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Redding Garden Club Tour Every Day Is Arbor Day Open Day Garden Tour

Table Talk Around The World

Polishing A Small Gem Mid-Century Modern

Home of the Month Distinctive Setting New Canaan

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

Jeannette Ross

Greenwich Post New Canaan Advertiser The Wilton Bulletin The Redding Pilot

Vol. XIII, Number 6

A Hersam Acorn Special Section

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FEATURES A tour of Redding gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 Polishing a small gem to perfection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7 Table talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 Brighten up with color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19 Kitchen design from start to finish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-23 Every day is Arbor Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-25 A summer “cottage” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-27 DEPARTMENTS Home Moaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 Into the Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17 Home of the Month. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21 Racking One’s Brain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34-35

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Cover: Open Day Garden Tour in Kent.

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June 2009

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‘Sharing what we love and enjoy’ A TOUR OF REDDING GARDENS by Janis Gibson

Sharon Coates photo

Clematis vines are a favorite, beautiful flowers in a variety of colors.

For The Love of Gardening, a tour sponsored by the Redding Garden Club and New Pond Farm, will take place on Saturday, June 13, rain or shine. Open from 10 to 4:30, the tour of eight gardens will begin at four locations. The Redding Garden Club’s last garden tour was in 2006, and it has had numerous requests for an encore. The only repeat garden will be that of the Sharon Coates, New Pond Farm board president and garden club member. She said, “Many garden club members are also members of New Pond Farm – both are about having fun experiences as your time permits – so it was natural for the two organizations to co-sponsor the tour.” “Everyone we asked was very enthusiastic,” Sharon said, “and virtually all of the homeowners will be present. People prefer hands-

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June 2009

on gardens, and enjoy being able to discuss the gardens with their creators and maintainers.” Since the 2006 tour, Sharon’s sunny hillside garden, called Wild Child, has been “tamed a bit” with a 30-foot stone wall. She will also be offering “a small boutique of garden and nature-related items, including fairy dolls and some children’s things.” Twenty percent of all sales will be donated to the sponsoring organizations. There will be no live plants for sale, although there will be live plants among the raffle prizes available for bidding at New Pond Farm. Also, all garden tour participants are automatically entered in a door-prize drawing for a birdhouse. The 102-acre New Pond Farm at the corner of Marchant and Umpawaug roads will be the center of the tour. The environmental center and working farm features rolling pastures and woods, but the focus of the tour will be the perennial, herb and vegetable gardens near the house and barns. An invitational art show, Celebrating the Seasons, featuring the work of 55 artists, will also open at New Pond’s Learning Center on June 13, and run through June 27. Diversity Of Settings

See Redding Gardens page 14

Chris Tamboia photo

Plum Row, with stone walls and boxwood-lined beds, features an interesting collection of perennials and shrubs, with gravel paths and stone steps leading to a raised-bed herb garden. Among Tall Pines is a garden oasis surrounded by a canopy of massive white pines and Norway spruce, with specialty plantings and creative architectural features.

Ornaments and birdhouses add interest and provide focal points to a garden.

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VICTORIA LYON INTERIORS

Eric Roth Photography

Both home and gallery —Clockwise from left: floor sculpture, cherry chain, ©Bryan Nash Gill; painting, Untitled II, ©Bart Gulley; painting, Untitled 5A, ©Janet Slom, all courtesy of Art + Interiors.

Polishing a small gem to perfection

A labor of love is the phrase that springs to mind when viewing the artful and intelligent staging of a Philip Johnson house in New Canaan by interior designer Victoria Lyon of Victoria Lyon Interiors of Old Greenwich. The Alice Ball house (so named for the original owner), at 523 Oenoke Ridge Road, is a classic of mid-century modern design by architect Philip Johnson, who was one of a group of architects active in New Canaan after World War II. Known as the Harvard Five, Eliot Noyes, Landis Gores, John Johansen, Marcel Breuer, and Mr. Johnson built about 90 New Canaan moderns that showcased their philosophy of design, which included linking the exterior and interior of their houses with floor-to-ceiling windows. Victoria, whose firm is known for designing with fine art and collectibles, became involved with the house last fall. “The main purpose was to show how midcentury moderns can be adapted for today’s lifestyles,” Victoria said. “I also wanted to show how architecture, art and interiors could be thoughtfully integrated in the design of an 1,800- square-foot modern home.”

by Jane K. Dove 6

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June 2009

Eric Roth Photography

On display: painting, Untitled I, by ©Bart Gulley; TV easel by ©Gregory Clark, courtesy of Art + Interiors.

A Lover Of Art And Décor

Victorias’s roots in interior design and renovation go back 17 years, when she left the corporate world to do something she had always loved. “I had previously worked for Polaroid, developing brand-new photo technology for art reproduction,” she said. “One big achievement was, at the request of the Vatican, developing and building a three-story camera to photograph Raphael’s ‘The Transfiguration.’ The result was a totally accurate life-sized reproduction.” After leaving Polaroid, Victoria decided to follow her heart, and the footsteps of many of her relatives. “My mom is a textile designer and my grandfather an architectural historian,” she said. “Other family members are also involved in the arts and literature. I was an art major in college, and when I left the company, everything kind of jelled. I took a few courses in art and design, and my professors encouraged me to jump right into my own business.” Today, Victoria is known for her ability to incorporate artwork in a variety of interiors. “I work on renovations and also with people who are building new homes,” she said. “I often act as liaison between client, architect and contractor. In addition, I have a good store of knowledge about landscape design.” Staging A Johnson Modern

Victoria’s involvement with the Alice Ball house began when she approached the New Canaan League of Women Voters with the idea of a lecture and tour about adapting today’s lifestyle to that of a mid-century modern. The success of that event led to several more. The house was the setting for a William Pitt-Sotheby’s event; evening parties for guests and friends of Victoria Lyon Interiors, including project participants, architects, builders, designers, and friends of modern architecture; and open-house tours for the benefit of the New Canaan Historical Society.

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See Victoria Lyon Interiors page 8 June 2009

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Victoria Lyon Interiors continued from page 7 To prepare for the series of events, Victoria left no stone unturned. She decided to base her staging on a fictional owner who was both an art collector and lover of mid-century-modern architecture. “I wanted to capture the soul of the house and do everything I could with the interior décor to bring the beautiful outside in,” she said. Built in 1953 on 2.2 acres, the house was and is relatively small – 1,800 square-feet. It has a living room/ dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms, two baths, and a fully finished lower level. Outside, the home is surrounded by private, serene gardens with an Asian theme. A harmonizing studio/office has a full bath, and there is a two-car garage. After studying the house, Victoria decided to keep the decor “clean and simple,” in keeping with the lines of the house. “I wanted to be true to the architect’s aesthetic principles and incorporate lots of vivid and unusual art,” she said. “The idea was to showcase the house while uplifting it. To bring the project to fruition, we teamed up with an array of art galleries, furniture and accessory stores, artisans and craftsmen, fine art professional lighting and audio designers, and builders, architects and contractors.

