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HOME September 2009

Summer Gardens Hits & Misses From The Ashes ‘Summer’ Returns Triumphant

Living ‘In Town’ Grows In Popularity

Let The Fun Begin! At Chatfield Farms’ Clubhouse

Home of the Month Distinctive Style Weston

The Darien Times The Ridgefield Press The Weston Forum The Lewisboro Ledger

Bryan Haeffele

Greenwich Post New Canaan Advertiser The Wilton Bulletin The Redding Pilot

Vol. XIII, Number 9

A Hersam Acorn Special Section

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September 2009

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

Living ‘in town’ grows in popularity by Jane K. Dove Ah, the joys of in-town living! If you own a home in a Fairfield County hamlet that has a well-established central core of businesses, shops, restaurants and other amenities, all linked by wellmaintained sidewalks and maybe even bike paths, you are part of a trend that has taken firm hold. And depending on the town, you may even be able to walk to your commuter train station. New Canaan and Ridgefield are prime cases, where the demand for

homes close to the town’s main thoroughfares has seen a significant upturn in the past decade. Blending Generations And Lifestyles

“In-town living today crosses many generations and lifestyles,” says Carolyn Wheeler of Country Club Homes of Wilton. Ms. Wheeler, who co-owns the business with her brother, Walter Cromwell, Jr., has completed many building and renovation projects in New Canaan, winning a 2008 HOBI award for Best In-Town Custom Home for a house on South Avenue. “Older couples may want to downsize yet still have space for returning kids and grandkids,” she says. “And young couples moving out of the city don’t really want acres to take care of and are used to the convenience of stores, shops and restaurants that are easily accessible. They have growing families and want to be in a ‘neighborhood’ where their children can go outside, meet up with their friends and visit and play safely near their homes.” Laura Freed, a Realtor with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty of Ridgefield, agrees. “I think ‘in-town’ has always been desirable, but over the past several years, I think the mix of shops, restaurants and town events has grown fresher and friendlier, which appeals to young families,” she says. “I think the Ridgefield Playhouse has also helped put us on the map as a destination. We also have a lot of specialty stores catering to younger families, and there’s always something like a band concert happening in Ballard Park. Ms. Freed believes in-town living also helps create community spirit, something that may be lacking for those who live on four acres on the outskirts of town. “Ridgefield has a great energy about it,” she says. “We have one of the prettiest main streets around, with sidewalks and many historic buildings. People love to walk, jog, push strollers and walk their dogs around town. On a nice day, people really turn out, and there is a real sense of a New England town in action.”

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September 2009

Builders Respond

Mr. Cromwell says home builders have been quick to recognize the growing trend. “We purchased a house on South Avenue in New Canaan after recognizing the trend, and were fortunate to quickly find a family who wanted to live there,” he says. “So we built a custom home for them in 2008. Now, we are constantly looking for properties that are closer to town, with smaller yards that can accommodate a family home. “It’s not about how big the house can be, but how well designed the house is,” he said. “For us, it’s about blending harmoniously into the established look of the neighborhood. We keep the size and scale in tune with the surroundings, which usually include some historic homes.” Ms. Wheeler says she sees a lot of in-town building going on in Fairfield County communities. “For example, just on South Avenue, several houses are being redone or rebuilt. And Greenwich, obviously a much larger community, adopted the trend many years ago.” Ms. Wheeler says another of her firm’s New Canaan projects reflects a slightly different approach. “We completed a renovation in Wilton on Graenest Ridge Road, only about a half mile from Wilton Center. Unlike New Canaan and Ridgefield, there aren’t any sidewalks that connect the town to the surrounding streets. But that home provided the seclusion and privacy of a backcountry home only two minutes to the train station and downtown.” In-town Living Will Continue

Ms. Freed agrees that the future is bright. “In Ridgefield, in-town has always been considered ‘blue chip,’ and the builders and Realtors know the golden rule of location, location, location,” she says. “There have been many successful teardowns and re-models of in-town homes, and buyers feel safe about investing their money in a premium location.” Ms. Freed says she is excited about a new project she is working on with Heritage Home Construction. Called Village Park, it is a seven-home cul-de-sac subdivision See In-town page 26

Village Park in Ridgefield is a new in-town subdivision by Reed Whipple and Heritage Home Construction.

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

LET THE FUN BEGIN!

Clubhouse completes resort-style living by Robin Glowa

The Fieldstone Club at Chatfield Farms in Beacon Falls celebrates its grand opening Sunday, Sept. 13, from 12 to 4 p.m.

“Have you ever been here?” asked Celine Aiken with excitement. “You don’t have to say a whole lot. Once you’ve seen Chatfield Farms, you’ll see why it sells itself.” Celine and her husband Kevin have recently moved from Trumbull, just in time for the opening of the Fieldstone Club, Chatfield Farms’ magnificent, award-winning clubhouse. Celine and Kevin are absolutely delighted with their new home and tremendously enthusiastic about the amenities offered at the Fieldstone Club. Celine explained, “When Kevin and I first toured Chatfield Farms, Kevin was immediately sold. He said to me, ‘I can see myself here.’ I thought it was a dream, and I am so thrilled that the dream has come true! We moved in and watched the clubhouse coming together. The expertise, care and wonderful architecture that’s gone into it is incredible. It just became prettier and prettier every day.” Like many of the residents of Chatfield Farms, Kevin and Celine are proud grandparents. “We have three grandchildren,” said Celine, “and they are so welcome here, which is very important to us. Also, Kevin and I both have heart issues. I have noticed other residents with health concerns, and I was so thrilled to see that the pool area has a special lift that will assist people with getting in the pool. It opens up a whole new world, and is just one of the many details that makes life here so special.” “We’re so excited about the second half of our lives,” said the Aikens. “Moving here to Chatfield Farms has filled us with adrenaline. Sometimes people our age are looking into the dark at this stage, but we’ve found the light, and we feel like we have so much to look forward to.” Wyndham Homes, builders of active-adult communities, has made Chatfield Farms a true lifestyle community for residents 55 and older. The Fieldstone Club is the pièce

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de résistance, having garnered national recognition for its design. With a stunning pool, tennis court, outdoor bar, huge firepit, aerobics and fitness room, the Fieldstone Club proves just how committed Wyndham Homes is to making Chatfield Farms the most outstanding lifestyle community in New England. The clubhouse design is a result of countless interviews with active adults and clubhouse managers throughout the Northeast to determine what worked and what did not work in clubhouses. As a result of this intensive research, the club offers every activity and amenity active adults desire. Julie Miller, lifestyle coordinator for Chatfield Farms, said, “The clubhouse is the heartbeat of this community. Most of the people who move here are looking for a lifestyle. Their kids are grown, now it can be about them, and they can enjoy so much here.” Julie continued, “The main level of the clubhouse is for socializing and parties. The lower level is the fitness area, where we have aerobics and all the machines. There is even a dedicated massage room. If one of the residents wants a massage, they just let me know and I book their appointment. “We have a wonderful library,” she said. “Many residents donated books when they moved in, and one of our residents, who was a librarian, has organized all the books, and has even set up a card catalogue. It’s amazing how everyone wants to be involved. “I have the best job here,” said Julie, “and I love the homeowners. It’s my job to make sure everyone is having fun. I get great help from the members of the social committee, who are my eyes and ears. They tell me what kind of trips and club the residents want.” Residents enjoy the wide variety of clubs and activities at Chatfield Farms, including a book club, poker night, photography, scrapbooking, bridge, a mahjong club, a golf league and pickleball, a cross between table tennis, badminton and tennis. Julie has arranged exciting trips to such destinations as Fenway Park, Goodspeed Opera House and the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest. Julie said, “One resident said to me recently, ‘It’s like a resort, I can’t believe people actually live here,’ and I just think that

With a pool, tennis court, bar and huge firepit, the outdoor activities are many.

