly O’Brien Watkins and Christine V. Straden, both of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty in Darien. 203-536-3889 and 917-680-4585.

ENGLISH CLASS

he english manor home is much prized in our state for

the way it looks so appropriate on the land—this is New England, after all—as well as for its charm. Douglas VanderHorn Architects has built an especially appealing example in Darien that just hit the market for $8.4 million. Sited 60 feet above the water, the circa-2018 stone manse was designed to take in panoramic vistas of Scotts Cove and Long Island Sound—views that,

All Hail The Queen In Southport, this circa-1868 Queen Vic is listed for $3,095,000 by Amy Curry of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Westport. 203-913-8744.

ctc&g cottagesgardens.com september 2021

for our money, are particularly lovely when enjoyed from the freestanding slipper tub in the main-bedroom suite’s pretty bathroom. Among the most welcoming of spaces is the family room with its stone fireplace and cathedral ceiling, adorned with reclaimed oak trusses. The main floor also offers a guest suite, a walnut-paneled study, an office, a butler's pantry and a wine room, as well as the kitchen and formal dining room. And there’s a fun bonus on the third floor: a playroom with built-in bunks. Molly O’Brien Watkins and Christine V. Straden, both of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, share the listing. An ornate circa-1868 home is one of the finest examples of Victorian architecture on the market, just listed for $3,095,000. Located along Pequot Avenue in Southport, the Second-Empire style “Vic” was built by architects Lambert & Bunnell and recently updated by David Scott Parker. Called the Pomeroy House, the nearly 6,000-square-foot interiors are arranged according to the classic scheme—including two front parlors with pocket doors and banquet-sized formal dining room and featuring the tall doors, high ceilings, mahogany moldings and carved fireplaces (nine in all!) that are typical of the era. But the renovation also created spaces for the modern family, including an expansive kitchen, four bedrooms and, on the half-acre grounds, a swimming pool and terrace. Amy Curry of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has the listing.

TOP: DAN MILSTEIN

ivy-covered façade is a stately affair with columns, turrets, and a grand courtyard with sculpted hedging. The entrance hall is a true atrium with its inlaid Italian marble floors, double-height ceilings and dramatic spiral staircase that leads to the main bedroom suite above and a capacious wine cellar below. Among the 25 rooms, there is also a sunken, octagon-shaped living room; an adjoining marble bar room; a two-story library with glass shelving manufactured in Germany; and not one, but two offices. Along with the wine room, the lower levels offer a gym, a game room with a fireplace and a crazy-big underground garage that can house 25 cars. The back of the house features an expansive terrace with a pool and access to the pond and tennis court. It’s offered by Schuyler M. Morris and Rob Johnson of Brown Harris Stevens.

YOUR BEACH HOUSE NEEDS A SKI HOUSE. Luxury Modern Barn at Hermitage Ski Club 29 Stag’s Leap Lane, Wilmington, Vermont A MUST SEE! $4,250,000 Furnished

Scan for Full Listing

Turnkey for the Coming Winter Season · 7,100+ SF Custom Built New Construction on Four Finished Levels · Six Bedrooms, Five Full & One Half Baths · Two Masonry Fireplaces · Outdoor Fire-Pit · Media Room Home Office · Built to an Uncommon Standard Utilizing Only the Very Finest in Materials, Fit and Finish

Shaun Golden · Developer · Sagaponack, New York · 631.375.2202

DEEDS & DON’TS

HAVER & SKOLNICK

ARCHITECTS haverskolnickarchitects.com

Star Power This circa-1840 East Haddam Colonial is owned by television star David Tutera. It lists for $1,450,000 with Zoe Zrakas of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty in Niantic. 860-625-6617.

COLONIAL & CONTEMPORARY

lthough these two aesthetics—colonial and contemporary—are

far apart in their eras, they share the top spot for our state’s most ubiquitous house design. And while there are many, many interpretations of the word “colonial” when it comes to design, a new listing exemplifies the style. Located in East Haddam—a hotbed of Connecticut Colonialism—the circa-1840 home is owned by television star David

INNOVATION IN DESIGN AWARDS BY

FIN

ALIST

GOT MILK? Once a dairy barn, this modern dwelling is now a 5,300-square-foot home, sited on 45 acres in Roxbury. One of the coolest spaces is the barrel-roofed addition, which houses a great room with a floor-to-ceiling stone hearth and beamed ceilings. A few steps up is the open-plan kitchen with a pizza oven, along with an adjoining dining area. There are three bedrooms in all and, on the rolling acreage, gardens and an orchard. It lists for $3,495,000 with Maria Taylor and Claudine McHugh, both of Klemm Real Estate in Washington Depot and Woodbury, respectively. 203-578-0397 and 203-228-7000.