“We worked very hard to find the artists, furniture and accessories that would bring out the best in the home,” she said. “We were not necessarily looking for famous artists, and included works from a cross section – from practically unknown to very well established.” Looking at the empty home as a canvass to be filled from a palette of visually striking vintage and contemporary decor, Victoria was careful not to clutter any of the rooms. “We wanted to bring the lovely outside in through the gorgeous windows, and incorporate what was going on outside with what was happening within,” she said. “We decided that clean and simple was the way to go.” In the living room/dining room area, Victoria chose neutral colors for the major pieces of furniture and accented the room with a variety of bright, modern art and unusual accessories. She used neutral area rugs on the stone floors throughout the home, with nothing added to distract from the tranquil feeling. A striking feature of the dining area was a “floating” dining room table, which featured a slab of wood sitting on two poured-glass blocks. From a distance, it appeared the table was suspended, which enhanced the tranquility of the room. Two cantilevered wood chairs and two clear Lucite chairs surrounded the table. The master bedroom featured a bed and bedside tables from the Artifact Design Group of Wilton. The headboard had built-in lighting on each side. Again, the

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June 2009

room featured striking modern art and furniture placed to maximize function and carry the eye to the private outside patio and gardens that adjoin both bedrooms. Once again, there was a generous use of unique accessories. The galley-style kitchen remains true to its original design and featured distinctive art and accessories that brought it to life. Both bathrooms have major stone elements that start from the floor and wrap up the walls, with gleaming stone counters and bright lighting. Moving downstairs to what Victoria called the “pleasure den,” visitors discover a wine cellar and comfortable black leather furniture. Outside, it’s a short walk

through manicured Asian gardens to the studio, which could be adapted to a variety of uses. New Interest In Modern

Victoria said she believes lifestyles and attitudes are now changing to the point where modern architecture is beginning to gain a real foothold. “There is definitely a new interest,” she said. “I really believe people are tired of being burdened by too many possessions filling their 10,000-square-foot homes. I also think people have a desire to be reconnected to their landscape, something See Victoria Lyon Interiors page 38

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Table talk FROM AROUND THE WORLD by G. Lisa Sullivan Years ago, a childhood friend, whose mother owned a trendy clothing boutique in our town, gave me a brown felt purse, obviously one from the shop, for my 12th birthday. The gift, whose beauty and uniqueness were lost upon its then rather gauche recipient, would have been far better served by me today. Back in 1977, however, I would have much rather received a Shaun Cassidy record album or a subscription to Tiger Beat. In the ensuing years, I have come to appreciate many types of artistry, particularly when the artist chooses an unexpected medium, like felt, and employs it in an unexpected way. Take felt, for example. In this particular case, Anna Dabrowski, a German designer and photographer, has collaborated with Aetna Felt, an American manufacturer, to transform Merino wool felt into a collection of brightly hued trivets and coasters. In another scenario, Louisa Taylor, an English ceramics designer, teamed with Thailand-based Eastern Chinaware to create a line of handcrafted stoneware, with a natural matte finish on one side, brilliant white glaze on the other and a hand-painted line along the edge. That these collaborations between artist and craftsman are no accident can be attributed to Andrew and Anna Hellman, owners of Teroforma, a Norwalk-based company founded in 2006. European Inspiration

Ben Alsop

Each piece of the collection complements the others, from table tools to felt placemats.

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Born in Rye, N.Y., Andrew often traveled as a child with his father, a Swede who was vice president and managing director for the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. After graduating from Lafayette College, Andrew returned to Europe, enrolling in June 2009

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Owners Andrew and Anna Hellman have always had a passion for design.

a master’s degree program in Sweden, where he met his future wife, Anna. “We eventually moved to London, where Anna worked in public relations and I worked in finance and strategy,” Andrew recalls. “For the seven years we lived there, we were able to travel extensively, and met many artists and designers from many countries, as we were virtually two hours from everywhere in Europe.” The couple returned to the U.S. in 2004, bringing with them numerous ideas for a future business. “Anna and I have always had a passion for design,” Andrew says. “We bought a home in Darien, and then set out to decorate it, wanting clean, confident, functionally driven design. However, we were unable to find anything here that matched the style we craved.” Drawing upon the relationships they had developed with the artists and designers they met in Europe, the Hellmans decided it was time to launch their own business, one which would match designers with craftsmen to create a brand that would stand for the designers’ work and not overshadow it. They also sought to create works worth keeping, which they recognized would be more meaningful if the user knew the story of their design and creation, according to Andrew. See Table talk page 30 June 2009

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HOME I MOANER ■

Sky Harbor by Ben Guerrero

Ben Guerrero

I recently found time between night shifts to fly out to Arizona to visit the folks. Now that I am a nurse, they like to have me around to identify body parts as they fall off my 91-year-old father. Besides it’s good to get away and I hadn’t seen the old guy in a while. So after working 13 hours overnight, I drove up to Bradley Airport to grab a flight to Phoenix. To my horror, I discovered in Chicago that there was a five-hour layover at O’Hare. Stupid me. Oh well, I was deeply engrossed in a book on my iPod, and I had a chance to read the Sun-Times, or the Tribune or whatever paper still hits the stands in the windy city. By 9:15, in whatever oddball time zone they use in the land of perpetual sun, I had parked my rented Prius in front of the garage, lugged my luggage into the guest cottage, while my father and his wife, Dixie, slept in the main house. I popped the bag of Connecticut bagels I had dragged along with me into the fridge, and searched in vain for “Lost” on the television. The visit was grand, with plenty of chiles rellenos at the only restaurant in town. There were plenty of long sojourns off into the desert to find, well, the desert, since most of the state, from Flagstaff to Tucson, had been dug up and planted with housing for people who, under current economic circumstances, are avoiding the Southwest in droves. On the day of my departure, I got up especially early to cram my crap into my satchel, and, over coffee, we decided by committee that if I left at

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8 a.m. for a 10:30 flight, I’d have loads of time to drop off the Prius, go through the security check and board the plane back to Rusty Hinge homogeneity. First mistake. I got through the rental car scene and the prostate exam in what I thought was ample time. However, when I punched my e-ticket identification number into the kiosk, I was instructed to check in with an actual human. It was at this point, although my watch told me I had 15 minutes, I was informed that I had missed my flight. Sky Harbor airport in Phoenix is like a gigantic terrarium for over-stuffed human beings in unpleasant shirts. The nice woman at the counter booked me a standby seat on the next plane out. I was en route to Philadelphia on the return leg. Well, at least my baggage was. So I read the Republican and found myself a seat at gate A-26, which, of course, was a half a world away in another section of the airport. After walking there, I thought gate A-26 might actually be in New Mexico. In any case, I found a suitable seat – with a view of the steamy tarmac through an expanse of glass – to wait the two hours until the next flight. Since the daily newspapers have gotten far less bulky than they used to be, I was swiftly caught up on world and local news, as well as those comics I can stomach, and out of things to do. There was a Borders bookstore in the airport. Isn’t that a great idea? But I didn’t think I’d need it when I walked by it earlier, and in order to go back there, I’d need to go in and out of security again. So, with not enough time for that, I decided to grab a bite to eat. So much to choose from! Wheeling my bag behind me like some sort of penance, I strolled by the many eateries in my little section of Sky Harbor airport. It was still morning, so how about breakfast, I thought. I was willing to bet that I was not going to find two eggs over easy with corn beef hash and rye toast in a sea of Cinnabons, Jamba Juice and the ubiquitous golden arches that do not need my endorsement. My nostril detected the faint, seductive aroma of bacon in the air, and I could see a line forming at a place with an unrecognizable name that shared seating with a pizza joint you’d know. The menu boasted of bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches, and I could just make out the profile of an industrious line cook, expertly cracking eggs over a crowded grill. “Well then, I think I’ll give that a try.” When the food you are about to order lists the entire ingredients in its very name, you can rest fairly assured that they will not screw it up. I mean – bacon, egg, cheese. C’mon! So I forked over a wad of money to the cashier who communicated my order to the grill man, and my sandwich was assembled as I moved down the line.