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See Chatfield Farms page 35

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�� Indoors, there’s an aerobics and fitness center and an exercise studio.

September 2009

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

‘Do it yourself’ repairs AND ONES YOU DON’T by Karen Dydzuhn

I love my home. I love the beautiful landscape filled with colorful shrubbery that was planted with true devotion by the original owners in the mid 1950s. I also adore the built-in bookcases in the living room and cabinets in the kitchen, which were handmade by the family’s future son-in-law. However, I should never have become a homeowner. You see, I do not like having to call someone when things go wrong. I went from living in my parents’ home to a college dorm to an apartment, and I really like having someone else — be it my father or mother, a superintendent or landlord — on hand when there is something to be fixed.

Believe me, I know how fortunate I am to have married a “handyman.” My husband just happens to be skilled in fixing, building and refurbishing things. And I swear I never knew about any of these talents when I said “I do.” However, it certainly is a plus and has saved us thousands of dollars in the past 10 years. His accomplishments have included, but are not limited to, digging a large drainage ditch in our backyard to reduce wetness in the basement, manually demolishing our concrete back porch and doing all prep work for a deck we had installed, and tearing down moldy paneling in a playroom downstairs. He and his brother completely renovated our bathroom by taking out an oldfashioned tub and toilet and putting in more modern fixtures. They also tried to cre-

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ate new closet space by removing a wall, only to find a brick chimney behind it. So, there is now brick on one side of the bathroom. However, they still know more about home repairs than I do, even though they were raised in New York City and I grew up in the suburbs. I have to admit that when it came to houses, I was pretty clueless. For example, when my husband and I rented our first house in Connecticut, I was shocked to learn that we were responsible for mowing the lawn, trimming the bushes, bringing the garbage to the dump and shoveling snow from the driveway. Also, I could not believe that we had to pay the water bill. What water bill? It never occurred to me that when I turned on the faucet to take showers, do the dishes and wash my face that someone was paying for this privilege. I don’t know where I thought the water came from all these years. It was just one of many things I took for granted in the various places I lay down my head. I can recall the scary feeling in the pit of my stomach when I turned on the kitchen faucet to wash a sink full of dirty dishes and only droplets came out. All right, let’s try this again. I tried the right handle this time. Again, only a thin stream of water. I immediately called the plumber. When I finally reached someone in person and told him my problem, the plumber said, “It sounds like your well could be dry.” What??? My well is dry? Although I knew we had a well and were not hooked up to the town’s main water line, it didn’t occur to me that well water could actually be depleted. “It’s been a dry season,” the plumber explained. I was not interested in discussing the weather with him. I simply wanted water to do the dishes. And, don’t get me started on the issue of septic systems and sewers. That whole concept is so disgusting that I cannot even write about it without feeling squeamish. Yet it is such an important job, and the man who services our septic system is one of my favorite home professionals. He returns phone calls promptly and patiently

answers my questions. And above all, when my septic system shut down during the holiday season because of over use by the many visiting family members, my septic man promised that all it needed was a good cleaning, not a $20,000 overhaul. For our family, Christmas seems to be the season when major home repairs need to be done. At a time when I should be wrapping presents and icing cookies, it seems like something breaks, leaks or fails to work properly. This year it was the plumbing. The week before Christmas, I called my husband at work to inform him there was a “huge leak” from a pipe in the laundry room. This was really nothing new. See ‘Do it yourself ’ page 25 ��

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A storybook antique WITH A SOPHISTICATED PALETTE by Lois Alcosser

Upon entering this impeccable antique home, the original fireplace is the first thing that catches your eye.

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The history of 47 Weed Street in New Canaan begins in 1784, when the land belonged to James Talmadge, a local gristmill owner. He parceled off some of the land to his son Seymore, who then gave an acre to his son, Seymore Jr., who built 47 Weed Street for his bride. The original stone fireplace is the first thing you notice when you enter. Deborah Shin, the current owner says, “When I saw the fireplace, I fell in love with it and I knew we had to have this house.” Indeed, the aura of history is irresistible everywhere you look. Through the years, skillful and sensitively designed additions have filled the home with comfort and charm without losing its historic essence. It has been fine-tuned, quite like a precious instrument. On one of New Canaan’s most impressive residential streets, 47 Weed is a special home, which some have called a “storybook property.” One of the first things you notice is the sense of private, protected space, because though the house is conveniently close to the Merritt Parkway, the railroad station and New Canaan’s wonderful shopping, it feels like a singular, separate world.

I Do, I Do

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Situated on more than a half-acre, the house sits on a small hill, creating a two-level back yard – one part is purely decorative and the other a spacious, secure play area suitable for children (three of whom live in the house now). This is a home for people who shudder at the concept of McMansions and who will appreciate the creative and sophisticated use of space. For example, upon entering the house, in front of a fabulous fireplace is a small conversation area that opens into a bay-windowed dining room, creating an intimate setting for a dinner party. The well-composed kitchen, beautifully finished in maple, has everything within easy reach – dishwasher, range, refrigerator, microwave, self-cleaning oven. It’s a welcome alternative to the oversized, colossal-island kitchens, which can be overwhelming. A former owner, who was an interior designer, remodeled the house to open it up and create an easy flow from one room to another. The family room with dining area looks out onto the back yard, with a view of seasonal flowers and the play area. Here, as throughout the house, there’s that feeling of intimacy and coziness, yet with space for gracious living so cleverly arranged that it seems to wrap you around in a hug. Tucked into a nook is an office, and there is also a study, which could be an extra bedroom. Another feature of this antique house are two See Storybook page 32

This appealing Weed Street home combines the integrity of antique craftsmanship with contemporary comfort.

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THE I JEWELRY I BOX ■

Insuring your jewelry by Joe Brandt Just to set the record straight, unless you follow the rules (rules? what rules?), insuring your jewelry may not have the result you expected. Almost every insurance company has rules and guidelines for insuring jewelry under your homeowner’s (or renter’s) policy. Unfortunately, most people realize they don’t have the coverage they thought they had until “something happens,” and it’s too late. No two insurance companies have policies that are alike, so it pays to know the requirements and what your exact coverage is. If you are unable to understand or read the “fine print,” you will need to have your insurance agent explain it to you. (Please note that it is not an agent’s job to be sure you understand everything in your policy, but he or she does have to answer questions you have regarding the policy.) For instance, your policy covers you up to a certain amount, past which you need additional insurance, which is sometimes called a “rider.” When this is part of an existing policy, it’s the least expensive form of insurance. But unless your company has a copy of a bill of sale or an insurance appraisal, the rider is not worth a nickel, with a few exceptions.

