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FEATURES Z is for zinnia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 Time traveling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-27 Marrying architecture and landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44-45 Bottoms up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48-49

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DEPARTMENTS Interior Insights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Cookbook Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 Into the Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15 Racking One’s Brain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Home Moaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19 Homebodies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-23 Home of the Month. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28-29 Window on Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32-33 Construction Queen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34-35 Away from Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38-39

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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June 2008

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June 2008

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INTERIOR I INSIGHTS ■

Realtors’ secret weapons by Ann Sample Lineberger

June 2008

as the beginning of packing for a move. Landscaping is done to accent the house. The goal of home staging is to create an environment from which potential buyers can properly judge the residence without being distracted. Nancy works with home stager Cindy Heiman of HomeRevisions/Staging by Cindy. She offers a free hour consultation with Cindy to all her clients. See Interior Insights page 6

Alexandra Lindner photos

How do you sell your house in this real estate market? There is no one answer, but many Realtors are turning to home stagers for help. “Buyers have the muscle right now,” says Nancy Pantoliano of Wilton’s Prudential. “In order to sell a home quickly and without price reductions, sellers need to present their homes at their best. You have to do more than keep your home clean when you put it on in this market.” Nancy Crosland of Wilton’s Country Living Associates agrees. “Houses that are well staged are better positioned for today’s buyer,” she says. “Staging can help the seller by minimizing flaws and help a buyer visualize how a house could be used to full advantage.” Staging, or preparing a house for sale, has existed on some level since people began trading real estate. The process wasn’t given an official name until the early 1970s when Washington state Realtor Barb Schwarz started offering “staging” work for her clients. Since then, she developed an educational accreditation program, which boasts over 20,000 graduates. Interior designers are also often hired to stage. The recent downturn in the real estate market has increased demand for these services. “In the current market conditions, staging is critical,” says interior designer and home stager Olga Adler of Ridgefield. “It used to be that only smaller, less attractive homes were being staged because they were thought to need the most help. Today, we stage houses from every segment of the market and it is often the larger homes that need the most help. At certain prices, the expectations are very high.” What exactly do home stagers do? They are part interior decorators, part landscapers and part personal organizers. When they do their job well, clients aren’t offended by the changes made in their homes. Furniture is rearranged to create the best flow. Walls are painted neutral colors to appeal to the most people. Accessories are added for style. Clutter is removed and explained

If a home has a strong sense of style, it is neutralized to emphasize the positives and appeal to more people: to the right, before; top, after.

The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Interior Insights continued from page 5

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Alexandra Lindner photos

“Stagers de-personalize homes,” Nancy says. “If their home has a strong sense of style, it’s neutralized to appeal to more people. You want people to come into your home and note all the positives not focus on things they see as negatives, such as a strong paint color, furniture placement or clutter.” Cindy has been a stager since the late 1990s. Her career started when a friend called and asked for help preparing her home for sale. Since then, Cindy has staged on average two homes a week. Her clients vary but include those who have hired high-end interior decorators, a segment of the market one might assume needs no staging. “Several brokers have hired me to stage decorator-designed homes that weren’t selling,” she says. “They were beautifully designed but felt cold and uninviting. I went in and made them cozy without making them look cluttered.” Cindy’s services include personal shopping that she calls Design on a Dimestyle, referring to the hit HGTV decorating show. She says she shops at stores such as Lillian August when needed, but also shops at TJ Maxx and Home Goods for accessories, such as pillows and linens. She also has a garage full of props, such as mirrors and rugs that she lends to clients at no cost. “Some Realtors refer to me as their secret weapon,” she says. Olga agrees that a feeling of warmth is often a key element missing from homes. She believes it is best added to for-sale homes when it is stager-directed. “The goal of staging is to present a home as spacious and functional while revealing its charm and amenities,” Olga says. “But the most important aspect of staging is touchy-feely. People want to be able to envision themselves in the space. It has to be inviting in a way that appeals to many.” Some brokers, such as Nanette Plomer of Wilton’s William Raveis, give interior-design advice to aid with selling, and stage homes themselves. In the case of a family with three small children who were moving to Canada, Nanette suggested some upgrades, such as adding a powder room and improving a master

bath. Given that the family could afford to, she also suggested waiting to put the house on the market until after they moved. “They had a newborn, and the mother was too busy to even pick up the phone when I called,” she says. “There were toys everywhere. I knew it would be hard to show the house to its best advantage while they were still living in it.”

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June 2008

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Interior Insights continued from page 6 When the family moved, Nanette asked that they leave some furniture behind so that the house wasn’t empty, and she added accessories. “Empty rooms look smaller than ones with some furniture in it,” Nanette says. “The furniture allows people to better visualize the scale. That said, too much furniture makes rooms look small. It’s a fine balance.” Developers trying to sell new construction run into similar problems. Emptiness also makes it difficult for prospective home buyers to determine furniture placement and use of some rooms. Lynne Somerville, a sales agent with Darien’s Wheeler Real Estate, sees a lot of new construction staged by her firm. “Agents urge their clients to agree to the fee as it will sell the property faster,” she says. In addition to staging, some Realtors hire seasoned professional photographers to photograph higher-end homes. The pictures, which are as attractive as those in interior-design magazines, are posted online, sometimes in 3-D VR (which allows viewers to pan and see entire rooms at once), and are used for other marketing materials. Michael Biondo, who lives in Wilton and has been a fashion photographer for 20 years, is starting to photograph homes in addition

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to models and products. “I see Realtors outside multimillion dollar homes with point and click cameras,” he says. “The beauty of these homes would be better captured by professional photography, allowing them to stand out in this competitive market.” Home stagers offer their services in several ways. Stagers give their clients a plan, and either the homeowners or the stagers execute it. More involved work such as stripping wallpaper and landscaping is done either by referral or it is arranged and overseen by the stager. Charging varies, too. Many stagers offer consultations, which range from about $100 to $200. Once hired, some charge a flat fee per hour plus packing materials and the other things purchased or rented for the job. Others price per job. The average cost to hire a stager (rather than doing the work outlined by the stager yourself ) ranges from several hundred dollars to several thousand. The most expensive home-staging projects involve organizing entire homes and filling empty homes with rented furniture. Real estate experts think the stagers’ fees are well worth it. Marketable houses that are staged well often sell more quickly and avoid price drops, which is a plus for everyone involved on the selling side. In fact, in a 2007 survey, 93% of homes staged by graduates of Schwarz’s program sold in a month or less. “An investment in staging is always less than your first price reduction,” says home stager Michelle Smith of Fairfield’s StagePresence. “A 5% price reduction on a $500,000 property cuts the seller’s profit by $25,000; a 10% reduction, by $50,000. Miracles can be accomplished for $4,000, and often produce quicker turnover at higher profit margins.” Ann Sample Lineberger lives with her family in Wilton. She is the author of New Spaces, Old World Charm (McGraw-Hill, 2004). ■

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STAGING TIPS FROM OLGA ADLER INTERIORS • Visit open houses in your price category to see who your competition is and decide how your house can be better. • Kitchens, bathrooms and master bedrooms sell houses; focus your efforts on those rooms first. • Get rid of wallpapers; paint the walls neutral but warm colors. • Make sure your hardwood floors look great. • Invest in nice but simple window treatments and in good lighting. • Remove all evidence of pets – food dishes, toys and especially litter boxes. • Closets should be neat and no more than half full. • Make sure your house smells good. CONTACTS Cindy Heiman, HomeRevisions/ Staging by Cindy, 203-331-5897, stagingbycindy.com. Olga Adler, Olga Adler Interiors, 203-438-4743, olgaadlerinteriors.com. Barb Schwarz, Staged Homes. com, 800-392-7161, stagedhomes.com. Michelle Smith, StagePresence, 203-268-7439, CTStagePresence. com. Michael Biondo, photographer, 212.226.5299, michaelbiondo. com. Nancy Crosland, Country Living, 203-762-8118 X 322, nancycrosland.com. Lynne Somerville, Wheeler Real Estate, 203-656-6572, lsomerville @WheelerRealEstateCT.com. Nancy Pantoliano, Prudential Connecticut Realty, 203-7624219, ConnecticutPropertySourc e.com. Nanette Plomer, William Raveis, 203-762-8300, raveis. com/nanetteplomer. June 2008

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COOKBOOK I REVIEW ■

Salad time, and the living is easy ... by Susan Miller

In the sticky heat of summer, whether we’re on vacation or working, a colorful salad is always a welcome solution to what’s for dinner. Mollie Katzen’s Recipes, Salads ($14.95, spiral-bound hc, Ten Speed Press) offers full-meal salads, as well as side salads to complement quick-grilled entrées, appetizer salads or warm-cooked vegetables dressed with vinaigrette. Someone must have thought that a small, single-topic cookbook that stands on the counter like an easel would be cute. Salads is cute, but does it work? Once it’s assembled, don’t even think of flipping it back flat, like a cell phone. Katzen created the first noteworthy vegetarian restaurant almost 40 years ago, and is a prominent figure in this field, authoring cookbooks in counterculture style, with handwritten script and whimsical illustrations. Salads gathers recipes from her previous books, with just a handful of new ideas. It suffers from an aging hippie, déjà vu feeling. The recipes �� might have been cutting-edge then, but�� are totally mainstream now,�� and we do not need to have Belgian endive, fennel or radicchio explained. Recipe titles like Alfalfa Romano salad are too hard to swallow. �� Perfect Protein Salad isn’t perfect. It is the least desirable way to eat soybeans, which are hard to digest and not that tasty. It’s a very 1970s thing, as is the done-everywhere Eggless Egg Salad, which never really did taste like eggs.