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Redding Gardens continued from page 5 A Well-Accented Garden has ever-changing beds, an eclectic mix of herbaceous and woody species, and is filled with surprises of whimsical design. Four Seasons provides a relaxed yet organized feeling, and care has been taken to ensure that something is always going on, regardless of season. Rabbit’s Rest, a secluded secret garden, is a fairy-tale world ... cool, green and ferny, with something to delight the eye at every turn. Clemens Chef ’s Garden is inspired by European and Colonial kitchen-door gardens, with raised beds, planters and containers that supply specialized herbs, heirloom vegetables and fruits. Sharon Epstein, Redding Garden Club president, describes entering a garden as “stepping into a bit of magic. The wonderful part of seeing someone else’s garden is to find something you can take back to your own. People thoroughly enjoy themselves on garden tours,” she said, “and you meet a lot of great

people. It’s going to be a fun day. We do this because we want to share what we love and enjoy.” Sharon Coates said, “I am often overwhelmed by the beauty of a garden. I love to just soak one in. In addition, garden clubs attract the nicest groups of women. There is nothing nicer to do than spend a day in a garden. There is the curiosity about what someone has done, and seeing someone’s garden gives you a sense of who they are. To meet the person who has planted and maintained the garden is part of the experience.” Gardens are all so different, she continued. “Some are relaxed and casual, others are formal and pristine.” She contrasts her own whimsical approach to gardening, where she is constantly experimenting with new plantings and finding fun decorative elements, to that of her daughter and son-in-law, whose garden is also on the tour. “They focus on specialty trees, and have created a parklike setting. They are slowly adding color, starting with white and some blue – and one bright-red bee balm.”

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June 2009

New Pond Farm photo

The Redding Garden Club, which is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, has about 75 members and meets monthly from September to May. The group takes day trips and conducts seminars, including a greens workshop in December. The organization’s Web site, reddinggardenclub.org, provides information about the club, native plants and how to fight invasive ones, and a list and slide show of the club’s civic beautification sites. More than half the club members are involved in civic beautification, Sharon Epstein said. The club’s largest installation is the butterfly garden at the corner of Cross Highway and Newtown Turnpike. It has 10 other sites, and maintains garden barrels by the Redding town hall and post offices, the Mark Twain Library, and the Community Center. “We welcome people to come to meetings as guests, to see what we do and try us out,” said Ms. Epstein, whose term of office is over at the end of this month. The cost of the tour is $40, and a limited number of tickets was still available at press time. For tour information, call 203-938-2117. For information about New Pond Farm, see newpondfarm.org. ■

Highlights at New Pond Farm are the herb garden, a vegetable garden and perennials.

Dedicated To Fine Landscaping Donald and Pamela Wilson -Owners

Established in 1977

Over 19 Years in Business

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INTO I THE I GARDEN ■

Roadside pesto by Donna Clark June is the month for peonies, iris and poppies. The large flowers of the peony give the garden lots of color and make a nice flower arrangement. The first to open are usually the single varieties. I have a new one called Coral Fay, which is my first to open. It is not coral as advertised; it is hot pink and I love it. I have seen a few coralcolored peonies in the gardens I visit, but have yet to find one to buy that is a true coral. Let’s talk about basil for a minute. You need to rotate where you plant basil since it can be wiped out by fusarium wilt, a fungus that causes the plant to wilt and die. Amending the soil with compost reduces the risk. To harvest basil, wait until the plant is at least 10 inches high, then cut stems just above the second set of leaves (count from the bottom). New stems will form at this point. Don’t let basil flower because it drains energy from leaf production. Instead of pinching the flowers off, go down at least six leaf nodes to make the cut. I have another basil for you – garlic mustard. Yes, the weed that grows by the roadside (blooming with white flowers in May). Garlic mustard was originally brought to this country as a culinary herb and “escaped” into the wild. It makes a wonderful pesto.

My daughter is the Shelton conservation agent, and she is developing a wild flower garden at the Eklund Garden. They have installed a deer fence around a section of the garden and hope to demonstrate how much damage the deer are doing to our forests. This area was once a garden, so there are lots of paths and stone walls. She has a blog at eklundgarden.blogspot.com. She is documenting everything the volunteers do and the plants they are using, along with sources for those plants. One plant she has pictured is the woodland phlox. I have lots of it in my garden, so I told her she

GARLIC MUSTARD PESTO 3 cups garlic mustard leaves (washed, patted dry, and packed in a measuring cup) 2 large garlic cloves, peeled & chopped 1 cup walnuts 1 cup olive oil 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese (or more Parmesan) Salt & pepper to taste Combine garlic mustard leaves, garlic and walnuts in food processor and chop. With motor running, add olive oil slowly. Shut off motor. Add cheese, salt & pepper. Process briefly to combine. Serve warm over pasta or spread on crackers … enjoy.

Paris Design

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Donna Clark

wouldn’t have to buy that one – but my news came too Pavement. We had a new garden last year that needed a late. I had given her some several years ago, but her back row, and I tried several rugosas, including this one. plants didn’t bloom because the deer were eating them. The fragrance is what makes it so special. The flowers We have been eating baby spinach for a few weeks are big, ruffled, semi-double pinkish-lavender, and the now. I do have to credit the farmers’ markets for making bush grows to three feet tall and four feet wide. When I me aware that I could grow spinach. The trick is to use a first started gardening, I wasn’t impressed with rugosas, good variety of seed. Thinning is necessary, and be sure but if you keep an open mind, it’s always OK to change to pick them while they are babies. The varieties I used it. were: Baby Leaf, Catalina and Summer Perfection, from People are always saying we have the best job. We are able to be outside and work with all these lovely flowers. Renee’s Garden Seeds (reneesgarden.com). A couple of weeks ago, we were planting in a walled, We have finished our planters and window boxes for sunken garden with the sun shining and all was well the summer, but in case you are still struggling with – except for the smell. It was early afternoon, and the choosing colors and plants, I have a tip. Virginia softly homeowner was cooking something on the grill that was informed us that two colors in a container are plenty. to die for. Turns out she is a caterer, and she was making She is an artist and knows color. We try to stick with a Greek meal, which included Cornish game hens, for that rule and do find that the pots are pleasing to look one of her customers. No samples were given. at, not busy. Questions or comments: donnaclark@ix.netcom.com. ■ We used the Cuphea Totally Tempted this year, and Basil Genovese – harvest basil when it is about 10 inches high. even though we had 70 plants, we did wish for more. This is a Cuphea of compact growth with masses of brilliant crimson-colored flowers on a well-branched plant. They are bred for heat, humidity �� and drought tolerance. The height is 8 to �� 12 inches. In sticking with the two-color �� rule, the other color we used was blue, It begins with a plan... �� since there is a blue eye on the flower. To brighten it up, while staying within the crimson color family, we used a pale �� pink petunia called Supertunia Vista Silverberry. June is also the month for roses, and this year I planted three new ones. They are rugosas, and the name is Foxy

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Vol.XIII, 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 • 47,000 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 or E-mail: home@acorn-online.com • Copyright 2009, Hersam Acorn Newspapers, LLC

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...and ends with a seamlessly integrated, beautifully executed expansion of your living space.