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September 2009

Let’s say you are insured for a $1,500 bracelet, and it is lost or stolen. (Always be sure to get a police report.) Will the insurance company send you a check for $1,500? Not necessarily. Some companies will give you a replacement bracelet. Sometimes you’ll get only the wholesale value of the item. How can you know? Read your policy. Some insurers require appraisals to be current, and some don’t. (With the dramatic increase in the price of gold over the past few years, it’s a safe bet that most of you are underinsured!) Traveling with jewelry may sometimes be problematic. Jewelry that’s in an unattended suitcase is not likely to be covered by insurance – locked or not. Going out of the country? Check with your insurance company because some policies cover your jewelry for domestic travel only.

A: Not at all. Let’s say someone steals your jewelry box, and you lose everything you weren’t wearing that day. A dozen pieces of gold jewelry could easily be worth some serious money, but because no single item was of high value (except for the engagement ring you were wearing), you had not bothered to list any of it. Suddenly, you’re out $1,000 or more, even with the deductible, but you would have been covered, at no additional cost, if you had submitted bills of sale or appraisals. Always consider the aggregate value.

Q: I lost the center diamond of my engagement ring. I had the ring on my insurance policy, but the insurance company says they won’t pay for it. Can I sue them? A: In all probability, no. If they are denying your claim, it may be because they consider the loss of one diamond to be a partial loss. Some policies do not cover that, and it will say so in the policy. Check before you take any action.

Q: When I asked about security, my jeweler suggested I buy a small safe, saying I might get a break on the cost of my insurance if I keep my jewelry there. Couldn’t someone just steal the safe? A: Of course. The trick is to have a safe professionally installed, which means bolting it to the floor or wall from inside the safe. That way, a thief would have to take part of the house with him, and few burglars are prepared to do that. Also, you should first check with your insurance company. You may need to have a UL-rated safe or an alarm system (or both) before you get a price break on your insurance. The money you save on your policy may not pay for the expense of the safe, but having it does offer a certain peace of mind.

Q: I read in a consumer magazine that it really doesn’t pay to insure anything below $2,000 since you’ll always have a deductible to deal with anyway. Do you agree?

Joe Brandt is a local resident and owner of J.L. Brandt Company, in business since 1928. He is a consultant to retail jewelers and provides advisory service to the public. He is the author of the book Protecting the Family Jewels. ■

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GRANDMA GARDENS

An introduction to nature by Lois Alcosser It’s all about style, isn’t it? Cheerful English gardens, romantic Country French gardens, serene, green Asian gardens. Formal. Informal. Natural. Cultivated. Almost as many varieties as marigolds or columbine. But there’s an uncategorized category. Grandma gardening — dedicated to the curiosity and pleasure of small children, just about the time they’ve learned to walk.

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It requires the protection of buttercups, for the fascinating reflection of yellow light under a child’s chin. It requires respect for what others call weeds — pesky grasses and rude outsiders that high-end gardeners destroy, almost before they appear. It honors dandelions — more fun than roses, because who knows where the feathery gray rockets fly when you blow on them? When she was about four, my granddaughter Rebecca had perfect faith that when she covered an acorn with earth, it would start growing into an oak tree. Searching for four-leaf clovers was a necessity.

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Vol.XIII, Number 9 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 • 46,000 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 2009, Hersam Acorn Newspapers, LLC

Box 1019 Ridgefield, Conn 06877 203-438-6544

September 2009

Pre-teens are not amused by Brussels sprouts (growing or cooked). They’ll listen, slightly bored, to the difference between herbal and tree peonies. They’ll look things up, reluctantly, for the pH factor of soil, and they’re mildly impressed by the little tree bursting out of an avocado pit. But one of the unavoidable facts of life, it seems, is that children outgrow grandma gardens. They abandon them, without regrets or apologies. They get too big for baby stuff. They can even get too big for butterflies. Nonetheless, it’s all worth it. Even though grandma gardens eventually run out of steam, no longer a botanical education, they imprint a memory to be replanted in the future. ■

Before grandchildren, I was a different gardener, a bit of a snob. I preferred odd, exotic plants — conversation pieces. When I discovered monbretia in New Zealand, I decided to produce a glowing border in Connecticut. Monbretia is an elegant flame-red, trumpet-shape vine born in South Africa, transported to Britain and Ireland and then to New Zealand, where British settlers planted it to remind them of home. Monbretia wasn’t comfortable in Connecticut, and my grandchildren weren’t impressed. Monbretia (which was even hard to say) wasn’t as beautiful as pansies or useful as daisies (loves me, loves me not) or familiar, like mini-sized zinnias that look like storybook flowers. Zinnias and daisies are what children paint when they paint flowers. To neighbors’ eyes, a grandma garden is puzzling. Part neglect (the weeds), part tasteless (the crayon colors) ... supermarket style, really. But grandma gardening is lovingly motivated, an introduction to nature. One summer, the garden needed a frog pond. Built carefully in one corner and filled with water, it waited to welcome a frog or two, but none arrived, and it just became a mud-pie factory. Another summer, the children decided they needed paths, and they searched for flat stones, especially sparkly ones, and paved crisscross paths that led to nowhere. But grandkids aren’t babies forever. As they grow into teenagers, their interest in flowers cools. Vegetables are exciting for awhile — wiggly squash vines, huge zucchini leaves, skinny lengths of asparagus. But their response to the life cycle of tomatoes is disappointing. “What’s so great, Grandma, about the first orange streaks on a green tomato?” They already know what mint leaves smell like and all about stamens and pollen and bumblebees. Ladybugs have lost their thrill.

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FROM THE ASHES

‘Summer’ returns triumphant by Kimberly Donnelly

Kimberly Donnelly.

Old Newtown Builders, the company in charge, is a finalist in the Connecticut Zero Energy Challenge.

C A R P E T I N G • N AT U R A L S T O N E Beauty for your home…

When the phone rings at 3 o’clock in the morning, it’s never good news. When ours woke us from a deep sleep one icy Saturday night in December, it was no exception. The summer house of my husband’s parents on Candlewood Lake was on fire. The Lake House, as it had always been known in the family, was a summer house, but it was so much more than that. The house was in my husband’s very large family for nearly 40 years. Five of the seven kids had been married there. It had seen the birth and growth of 15 grandchildren. Summers were always magical at the lake. Sure, there were mice and squirrels and spiders – lots of spiders. There was no insulation, the windows rattled and storms literally blew through the walls. The dryer had to be run for at least two and a half hours to dry a load of towels, and at one point, the washer actually emptied onto the front steps. The many bunk beds were creaky (one of the four small bedrooms was affectionately – sort of – referred to as The Pit), the furniture was mismatched, and there always was sand in the corners. You couldn’t pay me enough to go into the dirtfloored basement. Stuff lived in there, I swear. But the Lake House was summer personified. Its simple, rustic, but infinitely comfortable atmosphere was the embodiment of everyone’s ideal summer. It was late nights on the deck, listening to music and voices carry across the lake. It was thunderstorms spent in front of the monstrous floor-to-ceiling natural stone fireplace that dominated the high-ceilinged living room, which was the heart of the house. It was family dinners on the porch, which turned into parties with neighbors into the wee hours of the morning. It was kids catching fireflies and visiting the frog pond and fishing off the docks ... wet bathing suits and wetter dogs, sunrise waterskiing and sunset sails, summer jobs as lifeguards and camp counselors, summer romances that turned, in some cases, into lifelong friendships and even a few marriages. It was family. And now, it was gone.