TOP: RISE VISUAL MEDIA

2021

DEEDS & DON’TS

Tutera, host of the long-running reality show “David Tutera’s Celebrations,” as well as “My Great Big Lifetime Wedding.” The event planner, whose client list includes Elton John and Jennifer Lopez, bought the nine-acre spread in 2003, transforming it over the years by expanding the kitchen, adding a movie theater and gym, and constructing a four-bedroom guest house. Not surprisingly, the property has served as the setting for a couple of episodes of his television shows, photo shoots for books, and a wedding. It lists for $1,450,000 with Zoe Zrakas of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty. Finally in Branford, AIA-award winning architect Peter Kurt Woerner just finished building a striking contemporary, now listed for $2.8 million. He calls it Osprey House & Studio, a nod to its siting on a high granite promontory with vistas over a wildlife sanctuary and salt marsh filled with geese, ducks, seagulls and, of course, osprey. The 5,500-square-foot home also offers distant views to the Thimble Islands and Long Island Sound. One of the property’s standout features is its oversized windows, as well as the cantilevered deck off the living room. There’s also a separate studio/guest house that features a two-story great room with fireplace, a kitchenette and sliding glass doors onto a deck. Barbara Goetsch of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty has the listing. — Diane di Costanzo

NURSERY & GREENHOUSES, LLC EST. 1930

Full Service Garden Center

DENNIS CARBO

Rock On Perched on a granite promontory in Branford, this newly constructed contemporary is listed for $2.8 million with Barbara Goetsch of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty in Guilford. 203-927-7146.

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F I N A LI S

SEPTEMBER

JOHN GRUEN

CONNECTICUT COTTAGES & GARDENS

STYLISH SPLENDOR september 2021 cottagesgardens.com ctc&g

TRANSFORMING A GREENWICH HOME TO COMPLEMENT ITS BUCOLIC SETTING

NATURAL CONNECTION BY MINDY PANTIEL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRISHA ESTILL

ctc&g cottagesgardens.com september 2021

Inside Out (this spread) In the breakfast nook, details like the Schumacher fabric abstract leaf pattern on the backs of Century Furniture chairs help establish a relationship with the natural beauty seen through the windows. The Bunny Williams Home table is oak with a white cerused finish. Artist Dmitri Wright was commissioned to paint daffodils meant to mimic those that bloom on the property every spring. See Resources.

september 2021 cottagesgardens.com ctc&g

ctc&g cottagesgardens.com september 2021

1960s In the

German psychologist Erich Fromm introduced a theory known as biophilia that postulated human beings possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other life forms. A Greenwich Colonial recently refreshed by interior designer Jamie Garcia more than supports his hypothesis. From the brilliant green leaf pattern on the sunroom pillows, to the paintings of daffodils in the kitchen that mimic the thousand-plus varieties that bloom every spring on a nearby hillside, to a color scheme dominated by blues referencing everything from robin’s eggs to the sky, the house is a testimony to the human desire to form an enduring relationship with the world beyond our doorsteps. Despite a palette that could easily be dubbed “fifty shades of blue,” when the homeowners brought in Garcia a few years back with the stated goal of “just updating our dining room,” the hue was nowhere to be found. “When we moved into the house in the 1990s, yellow was trending and I thought it would make the house sunnier and brighter,” the wife shares about the home’s previous dominant background color. “But Jamie saw all this gold and yellow and thought it sucked the light out of the room.” Coupled with Persian rugs and mahogany accent pieces, the interiors were the antithesis of light and airy. To achieve the ambient shift, Garcia started the do-over with a wallcovering of sky-colored branches on a white background. “The dining room is rather shady, so we went light with the paper,” the designer explains about the aptly named Twiggy Paperweave selection. Next came new chairs, and when the wife, an avid gardener, spied the cornflower blue seats and embroidered silk flowers on the backs, the floodgates opened. “I loved the transformation so much, from there we decided to go room to room,” she shares about the resulting domino effect. Moving to the sunroom, the more intense natural light mandated saturated colors like Capri blue—reminiscent of the Mediterranean—for the cushions on the rattan furnishings topped with the aforementioned verdant pillows. “The backdrop out the window is an intense green, so lighter tones would have just faded away,” says Garcia, who introduced coffee and side tables wrapped in woven linen for contrast and textural counterpoints. According to the designer, the use of texture and pattern—the subtle herringbone pattern on the sofa and cut velvet on the club chairs in the living room, for example—are part of an overall theme that establishes what she calls the home’s “ebb and flow.” “Whether it’s the fabrics or the artwork, every

True Blue (clockwise across spread from opposite page) Cornflower-blue velvet chair seats complement the sky-colored botanical silhouette wallcovering, both by Schumacher. The floral-patterned seat backs are Cowtan & Tout silk, and the polished nickel and crystal chandelier is by Aerin. Interior designer Jamie Garcia is backed by silk Robert Allen drapes. E.F. Chapman lamps rest on an acrylic sideboard by John-Richards, and the artwork is by Hunt Slonem. See Resources.