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When did you last see a pile of alfalfa sprouts atop a salad? Cottage cheese and pears? Smoked tofu is a credible bacon substitute in a good Vegetarian Cobb Salad, but omit the seitan, a chewy, tasteless wheat gluten that is too off-the-wall except for determined vegans. Some say it’s like chewing rubber bands. The recipes are all vegetarian, and include eggs, cheese, beans, and nuts. Some are quite substantial, especially the bean salads. There are some perfectly fine salads – ones with greens, fruit, cooked veggies, or antipasti – but there’s very little to make you jump up and run to the kitchen. However, there are many with broad appeal. The format does not allow for photography, which might help bring the salads to life.

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Vol.XII, Number 6 is a special section to: Greenwich Post, The Darien Times, New Canaan Advertiser, The Ridgefield Press, The Wilton Bulletin, The Redding Pilot and The Weston Forum in Connecticut, and The Lewisboro Ledger in New York • 52,000 copies published monthly • Jackie Perry, editor Jessica Perlinski, designer • Thomas B. Nash, publisher • For advertising information, call 203-438-6544 • For information on editorial submissions, call 203-894-3380 E-mail: home@acorn-online.com • Extra copies are available free at the Hersam Acorn office, 16 Bailey Avenue, Ridgefield, Conn. (behind the town hall) Copyright 2008, Hersam Acorn Newspapers, LLC

Box 1019 Ridgefield, Conn 06877 203-438-6544 June 2008

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�� The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Z is for zinnia BEGINNING OF THE ALPHABET COMES LATER by Jeannette Ross

Jeannette Ross photos

While most people might learn a hobby from A to Z, Laura Cohen went right to Z. For zinnia. As a young girl, she gardened a small patch of yard at her parents’ home on Long Island, where they had moved from Queens. “My mother let me start with zinnias,” she said. From there she moved on to vegetables. And if that’s not a bit unusual for a child, here’s the kicker. Her parents put in a pool, usurping some of Laura’s garden plot, and she got mad. Today, Laura has her pool and her garden and many, many plants that cover the rest of the alphabet. The garden will make its debut with The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program on Sunday, June 29, from 10 to 4. The $5 admission will benefit The Friends of Rocky Hills, which is working to preserve the fabulous garden in Mt. Kisco that is one of the conservancy’s preservation projects. If you want to make a day of it, there are two other wonderful gardens nearby that are also open on June 29. One is Phillis Warden’s garden at 531 Bedford Center Road and the other is Michael Fuchs’ garden at 33 Reyburn Road in Katonah. For information, visit gardenconservancy.org or call 845-265-5384. Like many gardens, Laura’s is a work in progress. She moved to her graceful Mediterranean style home 19 years ago with her husband, Steven, and three young children. Perhaps the greatest change they made was to reorient the driveway about five years ago. Originally, it led directly to a detached garage. Now, Open Day visitors will walk up a drive that curves with the property and delivers them to the buff-colored stucco house, as it makes a graceful circle at the main entrance. Along the way they Hostas are one of Laura Cohen’s favorites for their ease of propagation. will pass by Laura’s organic vegetable garden with a rustic cedar fence of her own design. Across from the vegetable garden, visitors will see two large andromeda and Visit our New Showroom: a few low-lying tree stumps. Here, Laura Create a Plan with lost four large maples to a tornado last our Designers year. “We had a micro-swirl,” she said. “It took 19 trees.” The loss of those trees Organize your Home with created two challenges. One was fillStyle and Ease ing in the empty spaces, which is what Laura did when she transplanted the two andromeda. To those she added azalea, hosta, and a yew called Green Wave. The second challenge was a change of light throughout the property. There are Let Us Design Your: some places that were shady that now • Custom GARAGE get direct light. Since it happened only • Closets a year ago, Laura is taking a wait-andsee attitude before making any major • Pantry and Mudrooms * Bring in this Ad to the Showroom. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Expires 7/31/08. changes. • Home Office Farther along the drive, visitors will • Custom Poly Resin Flooring find a line of spruce trees that mark the driveway’s old path. Just behind them is � Laura’s secret meditation garden. Simple in design – it’s a circle of grass ringed by & hostas – it seems most appropriate as it is highly suggestive of a monk’s tonsure. �� The garden is surrounded by trees and

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it’s easy to see how this could become someone’s favorite hideaway. A chair, a snack, “We feel like we’re in the Adirondacks when we’re back here,” Laura said. It has a book – done. become party central for the family since it was built three years ago. From the driveway circle, it’s a short walk to the back, but don’t be in too much The pool is original to the house, although the Cohens conducted extensive renof a hurry to get there. The way is marked with informal beds that are remarkovations as age got the better of it. They essentially built a new pool inside the old one. It is ringed by beds of hydrangea and hosta and a stand of hemlock trees. able not only for their varying shades of green but also for their variety of textures – from deciduous trees to evergreens, to grasses, rocks, cultivated hostas, and more. If Laura’s garden has a certain air of professionalism about it, visitors won’t be Hostas are one of Laura’s favorite plants, and she likes to mix them up – from surprised to learn she has a bit of an edge over the rest of us who dig a hole and green and white to yellow, from smooth-leaved to some as ripply as an old seersuck- hope for the best. Firstly, Laura had a deer fence installed about six years ago, hence er jacket. She loves them also for their ease of propagation. She and Steven, whom See Z is for zinnia page 54 Laura calls her “transplant partner,” recently split 30 plants into 60, and she transplanted them throughout her property. “I’m a big transplanter,” she said. The back of the house opens up to a large, lush lawn that over the years has From Gardens To filled the role of backyard playground Water Gardens; and soccer field to its role today of luxe From Paths To entertainment area. The lawn is edged Patios; by two perennial beds that will be in bloom with lilies, roses, daisies, astilbes, We Can Create A and other summer-flowering plants. A “Paradise Getaway” fountain near the house marks where In Your Own Yard, Laura is planning a Victorian garden. At Just For You! the edge of the house near the fountain is one plant not to be missed, Laura’s Jeffrey Duncan, President thornless climbing rose called Zepherine Serving Fairﬁeld County for OVER 21 Years! Droughin. Find us at www.dwatergardens.com 203-849-1114 • 203-268-2368 A park bench marks the beginning of one of Laura’s main projects, the Look For Our Pond Pod Vehicle Around Town!! rhododendron tunnel. The venerable shrubs are native to the property, and Laura has been sculpting through them. The result makes you feel as if you are traveling somewhere. When you arrive at the end, you have transcended time and place, having gone from a 1920s Mediterranean-style home to a modern lodge that functions as a pool house.

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INTO I THE I GARDEN ■

Veggies ... about-face! by Donna Clark

Donna Clark photos

It’s June, and there is still time to do some planting. I know things get away from you, or perhaps you are waiting for some contractor to finish his work. From all I hear, this spring has been a waiting game for the consumer because the contractors are all very busy. So far, we are right on schedule planting our annuals. Mother Nature was good to us, and there was no late frost. The rain has also been coming each week for those of us without sprinkler systems. A word about those systems before another subject is taken up. I love them. When people started installing them, it was a nightmare – gardens could become swamps. They evidently have better programs now, and the owners take note and turn them off when we have five days of rain in a week. There is a renewed interest in vegetable gardening this year, thanks to the organic movement and also the price of food. When I was growing up in Minnesota, I remember my mother canning peaches, pears, cherries, tomatoes, pickles, green beans, etc. We all pitched in, and the kitchen was always overheated from the water boiling in the canning kettle. She would buy the fruit in wooden crates from the local grocer, and the rest of the produce was grown in our vegetable garden. It was a family event to work in the garden – I would pick and sell strawberries each spring. I think we ate pretty well, and with a family of six, I’m sure it was economical. The real reason people preserved their food was that they could not buy it out of season. Things sure have changed. One of my favorite peppers is Biscayne from Johnny’s Seeds. This is a pale green

Coleus Japanese Giant adds height and color.

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June 2008

pepper used for frying. Sausage and peppers should come to mind, as that is one use for this pepper. I also add it to soups, casseroles and pizza. It’s easy to grow and so very healthy. My other favorite peppers are Red Knight and King Arthur. Both of these can be used as green peppers, or you can wait until they turn red. I also grow early jalapeno for a little heat for several dishes. Since I (and many others) have a little arthritis, and hot (peppery) foods are said to be beneficial in reducing inflammation, I have been gradually adding them to my menu. Enough about food; let’s talk about butterflies. Last year, Pam came up with a plant she wanted to try, and one we could use in a couple of our really wet gardens. It is Asclepias incarnata, with a common name of swamp milkweed. We put in about 16 plants in several locations, and almost all of them have withstood the winter. Last year they were not full, bushy plants since it was their first year, but we did see lots of butterflies around them. Its mauve-pink, fragrant flowers bloom from June through July in moist, sunny areas. The new coleus (they have actually been around now for several years) do better in the sun than the shade, as long as the sun isn’t too strong. One of my favorites is Japanese Giant. This coleus grows four feet tall, but it can be cut back to around 3 feet with no change in its form. It has large leaves that are bright green in the center, bordered by deep maroon and edged in dark red. We were planting containers for a new client this spring, and one of the pots was a large, dark maroon one. It was in a corner of a sunken patio and needed a tall plant. Linda suggested this coleus, and both Pam and I had lightbulbs going off in our heads. Yes, this would work. It’s very interesting to observe the color preferences of our many clients. This See Into the Garden page 30

Pepper Biscayne suits so many dishes.