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Kimberly Donnelly.

Rising to replace a beloved summer cottage is a dream house, the result of a family’s collaboration.

*** The good thing about having an immediate family of 30 is there are lots of people to offer help, suggestions and opinions about how best to rebuild a house from scratch. The bad part is there are lots of people to offer help and suggestions and opinions about how best to rebuild a house from scratch. After the initial heartbreak and shock of the fire, what everyone agreed on, though, was that this might be a blessing in disguise. This was the chance to collaborate and create a dream house. There was no lack of advice from the peanut gallery. Nixed for obvious reasons were things like a waterslide from the roof to the lake! (The grandkids are still mad this wasn’t incorporated.) A turf roof (the entire family is afraid of heights – who would mow it?), a bomb shelter (too creepy) and a moat (too pretentious). Ultimately, mom and dad designed a more practical house based on two underlying premises. It should reflect the character and the basic footprint of the original house, but, with an eye to the future, it should be as environmentally friendly and as energy-efficient as possible. As luck would have it, my husband’s brother James is a builder, who learned the art of fine craftsmanship from his dad. He is also one of the few certified geothermal-system installers in the state. His company, Old Newtown Builders, was already going green, focusing on sustainable building practices and energy efficient designs. He readily took up the challenge of combining every possible eco-friendly idea (well, except for the waterslide) to create a new family Lake House. The result is a work of art that reflects the magic of summer and family from the moment you lay eyes on it. Huge, rough-hewn tree trunks hold up the front deck, which once again looks out over the lake, waiting for family dinners and neighborhood parties. The cedar shake siding glows like it’s lit from within. The recycled-content (that’s “garbage” to you and me) roofing shingles look exactly like a classic slate roof – and it does NOT need to be mowed. Inside, a floor-to-ceiling fireplace is once again the centerpiece of the large central living room, but this one has a masonry heater that burns wood and will efficiently heat most of the living space. The floorboards come from trees that were cleared from the property.

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A spacious house, but not overwhelming, offers privacy in a serene garden setting.

UNPRETENTIOUS BUT SOPHISTICATED

A home at one with its setting by Jeannette Ross It’s nice to know that during the last 10 years, when builders were throwing up one McMansion after another, some were working with restraint. Fairfield County builder J.C. Gore put up a Cape-style home on Nod Road in Ridgefield that combines plenty of space and amenities with lots of charm to suit the New England countryside. Built in 1990, it looks as if it has been here much longer. That’s a good thing. Owner Susan Mercurio, who lives in the house with her husband Mario and two college-age children, has added an air of sophistication through the use of color, texture and furnishings. Outdoors, the gardens have matured under Susan’s hand, which is hardly a surprise since she is president of Ridgefield’s Caudatowa Garden Club.

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The walls in the living room, which are faux painted in a deep red and trimmed with white molding, display the distinctive styling found throughout the home.

Today the house, which measures just over 6,200 square feet and sits on twoplus acres, is for sale. For details, call agent Terry Conlon at 203-470-4999. When Susan and Mario first saw the house, they were returning to the Northeast after several years of living in Michigan and California. “The house in California was a totally different house on no property,” Susan said. “It was a typical California-type house with big ceilings in a nice spot overlooking a canyon. In terms of California living, we had privacy even though it was wide open.” There is plenty of privacy on the Ridgefield property, which has about a oneacre buffer zone between the house and neighboring lots. That was a big plus in the Mercurios’ minds. “I also liked that the design of the house was not your typi-

September 2009

cal McMansion,” Susan said. “There is a lot of space but it’s not overwhelming. I also liked the first-floor master and that the lot is relatively level.” As soon as you enter this house you can see where the design is going. The two-story foyer has a herringbone wood floor, but it is the walls and moldings that make the statement. Susan had the walls done in a buttery-colored Venetian plaster, and the antique-white moldings were given a distressed look. “I had seen Venetian plaster before and I liked it,” Susan said. “In Michigan I had a painter do a distressed finish that I really liked.” The living room, which is just off the foyer, continues the faux-painting theme, only this time in a deep red, which sets off the crisp white moldings. The entry to

the living room is an archway, and there is another archway from the living room into a music room. Originally, the music room was a separate space, with entry from the hallway, functioning as a den, and it probably still would be if not for the Mercurios’ baby grand piano. “We had the piano in the living room,” but it did not fit well,” Susan said. There was no entry from the living room to the den, but Susan decided to have one of the carpenters who helped build the house come back and add one. “I like it a lot better,” Susan said. The new archway adds depth to the living room. It See Nod Road page 27

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

Distinctive Style September Home of the Month

LOCATION: A private retreat in Weston and yet minutes from schools, trains and shops. PROPERTY: Adjacent to the Aspetuck Land Trust, which provides a wooded backdrop, this home, on more than two acres, is professionally landscaped, offering colorful gardens, majestic trees and a pool with waterfall and tiered patio. HOUSE: This sophisticated yet comfortable home is filled with fine architectural details, such as casement, transom and arched windows that contribute to the homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s distinctive style. On the first floor is a dramatic three-level foyer, a living room with floor-to-ceiling two-sided fireplace, a dining room, a family room with fireplace and vaulted ceiling, a den with vaulted ceiling, a gourmet kitchen and breakfast room with French doors to a covered porch. On the second floor is a master suite and four other bedrooms. On the third floor are several rooms and a full bath. In total, there are four full baths and two half baths. GARAGE: Three-car attached. PRICE: $1,999,999. REALTY: William Raveis Wilton. Agent: Theresa Blinder, 203-858-7947. Photography: Bryan Haeffele.

A BUILDER’S SUCCESS

It’s all in the details by G. Lisa Sullivan When it comes to shopping, I have to admit I’m a sucker for mail-order catalogs. Nothing makes me happier than reaching into my mailbox and retrieving the new fall and spring editions from my favorite stores like Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Crate and Barrel and Restoration Hardware. I may not buy everything for our home through these comprehensive guides, but it’s always fun to look, and I never fail to be inspired by the beautiful room-set pho-

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tography and graphic depictions of housewares. A friend of mine actually decorated her entire living room – sofas, draperies, lighting, rug and accessories – by mail order! I think it’s safe to say that a lot of women like the classic, mostly traditional style that pervades these pages, and a good percentage of them would like to replicate that style in their own homes. You can even match the paint color on the room-set walls (Pottery Barn uses Benjamin Moore paint in its catalog vignettes and helpfully provides the color and name). What Women Want

Area builder, residential real-estate developer, consultant and married father of two, Kevin McHugh has also recognized his clients’ predilection for traditional styling. “Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s the woman who actually buys the house,” Kevin says. “I always ask myself, ‘What would a woman want in this home?’ when I’m in the initial stages of planning a residential project.”