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room has a character of its own that comes to life when you enter, but each space is also peaceful and calming,” she explains. Nowhere are those words more evident than the primary bedroom, where the handpainted wallpaper—depicting pale pastel flowers and birds that seem poised to burst into song—is the essence of serenity. The white leather bed and sandy-toned, linen-wrapped side tables provide quiet complements, and crystal lamps allow the delicate paper pattern to show through. A Lucite bench topped with velvet in the perfect shade of glacier blue completes the up-in-the-clouds ambience, and a bronze bust of a bunny playfully perched on the dresser is a whimsical nod to nature. Throughout the house, shades of sand and taupe—like those seen on the breakfast nook chairs and on the seating in the family room space above the garage, where the homeowners head for TV and movie viewing—are consistent background players. In the family room, dubbed the crow’s nest for its perch-like setting, outsized Audubon prints depicting herons continue the well-established connection to the outside world. “All the rooms are so inviting—my husband and I rotate using them throughout the day,” enthuses the wife, adding, “The overall visual impact of lightening and brightening everything is incredible. We got a brand new house without having to move.” ✹ Natural Connections (clockwise across spread from left) In the family room, Tibet print pillows from Clarence House top a custom sectional upholstered in a linen and cotton blend by Ralph Lauren. In the sunroom, the sofa and chair from the homeowner’s collection are upholstered in a Peter Fasano hemp; the Christopher Farr linen on the pillows is through Holland & Sherry; the lamps are by Kelly Wearstler; and the coffee table is custom. Handpainted silk wallcovering by Paul Montgomery establishes a serene setting in the primary bedroom, where the bedding is Matouk and the lamp is by E.F. Chapman. See Resources.

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ABOVE+BEYOND A NEW WEEKEND HOUSE GIVES THE OWNERS EVEN MORE THAN THEY EXPECTED BY ELENA BOWES | PHOTOGRAPHS BY ELLEN MCDERMOTT

ctc&g cottagesgardens.com september 2021

MixRoom Master With (this A page Viewand

opposite ) In the) The living great room, (this spread

designer room opens Fiona onto Leonard the complemented swimming pool, thewhich clients’ is surrounded existing furniture by Italian with a geometric limestone Kaleen and Anegada lovely gardens. flatweave The rugchaises in silver. areThe circular fromVanguard Pavilion Furniture. coffee table is throughSee Wakefield Resources. Design Center. See Resources.

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Sweet Dreams In the main bedroom (above), Serena & Lily night tables flank an RH bed; Outdoor (this The photo ) The gardensexisting of this twin weekend were designed by complemented drapery fabric isElan Pindler. homeowners’ bedsgetaway (below) are left to right In the greatShapes room, Louis Landscape Architects. Living Well (below byFusco custom throw pillows and a Stanton Carpet Jazzy area rug; )the Simple a chandelier through Corbett Lighting illuminates chairs; the mountains mural is peel-and-stick. Custom stripesTomlinson adorn the sofas walls and in a daughter’s handknotted rug ispage from Exquisite Rugs. Semicircle matte hardware Richelieu ), which is furnished with nightblack tables through W rug;bythe Simple bedroom (opposite opposite page) The kitchen makes a statement onpeel-and-stick. cabinet doors. Custod Doublewith The night Fun (tables Shapes mountains mural is through W rug; the has two islands topped mural with Quarzite Taj Mahal Custom from Stonehenge Marble Granite. Simple Shapes mountains is peel-and-stick. stripes adorn the&walls in a Vanguard Furnituredaughter’s stools are bedroom upholstered in Designer’s Guildisblue leather, theResources. pendants page), which furnishe. See (opposite are from Hubbardton Forge, and the backsplash tile is from Artistic Tile. See Resources.

Dining Delight Kravet’s Kraus wallpaper in indigo wraps the dining room. The chandelier is from Circa Lighting, and the collection of vases on the table is from West Elm. See Resources.

HEN A NEW YORK COUPLE inherited a weekend house in Litchfield County a few years ago, they turned to their friend and designer Denise Balassi of South Salem–based Spaces of Distinction for advice. Initially, they planned to renovate the modest 1950s house, but after showing Balassi some early architectural drawings and their wish list for the property, the designer recommended a different approach. “Perhaps it would be more cost effective to tear the house down,” she suggested. After some thought, the couple agreed. “The house needed so many modifications and improvements that it made more sense to start from scratch,” notes the husband. At the top of their wish list: having an elegant but cozy home where they could comfortably entertain friends and family (including young grandchildren), a smart house that could be managed remotely from an iPhone, a quiet space for the husband (who works in publishing) to retreat and read, and probably the most challenging item on the list, space to properly display his parents’ vast and varied art collection.

“My parents, primarily my father, bought whatever they liked,” he explains. “My father built a huge diverse collection of American Indian art and African art.” The eclectic collection also includes some big-name artists like Chagall, Calder, Christo, Picasso, Motherwell and Chihuly. Balassi began by assembling a team of builders, architects and landscape designers, including James T. Best Architect + Associates, Louis Fusco Landscape Architects and once the house was built, Neal McDonough, a New Jersey–based art handler. The architect re-sited the house on the 11-acre wooded property to capture sunlight throughout the day—the bedrooms getting the morning light, the screened-in porch receiving the afternoon light, and the kitchen and living room bathing in light throughout the day. “The house itself was designed to showcase the art collection,” says Balassi. More than 100 works of art needed to find a home. “We didn’t see the art in person until the installation,” she adds. “It was all held in storage.” Armed with only a catalog detailing sizes, values and some imagery, Balassi needed september 2021 cottagesgardens.com ctc&g

WALLPAPER SOFTENS THE WALLS OF THE GALLERY AND THE DINING ROOM, WHILE MILLWORK ON THE DINING ROOM CEILING DELINEATES IT FROM THE GALLERY. THE COLOR SCHEME OF THE HOUSE IS A PALETTE OF WARM BLUES, GRAYS AND TAUPES WITH POPS OF COLOR

Elegant Setting Glass candleholders from Wildwood top a custom walnut dining room table, manufactured by Dan Parish, that is surrounded by Dorya chairs. The chandelier and sconces are from Fine Art Handcrafted Lighting, and the mirror and fireplace screen are from Uttermost. See Resources.