Swimming Pools for More Than Just Swimming.

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BREN LANDSCAPING

Brighten up with color by Isabelle Ghaneh

Contributed photo

Bren Landscaping’s team has the expertise to transform the mundane to the marvelous.

CLASSIC NEW ENGLAND BARNS PRE-CUT WITH

Dennis Leahy likes the outdoors. He likes trees, he likes plants and he likes fresh air. After spending 17 years in a corporate environment, Dennis changed his career and opened his own landscaping and masonry business six years ago. He was born and raised in Connecticut and is an alumnus of UConn. He lived in California as a developer of educational technology back in the mid-1980s. His gig out West lasted for over 12 years, and then he was sent to England for two years. “In one year I traveled 150 days for my company, and I was getting very tired of all the constant traveling and wanted to spend more time with my family,” Dennis said. Finally in 2003, he found himself at a crossroad. He had the option of continuing to work in software development, which would mean moving back to the West Coast, or going into business for himself. Dennis’s family is in the excavation business, and while he pondered his options, he worked for his family, mostly outdoors. He also was a production manager on several small software jobs. A good family friend, Ed LaFlamme, owner of a land-

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This center kitchen island was a DRAB WHITE before being DECORATIVELY PAINTED by:

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June 2009

scape company, suggested that Dennis go into the landscaping business. On March 15, 2003, Dennis put an ad in the paper to see what response he would get. “I received 40 calls in 10 days, and 20 of those callers became my customers. By June, I had five people working for me,” he said. Dennis discovered he loved working outdoors, but he still did software jobs in the winter. He picked up a job in software development as a consultant. “I was at a meeting for a technology group in the early months of 2004, and I swear that meeting took place in a room that was 12 feet by 12-feet, with no windows. Ten of us were in there. The whole time I was inside all I could think

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See Bren Landscaping page 32

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

LOCATION: Set in the and unusual floor plan. PROPERTY: A two-and house and are a splendid HOUSE: Built in 2000, within its 14 rooms. A l with fireplace and cathed bedrooms; the master ha is a fifth bedroom, an ex GARAGE: Two-car atta PRICE: $1,949,000. REALTY: Brotherhood Agent: Julie Taylor, 966Photography: Bryan Ha

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e rural beauty of New Canaan, this spacious home has an interesting

d-a-half acre site has towering trees and broad lawns that surround the d background for the pool, terrace and outstanding landscape design. , the house was added onto in 2003, offering a diversity of settings living room with fireplace, dining room with coffered ceiling, kitchen dral ceiling, and a breakfast room are on the first floor. Upstairs are four as a cathedral ceiling, fireplace and skylights. In the walk-out lower level xercise room, an office with fireplace, and a game room. ached.

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Kitchen design from start to finish by Jeannette Ross

Courtesy of Amazing Spaces

Jason Landau is a mover and a shaker. Literally. As a professional interior designer he likes to move things around – walls, plumbing, electricity – and shake people out of their design doldrums. Jason is owner and chief designer of Amazing Spaces LLC in Westchester County, and his specialty is kitchens, although he has also created designs for bathrooms, butlers’ pantries, libraries, and master bedroom suites – basically any room in a house. With a master’s degree in architecture, Jason has worked in residential design for more than 20 years, serving clients in Westchester and Fairfield counties, New York City and beyond. In addition to interior design, services include on-site consultation, budget development, assistance in material selection, and oversight of the construction process from start to finish. Essentially, when you hire Jason to manage your kitchen project, you are hiring a professional hand-holder to see you through all the decisions and all the sawdust. While it may be the aesthetics of a kitchen that make the first impression, for Jason, function is his number one priority. For him, “a great kitchen is a space that addresses the needs of the homeowner and marries the flow of the house. When a kitchen is functional, it makes it more user-friendly.” With 85 percent of his business in kitchen remodels, as opposed to new construction, Jason has become expert in smoothing out and redirecting the flow of Jason Landau is an expert in remodeling a kitchen to suit a family’s lifestyle. family life. Many older homes, Jason said, were built for a different lifestyle. Today, formal dining rooms and formal living rooms are often little-used rooms. Jason suggests homeowners recapture some of that space and create living areas where kitchen, dining area and family room �� flow into one another. �� As a result, he said, “moving doors and windows and shifting flow always �� happens. It’s not my focus to just redo �� cabinets,” he added. “My forte is making the best use of any given space. I’m �� always thinking outside the four walls of �� the kitchen.” That’s why he doesn’t use before-and-after photos in his portfolio. ��4��4�� “I could use a picture of anybody’s kitch�� en as a before shot,” he said. That’s how �� different the end result is. The before is �� virtually unrecognizable. A client’s relationship with Jason �� begins with an in-home consultation,

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

June 2009

Courtesy of Amazing Spaces

when the owners talk about the problems they have with their current kitchen or what they want to achieve. The biggest mistake people make with kitchen renovations is not what you might think. It doesn’t concern material or color selection. Rather, it is more a lack of knowledge of both finance and design. “Everyone underestimates what it will cost,” Jason said. That’s the first mistake. The second is lack of vision. “People underestimate what they can fit in their space,” he said. “Lots of times I can find space for the things they want.” As the main cook in his family, Jason is sensitive to what makes a kitchen work, although he admits more than 50 percent of his clients don’t cook and are simply creating a kitchen that pleases them aesthetically and will be an advantage when it comes time to sell. That leads, he said, to the overuse of big, commercial ranges and miles of granite countertops. Once the functional design of a kitchen is complete, there are many design options, and Jason often suggests his clients expand their aesthetic horizons. For example, in one kitchen a fairly neutral color scheme was punched up with a copper ventilation hood and a copper countertop on a cherry-wood island. The main countertop was green iron soapstone. In another kitchen, a design statement was made simply by choosing some bold cabinet hardware. Lighting – a combination of general, task and decorative – can add a lot of personality. To increase the impact, you can marry decorative hardware to the lighting fixtures. If clients plan to remain in their house for a long time, Jason recommends renovating to their desires and specifications rather than worry about resale. The trend today is a more contemporary look with clean lines, a contrast to past designs when carved corbels and egg-and-dart molding prevailed. Wood tones are darker – forget bleached wood and pickled floors – and the trend is away from wall cabinets in favor of more drawers. “Kitchens are bigger, so we can come up with storage solutions that don’t involve wall cabinets,” Jason said, when asked about a loss of storage space with fewer wall cabinets. And what

When designing a kitchen, function comes first, and then the aesthetics.