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The Westport native, whose family has been in the construction business for 40 years, divides his time between building spec homes and launching trendy South Norwalk restaurants and bars. “I originally started in Manhattan 20 years ago, when I opened the Auction House, my first bar,” Kevin recalls. “The year the Rangers won the Stanley Cup, they came in to celebrate.” When the SoNo area of Norwalk began its boom, Kevin opted for a business closer to home, and opened the Loft Martini Bar, Paris and Match, all in the burgeoning section of South Norwalk. House Proud

While he was busy with his commercial work, Kevin, who has building in his blood, eventually turned toward the residential real estate market in Fairfield County, focusing particularly on Westport and Weston. “My company, Kevin McHugh Homes, has been building traditional, Colonial- and Nantucket-style spec homes for years,” he says, “ranging in size from 2,500 to 8,000 square feet.” Often, Kevin will encounter an outdated, ready-for-renovating or tearSee The Little Pub page 33

What began as a pub is now one again thanks to buider Kevin McHugh, who has artfully restored it as The Little Pub.

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

Making time count by Lois Alcosser It seems to me that my American Express bill arrives every two weeks, not every month the way it’s supposed to. It also seems that months themselves are getting shorter, that March had 25 days at the most and February had about 18. Is this because so many things are happening at once? A crisis a day? A regular schedule of crimes and corruption? Too many greatest movie of the year, and too many pages on too many Web sites? Time is subjective, yes. But in real life, depending on your location, it’s either 6:45 a.m. or 3:22 p.m. exactly. Or is it? When I check my various timepieces (clock radio,

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car radio, kitchen clock, bedside clock, wristwatch) they’re all different. Maybe just by a minute or so. But still. It’s very likely that an enormous number of people within the same official time zone are living at different times. Time is an invisible element in our lives, less visible than air, and unstoppable. Built in, it’s omnipresent, it cannot be replaced. But though it can’t be restored, it can be remodeled and repaired. That’s what happens when we decide to seize the day, seize the hour, seize the minute! We can choose the time we live in; in fact, we do it constantly. Do the dishes and make the beds or go shopping? Send an e-mail or do our exercises? Enjoy down time or worry that we’ve wasted it? There are hundreds of statements about time we hardly ever think about. “Time is of the essence.” “Where does the time go?” “The time is ripe.” “Time out.” “There’s no time like the present.” “Free time.” “All the time in the world.” “Pressed for time.” “Take your own sweet time.” Most of us try to be on time, some never are. Real time is when the train leaves at 4:30 p.m. and school starts at 7:30 a.m. The cake takes 30 minutes to bake. The bus leaves at 5:25. Recently, I tried not wearing a wristwatch, trying to be unmastered by time. It was a failed experiment, because without the time at hand, I thought about it See Time page 34

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September 2009

‘Do it yourself ’ continued from page 9 For years, we have had various leaks in those pipes, but my husband has managed to replace pieces himself. Sometimes it took him a full day of going back and forth to the hardware store to get the right pipe and whatever other gadgets were necessary, but he temporarily solved the problem. We both knew it was a “Band-Aid” approach, but we could not afford anything else. This time, however, my husband advised me to call a plumber. “Really?” I questioned. “Can’t you fix it?” “Not this time,” he said, somberly. My husband is adept at home improvement, but as an intelligent man, he knows his limitations. Before referring me to the Yellow Pages, he reminded me about the fire he started with the blowtorch during his last adventure in plumbing. Although I was worried about the time and money the project would entail, I was fortunate to find a wonderful man who proposed replacing all the pipes in the laundry room for a very reasonable price. And, he said, he would be able to complete the project by Christmas Eve. And thus it came to be that not only did I show off my glowing Christmas tree when family and friends came to visit on Christmas Day, but I also had rows of brightly colored pipes for them to admire. During my years as a home owner, I have come to appreciate home-improvement stores. I knew my priorities had shifted when I was the one to initiate a painting project for Labor Day weekend. “Let’s paint all the cabinets white to lighten up the kitchen before winter,” I suggested. My husband looked at me in disbelief because I usually spend the final days of summer soaking up the sun at the beach. Maybe I finally realized that although a great deal of love fills our home, the dwelling itself sometimes needs tender, loving care. And whatever little improvements I make come back tenfold in terms of our investment in a home where our children continue to create blessed childhood memories. ■

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In-town continued from page 5

Built by Country Club Homes, an in-town home in New Canaan appeals to a variety of age groups and lifestyles.

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

on Bryon Avenue, just a few blocks from Main Street on land formerly owned by St. Mary’s Church. “This is a quality project in a prime location, and the homes blend in with the historic character of the village,” Ms. Freed says. “Buyers today are really savvy, and even with an in-town location, they want value.” Ms. Wheeler says she believes the new interest in in-town living reflects a pulling back from large, showplace houses and over-the-top spending, and also reflects a conscious effort to be “greener.” “The in-town home might not be a totally self-sustainable home, but emphasis now is on better insulation, windows, heating and air-conditioning, using geothermal options and green materials,” she says. “In-town homes are generally going to be smaller and on smaller lots. So less energy is used, less water is used for landscaping and less gas to get around. All of these things benefit the environment, while maintaining and recapturing the old New England village feel.” Both women believe the in-town concept is healthy for real estate, local businesses and the families that have adopted the lifestyle. “Many towns have plans to increase the number of sidewalks and bike paths,” Ms. Wheeler says. “There is an emphasis on creating and maintaining green space in the downtown area. Of course, plenty of people still want that large backcountry home on plenty of acreage, but now it is no longer considered a negative to live in a beautifully designed, smaller in-town residence. It’s become a matter of choice, and I think the trend is a healthy one.” Ms. Freed concurs. “In Ridgefield, there is no ‘wrong side’ of town,” she says. “Regardless of whether you live intown, out of town, north or south, we have a wonderfully diverse community, mixing small town values with a cosmopolitan outlook on life. The new trend to in-town living is yet another plus factor.” ■ September 2009

Nod Road continued from page 19 could always be converted back to a den. “If you were sitting at a desk,” she said, “you could peek out at the living room fireplace.” Also on the first floor are the dining room, butler’s pantry, kitchen and family room, which are open to one another. This is a great space for entertaining, with a large granite island, Sub-Zero refrigerator and six-burner Viking stove. There is a separate eating area that leads to the family room with its vaulted ceiling, twostory stone fireplace, and French doors leading to the stone patio and its outdoor kitchen. There is also a wet bar. The master bedroom with a Palladian window has French doors leading to a bluestone patio. Combined with the master bath, which has a Jacuzzi tub and glass shower, this suite offers a real retreat from the rest of the house. It could also double as a wonderful guest suite, since there is a large bedroom/bath combination on the second floor. Access to the three bedrooms on the second floor is along a balcony that overlooks the family room. There is also a bonus room that could be a huge office, with built-in desk space in each of the roof dormers. The Mercurios use it as a recreation room, with a full-size pool table and study space for their children. The end of the wide, second-floor hallway is softened by a large window and window seat. In the basement, there is room for the Mercurios’ exercise room, a media room, and a wine room – complete with sink and refrigeration – but it is not used now for that purpose, functioning instead as an office. When the Mercurios’ bought the house 10 years ago, there was little landscaping. Today, an archway leads through a stand of mature hornbeams, opening onto an impressive back yard.