Inside Stories (clockwise across spread from above) Textured Osborne & Little wallpaper softens the walls of the gallery, staircase and dining room. A painting by Alexander Calder hangs outside the powder room, where a Currey & Company chest was converted into a vanity; the mirror is from Uttermost. The armchair in the primary bedroom is from Vanguard Furniture and is upholstered in a Robert Allen pattern. The pendant lights in the primary bathroom are from ET2 Lighting. In the primary bedroom, the headboard is covered in Vanguard’s velvet pattern Vesna slate with silver nailhead trim. The crystal and bronze bedside lamp is from John-Richard. See Resources.

to figure out what should go where. Her clients wanted the most valuable works hung in the gallery, so she ensured it had maximum wall space with lighting specially designed to highlight the art. Also in Balassi’s remit were several sculptures, including two life-size bronze horses, an antique carousel and a wooden coyote. Instead of a formal living room, the couple preferred a more casual great room—something fun, not too serious. “I knew the house would be large,” says the wife, “but I wanted it to be cozy. Denise is such a fantastic designer. She ended up giving us exactly what we wanted.” When visitors enter the house, they look directly into the great room with its 20-foot cathedral ceilings, and then through to the swimming pool and gardens beyond. Every room on the first floor, except the kitchen, has doors leading out onto the terrace. To achieve the elegant-but-cozy look her clients desired, Balassi used natural 74

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finishes to create warmth, especially in the great room with its towering proportions. For the fireplace, a limestone mantel surround is complemented by ash-wood shelves. “The furnishings are appropriately scaled so that the furniture isn’t overbearing or underwhelming,” says Balassi. Wallpaper softens the walls of the gallery and the dining room, while millwork on the dining room ceiling delineates it from the gallery. The color scheme of the house is a palette of warm blues, grays and taupes with pops of color. At the project’s big reveal, the wife walked through the door and burst into tears of joy; the husband was similarly impressed. “When we first started, I wanted a one-room log cabin,” he jokes. “We ended up with a large home that’s like a resort. Our friends and family come up every weekend. It’s just a wonderful place for people to gather and have a nice time. And we were friends with Denise when we started—we’re even better friends now.”✹

Tranquil Setting The recently restored property includes new terracing around the villa and an oval pool with a glass mosaic tile interior. See Resources.

REIMAGINING AND RESTORING THE GARDENS SURROUNDING AN ENCHANTING LAKE COMO VILLA 76

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ITALIAN

RENAISSANCE TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAMES DOYLE

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Lake Como has been called the most beautiful lake in the world and is known for its prestigious villas and villages. It is a dreamy destination, and when a client asked if I would be interested in working with them on their newly purchased villa, there was only one answer! The real estate listing described their purchase as an “enchanting fairytale Lake Como villa with boathouses and gardens.” The home sits in a bay midway between Como and Bellagio. It was built in the 1920s, transforming a villa from a much earlier period, but the home and property had fallen into a state of disrepair. Many of these villas have admirable gardens, so who could resist an opportunity to restore this one to its former glory? The journey that began in 2013 was finally completed last year, and truthfully, none of us could have envisioned the challenges and rewards this project would bring. Upon my first visit, I was overwhelmed and disoriented by the condition of the gardens, but totally enchanted by the character and beauty of the property. With all credit to my clients, they assembled a wonderful team of architect, contractors and specialists, and stayed the course with a dedication to a once-in-a-lifetime project of restoration and renovation. This property has more than 400 yards of lake frontage with exceptional views, and, like most of the lake’s waterfront villas, the land rises quickly and

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steeply. This terrain provides challenges, but because of its microclimate, it can sustain many subtropical and Mediterranean plants. It was an opportunity to work with an exciting plant palette and to create destinations on the property that would allow for differing views of the lake as one traversed about the gardens. We spent almost two years designing the landscape and coordinating the phasing of the installation. We sourced the stone for all the terraces and pathways, and visited nurseries collecting plant materials. Much work was done to preserve wonderful and sacred trees on site, and construction began in earnest. Ledge and rock removal, site stabilization and restoration of underground streams were major challenges. Because of limited access to most lakeside properties, huge construction cranes were set up, and materials were delivered and removed by barge from the lake. These hurdles were offset by an enthusiasm to see a wonderful project imagined. Our design was dictated by our client’s needs and desires. With no direct automobile access to the main villa, one arrives at a garage and a beautifully restored guesthouse, then a walk along the entire lake frontage brings you to the villa. Our goal was to ensure a walk with the most beautiful views and plantings to complement this journey. As this is the sunniest area of

Bella Vista (clockwise across spread from opposite page) The main pathway that leads to the villa is lined with ceanothus and New Zealand flax, and passes a raised bed filled with palms and red geraniums above the boathouse. The entrance to the boathouse is located at the far end of the pool, which is backed by a wall of aromatic jasmine. See Resources.

Verdant Pleasures (clockwise across spread from far left) A vegetable and herb garden was designed next to the restored citrus limonaia. The tropical garden includes purple and white flowering rock roses, New Zealand flax, agaves and several varieties of African lilies. The restored grotto. The guesthouse and the grotto walkway. A view of the tropical garden from above. See Resources.

