DESIGN +DECOR
CONNECTICUT NEW JERSEY NEW YORK
THE 2022 ANNUAL SOURCEBOOK
$7.99 US/$8.99 CANADA
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every property has a story..... it begins with a vision seventyacres.com
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DESIGN +DECOR
CONNECTICUT NEW JERSEY NEW YORK
VOLUME 19 ISSUE 1 | 2022
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LOOKING AHEAD
Industry Experts Predict This Year’s Design Trends Story by Kathleen E. Syron
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OUTSIDE CONNECTIONS
How top architects use the natural environment to create extraordinary homes. Story by Kathleen E. Syron
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FROM SIMPLE TOOLS TO COMPLEX COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY The building industry has continued to modernize and improve in remarkable ways. Story by Kathleen E. Syron
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PROTECTING MOTHER EARTH
How the experts are implementing environmentally beneficial landscape design techniques. Story by Kathleen E. Syron
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EDITOR’S LETTER
DESIGN DECOR +
VOLUME 18 19 ISSUE 4 1 - 2021 2022
Editor-in-Chief Matthew J. Kolk mattkolk@me.com 203-820-1092 Managing Editor James Eagen Contributing Writers Deborah Brannon, Lisa Gant, Susan Heller, Alder Grove, Anna von Stelzer-Worth, Kait Shea, Anastasia Storer
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Contributing Photographers Jane Beiles, Michael Biondo, Phillip Ennis, Tria Giovan, John Gruen, John Hannon, Paul Johnson, Neil Landino, Mark La Rosa, Tim Lee, Daniel Milstein, Durston Saylor, Eric Striffler, Carl Vernlund, Jonathan Wallen, Woodruff/Brown Photography
love this time of year in the Northeast. The weather starts to become warmer on a regular Copy Editor basis, allowing us to spend Elena more time outdoors, theSerocki grass is green and the beauty of our area shines. Graphic & Web Design East Coast Home Publishing
This year, we finally get a step back to normalcy: vaccinations are available to all, and we can start packing away those pesky masks. What a fantastic gift to bring in the summer months. Publisher We had a great time puttingGroup together this year’s Outdoor SpacE. McCormick es Issue. Our wonderful Shelley partners shared some fabulous outdoor spaces with us, and we thinksm@dd-mag.com these impressive projects will inspire 203-545-7091 you to take your own home to the next step. Account Managers
Our feature stories, “A Classic the Country ” and “Modern in JaneinO’Reilly Montauk,” are also top-notch. Both Kelly Amesprojects Smith have that wow factor, and their attention to detail is nothing short of magical. Design + Decor
Forestissue Hills Boulevard We hope you enjoy this 349 special of Design + Decor, and we Naples, Florida 34113 look forward to sharing our Amazing Transformations Issue—my personal favorite—in July. We’ll be showcasing great projects in a variety of +styles. If you’d likeperyour project firm to beSubscriptions: a part of Design Decor is published six issues year. To subscribe:or www.dd-mag.com; year, $28; $14; two years, $20. this, one please reach out$50. to Back us. issues can be purchased at www.dd-mag.com. For editorial inquiries: Editor, Design + Decor, 349 Forest Hills Boulevard Naples, Florida 34113 or e-mail: mattkolk@me.com. For advertising inquiries: Please call Shelley McCormick at 203-545-7091. Reproduction whole or in part without permission is prohibited. All projects described in this publication are for private, noncommercial use only. No rights for commercial use or exploitation are given or implied. The opinions expressed by writers for articles published by Design + Decor are not necessarily those of the magazine.
Matthew Kolk Best,
- Editor-in-Chief
EAST COAST HOME PUBLISHING 349 Forest Hills Boulevard Naples, Florida 34113 DD-MAG.COM
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EDITOR’S LETTER
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e have been up to a lot during this crazy time, and it has been about moving the ball forward with our publications to become one of constant innovation and increased visualization of your brand in the marketplace. We are extremely proud of what we have accomplished over the past year-and-a-half and I am sure that you will see the value in what we have been up to and the new changes we have added. Let’s start with our newsstand distribution. We have worked tirelessly over the past 18 months and the results are clear. With our Florida book, we have just concluded a massive newsstand push to increase our presence and we are now, with this issue a major force on the newsstand increasing our reach to include an international presence. The Florida Edition is now distributed from as far west as Hawaii to as far north as Montreal to as far south as all of the state of Florida. In this expansion, your brand will not only go to all of your clients in Florida, but all of the major markets from where they are coming from. This doesn’t end with the Florida book, We have also increased the newsstand presence for the New York Book as well. The CT/NJ/NY Edition of Design in Decor is now the largest regional shelter publication on newsstands in the tri-state area, something that is extremely difficult to obtain and we are very proud of this accomplishment. It doesn’t stop there. We have just relaunched our website and revamped our social media platforms to allow our clients an increased opportunity to interact with our readers through a variety of opportunities. In the coming months you will be seeing video, blogs and native features and curated e-mail blasts. Sign up on our website to receive the latest in design tips, trends and all of the new products coming to market in real time. We have also incorporated Geo-fencing opportunities for our clients, allowing them to pin-point where they would like their message to go. We have made all of these opportunities to allow us to be a complete media solution to increase awareness to your brand and message. Here’s to a great 2022, we are certainly starting the year off with a bang! Best,
Matthew J. Kolk Editor in chief
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DESIGN PREDICTIONS
LOOKING AHEAD Industry Experts Predict This Year’s Design Trends Story by Kathleen Syron
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Form Equals Function Diane Durocher Photos by Peter Rymwid Photography
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iane Durocher believes that successful design is built on trust and confidence. Connecting with her client on a deeply personal level enables Diane to design inspired spaces that reflect the client’s unique personalities and lifestyles—which means letting the homeowner’s lifestyle dictate her design, and not vice versa. Lately, her clients have been asking for less formal and more utilitarian spaces. They no longer want rooms that are just for show. “Gone are the days of the Donna Reed formal rooms that once upon a time greeted our guests,” states Diane, referring to TV’s The Donna Reed Show of the late 1950s and early ’60s. Instead, homeowners want spaces that are multipurpose and useful for the whole family, so durable materials are a must. Whether it is because of the pandemic, the lifestyles of millennials and Gen-Xers, or a general trend towards efficient design, Diane predicts that in 2022, we will see more casual and welcoming multipurpose spaces with durable materials that are still beautiful.
To illustrate her prediction, the accompanying photos showcase two living rooms designed by Diane that—though they appear luxurious—are incredibly durable and efficient. The first great room is glamorous simply because of its surroundings, but the antiques and traditional design reenforce the room’s sophisticated beauty. You’d never guess that the furniture has all been recovered in either Crypton-treated fabric or material that, with advancements in technology, now wear longer and harder. The antiques in the room are family heirlooms that still look at home in the space, despite its less formal usage. Besides being a showplace, the room is accessible for a variety of uses. In the second photo, Diane again emphasizes that durable materials do not mean unattractive or uncomfortable ones. The fabrics and finishes she chose illustrate that you don’t need to sacrifice form for function. She increased the usage of this living room not only by utilizing durable materials such as faux leather, chenille, tweed and velvet, but by including a TV and multiple seating options for entertaining. Diane Durocher has been a well-respected designer for more than 25 years. She has received numerous “Design of Excellence” awards from the New Jersey Chapter of American Society of Interior Designers. Prior to establishing Diane Durocher Interiors in 1995, she worked for 10 years with her husband, a general contractor. This gives her tremendous insight into all aspects of design implementation. Indeed, Diane’s unique perspective enables her to not only create beautiful designs, but also to project manage the entire process. Resource: Diane Durocher Interiors Diane Durocher 375 S Central Avenue Ramsey, NJ 07446 201.825.3832 dianedurocherinteriors.com Design + Decor
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Clean and Custom Randy O’Kane
Kitchen Designed by Daniel Popescu of Bilotta Kitchens in collaboration with Jenny Wolf Interiors.