“I love gardens, and my goal when I first started was siting the pool and adding some landscaping. I wanted flowering that was interesting throughout the seasons,” Susan said. The backyard features a built-in pool and hot tub with a large patio. All around are formal gardens with perennial and annual flowers, boxwoods, azalea, rhododendron, roses, lavender, grasses, hydrangea, and specimen trees, among them crabapples and Japanese maples. Susan also wanted a vegetable garden, which was difficult to achieve even though the property has deer fencing. “We really needed a second fence for the woodchucks,” she said. “I wanted a kitchen garden with a French look,” she said, and to achieve that she added flowers and berries to the mix of vegetables. A small shed is used as a combination potting shed and changing room for the pool. The gardens offer a serenity that Susan loves. “What I like about this house is, it’s quiet and very private. It’s very nice to sit outside.” The house can be seen online at terryconlon.com. ■

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

New England looks good in plaid by Polly Tafrate “What’s peak?” asks our guest from Kansas, as she watches the evening news in our New Hampshire cottage. “The newscasters keep pointing to maps when they talk about it.” I have to chuckle. Of course the concept of peak would be foreign to her. But to those familiar with New England lingo, that word is as well known as black flies, frost heaves and leaf peepers. I explain that the media tries to alert viewers when the fall foliage is the most vibrant – its peak. To the dismay of many, nature doesn’t always cooperate with Columbus Day weekend. Often that’s too late for peak, but never too early. In actuality, there’s a span of several weeks when the mountains, hills and valleys are spectacular. New Englanders know when foliage season is approaching without having to look at their calendars. The most obvious hints are the flame-tipped leaves of reds, oranges and yellows that appear overnight. Subtler indicators are the

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wild turkeys seen pecking at rose hips along the roadsides, orange signs posted for hunters at sporting goods and general stores to designate them as Deer Registration Stations, and scores of signs stuck in people’s front yards promoting candidates in the November elections. Not to be ignored is the infiltration of cars and trailers with license plates from Texas, Ohio and Florida. “We’re sticking around to see the colors,” these visitors will tell you, whether you ask them or not. Make no mistake, leaf peeping is a season of its own, just like the other three –snow, mud and summer (aka July). Driving north during peak, you’ll pass many tour buses, or they’ll pass you. You’re both headed to the same place, only they have firm reservations. King Arthur Flour, the world-famous baker’s store in South Norwich, Vt., is one of their favorite stops. Anyone is welcome, but if you see the buses parallel-parked in their lot, you know the place will be swamped. Last year they offered free homemade pancakes with “real” – that word in New England always comes before the words – maple syrup. Another popular Vermont destination is the Farmway Store in Bradford. They claim to be “Complete Outfitters for Man and Beast,” and that they are, selling everything from country clothing to saddles to livestock feed. A huge and recently built gift barn is adjacent to the bus parking lot. One of the hardest things will be choosing what to do. Local papers, library bulletin boards and roadway signs will guide you toward these events – pancake breakfasts, craft fairs, flea markets, yard sales, fall festivals, auctions, book sales – they’re everywhere. Or you may want to stop at an orchard to pick apples and munch on homemade donuts – one won’t be enough. If you like to cook, stop

at the numerous farm stands to buy squashes, potatoes and any fruits the frost hasn’t blessed. The difference in taste is astounding. It’s also a neat time to buy your Halloween pumpkins, gourds and decorative mums. For the more active folks, the back roads offer some of the most scenic and peaceful spots to walk or bike. Hikers and rock climbers – you’re in for a treat. One thing you’ll quickly learn about New England is its ever-changeable weather. It can be delightful with cool, crisp, clear sunny days and evenings filled with the aroma of wood smoke and a hint of the frost to come, which will make you grateful for your car’s seat-heater. But the weather can also be fickle. There have been weekends of torrential rains and wind, which caused the leaves to fall prematurely. Another year it was unseasonably hot, humid and hazy, encouraging many to stay close to the lakes and forgo the traditional fall activities. Getting to some of these destinations can take time, so pack your patience along with your walking shoes, fleece and gloves. Speed limits are subject to change as leaf peepers think little of stopping, getting out of their cars and walking along the road two or three abreast in search of the perfect picture. Rather than being annoyed, just pull over and capture your own Kodak moment. When you get hungry for dinner, you can go to a restaurant, where you’ll probably have to wait in line for a table. Another option is church suppers, where the food is always home-cooked and delicious. Their menus vary from turkey to ham and beans to spaghetti. One of our favorites is held in Groton, Vt. – a chicken-pie supper that usually feeds about a thousand people. Residents See New England page 34

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

HOME I MOANER ■

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Sag Tale by Ben Guerrero Ten years ago, when we moved into this house on Rusty Hinge Road, I was stunned by the seemingly vast amount of space in the new place. Our stuff had plenty of breathing room, and anything that didn’t have a designated spot was relegated to the basement, where I made sure we had shelves aplenty. It was organized. I realize I was a lithe, virile man in my early 40s, bubbling over with energy and vitality. I swarmed around the old homestead from sun up to sun down, hammering, patching, painting and improving. Last year, after Melissa and I spent blizzards of cash on delicious home improvements, it got to be quite evident that things had changed over the ensuing decade. For starters, I paid people to do the work that 10 years earlier I’d have done myself. But

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what really stood out was, we’d amassed so much junk about the place that it was getting out of control. There were boxes, now dusty and damp and bug-bothered, piled on the basement shelves that were still bound by the packing tape we’d so carefully secured them with at the end of the last century. There were crumbling crannies and gnarly nooks that were swelling with shards of pottery we had been collecting off and on for years. We had mail piled knee-high on every surface. There was a table in the cellar covered with layers of old grocery bags, empty jars and forgotten appliances we were saving in the event that we – well, we can’t quite remember what the point was. Part of the accumulation, at least as far as the grocery bags were concerned, was intended as part of a plan on our mutual back burner to have an enormous tag sale. We would lug all of this junk out on the front porch and sell it to unsuspecting, gullible strangers, utilizing the bags to help our customers lug our junk (now their junk) off to their own choking basements. Days, weeks, months, sadly years have passed, and every spring, as the sun rides at a less depressing part of the sky, we have taken a frustrated look at our cluttered sur-

