MICHELLE HOGUE

Hogue Interior Design

As both the general contractor and interior designer, Michelle Hogue wanted to build a spec home in Westport, CT, that would be unlike any the community had seen before. With the completion of the Halper Home, she did just that. To collaborate on the project, she sought out architect Jon Halper, AIA, and landscape architect Cheryl Russ, bringing every necessary expertise together.

Built in 2018, the Halper Home is the epitome of Michelle’s trademark design approach: designing, curating, and delivering fully finished and furnished, ready-to-live-in spaces—right down to the dishes. It is an inspired experience of thoughtfully curated moments and high-end aesthetics that fully embraces the concept of indoor-outdoor living.

From the moment you walk onto the property, the experience is immersive. You are greeted by a manicured front yard, complete with Adirondack chairs and a tire swing in the tree. The beige and wood tones of the home are bright and contrasting against the landscape. The home itself is thoughtful and articulate, and the interior is open and flowing, almost drawing you into the backyard, where the real magic begins.

The outdoor fire pit living-lounge is right next to the indoor living room, while an outdoor dining space is accessible via large glass doors from the indoor kitchen and dining area. These visual connections make transitioning to and from the indoor/outdoor space a natural evolution of movement, encouraging the use of the outdoor space. The black fence that spans the perimeter of the yard creates a stunning contrast and seems to almost frame the area as if it were artwork.

As beautiful as the space is, it didn’t come without its challenges. The property itself is on the smaller side, and every inch is well used. When it came to ground-cover material, it was critical that the design team selected materials that would allow for rainwater to permeate through—meaning standard stone and concrete options were not in the mix. The team opted to use peastone to ground the outdoor spaces. This created a beautiful contrast with the grass and allowed them to plant trees around the dining table, directly in the peastone, and to hang lights that cascade above like an invisible pergola at night. Using planters rather than overdone plantings throughout the property meant a more cost-effective approach to varying color throughout the year.

As Michelle eloquently points out, home is meant for engaging and experiencing the world with your loved ones. Something as simple as planters or raised garden beds can be an opportunity to share an experience together, such as teaching young ones to sow the seeds of tomorrow and appreciate what is right in their own backyard.

Hogue Interior Design

Michelle Hogue

Westport, CT 434.987.6595 hogueid.com