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Kitchen Designed by Doranne Phillips-Telberg of Bilotta Kitchens in collaboration with Modern NetZero.
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andy O’Kane of Bilotta Kitchen & Home—renowned for exquisite American-made cabinetry, hand craftmanship, inspired design and unrivaled service—has seen a lot of changes in kitchen use and materials over the past year. Factors such as advances in materials and technology, health regulations still in effect, and the desire for more customization have changed the role of the home. Residences are becoming much more streamlined, with ornamentation being pulled back to accommodate the multiple activities of the family. No longer are rooms going to have a single purpose or be design specific. For the coming year, Randy predicts that a clean, modern aesthetic in terms of materials and decor will be in high demand, while personalization will be the highlight of the kitchen. Kitchen color palettes are moving away from gray and colorful cabinets back to darks and neutrals. It is not the stark black-and-white look, but rather a dark element with creamy neutrals. The tones can be dark blues, greens or charcoals mixing with creams, beiges and natural neutrals. Any flash of color or bling will be provided by metal elements. Randy is currently enamored with stone tiles embedded with metal as a decorative element. The kitchen is also getting a lot more use than it has in the past. Now, everyone in the family is cooking, and their dining needs may be different. In response to this, Bilotta Kitchen has started creating multiple workstations in the kitchen. The idea of a workstation is not new to Randy or any experienced kitchen designer, but the area now has an official title and has been deemed a critical element in the kitchen. The workstation is a place where either one type of food or beverage is prepared, or, if it’s a bigger station, where multiple people and many kitchen activities can be accommodated. Clients have asked Randy for every imaginable kind of space, such as a coffee bar, smoothie station, baking larder or gluten-free area. Our national obsession with cooking
shows has also driven the need for a larger workstation that is a gathering point to teach and prepare foods together. This type of workstation might contain an integrated sink, a cooking apparatus and refrigeration to allow for prep work and cooking. Workstations are important but, in some instances, secondary kitchens are the only solution for clients with a variety of needs. And, although appliances are in the midst of a supply issue with delivery times of up to a year, clients requiring high-end kitchen devices are willing to wait for what they want. Resource: Bilotta Kitchen + Home Randy O’Kane 564 Mamaroneck Ave. Mamaroneck, NY 10543 914.381.7734 150 East 58th St., 9th Floor New York, NY 10155 212.486.6338 175 East Main St. Mount Kisco, NY 10549 914.242.1022 209 River Road Ext. Cos Cob, CT 06807 203.210.0107 bilotta.com Design + Decor
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Make Room For Baby Scott Hobbs Architect: John B. Murray Architect Photographer: Francesco Lagnese
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obbs, Inc. has been a family-owned business for three generations. Following in the footsteps of their grandfather and father, Scott and Ian Hobbs assumed full ownership and management of Hobbs, Inc. in 1998. The brothers have continued the Hobbs tradition of providing integrity, quality and customer service, while also expanding the business geographically and introducing a specialized department called “Hobbs Care” to offer continuing support for their clients. For these reasons, the multi-award-winning building company has earned the reputation of being “Simply the Best” in high-end residential construction. The most important aspect of any job, says Scott, is to listen to the homeowner and respond with creative solutions. A design trend he has noticed is that empty nesters want to ensure that their highend residences are grandchild-friendly. Empty nesters/retirees/older singles are either staying put and making changes to their home to accommodate their grown children and grandchildren, or they are moving to larger residences. Discerning clients love having their homes just the way they are—and they love their grandkids. While parents understand they must make compromises in their homes to accommodate the day-to-day needs of little children, it does not make sense for empty nesters to live with such compromises on a daily basis. To meld these two desires, grandparents are creating welcoming bunk rooms and interior and exterior play areas where little ones can build memories with their cousins and grandparents, while not causing unnecessary stress on the older generation. Bunks beds, arts and crafts rooms and creative play spaces are being built to house all the messy, plastic kid stuff that doesn’t need to be neat and guest-ready all the time. Although this trend has been growing, the pandemic accelerated the need for staying together in the home, and the trend is not likely to end anytime soon. The more modern millennials are having kids now, and the traditional boomers are retiring. It is natural for them want to spend time together, and it is essential that they find the right home compromises. Resource: Hobbs, Inc. Scott Hobbs 27 Grove Street New Canaan, CT 06840 203.966.0726 2273 Montauk Highway Bridgehampton, NY 11932 631.537.8620 450 Lexington Avenue 4th Floor New York, NY 10017 212.388.0042 156 West Saddle River Road Saddle River, NJ 07458 201.818.3909 hobbsinc.com Design + Decor
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Cue The Lights Melissa Fritz Photographer: Stefan Radtke
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alifornia Closets has been the go-to organizer for homeowners for the past four decades. The company was the first to tell us that exceptional design can transform one’s life, and it completely changed how we think about storage and organization. Today, California Closets is still committed to custom storage solutions that help people become better versions of themselves, with more time and space to focus on what matters most. And no one is more dedicated to this mission than their own Melissa Fritz, who has been working in closet design for 16 years. Melissa has seen the evolution of organization over the years, and for 2022 she envisions a very “light” touch around closets. She means this in the broadest sense of the word. “I think the trend will be light and bright—lots of natural light, with small pops of color,” she says. The materials used in the build will be lighter wood tones, pale leathers and white. She sees the majority of the space filled with soft colors, mixed with natural woods that have a patina and stand out on their own as accents. There will be more ambient and task lighting as well. “ The idea is to create a boutique look with the right lighting and calm neutral colors,” says Melissa, “so as not to distract you from your clothing.” Custom accessories such as belt racks will be used not only for belts but for long necklaces, while jewelry trays and pullout leather hampers create an organization that lightens the weight of a full closet.