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roundings and have vowed to each other that this will A few days later, porch still straining under the load, be the summer that we have the monster tag sale. Then I was returning from a trip to see my mechanic, ADD life gets in the way, and another year goes by. Bob. As I gunned the Volvo down Tin Can Alley, I This year was different. We ran out of both space spied a brand new enterprise hanging its shingle out on and excuses. We had both finished our enormous a long-fallow storefront. It was a brand new neighborlife-changing projects: I was a nurse now and Melissa hood Thrift Shop. Perhaps they’d like some free inventory, I thought. I pulled over and went inside and spoke had earned her master’s degree. We came up for air to the proprietor in my impeccable broken Spanish, and – spring’s renewal prying open our windows, shining quicker than you can say “Por supuesto,” several entrethe light on all the improvements we had made on preneurial ladies were chasing the Volvo down Tin Can the house during our simultaneous self-improvement Alley in a red pick-up truck on the way to our porch on epochs. The mountains of debris that were crowdRusty Hinge Road. ing out the otherwise grown-up, normal surroundings became painfully evident. They were more discerning than I’d have liked, but In other words: it was time. inside half an hour and just as the first drops of the seaWe blocked out three days on the schedule, and son’s ever-present rain began to fall, they had taken all but a Volvo-load of our discarded clutter, and the next when the moment arrived, we entered the basement afternoon, after a trip to Good Will with the balance, I and pulled out everything in it. We had old tape playwas sweeping an empty porch. ers, fax machines, coffeemakers, clothing, furniture, wallpaper, tins, cables, candlesticks, frying pans, buckets There is no obvious change in the situation. We still and books, along with countless boxes of just plain old have a decent tag sale’s worth of stuff clogging our life, junk that quickly filled the long part of the porch in but the purge gave us new hope for a future that might anticipation of the Saturday tag sale. I made a stencil, include a sparse existence with minimal, well-edited and with a two-inch stack of shirt cardboards, saved bric-a-brac placed strategically on our frequently dusted for just such a purpose, I made a two-inch stack of and polished remaining furniture. signs. Saturday morning, while I wrestled our priceless It could happen, as long as we stay out of the neighjunk out onto the lawn, Melissa took the old Swingline borhood Thrift Shop. Collecting e-mail at ben.guerrero@sbcglobal.net. ■ staple-tacker out with the posters and defiled as many strategic telephone poles as she could. By the time she returned, I already had some eager buyers thumbing through our wares. Everything was priced to go. Bargains were plentiful. We started at 10, officially, and by noon most of the decent stuff was gone and so were the customers. Maybe we should have paid for a classified ad, but we figured that we’d just ride the slipstream of the handful of competing tag sales in the neighborhood. Melissa felt that my display acumen left quite a bit to be desired. Whatever the problem, �� at the end of the day, we had 60 dollars in our pocket and a porch full of unsold merchandise, which we had previously �� agreed would never go back in the house. Which meant I was going to have to find a way to get rid of the rest of the �� stuff somehow. I contemplated handing �� the 60 bucks over to my lawn man and asking him to haul it away. The longer it sat on the porch, the more likely one of us would start to rethink the value of the items and secretly bring them back �� into the house piece by piece. Part of me hoped that some of my more unsavory �� neighbors would steal it all.

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Storybook continued from page 11 staircases, front and rear, leading to the master bedroom and two more bedrooms and bathrooms, which are appealing in their elegant yet moderate proportions. Ms. Shin has decorated the house with a skillful sensitivity. Every room combines the integrity of antique craftsmanship with contemporary comfort. She has captured the spirit of early American design while subtly updating it. Throughout, handsome wide-planked flooring evokes tradition, while many windows and average ceiling heights eliminate the downside of antique homes. Outside, a flagstone patio provides generous space for entertaining, and there is a garage and carport. As a visitor recently said, “It’s such an impeccable property – it never goes unnoticed!” Lawrence Sullivan of Brotherhood & Higley is the listing agent and may be reached at 203-966-3507 or 203-801-5311. ■

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The Little Pub continued from page 23 down home while driving through the many beautiful neighborhoods of Weston and Westport, sometimes leaving a note in the owners’ mailbox. “I’ve actually purchased several properties that way,” he recalls, “and I try to design a home that will blend in with the surrounding houses and landscapes.” A Nantucket-style house, with its shingle siding and dormers, for example, would be ideal located near a beach, according to Kevin, while a Colonial-style home is more suited to the center of a town. Kevin, an avid researcher of classic architecture, works with architect Jonathan Wagner (whom he met while designing one of his restaurants) to incorporate many details into the homes he builds. Molding, reclaimed wood, imported European-tile flooring and white carrera-marble countertops are a few examples. “Today, home buyers want Sub-Zero refrigerators, Wolf ranges, mudrooms, outdoor fireplaces, and huge killer closets for ‘her,’ with crown moldings, special attention for dresses and shoes, a center island for laying out clothes and a petite crystal chandelier,” Kevin says. “I even inset dog baths into some of my mudroom floors! I find that this is what home buyers, especially women, want.”

The Tudor Revival-style building, located on the corner of Route 7 and Route 102, was built in 1920 and opened in 1921 as a pub, according to Kevin. “Over the years, it changed hands several times, and has since been used as a boat shop, a real estate office, Ye Olde York Pub in the 1970s and most recently as an antiques shop,” he explains. Over the last months, Kevin, who has leased the property from Higgins Real Estate, has made extensive cosmetic renovations to the building. “We’ve restored and upgraded the original grandeur,” he explains, “including replacing the plaster ceiling with antique barnsiding and the floors with wide-plank flooring from Good Earth Millwork in Ridgefield. We also replaced the brick inside the interior fireplace with fieldstone and installed barnsiding and antique corbels on the bar, six antique wrought-iron chandeliers, custom-made tables and 100-year-old gates to divide the dining area from the bar.” The menu is casual and includes burgers, sandwiches and salads, as well as entrées, according to Kevin. An outdoor patio will be open for seasonal dining. “We’ve created a European country pub right down to the last detail,” he says. “We want families to feel comfortable eating here, and if they feel like they’re on vacation in England or Ireland, so much the better!” For further information, contact Kevin McHugh, 203-216-8417. ■

A Little Taste Of Europe

Confronted with a soft real estate market, Kevin has turned his attention and his time to a new project – the launch of Little Pub, a Ridgefield-based European country-style restaurant.

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

Time continued from page 24

New England continued from page 29

all the time. It’s a reassurance to have a watch on your wrist, even if it’s a little bit off. Without a timepiece, you don’t know whether to hurry or dawdle. The concept of “hurry” is almost never good, unless you’re running away from a tidal wave or a burning house. There’s an Arab proverb: “Haste is of the devil.” Think of grandfather clocks, those stately bearers of time that somehow seem to slow things down. Commanding attention, they suggest that you examine each minute and honor each hour with solemn sound — a reminder that the hour just past and the one to come are unique, available once and never again. Time has become digital, neon-colored numbers that aren’t really clocks anymore. Changing soundlessly, liquefying time. There is an atomic clock in Denver is so accurate its creators theorize that it will not lose or gain a second in 4.5 billion years. But it tells time at such speed that it’s hard to read. Enter someone’s home and try to tell its time. Is there a sense of urgency, of wanting to capture and enclose every moment, or is there a sense of serenity, telling you to take your time, no need to rush. It’s a subtle quality, a mellowing that has little to do with the cost of things or trends or fashion. Like making friends, writing poems, growing up, it takes time. ■

prepare and bake the chicken pies and biscuits, make gallons and gallons of gravy to accompany the pie, peel and mash more than 350 pounds of potatoes and butternut squash, and chop bushels of cabbage for the coleslaw. Hundreds of apple and pumpkin pies and rolls are made by bakers in town. All this is accompanied by homemade cranberry sauce, sweet pickles and gallons of coffee and tea. There are four sittings, every hour starting at 4:30. For this one you need reservations, but for the multitude of others you just walk in. Finding a place to sleep is like looking for a place to stay during parents’ weekends at college. Those in the know make reservations weeks, months and sometimes a year in advance. The quaint inns, summer rental cottages, hotels, and motels are likely booked, as the receptionist on the other end of the phone will tell you, “for foliage.” Some natives open their homes to “the peepers.” No, not as in bed-and-breakfasts, but rather like the old-fashioned tourist homes where the shared bathrooms are down the hall. New England’s fall colors are not something anyone should miss. In fact, the Northeast Kingdom (the northern parts of Vermont) is listed in the book 1000 Places to See Before You Die, where it is described as “fall foliage Nirvana.” Over the years my husband and I have learned some things about leaf peeping, the main one being to leave Columbus Day weekend to the tourists. In fact, this year we’re heading north at the end of September. Think we’ll hit “peak”? ■