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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June 2008

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RACKING I ONE’S I BRAIN ■

Tech breaks hard to schedule, and abide by by Tim Murphy Call it what you will – tech break, shutdown day, secular sabbath – but the goal is the same. Spending an extended period of time away from all electronic media. No cell phones, no Internet, no iPod, no e-mail, no video games, no television for at least 24 hours. In some severe cases, the avoidance list expands to include no radio, no landline phones and no CDs. No record players either, for the three of you who still listen to music that way. It’s a brave, new and terrifying world that an increasing number of people are entering, most of them voluntarily. Overwhelmed by a constant need for electronic stimulation, they are hoping to find inner peace or some similar Zen-like state by replacing their now customary ways of filling free time with more retro pursuits, such as reading books and newspapers. Forty-plus years after the Summer of Love, turning on, tuning in and dropping out no longer applies to popping acid but a far more rebellious act: going a day without returning a text message. Among those taking a break is Ariel Meadow Stallings, a marketing manager at, ironically, Microsoft. She started a program earlier this year called 52 Nights

Unplugged. Every Wednesday night, Stallings turns off all her screens and won’t even go to the movies. But, like a true addict, Stallings has given herself behavioral loopholes: She won’t make phone calls, although she will receive them, and she won’t scroll through iTunes, although she will listen to her iPod. More hard-core are Dennis Bystrov and Michael Taylor. They organized an International Shutdown Day in March 2007 and even created a video for their Web site showing alternative uses for laptops. The video showed several guys using their laptops as tennis rackets, sleds and skateboards. It looked like a lot more fun than pumping numbers into an Excel spreadsheet.

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June 2008

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

HOME I MOANER ■

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Looking for Mr. Goodbeef by Ben Guerrero

Ben Guerrero

Loyal readers may have noticed several things about this column. First, I have veered strongly from my original theme, which was to write entertaining reminiscences of my adventures working on my dilapidated house on Rusty Hinge Road. Second, in my veerings, I tend to be rather ham-handed with my opinions. Third, everything I write is based on real experiences, and I seldom mention the real names of people and places and things. For instance, Rusty Hinge Road is not a real place, although my dilapidated house is both real and dilapidating. It is in the best interests of everyone that I keep to this stratagem for reasons I can only imagine to be relevant, considering the nearly microscopic audience my words reach. I have decided to suspend this tried-and-true formula in the following collection of semi-connected paragraphs,

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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June 2008

Mr. Smith was the proprietor, and now I am going to get vague. To my recollection, there was a fully operating bakery in the back, from which all manner of bread, cakes, cookies, donuts and pies were generated. On the shelves, shoppers could find tins of this and baskets of that. I seem to recall barrels of pickles adding their briny aroma to the ambiance. But most important, for the purpose of this treatise, for somewhere in the neighborhood of one dollar, you could get the best roast beef sandwich in the universe. This is where my opinion, mentioned earlier, will now figure strongly in the debate. I have not tried every roast beef sandwich in the universe – there is an Arby’s near Alpha Centauri I have yet to sample – but I have had many roast beef sandwiches and none have met the standards of those of my memory from The Deli-Bake. Let’s break it down. The meat (Midwesterners and vegetarians, skip this part) was rare and juicy, not raw like surgery, but rare enough to be redder than pink and juicy enough to soak into the bread. Speaking of bread, many aficionados swear by the hard roll as their medium of sandwich encasement, and I am not one to argue. It is important that the ubiquitous hard roll be fresh and crisp crusted, extra points for poppy seeds, all qualities supplied by Mr. Smith’s ovens. My sandwich of judgment was on a hard roll, as was mayonnaise. Later I would request lettuce. Never tomato (too soggy) and never cheese (too unpredictable). It was roast beef on a hard roll with mayonnaise and lettuce. That’ll do it. And it goes without saying, because in those days this is how it was done, that the sandwich came wrapped in waxed paper, and in the seam at the top of the sandwich, protected by the wax and deftly inserted so as not to leak vinegar onto the bread, was a slice of pickle from one of the big barrels.

for reasons that I hope will become clear – at least clearer than these two paragraphs. When I first thought about being a writer, and believe me, I didn’t burn up many calories thinking about writing, I was inspired to write an unsolicited foodrelated column about roast beef sandwiches. Like so much of what pours out of my keyboard onto these pages, I was inspired by a memory of my youth. That alone amazes me. That I have any memories of my youth, considering the fact that I can decide at one minute to go to the kitchen to fetch something, only to arrive shortly thereafter without the slightest recollection of what I sent myself there to fetch. Once in the kitchen, however, the idea of a roast beef sandwich comes to mind – if I had any of the ingredients. In the fridge, alas, which is packed to bursting with half-filled Tupperware, often there is nothing even vaguely enticing to eat. And here is my point: Even if I had the ingredients for a roast beef sandwich, I would never be able to replicate the one of my memory. Maybe you have noticed. You eat something delicious somewhere, and you decide to attempt to make it at home. You buy the ingredients, and after carefully reconstructing the item, you bite into it. It is good. It is great. But it isn’t as good or as great. How can that be? Is it the quality of the ingredients available to mere mortals in the modern grocery store? Or could it be that things taste better when someone else makes them for you? Maybe both. Maybe neither. Here is one of those loosely connected paragraphs I mentioned earlier in this column. The place was called The Deli-Bake. Clever youthful patrons called it The Belly-Ache, in spite of the fact that many of those same youthful patrons ultimately found their first employment behind the counter there.

See Home Moaner page 20

WILLIAM F. VERRILL

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Home Moaner continued from page 19

ally flavorless. While I am sure we will all live decades longer, why do we remove pleasure from our life to prolong it? Why live at all? I’m just saying. Let’s not forget the made-that-morning hard roll and the mayonnaise. Well, That was that. And then you took it to the library steps, unwrapped it, ate the mayonnaise is pretty much mayonnaise, unless it’s Miracle Whip and then it is pickle, and ate the sandwich. I can sit here and write this and salivate over the not mayonnaise and should not be in the same hemisphere as a decent roast beef memory of the perfect blend of those perfect ingredients. The savory, old- school, sandwich. Here comes the hate mail. rare roast beef, rendered from an old-school steer that actually had some preSome folks may disagree. There may be regional variations. Melissa, no stranger health-consciousness fat marbling throughout his tissues. This is where I must to The Deli-Bake herself, remembers roast beef, Swiss cheese and salt on a seeded point out that the current absence of fat, no longer considered a mark of good hard roll. Period. To each, as the French are wont to say, his own. She also remembeef, has rendered the modern corn-fattened, hormone-bloated commodity virtubers, as do I, the oversized “sandy” chocolate chip cookies that came out of the ovens. Possibly eight inches in diameter, they were a great chaser to the inimitable roast beef sandwich. The Deli-Bake got smaller over the �� decades, cutting its space in half and renting out the other side. Eventually, it closed. Most likely it was the proliferation of gigantic grocery stores with built-in deli departments, and the inexplicable phenomenon known as Boar’s Head, that did them in. �� Since I keep my eyeballs peeled for �� delicatessens, they seem to be at once �� nowhere and everywhere. My recent �� studies have been more bacon, egg, �� and cheese-based, but I occasionally do �� try to find a roast beef sandwich upon �� which I can hang my hat. �� Lately I have been having mine on �� rye bread, as part of a separate quest to find a rye bread that also stirs something in my taste memory. The Deli�� Bake had a good rye, which they’d run �� through their rumbling slicing machine �� before sliding the loaf into a waxed �� paper bag. This rye had a chewy crust �� and a delightfully fragrant interior, �� studded with caraway seeds. ��

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

June 2008

This rye does exist, and now and then you can find a roast beef that hasn’t been processed in New Jersey and vacuum-sealed. These assembly-line roasts have a distinct chemical flavor, and what passes for rare would have made my cattlemen forefathers spit – taking their bourbon and branch water all over their watch fobs. On the rare occasion, when the planets are aligned and the yin is balanced with the yang, you can get a roast beef sandwich that serves as a reasonable facsimile of the perfect ones of my tumultuous youth ... though never one outstanding to the degree that it serves to obliterate the memory of The Deli-Bake and its gauze-filtered environs. Oh, the humanity! We now return you to our regularly scheduled column, already in progress. Where can a fellow get a decent roast beef sandwich? Let me know at ben. guerrero@sbcglobal.net. ■

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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HOMEBODIES ■

Bug off! by G. Lisa Sullivan I can handle the heat. I can handle the humidity. I can even handle frizzy hair. What I can’t handle, however, are summer insects ... particularly spiders. October through March, I’m fine. The small families of spiders with which we share our home aren’t much trouble at all. Approximately once every couple of days, a small black or brown arachnid will rear its ugly head, usually right over the kitchen table or above our bed. Always just out of reach, these tiny creatures send shivers down my spine, but I usually try and pretend they’re not there, and, eventually, they disappear. Come spring and summer, though, the spiders quickly and silently advance upon our nest. Once April 1 hits, I swear, it’s as if they somehow know we’ve just ripped the March page from the calendar, and, now that it’s spring (even if it’s still only 40 degrees outside), they’re ready to rumble.

