“
I’msohappy that gray is gone,” Susan Corvo said.Corvo is an interior designer andprincipalatSusan CorvoRedesigninFairfield. She works with residentialclientsacrossFairfieldCounty, Connecticut; WestchesterCounty, NewYork; and NewYorkCity.
Neutralcolor palettes—shadesofwhite,cream andgray—have been pervasiveinnew construction homesand houses forsalefor anumberof years. Thetheory is neutral colors allows prospective buyers to envisiontheirown furnishingsand decorative itemsinthe space.
Buying ahomewitha “blank slate” like that,so to speak, presents an opportunity to introduce colorand personalitytothe interiors.
“All they’vebeen seeing forthe past fewyears aregrays andneutrals,but they want theirpersonalitytobereflectedintheirhomes,” shesaid.
Colormay be introduced to an interior room in anynumberofways—wall color, statement furnishings, throwpillows andrugs, vases, artwork,evenlampshades.
When Corvobeginsthe initialconsultationwith clients, sheasksthem aboutfavoritecolorsand to sharephotographs of designsthey like, perhaps from magazines or interior spaces they’veseen online. Herdesignmay be informed by emotive adjectives,likecalm, serene, striking,bright. “Blues areverycalming.Bluereminds youof water, of theocean,especiallyifit’sasubdued hue,”she explained
“One of thethingswe’re seeing nowinthe design industry,and it’s really prevalentinEurope, is bringing theoutdoorsin—usinggreen, greenery andbringingmorewood into thehome,”Corvo said.She suggestedshadesofgreen, likebasil, sage or tree moss to achievethiseffect.
What’s outofstyle,interms of color? Formal roomswithcolorsthatwereprevalent adecadeor twoago,suchasreds, goldsand purples. These
TEENS&YOUNG ADULTS APPRECIATE SEPARATE PLACES IN THEHOME WHERETHEYCAN EXPLOREPASTIMES &ENTERTAIN FRIENDS
by Gretchen A. Peckwhen tweens become teens,they oftenlongfor asenseofautonomy—spacetobethemselves,both figuratively andliterally.Asthey mature and theirpastimestakea new direction, they maycrave spaces in thehomewherethey canbewiththeirfriends, distinctive from therestofthe houseand family activities.What makesa teen friendly space? Realtors have some ideas.
HanneloreKaplanleads theHannelore Kaplan Team at WilliamRaveisRealEstateinNew Canaan.Whenitcomes to home interiors, teenagers todaywanttwo things—“fun stufftodoand comfyspacestojusthangout.”
Kaplan citedone of her currentlistingsat1343 Smith RidgeRoadinNew Canaan as agreat exampleofa luxury home that takesteenagers into consideration. “[It]has four amazingspots forteens andkidsofall ages,” shesaid. For example, on thesecond floor,there’sspace to create a gaming/media room,wherethe homeownermight addbig comfycouches to accommodate teens when they want to play videogames or watchmovies.
On thethird level, adedicated room wasdesigned with arcade games, boardgames anda creative area to make artworkinmind. Thelower levelat1343 SmithRidge Road allows thebuyer spacefor ping-pongorbilliards table, a home gym, anda secondarymedia room
Thereare outdoor spaces to consider,aswell. “The pool housewas equipped with comfycouches andchairs, an easy turn-on fireplaceand abathroom,” Kaplan noted. “An outdoor ping-pongtable is setupall summer fora fun outdoor groupactivity. Thespa hasroom foreight people with awaterfall that flowsintothe pool.The generous flat lawn is perfectfor playingall sports.The Olympic-sized heatedpool is surrounded by 2,000 square feet of stone patiospace,including an outdoor kitchen, with acommercial gasgrill,refrigeratorand multiple inviting outdoor seatingareas.” Theaskingprice for1343 SmithRidge Road is $3.795million.
currently the
agent for 710
Redding, Connecticut, which is on themarket for $1.975 million. “710 Redding Road has twoorthree potential areas thatcould be used by the young adults in the home,” she suggested. “The basement has over
“A
Simko explained. “This was planned as themovie
with surround-sound speakers,
garage.”
Inevitably,a family’steenagers willgrow, age and further mature. These once-teen hangout spots can then be used on breaks from college. Simko said that it has become morechallenging for adult children in their 20s to become homeowners themselves, many are choosing to remain at home withtheir parents for an extended period of time—making their favorite spots as teens even more valuable to them as adults in multigenerational living scenarios.
FORBACKYARDBARBECUES,POOLSIDEPARTIES
ORCULINARYEVENTSWITHPRIVATE CHEFS, OUTDOOR KITCHENS GIVE LUXURY HOMEOWNERS
THEOPTIONTOCOOK& DINE AL FRESCO
by Gretchen A. Peckwithspringinfullswing and summer on thehorizon,it’stime to startplanningthe perfectoutdoor party or specialoccasion.Cushionswillonceagain adornoutdoor seating; poolswill once again lapwithrefreshingclear waterfor splashing, andgrills will be preppedfor sizzling. Whether you’re planning asmall affair with the immediatefamily, amoreelaborate party for friendsorthe entireneighborhood,ora culinaryevent,anoutdoor kitchencan be an indispensable three-season amenity.