While hardware will continue to be the jewelry of the closet, Melissa reports that clients are now more relaxed about mixing metals. A closet may feature soft brass on the drawer pulls and chrome closet poles—whatever fits the design. Inset doors and drawer faces have also been introduced, adding sophistication and luxury. Homeowners need to approach a closet makeover as they would a kitchen or bath remodel. It is a significant, oncein-a-lifetime investment. Everyone wants and needs storage, and the more organized it is, the more calming it is, and the less stressed you feel. It is a winning situation for everyone. Resource: California Closets Melissa Fritz 26 Varick Street New York, NY 10013 646.486.3905 16 Saw Mill River Road Hawthorne, New York 10532 914.592.1001 565 Westport Avenue Norwalk, CT 06851 203.924.8444 californiaclosets.com Design + Decor
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The Year Of Renewal Michael Cox Photographer: Jeff McNamara
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s the world reemerges from the struggles of the last two years,” says interior designer Michael Cox, “we’ll all embrace being reenergized, but also refocused on what brings true health and happiness to our souls.” It’s hard to find fault with his prediction. Michael believes there will be a shared focus on refreshing our homes and reconnecting with loved ones by revisiting the people and places we’ve missed during quarantine. “We’ll reprioritize our homes and refresh them in creative ways,” he says, “reimagining them through refinishing, repurposing, reupholstering and recycling.” Michael’s firm, Foley & Cox Interiors, recently remodeled a home for a woman who is starting a new chapter in her life—a perfect example of Michael’s vision for the near future. The home is filled with antique pieces that have been refinished, and found objects that have been given a new lease on life. The paints and recovered furniture are bright spring colors of grassy greens, watery blues, sandy beiges and rocky grays, echoing the concept of rebirth. Artwork was specifically chosen and presented to represent a forward motion. Michael took and incorporated his client’s situation into the design of her space, subtly reenforcing the idea of rebirth and blossoming. In the recesses of the attic, Michael played around with the angles created by the roofline to again highlight the rebirth theme. He outlined the peaked portion of the room with bookcases on either side of a center window to create an obvious arrow pointing upwards. The horizontal lines of the shiplap, rug and bookshelves emphasize the vertical arrow as well. Resource: Foley & Cox Interiors Michael Cox 231 West 29th Street #707 New York, NY 10001 212.529.5800 foleyandcox.com Design + Decor
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Trends come and go Quality is forever Sarah Blank Photographer: Neil Landino
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Artistic Tile
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as well of a furniture, story that the is not yet and over—that creuse someasRESOURCES ofthethehope existing young fun-loving ation and life continue. I’d like to acknowledge color my collaborafamily embraced the bright aqua-and-orange palette Kitchen Design torsArchitectural and friends, Corey Tippin and Kim Nelson, who and playful patterns. TheGrant combination of NuKitchens natural light from JohnaRehm Joeworld.” Najmy havebay brought whole of beauty into this the window and lot bright colors make the space come ARTISTICTILE.COM Lisa Rehm Karin Nakashima alive. Katharine chose a stunning geometric wallpaper from 825 Barnum Cutoff with 132 Waterfabric A, In showcasing their creativity and compassion isStreet this# powerful Thibaut, whichAvenue she paired a chinoiserie “Luzon,” Stratford, CTproject, 06614 06854 window display top designers eachCToffer a unique also from Thibault, forthese the drapery. ANorwalk, geometric-print area 203.378.6911 203.831.9000 design but all convey the same message: the raise rug from Stark adds visual interest and spread anchors theword, design. http://customkitchensct.com nukitchens.com awareness and promote care, compassion and hope in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Katharine achieved equally stunning results in the master Paramount Stone Christopher Peacock bedroom. A timeless pairing of green and blue works clean Carlo Jona Natasha Vecca and fresh, and is neither masculine nor feminine. The Before 338 Courtland Avenue 2 Dearfield Drive striking wallpaper “Zanzibar Trellis,” from Schumacher, is Stamford, CT 06906 Greenwich, CT, 06830 Resources an updated version of a print first introduced in the 1970s. 203.353.9119 203.862.9333 Christopher Spitzmiller pair of wide zig zag lamps in This is paired with tailored navy-and-white cornice boards, marigold christopherspitzmiller.com paramountstone.com peacockhome.com Farrow and Ball Designer Resources adding verticality design. “Yellow is theand mostelegance luminous to of allthe colors in the The clients with purchases shipping, and can even suggest accommodations, Locations and and Designers spectrum, in almost every culture it to represents Katharine’s suggestion install Tile Americahardwood ifappreciated needed. Clarke us.farrow-ball.com Alexander Doherty sunshine,happiness, and warmth” flooring, from which amplifies feel andKries clean lines. Brian Sean an Clarke converted old chicken the coopspacious by the homeowner’s father, Alexander Doherty Design skiing The wallpaper is also used in the master bath, where it is Brookfield, vacations and theBarallon love for Vermont andW farmhouses were providWe arrive Marco at Antichita Trois, wherebarns I’m introduced toFairfield Alberto AnfoAlexander Doherty 71 85th Street #4A complemented by brass lighting and hardware finishes, Manchester, Haven Heather ing the inspiration its nextaway—indeed, life. A chance encounter would mean, dillo. Once again Beland I’mforwhisked my feet barely touch the Upper West Side New York, NYNew 10024 lending a warm glow and vibrancy to the space. New London, Stamford 64 S Main Street however, that a “whole barn” would somehow be attached and integrated Gypset Travel ground!—to interior ofwith a somber palazzo. Of course, the ground 322 Columbusthe Avenue 212.390.1572 Acrylic bench Mongolian Fur Seat Hatford CT assouline.com into existing house, with Joseph’s allowing it to We neatly insert worlds-away.com floor isNorwalk, reserved for06854 acqua alta, anddesign thus leftWest vacant. enter an New the York, NY 10023 alexanderdohertydesign.com The homeowners also wanted themed children’s bedrooms 203.777.3637 203.838.9385 itself into a small corner that had previously been the galley kitchen. elevator that is small even by European standards and are brought to 212.799.0900 tileamerica.com clarkeliving.com So half cozy Worlds Awayyet interesting in main thatmost offered plenty of room for playing and hosting The barn being a -flight offset from the house gives the spacious rooms ofvertically his magnificent palazzo. Alberto guides Antonino Buzzetta anythe room sleepovers. In the room for daughter, who was committed the feeling of an old barn built into the hillside, and also creates fascius through his treasure trove of antiqueAntonino paintings on reverse Antonino Buzzetta Buzzetta Design glass; Trish Herson Interiors Connecticut Stone tocollection a pink color scheme, Katharine chose Lee boxes, Jofa’s Lilly inside, including viewsofofVenice); the upper timbers up-close and anating of lions (the symbol ancient some as Flatironspaces 39 W 14th Street #504 PUZZLE CHANDELIER Trish Herson Tara Dellacrowe Pulitzer fabric line. She outfitted twin beds with bedding Before arah Blank has been designing kitchens for 40 years, and through the trusses to the areas below. beautiful on the inside as the outside; furniture; paintings; glass; and, 32 E. 22nd Street New York, NY 10011 Inspired by a house of cards, our Puzzle Chandelier is made 203.878.1013 138 Woodmont Road from Lily Pulitzer, and isused theafter firm’s “Well recently(this wrote a Venice, book, Kitchens forConnected” Modern of course, chandeliers all). I’ve always been Livfond of sheets of solid layered intoClassic a dynamic composition. New York, NY 10010 917.971.0571 trishhersoninteriors.com Milford, CTbrass 06460 The clients wanted an open, free-flowing house that would take adfabric on the bathroom walls and in a custom shower curtain. ing, coming out in March 2022. So if there is one thing The focal point of this specialty space is the interplay between interior The Architectural Modernist feel is warmed up by the luminous of212.334.8330 Venetian Murano chandeliers, and now I’m convinced that antique antoninobuzzetta.com Design by Sara Baldwin for New Ravenna, The Aurelia from 203.882.1000 vantage of a dramatic waterside location on a cove. Sellars Lathrop It’s a showstopping combination that a girl can love for years plantings to determine which to ofremove, which to isretain (such as metal. your Puzzle Chandelier above circular table, like she it’sAmerican how tothe design aafunctional and beautiful and the expressed structure truss, which elegant, beautiisspaces theHang way to go. Delft Collection isArtemis aknows, modern interpretation of aDesign cenThyme and Place connecticutstone.com Architects and Landscape Architects were fortunate tomaricolto come. our Nixon, or in a fabulous foyer. the perimeter screening), and which could be successfully repurspace. Sarah predicts that we are beginning a 40-year cycle in design all ful to behold and a surprise to see in the middle of stylish ole Carmina Roth turies oldRoth familiar craft, . Shown here isCarmina a hand cutSherman jewel glass Sharon laborate on“When thisCT. classic modern home. jonathanadler.com posed. The planting design built upon the existing color palette over again. began myof career, kitchen designs were simpler and time Rowayton, The windows and skylights let the east and south David Rachtian isLapis, aI Venetian partial Persian descent on his father’s 32 East Putnam