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Along Came A Spider ... The spiders are particularly fond of our somewhat damp, finished basement. Each time I venture downstairs during the warmer months, I encounter them curled in tight little balls, lurking in various nooks and crannies, or at the bottom of the steps – or, in the case of a few more daring souls, right in the middle of the floor. Just who do they think they are? Aren’t they afraid some giant 8-year-old’s feet will trample them, or that a 28-pound monster (aka the family dog) will gobble them up? And don’t they tremble with fear when they see me approach with my wad of Kleenex or the vacuum hose? I do, in fact, make it a point to vacuum down there as often as I can, hoping to rid the place of the pesky pests. Does this make me a murderer? What exactly happens as they’re sucked up into Hoover inner space? And can spiders in fact live – and breed – in my bagless upright, as I’ve often been told? (It’s the stuff of urban legends.) Obviously, I have many questions about my fearless foe, and very few answers. My daughter’s become an expert at locating spiders (a trait she surely inherited from me). “Mommy, spider!” she’ll call from across the house. I don’t know what she expects me to do, as I hate the things as much as she does. Since I’m the grown-up, however, I attempt to calmly approach and defuse the situation. “Well, that spider’s much too high for me to reach,” I’ll say. “We’ll just have to wait for Daddy to get home.” “Daddy’s not coming home from his business trip until Friday,” my daughter replies. “Please, Mommy, kill it now!”

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“OK, go and get me 10 pieces of Kleenex,” I tell her, as I plan my attack. Should I get a chair, climb up and try to squash it from the side? Or am I better off right below, where it can’t see me (can it?). If I miss, it’ll fall right into my face (probably into my mouth). Even if I succeed in killing it, we’ll undoubtedly be left with an ugly brown smudge on the ceiling or wall. It’s a no-win situation, as far as I can see. Stomach Bug I don’t know about you, but I often find spiders in unexpected places. First, there was the spider “incident” that nearly traumatized me when I was a child, about 8 or 9. I had just returned home from sledding with a friend, and my mother had made me a mug of hot chocolate. It was while slurping the silky sweet liquid that I felt something unfamiliar on my tongue. I opened my mouth, pulled out the remains of a small, drowned spider, and began screaming (and here I thought I’d always eat anything covered in chocolate). Not too many years later, I was having a bowl of soup for lunch, when I discovered a spider floating in the broth. Fortunately, the eight-legged creature hadn’t yet made it to my mouth, but it was many months before I was able to rekindle my fondness for chicken noodle soup. It was while doing laundry that I experienced yet another spider episode. Late one evening, I opened our washing machine, assuming I’d find a recently washed load of clothes. I did not expect, however, to see a giant, perfectly healthy spider perched on top of a pair of my husband’s boxers. How did it get there? Did it actually go through the cycle

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and live? And how was I going to get the laundry out with the spider on top? (See? More questions!) It was a particularly large, crisp-looking fellow, and the thought of crunching it up in a Kleenex, between my fingers, made me queasy. It didn’t take but a moment before I took action, and yelled for my husband: “Honey, spider!” Then, about three years ago, my daughter was playing in her room, when I heard her scream. I ran in, not knowing what I’d find ... a bump on her head, a bloody finger, her favorite stuffed animal destroyed by the dog? No, it was a storage box she’d opened, with a spider sitting right on top of a blanket (I swear it was the same spider from the washing machine). “Mommy, spider!” she yelled. Yes, she surely takes after me. ■

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

ALBANO APPLIANCE & SERVICE

‘Live’ outdoor systems Albano Appliance & Service LLC in Pound Ridge has a new display for outdoor kitchen systems from such leading manufacturers as Viking, Wolf, Alfresco, and Lynx. Also featured is Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet™ systems, with Albano as the exclusive local dealer. With products ranging from grills and ovens to refrigerators, sinks and even cabinetry, outdoor kitchens are growing increasingly popular. Many manufacturers offer appliances that can be free-standing or built-in for a custom look. Albano’s new display features “live” outdoor systems so customers can see the products in action. “Outdoor cooking has gone way beyond the backyard barbecue grill. The trend now is to create total outdoor kitchens complete with cooking equipment, ventila-

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GRILLING TIPS • When grilling for the first time of the season, check for animals and nests, including spider nests in the gas tubes. • Always preheat the grill, then scrape the grates before putting food on. Preheating provides good grill marks, which enhance flavor. • To minimize residue, clean the grates with a wire brush dipped in water after removing cooked food and before turning off the grill. • Always soak wood chips prior to use for smoked flavor. You can drain and freeze them in plastic bags to always have on hand.

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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• Always cover your grill when it’s not in use. This reduces the chance of having parts rust and protects the electronic ignition system. • Allow steaks and chops to reach room temperature before grilling. • Do not try to move food right away after placing it on the grill. Allow the sugar to caramellize a bit and it will be easier to move without sticking. • When marinating food in oil or using marinades with high oil content, be careful when placing it on the grill, as it may cause flare-ups. ■ June 2008

Racking One’s Brain continued from page 17 But Shutdown Day had its naysayers, including Peter Rojas. He responded with a Boycott International Shutdown Day posting on engadget.com, and vowed to have his followers use their computers twice as much that day, even if that meant “grabbing two machines and then typing with our fingers and toes at the same time.” Realizing that people need help staying unconnected, some businesses are doing their part. In Seattle, the Victrola Coffee and Art coffee shop now shuts down its wireless service from 10 to 5 on Saturdays and Sundays. When I tried to call the café to see how the wireless-free idea was working, the phone rang and rang, 17 times in all, before I gave up without being able to leave a message. Now, that was old school. It’s understandable that people would crave a day away from technology’s tentacles. If Diane Arbus were to photograph a modern suburban family, the lasting image might be one of dad on laptop, mom writing e-mails, son sending text message, and daughter listening to iPod – all while seated at the same dinner table. That is one of the odd by-products of the technological advance: We now communicate globally while cutting back locally. Although e-mails, blogs and forums let us share ideas and interact with others around the world, they trim the time we spend communicating with those closest to us. Who hasn’t been parked at a stop light, glanced over at the SUV on the right and noticed all parties inside with cell phones pressed to ear? In some cases, it’s a gradual awareness of how much time is being spent alongside technology that leads to the decision to take a day off. In others, there is a moment that produces clarity, such as a harmless visit to YouTube that ends five hours later. Whatever the motivation, there is one important thing anyone trying this tech break at home should remember: Don’t try this at home. The temptations are simply too tempting. The computer winks, the television bats its eyelashes, the Xbox purrs, the MP3 player coos, the cell phone changes its own ring tone to Barry White. The best advice is to pretend your home has turned into the set for the latest Amityville Horror sequel and get out of there, leaving all earthly technological possessions behind. That advice comes from secular sabbath regulars – the few among us who have turned their shutdown days into regular habits, often taking the same day off each week. They recommend walks, bike rides, museum or library visits, outdoor card or board games, bird watching, cookouts, visiting friends or family ... anything that will remove you from access to electronic media. How cleansing these mini-vacations actually are is up for debate. The movement is way too nascent for thorough academic study, and a Harris Interactive online poll seems ill-fitting, cruel or hyper-ironic – maybe all three. Plus, the escape is horribly backloaded. Going 24 hours without technology means there will be more of it to deal with the next day as you go through the e-mails, phone calls and text messages you missed and watch the television programs you recorded. In terms of defeating the purpose, it is right up there with following a daylong fast with a day devoted to drive-thrus. How realistic shut downs are is another matter. Since the odds of eschewing technology for one day every workweek and remaining gainfully employed are minuscule, nearly all tech breakers take their time away on the weekends. But even then there are roadblocks. Those with anyone – spouses, children, boyfriends, girlfriends, parents – depending on them might find the response chilly when they say they won’t be reachable via e-mail or cell phone for 24 hours. In fact, the only people not likely to make much of a fuss are outdoor plants. But for those strong enough to persist and carry through with regular technology respites, there is comfort to be found. Anything they miss undoubtedly will be written about and posted, filmed and uploaded ... everything preserved for their eventual perusal. Such is the seductive beauty of modern technology – like the most understanding partner, it doesn’t mind if you spend some time away, confident enough in its own abilities to know you’ll be returning shortly. ■ June 2008

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Time traveling 1779 TO 2008 by Janis Gibson

What began as Darling Tavern and then became Georgetown Academy is today a most unusual and intriguing home.

A designer’s dream house, this home is immaculate, one room drawing you into the next.