See Amazing Spaces page 36

Courtesy of Amazing Spaces

June 2009

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

Every day is Arbor Day by Jeannette Ross

Jeannette Ross

At least 48 varieties of trees highlight the June 27 Open Day Garden in Kent.

The view from Monica and Buddy Nixon’s deck reminds me of a Tiffany stained glass window, with Lake Waramaug framed by two oak trees, the deck railing suggesting the bottom pane of glass. While the window is my own interpretation, the framing was intentional, according to Buddy, who said he had a man climb both trees and trim some limbs so they would be symmetrical. “I know the trees will never touch,” Buddy said, “but this way they frame the lake.” Visitors may judge for themselves when the Nixons open their garden to guests on Saturday, June 27, from 10 to 4, as part of The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program. Admission is $5, which supports the conservancy’s work in garden preserva-

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June 2009

tion and restoration. The Nixon garden is at 44 Kent Hollow Road in Kent, Conn. It is well worth the trip. The Nixons are ideal participants in the Open Days Program. Their garden is spectacular. Buddy designed, built and planted it himself, and he and Monica are eager to share their ideas and expertise with others. When it comes to the natural world, Buddy has vision. Twenty-seven years ago, when they were looking for a weekend home, Buddy brought Monica to see seven acres of what she described as “jungle.” But Buddy knew there was a view, and he liked the sloping property. “We were not gardeners when we came here,” Monica said. They set about building their house, which has been added onto several times over the years. They planted a small rock garden out back, and then Buddy discovered stonework. To say it was a life-altering experience is probably not too much of an

exaggeration. He became consumed by it, reading books about stone walls and their construction. He was a Manhattan executive during the week and a stonemason on the weekends. He set about rehabilitating the stone walls on the property as well as an old fieldstone foundation, upon which he had a storage barn built. He built new stone walls. Not satisfied with just a traditional wall, he built a large arch into one of them. Buddy was so visible as he worked, and his work was so good, people would stop and ask him if he was available for hire. After the walls, he moved on to building retaining walls, patios, walkways, and planters. The climax came in 1997, when he used stone from his property to build a huge pond, which today is filled with very large and flashy koi. “We had to blast to get it four feet deep in the center,” said See Open Days page 28

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A summer “cottage” RETAINS ITS VICTORIAN ALLURE by Jeannette Ross

Even though there are many venerable homes in Fairfield and Westchester County, there are probably few as untouched by time as the E. P. Dutton house in Ridgefield. Here, you can sit in the entrance hall, as 19th-Century ladies did, and imagine the crunch of gravel as their horse and carriage came round the drive. You can even use the same high step they used to set foot into the carriage. Or, you can linger in the wood-paneled library where Mr. Dutton had his massive desk installed — it’s still there — and contemplate the original Tiffany stained-glass windows. Mr. Dutton settled in as a summer resident in 1890, after four years of construction. He died there in 1923 at the age of 92. A succeeding owner, Dr. Royal C. Van Etten, beloved in Ridgefield, lived in the house from 1951 until his death in 1980. The house has not seen many other owners, and none felt it necessary to take a heavy hand to renovations. Once again, the house at 63 High Ridge Avenue is for sale. Edward Payson Dutton got into the book-retailing business in Boston in 1852. He moved on to publishing, and expanded his enterprise, called E.P. Dutton & Company, to New York City in 1869, and began publishing religious books. No doubt he noticed a number of his New York neighbors spending their summers in the Ridgefield countryside, and he decided to join them. An article appearing in the New York Times on July 22, 1894 was headlined, “Doctors Recommend Ridgefield. Makers of Its Popularity and Others Who Live There.” The article begins: “That which has contributed largely to the success of Ridgefield as a Summer resort is the influence of many of the prominent physicians of New-York, who have induced their patients to pass the Summer here. One of the latest metropolitan doctors to take a cottage here is Dr. Clarence G. Beebe. He will occupy the house of Henry K. McHarg, on High Ridge, overlooking the Sound. He said a day or two ago that he would probably buy a cottage here.” That would make Dr. Beebe Mr. Dutton’s neighbor, and is an example of how the term “cottage” was used when referring to a summer residence. High Ridge was known for its grand and stately homes, which their owners often called “cottages.” Another article, appearing in the New York Times on July 2, 1893, listed Mr. Dutton as staying in his “cottage.” The neighborhood attracted other publishing bigwigs, notably Charles Henry Holt and George Doubleday, giving rise to High Ridge’s nickname, Publishers Row. Solid Construction

The house was built by one of Ridgefield’s leading builders at the time, James “Big Jim” Kennedy, who was known for overbuilding, and that’s probably why the house is still sound today. The late Dick Venus, a Ridgefield’s town historian, reported in the 1970s that a surveyor’s sighting from the front door to the back door found less than a quarter inch difference since the house was constructed. Built in the Queen Anne style with a curved porch, porte-cochere, and a turret, the three-story home sits comfortably on its 3.4 acres. The shingle exterior has all sorts of interesting details, with rounded edges and nooks and crannies. The chimneys have fabulous stone designs, and the foundation of rubblestone is most striking.

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

The property is as beautiful as the house itself, with sweeping lawns and perennial gardens.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that upon passing through the massive oak door, you can feel how solid this house is. And despite that heft, the interior is welcoming and elegant, not at all imposing or hotel-like, as some mansions from this period tend to be. Inside it’s hard to know what to look at first, with the detailed woodwork and wood paneling, the stairway with its bygone craftsmanship, the 10-foot coffered ceilings, the Baccarat chandelier, but soon a pattern emerges. There are nine fireplaces in this house — one in each bedroom, the living room, dining room, and library — and they are all different and all beautiful. One of the most attractive is the living room fireplace, with its decorative copper surround and white carved mantle. Big Jim installed more than a dozen Tiffany windows, and they are all still here. Several of the most striking are in Mr. Dutton’s old home office, where they are shielded from the outdoor elements. Now used as a den, from this room you can walk out onto a deck. Much of the house features wainscoting of white oak, but the dining room is finished in mahogany. Reflecting the masculinity of the late 19th Century, the fireplace here is decorated with painted tiles of waterfowl and marsh. This room also features a large picture window, eight feet wide and five feet tall, one of the largest windows of its day made of a single pane of glass. The kitchen features modern appliances and oak cabinetry to complement the rest of the house. Probably the best feature is the full butler’s pantry offering plenty of storage. There is quite a bit of storage throughout the first floor in the form of clever built-ins. This house has seven bedrooms, although there could conceivably be 10, and most of them are on the second floor. All the bedrooms are light and airy and all have fireplaces. The master bedroom is lit by a crystal chandelier, and the fireplace has a carved oak mantle that complements the oak floor and oak trim throughout the room. Another bedroom was given up to the master bath, with English tile, airjet tub, glassed-in shower and a curved window seat under four large windows. And let’s not forget, there’s a fireplace here, too. A sunny guest bedroom has three exposures and overlooks the gardens. Here the fireplace has deep blue painted tile. In another bedroom the fireplace tile is pink, and there is a sumptuous seat under a triple window. There are four bathrooms on the second floor, and while they have all been modernized, they retain a feel for the late 19th Century with their English tile and, in June 2009