Avenue Carmiña Roth Interiors mosia shown in Lazuli, Lolite, Mica, Absolute White and Deane Inc. 385 Clinton Avenue erie’s team decided to update themand to theme an off-white finish. Doing so The boys’ room vaunts a nautical that was conceived by incorporating additional plants with colorful foliage and many more streamlined, much like today, brass was prevalent,” she says. sunlight filter down and through the timbers into the spaces below. side. At hisCT shop we find antique Persian rugs from Kashan, Greenwich, 06830 203.987.5961 Blue Spinel. Peter Deane Wyckoff, NJTabriz, 07481 not only helped lighten the rooms but also offered the enduring look While Howard Lathrop of Sellars Lathrop provided the overall dePhoto credit: Chuan Bing. imagesbychuan.com to appeal to a toddler or a teen. A classic combo of navyjewel-toned perennials, bulbs andcathedral-like, annuals. This ensures that the gar“And although kitchen technology isone more sophisticated today, aesOn certain thearound effect iswhich very yet casual natural. Isfahan anddays, China, could easily build aand room. This 203.422.0990 carminarothinteriors.com jamieshop.com 1267 East Main Street 201.847.1400 that the couple was seeking. Plus, the color helped provide a sense of sign direction for the house and the site, he knew it was important and-white striped patterns for beds and windows from Ralph den beds willarranged change throughout the seasons—as onefeatures plant Ibiza Lounge thetic direction and repeating themselves.” Brass isCollection againfades, very As much interest aspattern possible has been created vertically; ascending the thoughtfully andare packed antique store also glassStamford, CT 06902 thymeandplacedesign.com uniformity within the home. to bring in modern Tara M. Vincenta from Artemis, arage. firm known for itshas exLauren are complemented by pops of red for fun. restorationhardware.com another begins to bloom. Where new screening was needed, Austin popular, and streamlined design is all the unique staircase tucked into the southeast intersection, a visitor ware, silverware, jewelry and important,Connie sought-after Jewish pieces. 203.327.7008 Connie Cooper Cooper pertise in coastal plants and sensitive ecological locations. Howard grays, whites, taupes and silver, which “really makes the artGanim designers plantings keptsecret with theDesigns character of the sense ofdeaneinc.com climbing rafters that to some place. Other focal What catches my selected eyeinto are the paperweights from the 1950s, decorated 396 Post Road East Connie Cooper The couple were thrilled with the results—a timeless home that is saysexisting he and Tara “worked collaboratively to meld the interior ofof the Katharine’s design has not only given the home a dose work stand out nicely,” she says. the tapestry to provide continuity between the spaces. They Having said that, Sarah strongly believes that before homeowners renovate points are the see-through stone fireplace, the classic rotated Vermont with mythological creatures. Westport, CT 06880 58 adult High Point Road just as welcoming to their kids as to their guests. house with the exterior.” light and vibrancy, but has also created a timeless backdrop added bird and borders in pool area, on millwork the hillside their kitchens based a trend, they first “design the and window at the topbutterfly ofonthe barn gable,should andthe the interior lighting that Front Row Kitchens 203.221.3117 Westport, CTcable 06880 for modern family life. White was also integrated into the sleeker modern powder and within other perimeter plantings, incorporating nectarand polarchitectural aesthetic of the kitchen to be timeless,” she says. Make sure Matt Garrdina takes advantage of the timber purlins. Orseola and Chiara walk me back where the tour began, and I am 203.256.9183 “Hedgerows and stone walls work together toand form the interplay room, which was long and narrow, and needed its toofI len-producing flowers, grasses for seed heads, Barbara Laughton your cabinetry can go with many colors styles, andberry-producing is offixtures the highest pleasantly surprised to find myself in and familiar surroundings. Then Caleb Anderson conniecooperdesigns.com INTERIOR DESIGNER planes and solids that create the design aesthetic,” he says. The palDesigner be small and modern. Lara believes that whites are important New Canaan Avenue shrubs. quality. Then, you wish tobyadd a trend, areas be changed The barn frame provided Ward Timber Frames, ofcan Walpole, NH, realize we haveif made a large circle, andselect they havethat given me a lesson D & 117 D Building Valerie Grant ette of hardscape materials is of limited to washed river rock, narrow Reed & Acanthus Interior Design to use in smaller rooms and dark rooms that have no winNorwalk, CT 06850 easily, such as the decorative hardware, backsplash or paint color. and the ingenuity of Bruce Ward Bruce Ward and Sons, Alstead, NH inSuite getting around Venice, too. 1519 Caleb Anderson Valerie Grant Interiors concrete pavers, Ipe wood deck tiles and native stone outcropping. Katharine Kelly Rhudy dows or don’t get much light. In spaces this case, Lara “didn’t want 203.849.0302 Although the new hardscape elements helped to better define the (603.835.2313) made this specialty project a resounding suc979 ThirdTuck Avenue Drake / Anderson 14 Friar Circle Retaining walls are natural concrete matching thelandscape pavers. Achange native 166 White Oak Shade Road to clutter the long empty wall with artwork,” she says, “so frontrowkitchens.com garden rooms of this property, what brought the to life A trend in the millwork will have a shorter lifespan and be a costly cess. Leaving Venice is like parting with a lover; I daydream toFloor linger a New York, NYruns 10022 67atIrving Place, 12th Summit, NJ 07901 stone wall to the road the parking area. New Canaan, 06840 instead I future. chose asimple delicately patterned silver-white wallpaper was aCT space thatrecessed was not onlyand aesthetically pleasing to the in thecreating near Aadjacent panel door, however, will around for little longer before returning to reality. Visitors can at be least can take 212.752.5544 New York NY 10003 917.921.1916 JWH Design &with Cabinetry 917.767.5116 (C) to fill the wall a bit of shimmer and tons of interest.” homeowners, but attractive to the many types of butterflies, hummany years to come. These images of Sarah’s kitchen show a twist towards Resources: comfort in bringing something back home—a beautiful lion, box, 212.754.3099 valeriegrantinteriors.com Tara provided a(O) clean, simple landscape thattokeeps fits the architecture and Jennifer Howard 203.966.0422 The white, silver and gray color scheme the small room mingbirds, other that regularly visit the the trendy side, and yet itand can last forpollinators many years come. With a change of Joseph Matto Architects chandelier, asongbirds commissioned Luigi Bevilacqua fabric for that very speMichael Herold drakeanderson.com spectacular waterfront setting. As she explains, “Howard and I were 1111 Boston Post Road reedacanthus.com light and bright even though it has no windows. gardens. hardware color, this kitchen canFinds take onlike a totally feeling.to Joseph Mattoor17paint cial upholstery and/or unique bag. thesedifferent add sparkle 160 Route Rye, North NY 10580 The Jenning Brutalist Ribbon was to be simple and architectural, inBridge agreement that the landscape 72 Street interiors and wardrobe, lifting one out of the sea of sameness. Paramus, NJ 07652 Michael Herold 914.967.6020 Table Lamp will dazzle thethefor particularly the entrance to home, thewith use aoftint clipped Photographer: Lara likes toatpick a whiteincolor wallwith paint of Landscape Resource: Shelton, CTArchitect 06484 201.265.4030 Michael Herold Design and verjwhdesigns.com modern homewill withgroundcover, striking il- with boxwood hedges, ivy concrete plank walkways Anne Ruthmann the color that coordinate any other colors in the Sarah Blank Studio city that I can’t 287 475.282.4183 Venice is aDesign bewitching waitS to getStreet back#8 to as soon Main lumination, simple geometric nacular stone site walls.” room. She then uses ayearn brighter whiteAnd on itthe window trim, Austin Ganim Landscape Design Sarah Blank joemattoarchitects.com asPatrick possible. It makes me for more. makes me wonder, Mele Lambertville, NJ 08530 KLAFFS designs and bold metal done doors and ceilings to contrast with the off-white color on Austin Ganim 19 WestEast Putnam Avenue Cockatoo Wallcovering Scalamandre Spring 2016 fabric Where will The Antiques Diva takeIndoor/Outdoor me to travel and shop next? the Upper Side 609.460.4763 Nick Geragi BIZET TABLE in a gold leaf finish. One of the project goals was to extend the direct coastal vegetation wall. Unless her clients insist, she tries to steer them away osborneandlittle.com book. The colors Linda has selected are the Eva Chiamulera Suite 202 Sweeney Construction 142 East 73rd Street mydesignermichael.com 28 Washington Street becoming Azincdoor.com stunning hand-wrought base is topped into the house, all while part of the shoreline. To achieve following: 27056-002 Surf, 27059-002 Surf, 27058-002 from white fabrics on upholstered items, for obvious practi320 Kings Highway Cutoff Greenwich, CT 06830 Patrick Sweeney The Antiques Diva &with Co New York, NY 10021 Norwalk, CT 06854 tempered glass. Distinctively Osborne and Little -27067-003 fun in awhite/light-colored child’s room or perhaps a mudSurf, Surf scalamandre.com this the team used a circular variety of ornamental grasses and perennials, cal reasons. The only upholstery fabric Fairfield, CT 06824 203.610.7998 51 Circle Drive Toma Clark Haines 212.737.7400 Patrick Mele 203.866.1603 room bathroom or any space needing unexpected pops of colorof individual and suitable for a range including echinacea, Russian sage and joe-pye weed to fill in among she likes to use is a faux-leather vinyl fabric, which is great 203.333.2003 sarahblankdesignstudio.com Greenwich, CTklaffs.com 06830 “Surf’s up, I love these fabrics for settings. + 49 (0) 171 386 2213 Before period andfresh contemporary 203.550.2264 the native shoreline vegetation and enhance the natural cove setting. at resisting stains and dirt. spring, they remind me of the water” austinganimlandscapedesign.com 203.515.1956 christopherguy.com antiquesdiva.com patrickmele.com Zanzibar Ticking Woven Cotton Rug