Mille Fiore (this page, clockwise from right) Flowering plantings include ceanothus, rock roses, an ancient wisteria, aruncus and acanthus. Tropical Flair (opposite page) A wide diversity of plantings—including palm trees and ferns—line the woodland walkway. See Resources.

OUR GOAL WAS TO ENSURE A WALK WITH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VIEWS AND PLANTINGS TO COMPLEMENT THIS JOURNEY 82

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the property, our plantings included a tropical garden with windmill palm trees, purple and white flowering rock roses, New Zealand flax, agaves and varieties of African lilies to name a few. Toward the villa, we had a diverse shrubbery collection that included more scented plants, such as Mexican orange blossom, glossy abelia, red escallonia, daisy bush, hydrangeas and mock orange. Above the main walkway, we created switchback pathways to ease walking the steep slopes of the property. Most of the mature trees we preserved are in these upper areas, so it became a more naturalized woodland garden higher up on the property. Masses of azaleas, sweetbox, skimmias, more hydrangeas and groundcovers were planted to stabilize the woodland floor, while multiple seating areas were established as resting spots to enjoy the views. In true Italian spirit, a charming grotto was restored along with a citrus limonaia. Next to the limonaia, we restored a vegetable and herb garden, which is tended lovingly by the villa gardener. A swimming pool was requested, and this was realized and remains one of the most favorite features I have ever designed. Throughout my career I have wanted to design an oval pool, and the setting and space allowed for the perfect opportunity. Nestled lakeside and finished with a glass mosaic interior, it now sits in its own garden space backed by a wall of aromatic jasmine. This villa, in a truly majestic setting, was the perfect dream project. ✹ Woodland Walk (clockwise across spread from opposite page) Switchback trails run up the hillside from the main walkway to the woodland grotto. The view from above the guesthouse reveals the complexity of the landscape. A restored gazebo provides a resting spot along the pathway above the swimming pool area. See Resources.

Sweet Surroundings (this spread) The moment a couple drove up to an 18th-century Colonial house in South Kent, they decided to purchase it. Architectural designer Steven Kalur and interior designer Michael Halpern brought the property up to date for them. See Resources.

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Setting The Scene

A CALIFORNIA COUPLE’S LITCHFIELD COUNTY SECOND HOME CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF ICONIC CONNECTICUT BY DAVID MASELLO | PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN GRUEN september 2021 cottagesgardens.com ctc&g

Inner Glow By raising the roof some two feet, Kalur created a dormer that brings in more natural light by day and glows from within at night. See Resources.

RIOR TO BEGINNING HIS WORK ON FURNISHING this South Kent house, Michael Halpern had to account for the most important existing design element, one that wasn’t even inside the house: snow. “Seriously,” the interior designer says, “everything for this home—furnishings, textiles, accessories—had to look good with the snow outside.” Unlike most second-home owners in Litchfield County, the husband and wife wanted to use the house almost exclusively in wintertime. “He’s a major Hollywood writer/producer, and she’s a talented visual artist, and they wanted to live in a cozy, stereotypical New England cottage in the country, with snow falling outside and a fire roaring inside,” is how their architectural designer Steven Kalur, of F+H Architectural Design & Consulting, sums up their agenda. And while all parties were in harmonious collaboration to achieve that goal, Kalur emphasizes that “he was in love with the house and the location, while she had her foot on the gas in terms of the overall production of the renovation and about getting things done and getting moved in.” Because of the client’s writing career, he was used to the idea of building a TV or movie set. In the case of a Colonial house, the couple wanted the real thing as it already existed. Halpern, who has lived in Northwest Connecticut for years in an 18th-century house, took them to his home, whereupon the client said, “Okay, I want your house exactly.” “I told them I wasn’t going to give them my home,” says Halpern. “So, I took them to a house for sale nearby, and as we were pulling into the driveway, they said, ‘I think we’re going to buy this house.’ Within one hour, they’d bought it.” Because the couple spends considerable time in sunny Southern California, the last thing they wanted was the darkness and cramped rooms characteristic of many a true Colonial house. It was Kalur’s role to open the house up, brighten it with natural light, raise the ceilings, and foster a more open floor plan. The house was gutted to its 18th-century studs, though much of the original layout was then re-created, even to the point of preserving the original sloping floors. “We removed the roof,” Kalur explains, “but when I say that, I mean we completely took off the roof structure and rebuilt a new one two feet higher and added dormers.” Two existing masonry foundations—one

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Mixing Periods (clockwise from this photo) Halpern chose Danish Modern furnishings for the dining area, including an oval table, host and hostess chairs, and a pendant, all from Suite NY; the cane chairs are vintage through RT Facts. The house assumes a classic Colonial profile. A custom console through RT Facts fills a dining area wall. The mudroom floor is composed of painted cement tiles from Mosaic House. See Resources.

Kitchen Cachet (left and opposite page) The kitchen bar is illuminated with Aplomb suspension pendants from Suite NY. Black soapstone from La Pietra Tile & Stone was used for counter surfaces, while the backsplash uses custom tiles from Bantam Tileworks; the circular flushmount ceiling fixtures are from Circa Lighting. A New Era (top and far left) The living room is defined by an A. Rudin sectional upholstered with a Pollack Associates fabric. A swivel lounge chair uses a Nobilis fabric. See Resources.