one case, a vanity with silver legs and claw feet. Also on the second floor is the combination linen closet/laundry room. If a linen closet can be heavenly, this is it. It is a full-size room you can walk into with a whole wall of white oak cabinetry and silver hardware. Opposite are the washer and dryer and a marble folding table. Fluffing and folding was never this grand. The third floor is like a finished basement with a view. There is a game room with a video projection system, an exercise room, a playroom, another bedroom that is part of the turret, a storage room, and a full bathroom. The grounds are as beautiful as the house itself, with sweeping lawns, mature trees, perennials, and 1,000 daffodils blooming in the spring. Mr. Dutton kept his prize horses in a stable behind the house, which was long ago converted to a threecar garage. Later still, a pool house was added, which includes a kitchen, changing room, shower, bathroom, and a hot tub for six. The pool has a bluestone patio and is landscaped with an English-style garden. It overlooks a Har-Tru tennis court. What would Mr. Dutton think of his house today? He would certainly recognize it. And while he might miss the horses, he probably would enjoy the air conditioning that cools most of the house in summer, and he might even like a dip in that pool. If not, he could always sit on the gracious porch and read a book. For more information, call Karla Murtaugh at 203-438-0455 or 203-856-5534, or visit online at karlamurtaugh.com. ■ There are probably few homes as untouched by time as the E.P. Dutton house in Ridgefield.

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

Open Days continued from page 25 Buddy, who had help with the mechanicals. The natural-looking pond circulates 11,000 gallons of water through five pumps. The centerpiece is a large fountain he and Monica found at a roadside antiques store in Massachusetts. They originally used it as a birdbath, but since it was fully functional, it became the impetus for the pond. Eventually, working with stone became almost a secret identity. While having a weekend home in Connecticut was certainly compatible with his day job as an executive at a chemical company, scrabbling around with stones in dusty work clothes probably was not. When his colleagues asked him what he did over the weekend, he would be vague, alluding, perhaps, to some antiquing, a little golf. In fact, Buddy used to be an avid golfer, but, he said, “you’d spend six hours on the course and what do you have to show for it? Here, I can admire and enjoy the work I’ve accomplished.” Working only on weekends with hand tools and a wheelbarrow, the stonework took years to complete, and along the way Buddy branched out into gardening, taking courses at the New York Botanical Gardens after work during the week. While he took courses in landscaping and horticulture, Monica joined him, taking art-related courses. Buddy discovered he loved trees and shrubs, the more unusual the better, and he began to collect and plant specimen trees. Today, at least 48 varieties of trees grace the formal portion of the Nixon landscape. Upon entering the property through the impressive stone pillars at the end of the drive, visitors pass a collection of five types of European beeches, including a copper beech, weeping purple beech, and weeping green beech.

While the beech is Buddy’s favorite tree family, he’s certainly invited plenty more to the party, including a stunningly beautiful Yellowwood that stands 40 feet tall; a Triflorum Maple with exfoliating bark; a perfectly shaped Styrax Obassia, also known as Fragrant Snowbell, with white blossoms; an Umbrella Pine with whorled needles; Weeping European Hornbeam; Weeping Katsura; and Dawn Redwood. There are also more than 30 species of Japanese maple, many of which are in a grove up near the house, including the very unusual and very colorful Red Sentinel (Acer Palmatum). From trees, Buddy moved on to shrubs, and around the nurseries he has become known as a connoisseur of heptacodium, a tall, leggy shrub that looks like a small tree. “It’s drought-resistant, has no bugs, can be moved and pruned,” Buddy said, extolling the shrub’s virtues. “It has exfoliating bark, is hardy, and it blooms twice a year, a white flower in August and a pink sepal into November. “In my mind, you cannot find another shrub like it,” Buddy said. Monica concurred, saying, “When I’m looking for a table setting, if there’s nothing else in the garden, the heptacodium always has something for me.” Other shrubs on the property include several varieties of hydrangea, andromeda, rhododendron, spirea, and virburnum. Up by the koi pond, there is an Alaskan spruce growing low and wide, despite being planted in a shallow of the rock ledge, where there was hardly any soil and poor drainage. “It’s just taken off to become an animal,” Buddy said in wonder. The last large group of shrubs is a collection of Knockout roses next to the house, adding a vibrant red color. Along with some peonies and masses of daylilies, they are among the few flowers – other than those that bloom on the trees and shrubs – in the Nixon garden. That’s because Buddy prefers to focus on form, foliage and texture.

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June 2009

It’s a garden you can enjoy from a distance or up close. With all the variety, it’s not lacking in color at all. When selecting a type of plant, Buddy follows five criteria, the same he listed for the heptacodium: drought resistance, hardiness, resistance to insects, moveability, and prunability. Exfoliating bark is a perk. Not everything has worked out. “A Kentucky coffee tree was not happy,” Buddy said, and “a Franklinea would work 20 miles further south.” Stewartia also did not thrive. But Buddy is undeterred, believing gardening is as much trial and error as anything else. Three years ago, Buddy retired. He and Monica sold their Manhattan condo and moved up here full-time, acquiring two springer spaniels, Daisy and Jeter, who loves to swim with the koi. The gardening continues with a woodland walk being one of the latest projects. As visitors work their way up the path, they gain a new perspective of the property. There is also the renovation of a birch grove, and a series of three terraces anchored by small Japanese maples that will eventually spill over the edges like a cascading waterfall. Visitors with questions about trees, shrubs, landscaping, stonework, or ponds are welcome on the Open Day. Those who just want to sit and soak it all in are welcome, too. DETAILS

Directions: From Kent take Route 341 East (which intersects with Route 7) toward Warren and go about six miles. Turn right onto Kent Hollow Road. Go a quarter of a mile to the house, which is on the right. Watch for stone walls and two stone columns with lights. Do not use Mapquest for directions. It will direct you to 44 Kent Road, which is not the place to be. Google maps will give accurate directions. For information: Call The Garden Conservancy at 845-265-5384 or visit online at gardenconservancy.org. ■

RIDGEFIELD’S ROADSHOW The experts arrive in town on June 14 from 11 to 4 at the Ridgefield Community Center’s historic Lounsbury House on Main Street. Here’s your moment to bring that treasured item and have it appraised by dealers in fine art, furniture and jewelry ($30 for the first item, $25 for each additional one). For those desiring a more personalized experience, a private reception, from 10 to 11, will precede the general event ($100 per person, includes two appraisals). All proceeds will benefit the Weir Farm Art Center. Returning appraisers Nan Chisolm, Lark Mason and Greg Kuharic will be joined by Valerie Bleier, Wendell Garrett and John Nye, creating an impressive panel of independent appraisers often seen on the Antiques Roadshow. New this year are designated time frames that you may secure by advance ticket purchase. Advance ticket sales are available through June 12. For more information, go to the Web site at ridgefieldroadshow.com. – Jackie Perry