The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Anyone who regularly drives along Route 107 in Redding has noticed the antique house on a hillside near the intersection with Goodsell Hill Road (almost opposite Umpawaug Road), especially during its renovation of the last several years. Dating back to the late 1700s, the property has served as a tavern, post office, a boys’ school, and a doctor’s office, as well as a home. While the home is formal in appearance from the front, the rear, which today is used as the entry, has more of a farmhouse feel. A stone marker stands near the road. Still visible is the year, 1786, and 12 Miles to Norwalk, a legacy from houses’s years as a stagecoach stop. (It is also 12 miles to Danbury.) Walking around and through the fully updated house is a journey through time. The original tavern room, now serving as a bedroom, retains its heart-pine floor and wide cooking fireplace, complete with bread oven and cabinet above used to keep gunpowder dry. Yet a trip up the staircase brings you into a light-filled gourmet kitchen with all the latest amenities. The original portion of the home was constructed by Benjamin Darling between 1779 and 1786, and was known as Darling Tavern. During the winter of 1835, an itinerant carpenter paneled the wall around a fireplace in the parlor in exchange for board and lodging. Now servJune 2008

ing as the dining room, this room also boasts wide-plank chestnut floors. The upper floors in the rest of the house are pine. In 1854, the tavern was converted into Georgetown Academy, a private boys’ school, which existed until 1870. A large addition was built on the south side of the house, which includes the current kitchen/laundry area on the main level, eight to 10 small bedrooms – more like closets – on the lower level, and bedrooms upstairs. Part of the lower level has a brick floor, which has been lightened and sealed with acrylic. At the end of the hallway is a room that served as the dining hall, with a large fireplace on a raised hearth.

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The wide-plank chestnut floors are original.

When the current owner, Dr. Eugene Lipira, acquired the home in 1982, he renovated the lower level to accommodate his medical family practice. Between the walls, he found letters that had been written by and to some of the students. He maintained his practice until 1990, when he moved it to Norwalk. The property remains zoned for a home office or a bed and breakfast. The section now has two bedrooms, a full bath and a work area. Its pressed ceiling gives the illusion of an old tin ceiling The kitchen, which was redone in 2007, has a cooktop, mottled blackgranite counters and a large bow window behind the sink, overlooking the attractively landscaped back yard and providing lots of sunlight and wonderful views. There are cherry cabinets, stainless-steel appliances and an eat-in area with bay window. All the bathrooms have been fully renovated, and the master bath and a second full bath on the upper level See Time traveling page 36 June 2008

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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Home of t June

LOCATION: This stylish con complements its setting. PROPERTY: Stone pillars, w blend well with the rocky outc while evergreens add color and slopes down to a river, offering a wraparound deck from which HOUSE: Built in 1976, this s rounded by more than an acre o provide a variety of settings, h cathedral ceilings, wood ď&#x192;&#x;oors, of colors echoing those of its n the home, built-in cabinets and s wood and storage convenience baths, and a living room, dining ily room with ď&#x192;&#x17E;replace. GARAGE: Three-car attached PRICE: $2,100,000. REALTY: Keller Williams. Agent: Josephine Mineo, 203Photography: David Ames.

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spring I had a call from one client saying, “Let’s add some punch to the garden – I do love pink and blue and lavender, but how about it if we get bold.” I find that I am moving in that direction, too. Reds and oranges are now OK by me. They are happy colors. I once read that you should not paint your kitchen or eating area in orange because it will make you eat more. I wonder if the same is true with the garden. I guess what I am learning is that we should not be set in our ways when it comes to a garden, although I still can’t handle tropical plantings here in New England, but I love them in the tropics. That’s the wonderful thing about your own garden. You can design what you like, and then if you decide you don’t like that anymore, it is a simple thing to redo. Summer is the time to visit gardens for new ideas to drift in. There is an Open Day with the Garden Conservancy that I will not miss. I am planning a day with Pam, Linda and Virginia to visit the gardens of Litchfield County on September 7. There are several to tour. I visited Linda Allard’s garden several years ago, and can’t wait to see it again. Another garden that I want to go back to is Charles and Barbara Robinson’s. For directions and times, go to opendaysprogram. org. I have annuals delivered to my home for all the gardens we plant and maintain around the area. It is all very colorful, but the best part is all the hummingbirds I draw to my yard right now. Maybe they will nest and stay for the summer. Questions or comments: donnaclark@ix.netcom.com. ■

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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HOMEOWNERS V. DEER After a recent survey by helicopter, Howard Kilpatrick, a deer biologist for While significant barriers, even these two circles of sound and spray can be the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, said, “Fairfield penetrated by deer smart enough to adapt. This is why DeerTech switches the County has the highest deer density in Connecticut, averaging 60 deer per sound and spray monthly to keep the deer off balance. A field technician comes square mile.” to adjust the systems depending on the season, weather changes and deer“We have a shade garden with hostas, rhododendrons and impatiens,” said browsing behavior. Candy Goldstein, a Westport resident. “It would be beautiful one night and DeerTech (formerly Nature Technologies) is in Pleasantville, N.Y. For more infordecimated the next morning. DeerTech has been the most effective protection mation, call 800-468-3337 or visit DeerTechUSA.com. ■ against deer damage. Between their technology and monthly service, we haven’t had any deer damage since the system was installed.” DeerTech provides Three Circles of Protection – a patented combination of ultrasound, a 12-month proprietary spraying program, and a technique of switching things monthly to keep deer from adapting. Fairfield County homeowners spend a fair amount on fencing, spraying and other one-track methods, which can be limited in their effectiveness. According to Greg Lake, DeerTech president and a Greenwich resident, this is because deer are far smarter and more athletic than people might think. “Deer eat around eight pounds of vegetation per day,” he said, “and hungry deer can easily leap eight- to 10-foot fences when they know there is food on the other side.” DeerTech’s comprehensive solution works by assaulting all the deer’s senses �� simultaneously, creating an environment the deer perceives as dangerous. The company’s patented ultrasonic �� unit emits a frequency that is nearly inaudible to humans, dogs and birds �� but sounds like a 747 jet to deer. Ultrasonic frequencies are DeerTech’s first circle of protection. They block �� the deer’s greatest natural defense – hearing. Ultrasound is disconcerting �� to deer, but, in many cases, the ultrasound is not enough to keep hungry �� deer from eating if they observe no predators and learn to listen through the sound. As a second level of protection, the company utilizes sprays developed by a wildlife biologist (often composed of predator scents) in combination � � � � � � � � � � � �� with ultrasound. Deer smell a predator but can’t see it nor hear from which � � � � � � � � � � � � direction it might be coming. They also find the taste unpalatable, so the � � �� combination makes the plants totally �� undesirable.

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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WINDOW I ON I REAL I ESTATE ■

Defeat clutter without breaking the bank by Jane K. Dove Looking to totally revamp and reorganize that embarrassingly cluttered garage, overstuffed closet or disorganized mudroom – without breaking the family budget? “We can help homeowners organize just about any room in the house without spending a lot of money to make it happen,” says Tony Sigillito, owner and president of Liberty Closet and Garage Co. of Danbury.

Tony says he started his new company, which held its grand opening on May 17, in response to customer demand. “At first, we did garages only, under a different name,” he says. “So many of our customers wanted us to come back and do other rooms in their homes that we decided to create a new and expanded business model to accommodate demand.”

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

June 2008

Custom Work

Liberty Closet and Garage, a member of the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals, takes a totally customized approach. “We don’t just order stock storage units and fit them into your space,” Tony says. “We employ a designer with 22 years’ experience to evaluate your needs, develop a plan, and customize everything to fit your special needs.” Garages, often so filled with stuff that cars must sit in the driveway, are problematic for many homeowners. “Some of them have become a total mess over the years, and we work with our clients to restore order,” Tony says. “It can be as simple or as complex as the client desires, but the end result should be to create a logical and accessible place for everything.” Tony and his staff provide everything from custom wood cabinets to stainless steel storage units, to an array of wall-storage treatments, all perfectly measured and sized to fit and professionally installed.

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The company will also install polyresin flooring, and can subcontract painting or power washing if needed, prior to installation. “We know people are very busy, and so we offer a one-stop-shop approach to all of our jobs,” Tony says. Tony stresses that customization is key to success. “A cookie-cutter attitude doesn’t work. Different customers have different needs and have different budgets. We work with them all.” Moving on to those disorganized closets, Tony says his company does everything, “from A to Z.” “We start out by assessing our client’s needs, develop a design, provide accurate pricing, and then complete the installation,” he says. “Once again, we go from simple to elaborate, from small to walk-in. We have done closets with granite counter tops, cedar storage units, elaborate built-in shelving and drawers, even chandeliers. No job is too simple or too complicated.” See Window on Real Estate page 40

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

CONSTRUCTION I QUEEN ■

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A: Only a select few people know that the Construction Queen loves to cook almost as much as she loves to do construction. Sometimes I wonder if a perfectly roasted duck is not as much a feat as a perfectly tiled bathroom! For years I have been enlightening my clients on the wonders of cooking with gas, and more of my clients are choosing to use propane to provide gas for cooking and heating when they live beyond natural gas service. Not only is propane a great way to cook, it is actually more energy efficient than you might think. So once you get your cooktop installed, be creative with what else

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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you can do with propane – maybe a gas fireplace, or a high-tech outdoor grill or spa heaters for your pool. The best part of switching to this source of power is the aesthetic benefits of underground propane tanks. They offer secure, dependable fuel storage, while maintaining the natural beauty of the home’s landscape. So yes, you can get a gas cooktop and rejoice when you no longer have burnt pots left on the stove long after the electric heat coil was supposed to have cooled down. Q: I need to replace my old garage doors. What should I know before I choose one? A: There is nothing that makes a bigger impression when driving up to a house than beautiful doors, and the most “in-your-face” doors are the ones on the garage. Take an objective look at your house from the outside and see what style of garage door complements your home’s architecture. If your home is traditional, you can go with a raised panel, which offers understated style and clean lines, or something called a carriage house-style door. You know, those beautiful doors that look like they came off a stately barn or vintage garage from way back when.