“They wanted to live in a cozy, stereotypical New England cottage in the country, with snow falling outside and a fire roaring inside”

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Past Meets Present (clockwise across spread from opposite page)

The dressing room features Galbraith & Paul’s Lotus wallpaper and a Chelsea Textiles vanity (reflected in the Roman Thomas mirror). The bed in the primary suite was made by Fair Design; the ceiling fixture is from DForm Design. A guest room has Rogers & Goffigon fabric on the shades and pillows; the rug is designed by Roger Oates. Maharam’s playful Paul Smith Playing Cards pattern adorns on the walls. See Resources.

made of fieldstone and another of brick—were left in place, though repaired. “These two masonry elements were once main supporting elements of the roof,” says Kalur. “But with the new roof, these elements no longer carried the load as they once did.” Upstairs, raised ceilings meant that occupants could stand in the two bedrooms without grazing timbers. While the homeowners initially were resistant to the idea of installing a bathroom on the second floor, Halpern convinced them that it was a good idea. “When you renovate a Colonial house, you have to be tough,” he says, “and you have to make a lot of changes. When we were looking for someone who really had a detailed knowledge of these houses and how to renovate them, Steven was the perfect person for that.” Once the hard reconstruction was completed, Halpern began his work furnishing the rooms. This project represents his sixth with the clients, and so, he knows their aesthetic and priorities. “She is especially textile-oriented,” Halpern points out, “and it’s fun for me to pull textiles and patterns to show her. She knows exactly what she likes.” He surprised her, though, with his choice of fun floral patterns as wallpaper in one of the upstairs bedrooms. Halpern also brought in some modern, midcentury furnishings downstairs, notably for the dining room. “It was great to use Danish furniture in a Colonial house,” notes the designer. “It’s strange how well midcentury Scandinavian and Colonial go together—not only with each other, but also with the snow outside their windows.” Kalur adds that while it’s easier to build a house from scratch, he has a particular fondness for renovations on this scale. “All of us on this project had a common vision, which we realized.” ✹

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Resources & More… H E R E ’ S W H E R E T O F I N D T H E D E S I G N P R O F E S S I O N A L S A N D P R O D U C T S F E AT U R E D I N T H I S I S S U E

NATURAL CONNECTION

Pages 62–67: Interior design, Jamie Garcia, Jamie Garcia Design, jhuhnlifestyle. com. Kitchen dining area: Dining table, Bunny Williams Home. Dining chairs, Century Furniture. Chair back fabric, Schumacher. Chair seat fabric, Kravet. Pillows, Hunt Slonem. Artwork, Dimitri Wright. Plates, Ralph Lauren. Dining room: Wallpaper, Schumacher. Drapery fabric, Robert Allen. Dining chair back fabric, Cowtan & Tout. Dining chair seat fabric, Schumacher. Chandelier, Aerin. Sideboard, JohnRichard. Lamps, E.F. Chapman. Painting, Hunt Slonem. Sunroom: Sofa and chair fabric, Peter Fasano. Pillow fabric, Christopher Farr/Cloth. Pillow trim, Schumacher. Lamps, Kelly Wearstler. Family room: Sectional fabric, Ralph Lauren for Kravet. Pillow fabric, Clarence House. Paint, Benjamin Moore. Vase, Kelly Wearstler. Florals, McArdle’s Floral & Garden Design. Primary bedroom: Bed fabric, Holly Hunt. Wallpaper, Paul Montgomery. Bedding, Matouk. Lamps, E.F. Chapman. Pages 68–75: Architect, James T. Best + Architects, jamesbestarchitecture. com. Interior design, Denise Balassi, Spaces of Distinction, spacesofdistinction. com. Landscape design, Louis Fusco Landscape Architects, louisfusco.com. Art placement and installation, Neal McDonough Art Placement and Installation, 646-567-1170. Exterior pool deck: Chaise lounge, Pavilion. Great room: Sofas and chair, Tomlinson. Cocktail table, Planum. Area rug, Exquisite Rugs. Chandelier, Corbett Lighting. Cabinet hardware, Richelieu. Kitchen: Countertop, Stonehenge Marble & Granite. Stools, Vanguard Furniture. Stool leather, Designers Guild.Light pendants, Hubbardton Forge. Backsplash by oven, Artistic Tile. Dining room: Table, Parish Co. Chairs, Dorya. Chandelier and sconces, Fine Art. Mirror and fireplace screen, Uttermost. Area rug, Exquisite Rugs. Candleholders, Wildwood. Gallery: Wallpaper, Osborne & Little. Stair runner, Cavan Carpets. Powder room: Vanity and sconce, Currey & Company. Chandelier, Crystorama. Mirror, Uttermost. Floor tile, Artistic Tile. Primary bedroom: Bed, end tables and chair, Vanguard Furniture. Lamp, John-Richard. Side table, Bernhardt. Primary bath: Floor tile, Walker Zanger.

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Items pictured but not listed here are either from private collections or have no additional details. CTC&G relies upon the providing party of the image to give accurate credit information.