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Multipurpose Multi-solutions Aaron Cash
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aron Cash of Garage Living Inc. believes 2022 will be the year of the garage. Indeed, though it has been called “the last frontier in interior design,” the garage has come a long way from being merely a place to park your car and store seasonal items. “Home improvement projects for 2022 will continue to expand beyond the interior as people seek to maximize their living space,” says Aaron. “We expect a continued increase in focus and attention on the garage, as this space offers significant, often unrecognized value.” Although the garage had long ago been identified as a place to create a clean, organized and functional space, there weren’t many options available to the consumer. Then, during the real estate boom of the mid-2000s and the rise of home improvement trends driven by HGTV, Aaron and his partners saw a gap in the market: custom storage solutions for the garage. Established retailers weren’t set up to offer a high-quality product due to display, warehousing and delivery issues. So in 2005, Aaron and his partners created a company that offers a premium product with design and installation services. A finished garage has always been a “nice to have” on a homeowner’s wish list, but that changed to a “must have” during the pandemic. People are searching for a space that is as welcoming as the interior of the home and can offer many possible uses, including an organized, convenient storage space; a home gym; a place for 34
hobbies; additional pantry storage; a safe play area for kids; and an open-air entertainment room. The garage is the natural solution. Aaron believes that adding stylish, smart garage organization also makes living easier and ultimately better for homeowners. “The lifestyles of busy, active families are improved with garage organization,” he says. “Custom cabinetry and vertical wall storage include design elements such as countertops, sinks and backsplashes, with task and ambient layered lighting. Personal touches and color palettes allow the remodeled garage to reflect the personality of the homeowners.” In 2022 the garage will become a high-performance, high-value space. Homeowners can improve their lifestyle and boost their real estate value by finishing what is often the largest open space of a home—the garage. And it can all be done without the disruption of long renovations or costly additions. Resource: Garage Living Inc. Aaron Cash 136 Water Street Norwalk, CT 06854 203-945-0750 garageliving.com
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Everything old is new again William Lyon Photography by: Julia D’Agostino
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very year, the interior design industry is introduced to a new range of colors, furniture lines and textiles to incorporate into their most timely designs. But William Lyon, lead designer of his eponymous firm, thinks this year may be a bit different. Instead of predicting the new “it” piece of furniture, style or color, William believes there will be a huge influx in the use of custom and antique furniture, while also reusing and reimaging clients’ existing pieces.
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William’s design prediction for 2022 is directly reflective of the supply chain delays we’ve been experiencing recently. The idea of creating a piece of custom furniture is far more appealing than waiting months for a brand-name item. “Clients have asked for antiques before, as well as reupholstering a family heirloom, but never at this magnitude,” he says. The trend towards reimagining existing elements is also a way for clients to bring more creativity into their lives. Homeowners with a wide variety of tastes are craving the do-it-yourself or do-it-for-me (DIY/DIFM) feature of old furniture. The process of reusing exist-
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ing furniture to make something new gives homeowners a story to tell and a greater connection to the piece.
is to support their clients’ DIY/DIFM interests and to use his own sense of style to incorporate their looks into the overall concept.
Indeed, William has seen many of his clients pivot and become more interested in stepping outside the box with an antique, or purchasing a tired vintage piece with the intention of making it their own. With clients no longer interested in the cookie-cutter design of gray rooms, William believes this also is a great opportunity for designers to stretch their own creative muscles. The designer’s job, he notes,
Resource: William Lyon Designs William Lyon Stamfod, CT 203.489.5624 williamlyondesigns.com Design + Decor
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Communing with nature Edwina Hunt Photography by: Pompi
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urniture designer Edwina Hunt predicts that we will be living in more natural settings in 2022. Whether you live in the sunnier environs that allow for indoor/outdoor living, or in colder climes where new materials and technology will help bring the outside indoors, we’re all craving a closer connection with nature. And as we spend more and more time inside our homes, our need for natural elements will continue to grow. Designers are reacting by building airy homes with walls of glass that obscure the division between indoor and out, but Edwina has taken the opposite approach by bringing nature into the home. Edwina’s prediction for 2022 has also been her passion for the past several years. Two years ago, with her sister, Pimi, she created The Parchment Collection, a line of furniture with strong, clean shapes and rich textures. Each piece is unique and handmade by artisans skilled in traditional crafts. The Parchment Collection is inspired by Edwina’s love for raw material; she is enamoured by its unusual combination of organic and chic. Parchment has always been prized for its grain, unique markings and tonal variations, and Edwina wanted to highlight those natural elements for indoor furniture. She has taken natural parchment, applied it to a wood frame and lacquered it for protection and shine. The resulting, naturally beautiful ivory surface is also durable, warm and cozy. The textures are reminiscent of wood with more texture, depth and life. The material can be used for furniture, art pieces, screens and much more. Edwina’s clients are particularly fond of her Desk Pampa, which can be customized to any size. The piece marries the industrial look of steel with the natural elements of parchment. The sisters have recently added several pieces of art to the parchment collection: hand-carved Tree Screens by Pimi, and Circles on Paper (ink) by Edwina. Resource: Edwina Hunt LLC Edwina Hunt Millbrook, NY 917.837.0597 edwinahunt.com
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The home office is here to stay! Jeanne Collins Photograpy by: Jane Beiles
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“T
he home office is here to stay!” says Jeanne Collins of JerMar Designs, and its importance will continue into 2022. The pandemic has changed all aspects of our lives, including our professional workspace. And, while some people are returning to the office, many are not working there full-time. The remote work schedule is now routine, and so the home office remains essential. JerMar Designs takes a custom, boutique approach to all its projects, and that is especially true for an office, where there are many individualized needs to consider. The desk is the focal point of a home office, and its form and function have the power to increase the user’s productivity and success. This past year Jeanne started creating custom desk designs for her clients, and the demand for her services is growing. Every detail of a desk—including size, shape, finish, wood grain, drawers and add-on cabinets—can be customized to a homeowner’s needs. Fabrics, wallcovering and shelving are also key elements in creating a calming, serene space that not only encourages better work performance, but also helps the homeowner look polished and professional on Zoom calls. Indeed, videoconference meetings have brought about the need for a tidy desk and an interesting
background. Jeanne likes to use sculptural light fixtures to inject a creative edge into a space, while a chic desk lamp is both a decor accent and functional element. Great lighting is the number one factor needed to establish the ideal Zoom background and an environment for working many hours at a computer. Layers of cozy, inviting textures on the floor, window treatments and walls make for an inviting space that also contributes to a more flattering appearance for remote meetings. A good home office is not complete without plants. As we spend more time inside our homes, we have a greater need to be around nature. “The organic shapes of plants add a depth and softness to a room design,” explains Jeanne, “and have the added benefit of purifying the air—proving once again that both form and function are the keys to success in the home office.” Resource: Jeanne Collins JerMar Designs 163 Pocconock Trail New Canaan, CT 06840 203.253.0649 jermardesigns.com
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Size matters Robert Rackear