Once you have selected the correct style, you need to think about the kind of door that suits your lifestyle. Do you have children or pets? Is there a lot of traffic in and out of the garage? If so, you will need a durable and quiet operator (the motor that lifts the door) that has polymer hinges with no metal-on-metal moving parts. Also mandated are safety features, such as a built-in laser light that is attached at the bottom of the door rails. So if a person, an animal or your UPS package is in the way of the door closing, it will not slice them or it in half! About the operators: You should be aware that the traditional lifts for garage doors have always been chain driven – they are reliable but noisy. For a quieter operator, go with a belt-drive model, so quiet you may not know when the door is opening. This is great if the garage is under a family room or bedroom, for it will not disturb the occupants if they are sleeping or watching a great movie. Climate plays an important part in the decision making. In New England we have extremes in temperatures, and you will want to consider insulated doors. The

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Time traveling continued from page 27 feature radiant heat beneath their black-and-white tile floors. The master bath has a soaking tub as well as a large shower. On the north side of the house, what was a screened-in porch off the dining room was converted to an enclosed year-round family room in the late 1980s. There are 52 windows in the 4,450-square-foot house, many of them six over six, and a few of them original. The old root cellar now houses the water holding tank and filtering system and serves as a gardening room, and a “cold” room by the dining room was converted into a storage pantry. The home has a staircase with handcarved cherry railing, lots of nooks and built-ins, and it retains a lot of the original hardware and doors. An occasional old floor repair can be found, made with pieces of scrap metal. When the house underwent its most recent renovation, the wraparound front

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

June 2008

porch had too much rot to be saved, so it was replaced with two porches – one on the ground floor and one above it, adjacent to the living room. At Christmastime last year, decorated trees were placed on the second-story porch, a delight for passersby. For privacy, a six-foot-high wooden fence borders the roadside. On the more than three-acre property, there is an unusual dogwood with double leaves that blossoms beautifully in the spring. A staircase, created from the large foundation stones of a long-gone outbuilding, takes you up a hillside from the front yard to the back. There is a cozy recessed mahogany porch adjacent to the rear entry that overlooks a large stone patio and short stone well. The patio was discovered several inches below the lawn a few years ago. “For some reason, I started digging in the lawn one day and discovered stone,” said owner Candace Lipira. “And the farther we dug, the more stone we found.” When fully excavated, the home’s original artesian well was also discovered. Now that the house has been fully renovated and their children are grown and on their own, the Lipiras are ready to downsize significantly and move on to the next phase of their lives – aboard a boat in Stamford harbor. For information about the property, call Candace Lipira at Town & Country Real Estate, 203-938-3694, 203-856-8501; e-mail, candylipira@optonline.net; Web site, 196reddingroad.com. ■

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

AWAY I FROM I HOME ■

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Coventry Regional Farmers’ Market by Stacy Lytwyn Maxwell Shopping Scenario Number One: Hastily examine aisles of fruits and vegetables transported to your supermarket from around the globe, perhaps sprayed with pesticides, insecticides and who-knows-what. Processed cheeses and other funky concoctions greet you in the dairy section. Before exiting, grab a few soaps and lotions in the household section. No time to read the ingredients on the labels.

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Shopping Scenario Number Two: You, along with the family and dog, stroll into a cornucopia of colors, aromas and textures at the farmers’ market. Peruse locally made goat soap. Sample garlic dips. Pet a rooster. Yogurt, raw milk, honey, maple syrup, fresh-baked bread, grass-fed beef ... stock up. Don’t forget onions, tomatoes, garlic, and squash. What about a handmade corn and straw broom? Recline on a bale of hay. No rush to exit. Between the two scenarios, the final choice is evident. Although outdoor emporiums will never compete with the thousands of items offered in an average supermarket, the nationwide demand for them is staggering. Economic analysts attribute the trend to consumers’ interest in obtaining fresh products from environmentally responsible farm-

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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ers. Fringe benefits include building consumer loyalty and community. In light of their popularity, the government has declared Aug. 3 to 9 National Farmers’ Market Week. In Connecticut, with over 100 farmers’ markets, some operating year-long, we Nutmeggers do not need a designated week to shop green. Marking its fifth season this June, and running through October, the Coventry Regional Farmers’ Market, about 10 minutes north of Hartford, is a testament to the trend. The state’s largest farmers’ market, its attendance last year hovered around 33,000 visitors, double from that of the

year before. Outgrowing its previous premises on the Connecticut Museum of Glass grounds, the market debuts this season at the National Hale Homestead, in partnership with Connecticut Landmarks, the only statewide, museum-based historical organization. Surrounded by approximately 500 acres of woodlands and fields, the museum’s property provides the farmers’ market 10 times more space than before. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of programs run in conjunction with the farmers’ market. Back in fall 2002, Winter Caplanson, a third-generation member of a town family and an herbal soapmaker, spearheaded the effort, along with a small, diverse local group. Determined to exceed salad-bowl expectations, they modeled the venture after the famed Ithaca and Brattleboro markets, which are their communties’ centerpieces. “A place for people to come together each week to visit, to enjoy live music, to learn something new, and also to pick up the very best of homegrown and handmade goods,” Winter says of its mission. In its first year, the market featured about 20 vendors, and has since earned numerous accolades, including, “One of the top ten things to do in New England this weekSee Away from Home page 50

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Winter Caplanson says the market is a social event plus a source for homegrown and homemade goods.

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Window on Real Estate continued from page 33 Mudrooms and family rooms are other areas of the home that often need help, and the company can add pantries, offices and basements to the “freedom to organize” list. “Once again, we can install whatever is needed to get the space organized,” he says. “Homeowners tell us that once they get rid of their random clutter, they feel much more in control of their time and lives.”

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Quality Of Life

Tony says he believes the “control” issue is a big factor in the increased interest in custom reorganization of existing space. “It improves the quality of life for a lot of people,” he says. “Today’s families are so busy that simply keeping track of all of the possessions needed for dayto-day life can be challenging, and stressful. Once we come in and get everything reorganized, they often say we have helped to de-stress their lives.” Economics are another factor driving the success of Liberty Closet & Garage. “Our approach allows people to stay where they are and improve the home they have,” he says. “It’s an economical way to upgrade a home, and it doesn’t require getting a second mortgage to finance the work. It’s very cost-effective, and our customers tell us they feel it’s a great return for the money they spend.” Tony urges anyone interested in seeing how disorganized areas of their homes can be transformed to pay a visit to his new showroom at 59 Federal Road in Danbury. “You can walk around and see several garages and closets all set up in different ways,” he says. “It gives you a great idea of the many possibilities and combinations available.” Garage reorganization is still the foundation of his company, Tony says, but demand for help in other areas of the home is growing quickly. “People are really interested in this concept. I expect business to continue to expand as more and more people decide to take control of their space, organize their possessions and add to the enjoyment and value of their homes.” For information: 203-778-0222, or visit libertyclosetandgarage.com. ■

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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ODESSA BEETS

Cookbook Review continued from page 11

5-6 medium beets (2 to 2-1/2 inches in diameter) 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice 8-10 prunes, pitted and thinly sliced 2-3 medium cloves garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon salt Black pepper to taste 1 cup finely chopped pineapple (fresh or canned in juice) Preheat oven to 400°. Wrap the beets in foil and bake until very tender (40-50 minutes). Rinse under cold, running water as you rub off the skins. Trim the ends and coarsely grate. (A food processor fitted with the grating attachment does this in seconds.) Transfer to a medium-sized bowl. Add all remaining ingredients and mix well. Chill until serving time. Serves 4 to 6.