“Inthe luxury real estate market,outdoor kitchens have significantly evolved, transformingfrommeregrillingspots into central features of lavish outdoor entertainment areasthatrival exclusiveresorts,” observed Kate Cacciatore,a RealtorwithWilliam Raveis Real Estate in Southport, Connecticut. “Thistrend hasintensified post-COVID,with buyers seekingpropertiesthatblend resort-likeamenities with theprivacy of ahome, creating acompound feel “Modernluxuryhomes boastoutdoor
kitchens that serveascomprehensive entertainment hubs, equipped with built-in grills,smokers,pizza ovens, kegerators, festivebar areasand outdoor TVs—all enhancingthe property’s allure forat-home entertaining,”Cacciatoreadded. “When thesekitchens arepairedwithadditional outdoor features,suchaspools, spas,tennis or even pickleball courts,they notonly elevatethe home’s leisureand entertainment potentialbut also significantly increase itsvalue anddesirability.” >>
ly offeredtothe market for$6.795 million.
BK Bates,who is aRealtor withHoulihan Lawrence’s brokerage in Greenwich, is the listing agent. The outdoor kitchen at 202 Round HillRoadpairs abuilt-in grillwith a sink and refrigerator.Like the kitchen inside the home, during the summer season, it becomes thehub for entertaining outdoors.
“The living room,kitchen and family room all have French doors that open to the large terrace,” Bates explained. “Thereisan automatic awning over the dining table. The
homeowners use this south-facing space for spring, summer and fallentertaining. Plus, there’saheated pool and brick-walled garden that surrounds the terrace for complete privacy.”
There’salso the newly constructed modern marvel at 21 EdithLane in South Wilton, built by Jablonski Associates and completed this year.Itissituated on 1.16 acres, and in keeping withthe architectural theme, there arewalls of glass which break down the visual barriers between the indoors and natural setting outdoors. The main-level floor plan flows effortlessly out to apatio. Brown Harris Stevens Realtor Bozena Jablonski is the listing agent for the property,which is currently on the market for $2.175 million.
“The outdoor kitchen at 21 EdithLane was meticulously crafted to seamlessly blend the patio with the interior living space,” Jablonski said. “Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows and large sliding doors ensurea fluid transition
between the indoors and outdoors. Tucked against theside wall foradded privacy and intimacy,the kitchen boasts abuilt-in grill, ample storage cabinets, drawers and countertops.
“The spacious patio accommodates various outdoor seating arrangements, from cozy couches to dining tables and chairs,” she added. “Extending from the patio is a flat, grassy area, seamlessly integrated into the outdoor space. Surrounding it all is alush backdrop of woods, creating atranquil and secluded ambiance. This thoughtfully designed setup is ideal for hosting bothintimate gatherings and larger soirees, effortlessly accommodating guests in both indoor and outdoor areas. Whether it’s acasual summer picnic,a formal dinner affair or an exclusivechef presentation, the versatility of this space lends itselftoa myriad of entertaining possibilities.
Increasingly,having an outdoor kitchen rankshigh on luxury-home buyers’ wish lists.
Having an outdoor kitchen is highly valued by most buyers. They can immediately see themselves on the patio having fun with friends and family.They start talking about who is thecookinthe family and what kind of food they like tomake onthe grill. It helps buyers to focus on
arethe colors of royalty, sheexplained,while even in luxury homesmostpeopleopt formorecasualand comfortablelifestylestoday.Thisisevident in upholsteries and fabrics, as well.“Instead of rich velvets and silks, we go more to cottonsand linens,” shesaid
Another design trend that feels datedtodayare “statementwalls,” with asingle wallpainted or coveredinabold eye-catching color.
Corvosaidit’simportant to consider howcolors complement and meldinthe mainliving spaces of thehome which flow togethereither byvirtue of an open floor plan, or simplyhow people move throughthe spaces naturally from oneroom to thenext.
While asimplified approach to coloris best on themainlevel,a homeowner can be bolder or more whimsical withcolor in individual rooms bedrooms, for example.
Lightingwill alsoinfluence howtheeye perceivescolor.
“The downstairs ofyour house has to flow,” Corvosaid “Yourcolor schemes have to flow from room to room. You don’twant ittolook like acircus, withone room green, oneroom blue,another room orange and another purple. That doesn’thave any cohesiveness. But youcan take thosekinds of colors up to thebedrooms, becausethe doorscan beclosedand it becomes aseparateroom. But the downstairs should flow,soyou want to pick basic colors that you love.
"Light can come from different sources. Windows bring in natural light. Youmay have ceiling lights, accent lights, lamps and wallsconces.And they all reflect light differently,” she said.“So,when I’m working withcolor,I bring it intothe houseand we view it on different walls, under different conditions.You should like howthe colorlooks in allthose places.”
As acreativelyinspireddesigner, Corvo keepscurrent on new andtrendingpaint colors.Sometimes clientsask to incorporate thePANTONE Colorofthe Year.For 2024, that coloris“PeachFuzz.”But noteveryone’shome maybeaccommodating to acertain color. “Still,I love orange andterracotta, whichare versions of peach. What Itellpeopleis...
‘Whenyou seethe colorofthe year, don’tthink youhavetohavethatexact colorinyourhouse.Itmay notwork.’
Butyou maybeabletogowitha variationofthe color. Andifthey really love thecolor,wemay be able to useitina bedroom or adda simple accent piecetoa room.”
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