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Table talk continued from page 11 A Match Made In Heaven

Ben Alsop

Teroforma, a name created to evoke images of earth, nature, form, and shape, Andrew says, offers glassware, dinnerware, linens, flatware, and accessories, all selected by the Hellmans from designers and craftsmen from around the world. The collection is available online and in 60 stores throughout the United States, including Mis En Scene, a unique home-accessories boutique in Greenwich. “We created our studio to produce meticulously crafted modern objects for the table, and searched throughout the world for talented individuals to represent their vision,” Andrew explains, “resulting in a collection that would make a striking, cohesive design statement, yet would be so easy to care for, it could be used every day.” When it came to felt, for example, the Hellmans wanted to express the best aspects of that particular material. Working with Anna Dabrowski, they didn’t begin by asking for trivets and coasters, but instead discussed what might Designers are matched with craftsmen to create items that are stunning in their simplicity.

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June 2009

be the best use for it. “The Germans have been using felt for years, and we loved the idea of employing felt as a table-top product,” Andrew says. “We start with the material or idea first and see what it becomes.” Line Leader

See Table talk page 37

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Ben Alsop

Other segments of the Teroforma collection include glass tumblers and pitcher designed by Thea Mehl, Norway, and made by artisanal studio Kvetna Glassworks, Czech Republic; whisky stones (chill a drink sans ice) designed in-house by Andrew Hellman and milled by Vermont Soapstone; mouth-blown non-lead crystal stems, flutes and decanters designed by Tihomir Tomic, Croatia, and made by artisanal studio Rogaska Glassworks, Slovenia; New England beech serving boards created inhouse by Teroforma Studio and handcarved by Breakfast Woodworks, United States;

The Teroforma line is neutral enough to blend with a range of styles.

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Bren Landscaping continued from page 19 of was being outside working on trees. I loosened my tie, I rolled up my sleeves, and I finally stood up and said I had to go outside. I said to myself, ‘That’s it, I shouldn’t be here.’ The meeting was starting to sound like a Charlie Brown cartoon with everyone going yak yak yak. At that point I made my decision, and I concentrated on my landscape and masonry work exclusively. Now I do snow plowing and winter maintenance during the off season,” he said. Dennis usually has around seven employees working for him, and he works closely with Leanna Kearney, his landscape designer and the head of his planting crew. “Leanna does all the purchasing of the plants. She has a master’s degree in art therapy and she is a true artist. When she was growing up, she lived near the White Flower Farm in Litchfield, and several of her aunts worked on the farm. Leanna has a great love of flowers and plants, particularly their colors, textures, shapes and sizes,” he said. Dennis has an ongoing project with a client who lives in the backwoods of New Canaan on 10 acres. He handles all the landscaping, and he has developed several small gardens around the property. “Leanna and I wanted to have big and bright swatches of color in the client’s gardens. We used boxwoods, hydrangeas, weeping Atlas cedars, along with lilies, astilbes, and redbuds,” he said. An unfortunate problem developed shortly after he took on the New Canaan project. “My clients bought the property because they wanted to have privacy, and in the second year of their ownership, the land next to them was sold. The new owners built their new house within 70 feet of my clients’ home. When my clients were on their back porch, they could see and hear people entering their neighbors’ front door,” he said. Dennis was asked to sound- and vision-proof their yard. He planted 25-foot dogwoods and a row of 20-foot Fat Albert spruce trees to create a buffer for their back porch. Dennis knows that in today’s difficult economy many homeowners are holding back on services and are trying to do some household projects on their own. He

recommends that they concentrate on doing a lot of weeding, pruning and deadheading of flowers, since “flowers need to use their energy wisely.” He also suggests putting down hay if you have a vegetable garden, since it acts as a natural weed inhibitor. “Homeowners can buy flats of flowers for $8 to $12 from any nursery in the area. They can spend time with their children out back planting, weeding and cleaning up their landscape. Planting colorful annuals and perennials gives your garden variety and lots of color. Many nurseries have great sales before the summer months of July and August,” he said. Dennis does small projects as well as large ones. As long as he’s outdoors, he’s happy! Bren Landscaping is at 98 Bulkley Drive in Fairfield; call 203-373-1327 or visit the Web site, brenlandscaping.com. ■

CONNECTICUT MINI TOURS See Jersey Boys in New York City

A day trip to see the Broadway show “Jersey Boys” will depart on Wednesday, June 10. The day will include a full-course lunch at Tavern on the Green and reserved seats for the 2 p.m. matinee. Cost is $199. For details, call 203-483-6330 or 800-967-1993. Tall Ships Trip to Boston

Local bus trips have been organized to see the Tall Ships in Boston this summer. The day trips will include round-trip transportation from North Haven, Milford, Fairfield, and Westport, two-hour narrated cruise with fullcourse meal aboard the Odyssey cruise ship and time to view and visit the tall ships by land. Trips depart July 10 and 11. Cost is $132 per person. For details, call 203-483-6330 or 800-967-1993.

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June 2009

Home Moaner continued from page 13 Second mistake. Bacon, egg and cheese on the space shuttle could be fried on the space grill and then allowed to float through the air into your waiting mouth, and you would know exactly what you were going to taste. But, here on earth, gravity dictates an undisclosed bread component that is not part of the named ingredient list. Where I come from, the default bread is the hard roll, which already can exert some confusion, since I believe the term “hard roll” is a regional “nom du cuisine.” In Phoenix, it could very well be known on the street as a “poor boy” or a “fender” for all I know. Whatever the Phoenician default bacon, egg and cheese delivery system is, at the Sky Harbor airport it is a deal breaker. For my sandwich, otherwise concocted from a fairly dependable, internationally named and recognized list of common provisions was on a “roll” so dry and unimaginative that I am qualifying the very word with quotation marks, and the balance of my sandwich went into the greater Phoenix landfill.

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I was unable to fit onto the second plane, giving me another 2 hours in exile. This gave me time to actually go back to the Borders books, which proved to be a truncated version of my local store, selling only spy books and those by Dan Brown (which I could have bought at any one of the thousands of newsstands in the terminal). Back through security (pausing for an inedible sausage sandwich – again with the bad bread ... what is the problem?) and on to wait for the next plane, which was also too full to fit me. Finally at 11 p.m., 13 hours after I had pulled into the rental agency, I boarded a plane back to civilization and good bread. Had I known, I could have stayed an extra day with the folks, chortling and chuckling and perhaps throwing down another chiles rellenos and the umpteeumpth iced coffee. Next time I go out, I’ll have to bring some Connecticut hard rolls, too! ben.guerrero@sbcglobal.net, also blogging at homemoanerXR@blogspot.com. ■

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

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RACKING I ONE’S I BRAIN ■

Inspiration with a twist for ’09 college grads by Tim Murphy Wear sunscreen. That was the first suggestion for college graduates in a faux commencement address written by Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich in 1997. Schmich’s opening bit of advice may have targeted the dangers of tanning, but it also struck a metaphorical note. Back then the job outlook for the newly accredited was as cloudless as a planetarium sky. Now, not so much. With the economy still reeling, this year’s graduates are facing the prospect of extended job hunts, lower starting salaries and jobs in fields where they weren’t planning to work.