The simply cooked and marinated vegetables are nice choices, and very easy. Odessa Beets is very sweet; but for the garlic, it might almost be a dessert. It could readily accompany baked ham or a pork roast, especially if you use the option of canned pineapple. Also try Roasted Green Beans with Garlic and Pine Nuts; Moroccan OrangeWalnut Salad; and Spinach, Red Onion, Goat Cheese, and Strawberries with Buttermilk Dressing. One index lists recipes by category; a second lists them alphabetically, which is helpful. ■

excerpted from Mollie Katzen’s Recipes, Salads, Ten Speed Press

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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References

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Construction Queen continued from page 35 R-value describes the insulation properties of certain materials. The higher the Rvalue, the more effective the material will be in keeping out the cold or the heat. The range is generally from R-6.5 to R-17.5. Now the fun part, the choice of material for the doors. For ease of maintenance, steel doors can’t be beat. They come in many colors and can have window panes installed. To get that custom look without the price, composites like MDF (medium-density fiberboard), also know as “an engineered wood product,” can be used. Another option is wooden doors made of poplar or hemlock. Be aware, however, that this type of construction does not stain well. You would be better off priming and painting. For the true “Hello, Gorgeous” door, consider the exotic woods, such as mahogany, Spanish cedar, walnut, and meranti. I always recommend cutting out pictures of garage doors that you like and taping each one to a wooden paint stirrer. Then step back and hold the picture in front of your old door to see how it would look when installed. It’s like trying the shoe on before you buy it! Diane Slovak is a licensed contractor with the state of Connecticut and owner of Innovative Concepts in Design. Send your questions to Diane at dianeslovak@hotmail. com or visit theconstructionqueen.com. ■

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June 2008

GRAND OPENING JUNE 7 & 8 Valley Ridge, Greyrock Homes newest Greenwich community, is a gated enclave of 10 custom homes on Valley Road. Ranging in size from 3,980 to 4,366 square feet, the finely detailed homes offer the quality and amenities of an estate home in a smaller, low-maintenance package. For details, call 203-485-0590, or visit the Web site, valleyridgegreenwich.com.

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�� The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Left: Weeks House, built in 1952 by Harvard Five member Eliot Noyes and updated and expanded by his partner Alan Goldberg in 1988, is a fine example of New Canaan’s modern movement.

Robin Axness photos

Below: Built in 1968, this contemporary house, which blends into its natural setting, was designed as two pavilions by Richard Bergmann, an apprentice to Eliot Noyes. Mr. Bergmann is currently building an addition.

Marrying architecture and landscape SILVERMINE TOUR HIGHLIGHTS THE BEAUTY OF ‘MODERN’ by Jane K. Dove

Consigned to the back burner of architectural trends for the past few decades, modern homes are enjoying a new resurgence of interest in their beautifully simple, classic lines. And nothing is more important to the aesthetic impact of modern architecture than its setting. Rising once again to the challenge of presenting to the public some of New Canaan’s best-known modern homes and their complementary landscapes, the Silvermine Guild Arts Center is presenting its third architecture and landscape tour, Architecture and Landscape as Art, on Sunday, June 29. The tour will focus on the exteriors and settings of six architecturally significant mid-20th to post-20th-Century modern homes designed by well-known architects, including two of New Canaan’s famous Harvard Five. A pre-tour symposium will kick off the full day of activities. A Single Art

“Architecture and landscape is really one art,” said architect Richard Bergmann, a founder and co-chair of the tour. “Every house that is built should be part of its landscape, and the landscape should, in turn, reflect and embrace the house. It is a symbiotic relationship.”

The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

The six homes on the tour are scattered throughout New Canaan and were designed by architects Marcel Breuer, John Black Lee, Eliot Noyes, and Mr. Bergmann. “All of the homes are very different,” said Mr. Bergmann. “They range in construction dates from 1948 to 1968 and are excellent examples of New Canaan’s wellknown modern movement.” Tour co-founder and co-chair Enid Munroe said the striking landscape settings of the different homes all share common elements even though the sites are different. She said a former director of the guild asked her to mount a garden tour a few years back, but she decided there were enough of those. “I contacted Dick, and we both liked the idea of putting architecture into its landscape,” she said. “The idea of our tour was born.” Ms. Munroe said a unifying feature of the tour is that none of the sites are manipulated or forced. They are all very natural and feature woodland settings, some with ponds, brooks and rock outcroppings,” she said. “None of the homes is tremendous in size, but their wonderful design and use of glass creates an impression of space.” Mr. Bergmann said one of the goals of the annual landscape tour is preservation because so many of New Canaan’s modern homes have fallen prey to the ubiquitous “teardown” phenomenon. June 2008

“New Canaan once had 80 modern homes, 30 of them designed by the Harvard Five,” he said. ‘We are now down to about 15 from the Harvard Five, and another 20 or so designed by their followers.” Mr. Bergmann said when he first entered his profession, “modernism was already over. But I stayed with it because I like the intellectual concept of everything having a purpose and a function,” he said. “I use the concept in my own designs, but do get away from the classic flat-roof lines. Instead, I use pitched-roof elements to create variety. I see the tour as a way to focus attention on this type of architecture and hopefully preserve the homes that still remain from this important era.” Ms. Munroe agreed. “One of our goals is to expose the public to houses that are iconic,” she said. “We want people to be able to see them up close, appreciate how they are built and how they are integrated into their landscapes. Our tour is like an outdoor museum: personal and real.” Houses on this year’s tour include two designed by Harvard Five member Eliot Noyes, including the 1954 Noyes House he built for his own family, and the Weeks House, built in l952. Also on tour are two houses designed by John Black Lee, and Breuer House No. 1, built in 1948 by another Harvard Five member, Marcel Breuer. The sixth site, a contemporary house built in 1968 and seamlessly integrated into the surrounding landscape, was designed as two pavilions by Mr. Bergmann, who apprenticed with Eliot Noyes. As a special addition to the tour, contemporary sculpture by guild artist members will be installed at the various sites, and curated by Silvermine Gallery director Andy Verzosa.

lunch and post-event reception are included. No individuals cars are allowed on the tour. A special feature this year will be the location of the boxed lunch, the Gores Pavilion lawn in Irwin Park. The Pavilion is a modern guest and pool house on the estate of Jack Irwin, and was designed by Landis Gores, another member of the Harvard Five. “The vans will get off to a ‘shotgun start,’ and each will have a tour guide on board,” Mr. Bergmann said. There will also be hosts at each individual site, and a See Architecture page 46

A Full Day

The pre-tour symposium begins at 10 a.m. and will be held in the Silvermine Guild Arts Center auditorium, 1037 Silvermine Road, New Canaan. It includes a continental breakfast, and will be moderated by Mr. Bergmann, a fellow of the American Institute of Architects and a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects. The symposium will feature a panel of experts in architecture and landscape design, and audience participation and conversations are encouraged. Symposium attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase tickets for the 2009 tours of Philip Johnson’s famous Glass House. The architecture and landscape tour begins at approximately 11:30, following the symposium. Twenty-passenger vans will be on hand to provide transportation for approximately 200 guests, who will be given a guided tour of the six sites. A box June 2008

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Architecture continued from page 45 program book with full descriptive information will be provided. The reception, featuring wine and hors d’oeuvres, will begin at about 4 and will be held at the Silvermine Gallery. Tickets for the symposium only are available for $75. The guided tour of the six sites is priced at $175 per person. A combination ticket is $250. Mr. Bergmann and Ms. Munroe said the upcoming third tour would be the last. “We have now run out of important houses,” Mr. Bergmann said. “We feel we have covered the territory and hope we have helped to expose people to this important era in architecture. Every previous tour has been sold out, and we hope our final one will follow in that tradition.”

�� Breuer House No.1, built in 1948 by Harvard Five member Marcel Breuer and distinguished by its American construction and the tension cables used to hold up the deck, caused quite a stir in the community and architectural circles.

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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June 2008

Ms. Munroe said she had enjoyed her years working on the tours. “It’s been a wonderful project to be involved with,” she said. “As a guild artist member and the author of a garden book, An Artist in the Garden, it has held special importance for me. I am also happy to say that I knew most of these architects personally, dating back to the 1960s.” All proceeds from the day will benefit the programs of the not-for-profit Silvermine Guild Arts Center, one of the oldest artist communities in the United States. Its nationally renowned artist guild, award-winning gallery and school of art offer more than 20 contemporary and historic exhibits annually, and a wide range of art courses and workshops on its five-acre campus. Advance reservations are required for both the symposium and the tour. For more information or to make reservations, call 203-966-9700, ext. 14, or visit www.silvermineart.org. ■

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�� The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Bottoms up FLOORS STRUT INTO ECO-FRIENDLY SPOTLIGHT by Tim Murphy

The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Traditionally, when someone remarked about the green flooring, he or she was usually preparing to putt while standing on the first hole of a miniature golf course. No longer, though. The eco-friendly, sustainable movement has expanded from its commercial roots to private residences, involving everything from roofs to refrigerators, heating systems to dish washers, and floors are undergoing a green renaissance of their own. “We’ve noticed a huge difference in the past year alone with residential uses,” said Lewis Buchner, the CEO of California-based EcoTimber, a leading supplier of wood products from environmentally sound sources. “More and more people are gravitating toward eco-friendly products for the floors in their home. “Commercial got green before residential,” added Buchner, whose company has Connecticut distributors in Branford and Wallingford. “But residential is catching up now.” Rising energy costs and increased environmental awareness have spurred the residential market. Last fall, the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council

EcoTimber’s woven bamboo is harder than traditional bamboo flooring, and it can be sanded and refinished; honey or natural bamboo at left, amber bamboo above.