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obert Rackear of Sunshine Floor Supplies, a boutique retail store and flooring supply company, is very confident about his predictions for 2022. As a leading distributor and supplier of luxury flooring—which was founded in Fairfield County, CT, and expanded to South Florida to better service the Eastern Seaboard—Sunshine Floor Supplies has its finger on the pulse of the industry and its clientele. The bottom line? “Size matters in flooring!” exclaims Robert. “Width as well as length are and will remain important features of the visual that customers are looking for.” The current trend is a modern Scandinavian look of very wide and long pale-white oak boards. Their best products, he notes, offer 9½-inch widths and starter boards from 5 feet 10 inches going up to 8 feet 2 inches in length. And Robert believes this style will continue through 2022 and beyond. His prediction extends to the manufacturing of the wood as well. Robert sees the trend from solid to engineered hardwood, and from site finishing to prefinished flooring, as being the new standard, both for stability and durable, controllable finishes. This type of flooring affords customers the widest and longest boards, which will lie flat and stay stable throughout their lifetime. Customers can see exactly the color and texture of the finish, and feel immediate gratification once it’s installed. Luxury vinyl planks will continue to be used for the foreseeable future, especially for locales and climates where flooding is an issue. For base-
ments and subterranean living spaces, says Robert, there isn’t a better product in terms of looks and protection. Luxury vinyl planks are completely waterproof and can endure unexpected weather conditions. Not only does Sunshine Floor Supplies carry the finest in prefinished engineered, unfinished engineered and solid hardwood flooring, it also offers some unique ancient and reclaimed materials. These include special items like reclaimed floors made from the Coney Island Boardwalk, and pilings used to build the Holland Tunnel in New York City. Giant slabs of ancient white Bog Oak, dating from when Jesus Christ was alive and the pharaohs walked the earth, also set Sunshine apart from other retailers. Resource: Robert Rackear Sunshine Floor Supplies 1957 Main Street Bridgeport, CT 06604 203.324.4430 147 Selleck Street #6616 Stamford, CT 06902 203.496.5941 shwfloors.com
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ARCHITECTURE
Architecture by: Cardello Architects
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Architecture: Peter Cadoux Architects
OUTSIDE CONNECTIONS How top architects use the natural environment to create extraordinary homes. Story by Kathleen Syron
Architecture: Taylor-Viazzo Architects
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s homeowners are spending more time indoors, they are looking for imaginative ways to add more nature-inspired elements to their residences. We asked leading local architects how they integrate homes into their surroundings and choose materials that bring warmth and character to a space. D+D: How do you approach design features that mesh with the geography and ecology of the site? Peter Cadoux Peter Cadoux Architects Well-designed custom architecture needs to be both informed and sculpted by local surroundings, and thereby improve them. Properly merging a building into the natural environs formed by its location fosters a pleasing and dynamic human link between the home and the site. As people spend more time at home with family and friends, the desire to establish strong connections with the natural environment is an important factor in how we enjoy our home and property. Addressing site conditions in design is paramount, as no two properties are alike.
toward the future. The firm avoids stylistic trends; each house is a creative and thoughtful response to the site and his client’s dreams and goals. I’m always seeking to provide a fresh interpretation of his client’s aspirations. Most importantly, my firm and I inherently understand that listening is an architect’s greatest strength. West Chin West Chin Architects & Interior Designers For our Beach House on Long Island project, the southern-facing roof is angled towards the sea to protect the house from the harsh southern rays, while also incorporating one of the most unique elements of the home: a 26-foot-wide airport glass hangar door. This door allows the design and experience to flow from inside to out, undisrupted. When the hangar door is open, the main living room is open, unobstructed to the Atlantic Ocean.
This fundamental design concept is just one of the ways Peter Cadoux Architects provides a comprehensive design experience for our discerning clients.
Robert A. Cardello Robert A. Cardello Architects Natural materials are paramount in the landscape and hardscape of a project. We choose a direction of a natural landscape that will grow and change over time, rather than a highly manicured/ structured one that requires upkeep. The success of a project is measured by how well the architecture blends with the environment it sits in. The use of terraces, planters, outdoor living spaces, etc., is a huge part of this.
As a full-service boutique firm, Peter Cadoux Architects merges design integrity with present-day practicality while keeping an eye
This house in Rowayton, CT, was developed on a unique property in that it’s a thin sliver of land. It sits on a high piece of ground,
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Architecture: Michael Smith Architects
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Architecture: Studio Dumitru
meaning that the finished walkout basement does not encroach on the minimum flood hazard zone. The project itself was strongly influenced by the fact that it is directly on the water. We were able to successfully develop a plan that created a very linear house, offering the client direct access to the entirety of the property ’s assets. The views to the east and southeast are very pleasant from all floors of the house. The rock outcroppings enabled us to nestle the house into these ledges and let them bleed into the base of the house to allow a strong visual footing from the water side. We were able to incorporate some amazing outdoor living spaces directly off the basement and first-floor levels. As part of the approval process, both FEMA and local regulations required us to work with indigenous plantings and screening, which we were careful to develop. Ultimately, the client was able to seek approval for the dock, which gives them direct access to the waterfront community. Michael Smith Michael Smith Architects For us this means taking what the site gives you, so to speak. This may mean using the stone excavated from the site for the house walls—or other natural site features. It could also mean taking an inventory of the existing specimen trees and plantings and work-
ing around them, or reusing them in the final design and siting the house to engage with the land and topography and not fight it. D+D: The market offers a variety of styles and colors in all construction materials, making it difficult to choose a single option. How do you create a multitude of shapes—and what materials do you use? Please give us some suggestions on how to properly combine different materials, such as wood and tile flooring. Laura Casale Laura Casale Architect Too many options out there are confusing people. As an architect, I always start with the performance quality for each material, as that immediately narrows down choices. Education is an important part of my career, whether it be in my communication with clients on building their dream home, or classes I’ve taught at New York Institute of Technology and Parsons School of Design. To break down the materials in a project, it is helpful to organize by category, for example: roofing materials, siding material, window material. Within that, there may be multiple materials. Performance is one of the first characteristics of a material to conDesign + Decor
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Architecture: Laura Casale Architect
sider. One might be tempted to overlook it, but it can make or break a project. There’s a reason why you don’t see cedar roofs in Charleston: the humidity would not allow for it. It is critical to understand each material’s performance and how they interact with one another. All my projects have quality builders to ensure proper installation and integration of materials. Once the materials are selected based on performance, the architectural style of the home should be considered. A center hall colonial will have clapboard and a cedar shake roof; a Tudor home would combine brick, stone, timber, slate; a more modern structure might have a clean polished stucco and planking. Laura Casale Architect works in all these styles, but we are best known for our historic renovations. The renovation pictured here illustrates the importance of material in architecture. To the right of the front door is the original brick, which is 96 years older than the brick on the left. We meticulously sourced the brick from the original manufacturer and had the mortar custom dyed. The result is a renovation that seamlessly integrates the new and the old. D+D: There is a lot of buzz about the “curvy custom home.” What does this mean to you in your design? Laura Casale: Who doesn’t adore an oval room! The curvy home is something I think we all naturally crave, and although it may be trendy, it also has historic references. For my recent vignette at “Rooms with a View,” I created a space called the “New Art Nouveau Boudoir,” which was inspired by turn-of-the-century design icons like William Morris and Victor Horta. It was a joy to create custom architectural details that inspire and bring depth to a room. Details matter, and nothing transforms a space 50
Architecture: Laura Casale Architect
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Architecture: West Chin Architects + Interiors Designers
like intricate, curvaceous architectural elements. This is what brings depth and warmth into a home and creates that inviting, custom experience. D+D: How do you approach design features that mesh with the geography and ecology of the site? Laura Casale: Nature inspires my design, and I like to bring the outside in. In our architectural plans, we establish the views to the exterior and utilize those vistas to make the house feel larger.