To ring true, any commencement speech this year needed to have the usual tone of optimism balanced with a dose of harsh reality. A speaker citing the inspirational words from former presidents, as presented below, might have been wise to also provide updated translations for the Class of 2009.

“The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted.” – James Madison There’s a good chance you won’t have to worry about being mistrusted for a while. “The American continents ... are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers.” – James Monroe But if that keeps more jobs here, we might reconsider. “Popularity, I have always thought, may aptly be compared to a coquette – the more you woo her, the more apt is she to elude your embrace.” – John Tyler

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Until you find a job and move out of your parents’ house, she may continue to elude your embrace. “It would be judicious to act with magnanimity towards a prostrate foe.” – Zachary Taylor By the time you land a job you may have prostate issues. “You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.” – Abraham Lincoln You should hope that some of the people are working in HR. “The goal to strive for is a poor government but a rich people.” – Andrew Johnson A valuable life lesson: Don’t set your expectations too high. One out of two isn’t so bad. “My failures have been errors of judgment, not of intent.” – Ulysses S. Grant Keeping that photo of you and your friends doing keg stands on Facebook? That would be an error of judgment. “I have had many troubles in my life, but the worst of them never came.” – James Garfield James Garfield is not a member of the Class of 2009. “Whoever controls the volume of money in any country is absolute master of all industry and commerce.” – James Garfield Feel free to take a “Bernanke is God” bumper sticker on the way out. “It is the responsibility of the citizens to support their government. It is not the responsibility of the government to support its citizens.” – Grover Cleveland In case any of your parents are interested in buying some toxic assets, the government has a booth set up in the quad.

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June 2009

“No other people have a government more worthy of their respect and love or a land so magnificent in extent, so pleasant to look upon, and so full of generous suggestion to enterprise and labor.” – Benjamin Harrison Dylan may not want to work on Maggie’s farm no more, but you may want to consider it. “The business of America is business.” – Calvin Coolidge Make it your business to find us a new business. Pronto. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt Well, maybe that and waking up in your childhood bed 10 years from now. “A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.” – Harry Truman A realist is the one who applies to grad school. “There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence and energy of her citizens cannot cure.” – Dwight Eisenhower And if all that fails, there’s always Chapter 11. “And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” – John F. Kennedy But feel free to ask what other countries can do for you. Maybe Andorra. Unemployment rate: 0%. “You ain’t learnin’ nothin’ when you’re talkin.’” – Lyndon Johnson Don’t worry if you had took an elective instead of grammar. You, too, can be president one day. “I like the job I have, but if I had to live my life over again, I would like to have ended up a sports writer.” – Richard Nixon Make a career change before you burn out and do something crazy – like become paranoid enough to plot a hotel break-in.

“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” – Ronald Reagan Mr. CEO, tear down this hiring freeze. “Recognizing and confronting our history is important. Transcending our history is essential. We are not limited by what we have done, or what we have left undone. We are limited only by what we are willing to do.” – George W. Bush When it comes to unpaid internships, you should be willing. “We believe that all men are created equal because they are created in the image of God.” – Harry S. Truman Now, if we could just get God to create some jobs. “When you have got an elephant by the hind leg, and he is trying to run away, it’s best to let him run.” – Abraham Lincoln That recruiter who you’ve called 150 times without a response? Consider him or her an elephant. “Read my lips, no more taxes.” – George H.W. Bush Read between the lines of our rejection letter. When we say your application will be kept on file, we don’t really mean it. Besides, our filing department was eliminated last year to save money. ■

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Amazing Spaces continued from page 23 about cluttered counter space? “Most clients don’t use small appliances like bread machines,” he said, “but if they do, I’ll find a space for them.” As home fashions come and go, Jason said the best way to maintain a timeless look is to observe his number one rule: function. “If it’s a well thought out design, function never goes out of style.”

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Function can take in some odd requests. In one home, Jason designed an island to act as the base of a huge fish tank. In another kitchen, he integrated a doggie door with the rest of the decor, and, along the same line, in another home, he paneled a door leading to a utility room so it blends in with the rest of the cabinetry. Another homeowner’s request was a television set that swivels 360 degrees. Mission accomplished. To help homeowners better visualize the finished result, designs are shown in three-dimensional renderings. Custom door samples are made, and Jason will happily take clients to visit past projects. And while he is very involved in the entire process from start to finish, Jason puts his own design preferences on hold. “At the end of the day,” he said, “it’s all about the client.” For more information, visit Jason’s Web site at amazingspacesllc.com or call 203-2462264 or 914-239-3725. ■

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Table talk continued from page 31 stainless-steel flatware designed and handcrafted by Cutipol, Portugal; handcrafted bone china, designed by Thomas Allen, England, and crafted by Asianera Studio, northern China; and linen placemats, tablecloths and napkins designed in house by Anna Hellman, Sweden, and woven by Linas Nordic, Lithuania. The Teroforma line is deliberately simple and restrained, neutral enough to blend with a broad range of styles, according to Andrew. “Each piece complements the

next,” he says, “with the shape of a glass tumbler echoing that of a ceramic mug, for instance.” Eventually, the Hellmans plan to launch a bridal registry, although currently, their typical customer is anyone who seeks out the unusual, enjoys traveling and finds a quiet satisfaction in discovering things worth having. “Each part of the collection has been designed with the others in mind,” Andrew says, “as we want the parts to equal the whole .... all the pieces should work together.” For more information, call 877-899-1190 or visit the company’s web site, teroforma. com. ■

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Victoria Lyon Interiors continued from page 9

Eric Roth Photography

moderns provide. There is an efficiency of design and space that people are once more coming to appreciate. I am hopeful that we are coming to the point where people want to spend money on striking architecture and art and linking the outside with the inside to achieve peace and beauty in the home. These are things that inspire rather than burden.” Victoria worked with dozens of individuals and firms to bring the Philip Johnson house to life. They include Advanced Home Audio; Art+Interiors; Artifact Design Group; Christina Ross; Espasso; Grain of Thought; Irwin Feld Design; Joy Serate Florist; Lugh Studio; Mid-Century Modern; Mis-en-Scene; Modern State Magazine; Mondo Cane; New Canaan Wine Merchants; ROOM furniture & Interiors; Room & Board; The Royal Closet; Signorello’s of Westport; TDS Homeline Services; Waterworks of Greenwich; William Pitt-Sotheby’s Realty; Wittus-Fire by Design. For information on Victoria Lyon Interiors, call 203540-5350. The Philip Johnson house is currently listed with Prudence Parris, William Pitt-Sotheby’s International Realty, 203-966-2633, 203-326-1695 (cell). ■ Compact kitchen with dramatic focus: painting, Harmony, ©Mary Manning, courtesy of Art + Interiors.

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