TRISHA ESTILL

ABOVE+BEYOND

RESOURCES Accent floor tile, Artsaics. Accent wall tile, Porcelanosa. Bath tub, BainUltra. Lighting, ET2 Lighting. ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

Pages 76–85: Landscape architect, James Doyle, James Doyle Design Associates, jdda.com. SETTING THE SCENE

Pages 86–93: Architect, Steven Kalur, F+H Architectural Design & Consulting LLC, fharchitecture.com. Interior design, Michael Halpern, Michael Halpern Design, halperndesign.com. Wallpaper installation, David DeVos, 860-309-2991. Dining room: Dining table, head chairs and pendant light, Suite NY. Console and side chairs, RT Facts. Mudroom: Floor tile, Mosaic House. Ceiling fixture, RT Facts. Living room: Sofa and swivel chair, A. Rudin. Sofa fabric, Pollack. Swivel chair fabric, Nobilis. Pillow fabric, Holland & Sherry. Lumbar pillow fabric, Schumacher. Ottoman fabric, Joseph Noble. Area rug, Roger Oates Design for Crosby Street Studios. Standing lamp, Suite NY. Sconce, Roman & Williams Guild. Screened porch: Chair, Design Within Reach. Kitchen: Counter stools and pendants, Suite NY. Countertop, La Pietra Marble. Backsplash tiles, Bantam Tileworks. Ceiling light fixtures, Circa Lighting. Dressing room: Wallpaper, Galbraith & Paul. Sconce, Bone Simple Design. Vanity, Chelsea Textiles. Mirror, Roman Thomas. Primary bedroom: Bed, Fair. Bedside sconce, Vipp. Ceiling fixture, Dform. Rug, Crosby Street Studios. Roman shades, Elworthy Studio. Bed shams, Casamance. Window seat pillows, Rosemary Hallgarten. Guest bedroom: Bed, Room&Board. Wallcovering, Maharam. Rug, Roger Oates Design for Crosby Street Studios. Window treatment and bolster fabric, Rogers & Goffigan. Ceiling drum light fixture, Bone Simple Design. Sconces, Rejuvenation.

JOHN GRUEN

SOURCE LIST A.Rudin, arudin.com Aerin, aerin.com Artistic Tile, artistictile.com Artsaics, artsaics.com BainUltra, bainultra.com Bantam Tileworks, bantamtileworks. com Benjamin Moore (see Ring’s End) Bernhardt, bernhardt.com Bone Simple Design, bonesimple.com Bunny Williams Home, bunnywilliamshome.com Casamance, casamance.com Cavan Carpets, cavancarpets.com Century Furniture, centuryfurniture.com Chelsea Textiles, chelseatextiles.com Christopher Farr/Cloth (see Holland & Sherry) Circa Lighting, circalighting.com Clarence House, clarencehouse.com Corbett Lighting, corbettlighting. hvlgroup.com

86 Cowtan & Tout, cowtan.com Crosby Street Studios, crosbystreetstudios.com Crystorama, crystorama.com Currey & Company, curreyandcompany. com Design Within Reach, dwr.com Designers Guild, designersguild.com Dform, dformdesign.com Dimitri Wright (see Isabella Garrucho Fine Art) Dorya, dorya.com E.F. Chapman (see Circa Lighting) Elworthy Studio, elworthystudio.com ET2 Lighting, et2online.com Exquisite Rugs, exquisiterugs.com Fair, fairdesign.com Fine Art, finearthl.com Galbraith & Paul (see Holland & Sherry) Holland & Sherry, hollandandsherry.com Holly Hunt, hollyhunt.com Hubbardton Forge, hubbardtonforge. com Hunt Slonem (see Jhuhn Lifestyle) Isabella Garrucho Fine Art (igifineart. com

Jhuhn Lifestyle, jhuhnlifestyle.com John Rosselli & Associates, johnrosselliassociates.com John-Richard, johnrichard.com Joseph Noble (see Zimmer + Rohde) Kelly Wearstler, kellywearstler.com Kravet, kravet.com La Pietra Marble, lapietramarble.com Maharam, maharam.com Matouk (see The Linen Shop) McArdle’s Floral & Garden Design, mcardles.com Mosaic House, mosaichse.com Nobilis, nobilis.fr Osborne & Little, osborneandlittle.com Parish Co, danparishltd.com Paul Montgomery, paulmontgomery. com Pavilion, pavilion-furniture.com Peter Fasano (see John Rosselli & Associates) Planum, planumfurniture.com Pollack, pollackassociates.com Porcelanosa, porcelanosa-usa.com Ralph Lauren (see Jhuhn Lifestyle) Rejuvenation, rejuvenation.com

Richelieu, richelieu.com Ring’s End, ringsend.com Robert Allen, robertallendesign.com Roger Oates Design (see Crosby Street Studios) Rogers & Goffigon, rogersandgoffigan. com Roman & Williams Guild, rwguild.com Roman Thomas, romanthomas.com Room&Board, roomandboard.com Rosemary Hallgarten, rosemaryhallgarten.com RT Facts, rtfacts.com Schumacher, fschumacher.com Stonehenge Marble & Granite, stonehengellc.com Suite NY, suiteny.com The Linen Shop, thelinenshopct.com Tomlinson, tomlinsoncompanies.com Uttermost, uttermost.com Vanguard Furniture, vanguardfurniture. com Vipp, vipp.com Walker Zanger, walkerzanger.com Wildwood, wildwoodhome.com Zimmer + Rohde, zimmer-rohde.com

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T R O PHY S P ON SO R

S P O NSO R S

TICKETS ARE N OW AVA I L A B L E F O R T H E C T I DA S !