Architecture: West Chin Architects + Interiors Designers
Beyond designing to maximize views, I like to 52
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Architecture: Peter Cadoux Architects
create an integrative experience that encourages indoor/outdoor living. For example, I love to design kitchens with a surrounding patio and adjacent herb garden. This is something I have in my own home, and it brings me immeasurable joy. There is something so fantastic about picking live herbs from your own garden; I even do it in January! It is so much more rewarding than spending money on dead herbs from the supermarket. D+D: How many functions should be considered for a multifunctional room? Laura Casale: I am a big believer that all rooms should be multi-
functional, and I will assign two to three functions to each room, depending on the client’s lifestyle. It is especially important that rooms that are not used often be designed for multiple functions. A guest bedroom, for example, should not only be used for the handful of times that one has guests. I prefer to use that valuable real estate to elevate living year-round. A guest room also makes for a cozy den where you can watch TV. I will design space for a sofa to accommodate that function. There are so many other guest room possibilities as well, including an art studio and an office space. It is important to think about these functions when designing the home. I am a firm believer that you should not have dead space in your house. Design + Decor
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Architecture: Studio Dumitru
The dining room is another space that lends itself to multifunction, especially if you don’t use it for everyday dining. So many of us use the dining room as a workspace, whether it be for afterschool homework or Zoom meetings. With that in mind, I design dining rooms with ample storage that hides everything. Beautiful built-ins in the dining room can subtly house office clutter, so it’s easy to keep the space looking beautiful and ready for entertaining dinner guest. D+D: The market offers a variety of styles and colors in all construction materials, making it difficult to choose a single option. How do you create a multitude of shapes—and what materials do you use? Please give us some suggestions on how to properly combine different materials, such as wood and tile flooring. George Dumitru Studio Dumitru As we all know, in the past few years we have witnessed an explosion of new products in the construction industry: new materials, new colors and, most interesting, variations of old ones. Manufacturers have been busy trying to capture the markets. Some have been successful, some have not. This infusion of new products has made ever so more important 54
the presence of a professional. Clients need someone with knowledge to navigate the sea of products, a lot of which are not up to the quality required for the industry. Most of them look very good on paper, but not so good in real life. This says a lot about the power of social media, which bombards us with a new product every day. We try in our office to be at the forefront of the subject, however, without falling prey to trends. That also comes down to implementation. Some of these new products function great in conjunction with others, but not so great with all of them. Combining them and finding the proper harmony comes down to the design professional and his aptitude to do so. In the end, the design has to pass both the test of time and, most important, the test of elegance. Resources Peter Cadoux Architects Peter Cadoux 35 Post Road West Westport, CT 203.227.4304 cadouxaia.com
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Architecture: Robert A. Cardello Architects
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Architecture: Peter Cadoux Architects
Architecture: Michael Smith Architects
Robert A. Cardello Architects Company Robert Cardello 60 Post Road West Westport, CT 06880 203.853.2524 cardelloarchitects.com
Studio Dumitru George Dumitru 25 Sylvan Road South, Suite 1 Westport, CT 06880 203.226.5156 studiodumitru.com
Laura Casale Laura Casale Architect 84 Bridge Road Manhasset, NY 11030 516.365.5896 lauracasalearchitect.com
Michael Smith Architects Michael Smith 41 North Main Street, Unit 101 Norwalk, CT 06854 203.563.0553 michaelsmitharchitects.com
West Chin Architects & Interior Designers West Chin 137 5th Avenue Penthouse NY NY 10010 212-242-4945 wcarchitect.com Design + Decor
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BUILDING
Builder: Hobbs, Inc. Architect: Brooks and Falotico Photographer: Jane Beiles
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From Simple Tools to Complex Computer Technology The building industry has continued to modernize and improve in remarkable ways. Story by Kathleen Syron
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Davenport Contracting
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t is fair to say: the residential construction industry had a challenging but positive year in 2021. Despite the pandemic creating material and labor shortages and exacerbating existing issues such as permitting, spending for new build construction grew 25% from 2020 to 2021. And 2022 looks to be just as promising with, it is hoped, fewer challenges due to the continued innovation of professional tools. Building companies are no longer just your work crew—they are designing their own builds, managing the supply chain, organizing human and machinery schedules, and sometimes financing the project for the homeowner. Their increased scope of work has made their job more complex, which has led to a marked increase in the use of design and
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management software, computer technology, and material and tool invention and improvement. Design Software A major innovation in the building industry was the adaption of computer-aided design (CAD) software. This allows architects and designers to draft precise blueprints at a fraction of the time it would take to hand draw the same plans. The communication lines between the designer and builder have become clearer, and fewer mistakes are made. CAD has been growing exponentially ever since, and designers and fabricators are using any number of CAD-based software to provide state-of-the-art designs and construction.
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Builder: Hobbs, Inc. Architect: Brooks and Falotico Photographer: Jane Beiles
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A major concern of builders is the schedule. Staying on track and on time can be a challenge if there is a delay in material selection from the homeowner. Today, 3D renderings and photorealistic pictures give the client a better idea of how a space will look. Homeowners are making more confident decisions more quickly, and are happier with the result. When design decisions are made faster, the project stays on schedule. The use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) software provides space for better collaboration among everyone involved in the design process. Each person and area expert can add his or her piece to the same model, enabling the model to evolve immediately as people contribute, streamlining the process and increasing efficiency. BIM also helps with problem solving in the design and planning stages of a project by automating clash detection and providing a more complete picture of the project. Emerging trends that will have a direct impact on the industry include artificial intelligence development in BIM, increased demand for BIM-based cloud collaboration, and modular construction and prefabrication.
Builder: Hobbs, Inc. Architect: Ryan Salvatore Design Photographer: Scott Frances
Material Choices Wood has become both a prized commodity and a faulty one. Lumber prices reached historic highs from COVIDrelated shortages, and yet still did not meet the standards for some high-end custom homes, which are becoming more complex and require a stronger building product. Builders such as Brian MacDonald, president of Davenport Construction, have responded by using more engineered lumber. “It is straighter and truer than wood, and it is a more Design + Decor
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structurally sound product,” Brian explains. Builders can rely on the strength of engineered lumber, making them more confident in their new builds. Impressive Tools As the designs for high-end custom homes become more complex, builders have had to either develop new tools or improve on old ones. “Since the beginning of time, inventions in the building industry have made the once impossible a reality, and improved speed and efficiency,” says Scott Hobbs of Hobbs Inc. For many builders, the advent of the Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machine has drastically changed certain vendors’ products. A CNC machine uses a computer program to control the operation of machine tools, such as lathes and mills. It takes a raw material (metal, plastic, stone, wood, etc.) and cuts, grinds, drills, turns, mills and/or shapes it into parts that meet exact specifications. This makes cabinetry, countertops and architectural elements faster to produce and more accurately fabricated. While some worry that the automated end product will not have the look and feel of a handmade piece, cabinetmakers and builders have been impressed with the ability of CNC machines to imitate a craftsman—or at least get close enough so a human artist can finish the product.