June 2008

established the first LEED (leadership in energy and environmental design) certifino longer produce coconuts. It’s available as both a formaldehyde-free plywood and cation for residential homes – a similar national rating system for green design and a woven pattern, although its price tag ($8.99 per square foot) has limited its use. construction of commercial spaces has been in place since 2000. But deciding which eco-friendly floor product to use is only part of the process. “The movement has hit mainstream consciousness,” said Buchner. “I think Al The most important, and potentially maddening, aspect is making sure the material Gore’s movie, An Inconvenient Truth, and the fact that global warming is a reality is properly certified and actually eco-friendly. have been factors. People are more concerned and wondering what they can do.” A wood product can be certified and yet not come from an ecologically well manThose interested in transforming their floors have a host of eco-friendly choices, aged forest. According to the EcoTimber Web site, “There are now various types of forest certification, and most do not have meaningful environmental standards, including bamboo, cork, natural linoleum, recycled glass, and renewable or recycled hardwoods. Carpeting has even become better buddies with the environment thanks See Wood floors page 53 to newer variations that are low in VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Within those advances, there are further advances. For example, EcoTimber’s patented Woven Bamboo is harder than traditional bamboo floor products and meets stringent indoor air-quality standards. It also can be sanded and refinished. “It looks more like natural hardwood,” said Buchner. “With regular bamboo you can see knuckles in the stalk.” Bamboo has been one of the more popular alternatives to traditional hardwoods, partially because it’s not even a wood but a grass. Harvested from managed plantations, bamboo is highly renewable, growing back in roughly four years. It’s also durable and relatively low in cost. Cork shares bamboo’s sturdiness and renewability – it comes from the bark of an oak tree, and is harvested in large slabs about every nine or 10 years. The harvesting is actually beneficial because it stimulates the tree’s growth. Slightly pricier than bamboo, cork can save money in terms of installation – a floating floor, it requires no glue or nails, thus lessening the need for professional help. Natural linoleum consists of linseed oil, sawdust, wood flour, pine resin, limestone, and jute. Unlike conventional linoleum, which is rife with VOCs, the natural variety releases no toxic fumes and is biodegradable. It’s also easy to install and clean. Another plus: Due to its ability to repel dust, natural linoleum is well-suited for asthma sufferers. Reclaimed or recycled hardwoods come from material that was harvested long ago. Originating from old-growth forests, the wood can be harder, denser and better looking than new-growth wood. It can also have an interesting back story. TerraMai’s Gold Mix is salvaged from railroad ties in Southeast Asia before being milled and then shipped to �� California. �� Then there is Durapalm, a more �� exotic, green-friendly floor, that comes from plantation-grown palm trees that

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Away from Home continued from page 39 end,” in a review last year by the Boston Globe. The market initially opened with four outstanding farmers, a number that Winter calls “quite notable.” This season, day-trippers can expect more than 40 registered vendors and a roster of programs, workshops and special events at the Coventry Regional Farmers’ Market. The market follows the Department of Agriculture guidelines: Everything is handmade or homegrown in Connecticut, within about a 10-mile radius of the state’s border. Guest vendors, however, from as far away as Maine and New Jersey, sell goods, too. “Frankly, the demand for fresh foods and vegetables and handmade items is growing faster than the supply,” Winter explains. Despite its popularity, the Coventry market has adhered to a conservative approach regarding growth, which means farmers have vied for their spot. Beyond the vegetables and fresh produce, such surprises as blacksmithing and unusual arts and crafts further entice visitors. Winter says that the farmers’ market is a destination. To prove it, one market survey determined that about 80% of the visitors bring friends and family members. “We have many people who are there when the market bell rings at 11 , and they’re still there when the market closes at 2. In a world of things that are quite commercial, it’s about the most wholesome family entertainment that a person can find,” she adds. Attendance is as diverse as the market. In a survey conducted last year, it was determined that one-quarter of the attendees are local; one-quarter travel 10 to 15 minutes; one-quarter are Connecticut visitors, and the final quarter are out-of-state travelers. Vendors also reap the rewards. In order to meet the growing demand for her Sleepy Moon Soaps, next year Winter will cut her full-time East Hartford teaching job to

part-time. “It just underscores how farmers’ markets can be a real economic stimulus and engine for business growth,” she says. Meanwhile, business partnerships and grants have helped bridge the financial gap in order to run the market full-scale. The market secures about $3,000 in vendors’ fees, but the operating budget exceeds approximately $11,000. Volunteer-based Friends of the Market is another channel to help foster growth.

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

June 2008

In terms of the future, Winter says, “We need to be incredibly nimble and diversify our partnerships and be responsive to change.” “We’re just warming up,” she adds. “It’s very much a green and growing market. We have not yet become all that we can be.” See Away from Home page 52

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Away from Home continued from page 51 A few hours spent at the market and you can’t help but wonder: How much greener can you get? ■

DETAILS Coventry Regional Farmers’ Market June through October, every Sunday from 11 to 2 Nathan Hale Homestead 2299 South Street, Coventry marketmasters@coventryfarmersmarket.com Web site: coventryfarmersmarket.com

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Coming Events June 8: Lettuce Frolic – Making fresh salad dressings & dips like buttermilk-lime dressing; growing salad greens in cold frames/window boxes; chef demonstration on using herbs, veggies and a variety of greens in salads. June 15: Father’s Day, Cool Cow Jamboree – Making butter, ice cream social, Project Heifer, Dessert with Dad, farm-fresh desserts with ingredients donated by dairy, maple, and berry farmers in your community. June 22: Summer Solstice Faire – Herbal lore and garden tour, mead tasting and summer wines, kid’s crafts, cast-a-spell seasonal cooking, roses. June 29: Swing into Summer – 1940s theme with victory gardens, swing- dance demo, alternatives to sugar, historical society presentation on rationing and stateside life during wartime, vintage car show. July 6: Farmers’ Fare Breakfast – Perfect pancakes, with Connecticut maple syrup and grass-fed breakfast sausage; best biscuits, sweet/savory with assorted jams and cheeses; making maple syrup demo. July 13: Pickle Palooza – Pickling cucumbers, dilly beans, veggies, refrigerator pickles. July 20: Art & Wine Gala – Includes wheel-thrown pottery demonstration, painters, artwork, sculpture, chef demo.

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

June 2008

Wood floors continued from page 49 enforcement mechanisms, or methods of tracking the wood through the supply chain to keep out illegally logged material and prevent misrepresentation.” The gold standard is certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an independent, non-profit group that can track wood from forest to consumer. The U.S. Green Building Council recognizes only FSC certification as evidence of the sustainability of a wood product. “That FSC approval is what you need to look for,” said David Arens, who, along with his wife, Leslie, runs the Connecticut Wood Group in Enfield and operates the CWG Hardwood Outlet. The CWG recently received the Forest Stewardship Council’s Chain of Custody Certification. “The FSC can literally trace the wood from the stump of the tree to the floor in someone’s house.” But there are still shades of certification. A company, for example, can have FSC certification and not be selling FSC-certified products. “You have to make sure the FSC logo is on the product itself,” Buchner said. “Some companies use the logo on their brochures, but it has to be on the product packaging.”

Arens, like Buchner, believes the eco-friendly floor movement is just getting started. “It’s a market-driven, consumer-led trend that’s gaining in popularity,” Arens said. “Since green floors are now relatively equal in cost to traditional floors, I think you’ll see more people going that route. I can imagine that one day you’ll see people almost competing with one another to see who has the greener house.” ■

DETAILS For more information, visit the following Web sites. EcoTimber: ecotimber.com Connecticut Wood Group: cwghardwoodoutlet.com Forest Stewardship Council: fscus.org The U.S. Green Building Council: usgbc.org Also, The National Green Pages is an annual directory listing nearly 3,000 businesses that are committed to sustainable, eco-friendly principles. It’s available through a membership with Co-op America (coopamerica.org).

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Z is for zinnia continued from page 13 the hosta and rhododendrons, which she said had been chewed nearly to the very tops. Secondly, a sprinkler system was installed five years ago. “I was a slave to the hose before that,” she said. And lastly, but certainly not least, after a career as a registered dietitian, Laura attended classes at the New York Botanical Garden and received a certificate in landscape design, a profession she’s been practicing for two years. The dedication is evident, for although her garden is being shown in summer, it is truly a three-season showplace with a bounteous display of bulbs, azaleas, weeping cherry, and other spring-flowering beauties, and then in fall it is ablaze with goldenrod, sedums, and grasses.

DETAILS Laura and Steven Cohens’ garden is at 1 Bedford Center Road, Bedford Hills. From the Saw Mill River Parkway South, take Exit 39S and turn right at the end of the ramp onto Haines Road. Turn right onto Bedford Road/ Route 117 and go over the parkway. Go straight, just past the traffic light and turn left onto Hill Street. Turn right onto Main Street/Bedford Center Road. Turn left and park on Sunset Drive. Follow the sidewalk along Bedford Center Road to the drive at #1; walk through the gates and up the drive. From the Saw Mill River Parkway North, take Exit 39 N and turn right at the end of the ramp onto Bedford Road/Route 117. Proceed as directed above.

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Love to cook or know someone who does? If you or someone you know would like to be featured in our Food & Drink column, please contact Jeannette Ross at jross@acorn-online.com

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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The HOME Monthly, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

June 2008