Tim o

thy

Bur

ke M

ann

Join us on October 19 at the Greenwich Country Club to honor Anthony Baratta, as this year’s Innovator Award Recipient, along with the 2021 Winners and Finalists!

B UY YO UR T I C K ETS TO DAY AT WWW.CGI DAS .COM.

DESIGN STOPS MUST-HAVES FOR THE DESIGN-OBSESSED SHOPPER

WISHBONE CHAIR Hans Wegner’s timeless (and comfortable) Wishbone Chair from 1949, updated with a rich, lasting, stain-resistant leather seat, exclusively at Design Within Reach. 800.944.2233 / dwr.com @designwithinreach

BEVOLO GAS & ELECTRIC LIGHTS Inspired by the French Rivera, the Monaco lantern is part of Bevolo’s French Series and offers a charming, sophisticated silhouette paired with an elegant iron scroll. Available in multiple sizes; gas or electric; copper or stainless steel. 504.522.9485 / bevolo.com @bevolo

F O L LOW U S @ C OT TAG E S G A R D E N S / S P E C I A L P R O M OT I O N

MEET THE DESIGNER

Robert Couturier Growing up in Paris, raised by his grandparents, Robert Couturier filled papers with pictures of houses and rooms “for happy families,” leading a mentor to suggest architecture as a logical career choice. After graduating from the prestigious Ecole Camondo, Couturier came to New York to work for designer Adam Tihany and became a participant in the Studio 54 social scene. Decorating a New York City townhouse for colorful English tycoon Sir James Goldsmith led to a 10-year stint designing exclusively for Goldsmith’s properties all over the globe. Since starting his own firm in 1987, Couturier’s work in Azerbaijan, Morocco, India and Mexico has led to his inclusion on international lists of “best designers.” He resides in a stately white frame home in northwest Connecticut with his historic preservationist husband, Jeffrey Morgan, and Clara, Hercule, Dora, Zazou and Zadok their five pampered Shih Tzus. How did growing up in Paris influence your style? French culture was then incredibly precise and particular and pervasive, all-encompassing— literature, architecture, decorative arts, the way of thinking. Even if you didn’t want to be influenced, you lived it. What is “good taste?” I have never believed in “good taste,” but in something that suits a person. When people love things independent of each other and put them together with a good sense of balance and colors it becomes beautiful—that’s their taste.

Refined Style (left) Disparate elements combine with flair in a contemporary Park Avenue apartment. (above) Overhead, a gleaming twisted metal fixture adds modern flourish to a stately English country home.

You’ve been on the Best Dressed List. What links clothes and interior design? Personal refinement should be in everything you do. I always wear a suit and dress properly. Elegance is an attitude you have to life, and respect you have for people for whom you work.

You named your book “Designing Paradises.” What makes a place a paradise? When it’s totally in parentheses from the rest of the world. You wake up, you look out, the weather and garden are beautiful, and there’s no inkling of what’s happening, no noise coming from the outside world. Who’s your ideal client? Clients who are honest with themselves and their own taste, not trying to be someone else. When someone comes in pretending to be an English peer, I realize that client is going to be a nightmare. What are the drawbacks of a longtime focus on a single client? It’s enormous, it isolates you from the rest of the world. You are not available to other opportunities, and it also limits your inspiration. Why do you prefer to work for fees instead of commissions? I think working for commission is like hiding something from the client. You and the client want to be as honest as possible, and a fee is a clear understanding at the beginning.

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You’ve designed residences in far-flung locales. How do you accommodate cultural differences? I’m a bit of a blotter—I go to those places and absorb what I see. Being raised in Europe, encountering different cultures, gives you a big flexibility. You understand the people, civilization, history of who created it. I don’t believe one culture is better than another. Why do you say modern furniture is “art?” Furniture used to be useful—chests of drawers for clothes, armoires for sheets. In contemporary apartments everything is built in, so furniture created today is not so much for use as for ornament. The piece of furniture is the only thing you see in a room, so it becomes a piece of art.

How has Covid effected home design? We’re much more focused on comfort and pleasure to the eye and all your senses. Everything in your house today matters, you see it all the time, so it’s much less about “what is my friend going to think about my apartment?” You’re not pleasing anyone but yourself. What future do you see for interior designers you’ve dubbed “dinosaurs?” In the old days when fabric, furniture and accessories were “to the trade,” clients had no choice. But today everybody has access to information on Pinterest, the internet. The midrange is completely gone; business will be left to real professionals. To a Parisian, what is the appeal of the Connecticut countryside? If somebody told me I was going to go live in Connecticut, I would have said you are out of your mind. But I wake up here with a view of the lake, the garden, my dogs, Jeff. It’s quiet, beautiful, it’s a great joy. I feel respite and peace in the country. —Sharon King Hoge

PORTRAIT: PETER ROSS PHOTO

How does a background in architecture aid in design? It is essential because it gives you structure, the skeleton on which you build things. Things are held together by that structure.

MANHATTAN

GREENWICH

THE HAMPTONS

203.622.8383 www.douglasgraneto.com info@douglasgraneto.com @douglasgranetodesign

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