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The HVAC industry has also been able to take full advantage of the CNC machines. Once the layout of a house is uploaded to the software, the computer can configure the best way to lay the ductwork grid and how much material is needed. Next it can be programmed to cut the exact pieces of metal and construct the ducts. Then the ductwork can be created offsite with exact measurements. Smaller but just as critical inventions are battery-operated tools and advancements on old standards, which have improved timing and efficiency. Sal Inguanti of P&I Custom Builders offers an apt example: “ The new press fittings for copper pipes have made soldering all but obsolete.” Technological Advances “Modern technology in design, machines and tools has allowed builders to achieve higher levels of quality faster and less expensively than in the past,” says Scott Hobbs. “It also lets us do some things that were virtually impossible not too long ago.” The building industry is also being helped by technical advancements in project management software. Comprehensive construction management software is a vital tool for remaining competitive, building a valuable business and mastering operational efficiency. It helps builders analyze all necessary tasks and estimate the amount of time and money required to complete each task in the project. It can also be used in ordering, scheduling, automating changes and
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Courtesy of California Closets
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manipulating schedules as needed. This alerts builders to potential problems and allows them to react quickly and make changes. While each software service differs slightly in features, the best ones tackle end-to-end needs, including requests for information, data compilation, sharing of files with mobile teams, budgeting, document storage, payroll, human resources and inventory monitoring. Email, texts and Zoom have also proven to be timesaving components of the building process, while also keeping large groups of people on the same page. Resources Davenport Contracting Brian MacDonald 78 Harvard Avenue Unit 230 Stamford CT 06902 203.324.6308 davenportcontracting.com Hobbs, Inc. Scott Hobbs 27 Grove Street New Canaan, CT 06840 203.966.0726 hobbsinc.com P&I Custom Builders Sal Inguanti 209 North Street Rye, NY 10580 914.967.0413 pnicb.com
Builder: Hobbs, Inc. Architect: John B. Murray Architect Photographer: Francesco Lagnese
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LANDSCAPES
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Louis Fusco Landscape Architects
PROTECTING MOTHER EARTH How the experts are implementing environmentally beneficial landscape design techniques. Story by Kathleen Syron
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Wesley Stout Landscape Architects
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Seventy Acres
L
andscape architects have always tried to find the balance between science and aesthetics. It is important for them to create a space that not only looks beautiful, but also serves the greater good of the environment. As the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) vision states, landscape architects strive to create “healthy, beautiful and resilient places for all.” Recently, science has shown that climate change is a threat to people and the ecosystem services on which we depend. Extreme weather events such as flooding, drought and wildfires have become more frequent and more severe. These early effects are harbingers of more severe consequences, such as water shortages and the extinction of pollinators, which science says we can expect in the future if we do not act. Landscape architects are implementing a range of strategies to help communities adapt to a changing climate.
Natural Gardens According to Louis Fusco of Fusco Landscaping Design in Pound Ridge, NY, the best thing he can do to promote sustainability and have a positive impact on the environment is to plant more natural gardens. “The idea is to get people to really take a look at how they use their outdoor space and plan accordingly,” he says. “Not everyone needs a rolling green lawn.” A natural garden is one where only indigenous materials are used. Over thousands of years, native plants have created symbiotic relationships with one another so they can survive. Educating the homeowner about what is good for the environment and their surroundings also includes understanding the harm of invasive non-native species. Invasive species are foreign plants whose introduction into a region is not natural and therefore disruptive to the ecosystem, causing harm to the insect population and native plant life. This concept can be a challenge for Design + Decor
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Rosalia Sanni Landscape Design
some landscape designers, as homeowners may insist on certain non-native plants or flowers. “In terms of grasses, native plants grow roots three to four feet down to capture more than just the surface water. Foreign grass roots go down only about two to three inches, requiring much more water and maintenance,” explains Elisa Miret-Pollino, project designer at Wesley Stout Associates in Wilton, CT. Elisa chooses native grasses such as little bluestem and Panicum switch grass as ground cover instead of non-native Kentucky bluegrass or Bermuda grass (typical lawn grass). Conserving Water In 2003, former United Nations General-Secretary Boutros Boutros-Ghali stated, “Water will be more important than oil this century.” No doubt, we are well on our way to the realization of his prophecy. Water issues dominant landscape designs both 72
in terms of supply and mitigation. Residential landscapes can be created to both conserve water in times of water scarcity, and to reduce flooding during storms by using green infrastructure approaches, such as rain gardens, rainwater harvesting, water recycling and drip irrigation to better manage water. Homeowners waste water by irrigating their lawns with supply that should be reserved for human consumption. A better alternative is to collect stormwater to use in your garden and prevent stormwater flooding. Even city dwellers can ease the pressure off older sewer systems by planting more (even in pots) and collecting rainwater. We can all do our part: A residential-size rain barrel collecting 50 gallons of water may be a drop in the bucket (pun intended!) when discussing water collection, but “if everyone in the community has a rain barrel, that makes a big difference,” according to Nancy King, co-owner of Seventy Acres Landscape Architecture & Design in Sandy Hook, CT.
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Bee Pollination While many factors are causing species dislocation and accelerating the rate of extinction in the bee population, invasive nonnative plants and climate change are the most obvious. Landscape architects play a crucial role in creating wildlife habitats for a range of birds, insects and herbivores. Bees, in particular, depend on wildlife for survival, and wildlife in turn needs bees for propagation. Put bluntly, “You can’t have a garden without bees,” says Rosalia Sanni of Rosalia Sanni Designs in Greenwich, CT, a big proponent of pollinators. Rosalia spends time educating her clients on the necessity of pollinator-friendly gardens. Even for those who are averse or allergic to bees, there are ways to strategically locate plantings so bees can avoid human contact.
Louis Fusco Landscape Architects
It is essential to have blooming native plants in the late summer/early fall, when bees are most active. Warmer temperatures have accelerated the blooming season, so bees miss out on key propagating time. Non-native plants that may be in bloom are of no use to local bees. On the plus side, climate change has also naturalized some non-native plants that are useful for a pollinatorfriendly garden. Oak leaf hydrangea is a naturalized plant from the Southeastern U.S., and Nepeta (catnip) has been widely naturalized across North America from Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. These plants will help sustain the bee population. Variety in Design + Decor
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plantings is also very important: since no one can accurately predict what plants will do year after year, having a variety assures the grower that something will always be in bloom. This year lilacs that bloom early stayed on the stem longer, so the bees had access to a native plant not usually in bloom when they are active. Ongoing Education The ASLA’s mission is to advance landscape architecture through advocacy, communication, education and fellowship. Landscape professionals are committed to lifelong learning and are required to further their education through ASLA. This keeps professionals up to date on the latest issues and solutions. The ASLA also offers courses, workshops and resources to individuals and communities that educate the public on initiatives they can take to benefit the environment. Resources Seventy Acres Nancy King 27 Glen Road Suite 303 Sandy Hook, CT 06482 203.491.2405 seventyacres.com
Rosalia Sanni Landscape Design
Rosalia Sanni Landscape Design Rosalia Sanni 45 East Putnam Avenue Suite 105 Greenwich, CT 06830 203-918-4619 rosaliasanni.com Wesley Stout Associates Elisa Miret-Pollino 96 Main Street New Canaan, CT 06840 203.966.3100 wesleystout.com Louis Fusco Landscape Architects Elisa Miret-Pollino 26 Woodland Road P.O. Box 362 Pound Ridge, NY 10576 louisfusco.com 914-764-9123
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