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September 2009

Chatfield Farms continued from page 7 really sums up the experience here at Chatfield Farms and the Fieldstone Club. I am thrilled that everyone is so happy and excited about the club and the activities here.” Wyndham Homes chose Lita Dirks & Company as the interior designers of the Fieldstone Club. The expansive 10,000-square-foot space is a mixture of elegance, comfort and utility. Using Wyndham Homes’ research as a basis, the firm’s goal was to create an interior space that was warm, invigorating, inviting and timeless. Named Best Clubhouse at an Active Adult Community by the 50+ Housing Council of the National Association of Home Builders, the Fieldstone Club is a gorgeous example of sophistication blended with a wonderful level of fun. This jewel of Chatfield Farms will celebrate with an official grand opening on Sunday, Sept. 13, from 12 to 4. As a top innovator in its field, Wyndham Homes is always looking for new ways to meet homeowners’ desires. Many people now are looking to downsize, and Wyndham Homes just introduced a new model home called the Emerson. This is a slightly smaller version of other models offered at Chatfield Farms. The 1,404-square-foot home addresses the need for a home that will combine the luxury 55+ residents desire with maximum space, efficiency and affordability. This bright new star combines convenience, beauty and function, with a flowing floor plan perfect for entertaining friends and family. To tour Chatfield Farms and the Fieldstone Club, call the sales center at 203-7237366 and speak with Connie or Rob. Chatfield Farms is at 639 Skokorat Road in Beacon Falls; Web site, www.chatfieldfarms.net. ■

The award-winning club, with its many events and activities, is the heart of this community for residents 55 and older.

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

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INTO I THE I GARDEN ■

Summing up summer by Donna Clark September is the month to rethink what we have planted and to jot down any changes. This is true for both flower and vegetable gardens. This year was certainly anything but normal considering the amount of rain and the cool temperatures. I don’t usually have trouble with slugs, and I should have caught on earlier that I needed to put slug bait down. Now I have large holes in the foliage of my hosta plants, and it’s a little too late to make a difference. I will get after it now, though, because the slugs winter over. Actually, I was kept busy with many pests who called my garden home. There was the friendly rabbit that hopped over from the neighbors’ each day. I thought one rabbit would not be too bad. Well, she had seven babies in my back flower garden. Yes, they sure were cute, but they promptly ate all the asters, gomphrena and achillea. I sprayed

hot pepper wax every other day, but that did not seem to help. Now a few weeks have gone by, and I seem to have only one rabbit left. I think the neighbor cat helped out. The woodchuck came back several times, and each time I tried a new trick that seemed to work. I knew where his hole was located (under the fence with the neighbors, again), and I poured Woodchuck Solution from the Deer Solution folks on a rag and put it down the hole. Then I poured more on the ground around the entrance. The spray didn’t work on the plants, but pouring it on the ground kept him away for a month. The tomato blight never arrived at my house, but the early blight was bad this year because of all the rain and cold weather. It made the plants look sick, and the tomatoes were a bit smaller. The zucchini got some fungus on the stems and promptly died. I have replanted for a fall crop with high hopes for some zucchini soup for the freezer. The green beans and peas were excellent, and what a wonderful potato crop. The onions are so large I am giving them to everyone who stops by. I guess you are getting the picture. Rain and cool temperatures are good for some of the crops and death for others. I visited several schools in Ridgefield this summer to check on their new vegetable gardens. They appeared to be doing very well – first prize went to the Scotland School and second to Scotts Ridge. The gardens were nicely planned and planted. I would advise them to improve the soil this fall with aged manure or compost. The soil level in a raised bed should be almost to the top of the boards holding the bed. Flame is a new phlox that we really like, and this is the second year we have added it to the gardens. It comes in light pink, lilac, pink and purple. The two colors we are using are white and pink. This phlox really does stay short and can be used in the front of a border. The height is 15 to 18 inches, and the bloom time is June through August. These phlox were blooming in June even in our cool weather.

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

September 2009

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Donna Clark

Pam insisted we try Penta Northern Lights this year, and I’m glad she did. It is entirely different from the other Pentas. The color is light lavender and the height is about 12 inches. I’ve used it in pots with Euphorbia, and it holds its space and gives a really dreamy bloom. I want to report on the Cuphea Totally Tempted that we were so excited about this spring. We planted it in containers and in the ground. The plants in the ground are really super, while the ones in the containers with other plants are dead. Where Cuphea was planted by itself in a container, it is still doing just fine. They do not like to be dry, and they also need extra fertilizer. One good tip when planting a container – include Euphorbia Diamond Frost. If one of the plants bites the dust the Euphorbia will fill in. Sometimes you have to get back to basics. One of the containers we planted this year is really spectacular. It is two different reds – Dragon Wing Begonias and Impatiens Super Elfin Ruby with blue Browalia. The container is white, one of those new light-weight ones. This was spectacular on a shade patio. I was working in the vegetable garden a week ago and saw some baby sparrows hiding under the peonies. Mom was on the fence instructing them, and then I heard the hawk. He landed right on a branch near them. He was poised to attack, so I scolded him and said that if he couldn’t get the rabbits and voles, he should leave the birds alone. He ignored me until I turned my back to resume my work; then he flew away. The sparrows were saved. One of our valued older clients always has some stories to tell us. When we arrived to clean up her garden, she was watching a bluebird house with field glasses, waiting for the babies to fly away. Nothing happened while we were there, but she passed on one bit of wisdom: egg-yolk yellow is not a pleasing color in the garden. Questions or comments: donnaclark@ix.netcom.com. ■

In a white planter, Red Dragon Wing Begonia, Ruby Super Elfin Impatiens and blue Browalia create a winning combination for a summer patio.

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

From the ashes continued from page 17

Kimberly Donnelly.

But it’s the things you can’t see that make the house revolutionary. A geothermal system uses the earth’s constant temperature to heat and cool the house for pennies, using almost no fossil fuels. Radiant heating is embedded in the basement floor – a basement free of spiders and creatures of any kind. Pre-cast insulated foundation walls and highly efficient SIPs (structurally insulated panels) were used. There’s a solar water heater, rainharvesting barrels and Energy Star appliances throughout the house. What was once a drafty, glorified indoor campsite is on its way to becoming LEEDS (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, and is a finalist in the Connecticut Zero Energy Challenge. Sometimes endings really do lead to new beginnings. From the ashes of a disaster has risen a truly magnificent 21st-Century phoenix, which will once again be a gathering place and a memory-making hub for our family. Now, if we can just get that waterslide built ... For more information on Old Newtown Builders, geothermal systems, energy- efficient building practices, building/remodeling questions, e-mail info@OldNewtownBuilders.com, 203-268-6106, OldNewtownBuilders.com. ■ The fireplace now has a masonry heater that burns wood to efficiently heat most of the living space.

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

September 2009

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September 2009

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

September 2009