athome Magazine, Mar/Apr 2019

GARDEN ISSUE h au t e s t u f f

LIGHT HOUSE

field trip

GARDEN TOUR

goods

TERRACOTTA fa s h i o n h o u s e

ISLAND ESCAPE l a s t wo r d

YARD TO TABLE

+ classic cool

DARIEN STYLE $5.95 MAR/APR 2019

athomefc. com

203.489.3800 y

hiltonarchitects.com

ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS

ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS

amyhirsch.com

AMY AIDINIS HIRSCH INTERIOR DESIGN

203 661 1266

s

MORGAN HARRISON HOME DESIGN & ARCHITECTURAL INTERIORS New Canaan, Connecticut 203.594.7875 morganharrisonhome.com

contents MAR/APR 2019 vol. 14 | issue 2

features

departments

37

10 EDITOR’S NOTE

LANDSCAPE LOVE Three design firms offer garden variety with gorgeous results.

44

12 GET THE GOODS Color trend: Terracotta Tones; Best Buds; Grow Pro

GRACE LAND Traditional design gives way to contemporary in this elegant New Canaan property.

62

CLASSIC COOL Well-edited spaces and specifically chosen details elevate a Darien home.

18 FASHION HOUSE Island Escape 20 HAUTE STUFF Light House

76

24 SHOP TALK Local design news, the latest collections, haute happenings and more

PERSONAL APPROACH A bold garden design offers surprises at every turn.

32 STYLE FILES Catching up with artist Frances Palmer

76

88 LAST WORD A pro shares advice for homegrown success

in te rv i ews b y l au re n fet ter man

ATHOME IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY MAR/APR 2019, VOL. 14, NO. 2. ATHOME IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY (ISSN 1941-9503) is published six times annually (Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sep/Oct, Nov/Dec) by Moffly Media, Inc., 205 Main St, Westport, CT 06880. Periodical postage paid at Westport, CT, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes (Form 3579) to ATHOME IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY, PO BOX 9309, Big Sandy, TX 75755-9607. US subscription rates: $19.95/1 year, $29.95/2 years; Canada and foreign US$40/1 year, US$60/2 years.

on the c ove r d oyle h erm a n desig n asso ciates | ph ot o gr a ph y nei l l a ndi no athomefc.com

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WOWHAUS

Interior design and decoration

Inte ri o r, S cen e 3 , M u d r o o m : L ig h t m y fire

wowhaus . com N o 9 1 7 .3 0 1 .2 6 3 7

vol. 14 | no. 2 | mar/apr 2019 creative/editorial director

Amy Vischio

editorial

sales

senior editor

sales management moffly media

Lauren Fetterman market editor

Megan Gagnon advisory editor

Donna Moffly contributing editors editor, stamford

Camilla A. Herrera editor, new canaan - darien

publisher, greenwich

Trish Kirsch publisher, new canaan - darien

Lisa Phillips Hingst categories: automotive/builders/ landscape/sports & fitness publisher, stamford

Karen Kelly category: travel

Julee Kaplan

publisher, westport

executive editor, greenwich

categories: architects/interior design/ home furnishing/art & collectibles

Cristin Marandino

Gabriella Mays

editor, fairfield living; westport

Diane Sembrot art art director

Garvin Burke production director

Kerri Rak design assistant

Taylor Stroili digital media manager

Amber Scinto

sales directors

Jennifer Petersen category: jewelry

Monique de Boer categories: fashion and beauty

Stephanie Delaney regional account executive, southeast category: regional travel

Jennifer Frank categories: doctors/dentists/finance/ insurance/business consulting

digital editor

Rick Johnson

Diane Sembrot

categories: real estate/lawyers

business

categories: restaurants/wine & spirits/ catering

Ellyn Weitzman president

Jonathan W. Moffly vice president/editorial & design

Amy Vischio business manager

Elena Moffly cofounders

John W. Moffly IV & Donna C. Moffly

Hilary Hotchkiss category: schools & universities

marketing executive director, event marketing

Laurinda Finelli director, event marketing

Caroline C. Steber partnership manager

Kathleen Godbold strategic marketing director

Wendy Horwitz creative services art director

Molly Cottingham

TO SUBSCRIBE, renew, or change your address, please e-mail us at subscribe@athomefc.com, call 1-877467-1735, or write to athome in Fairfield County Magazine, 111 Corporate Drive, Big Sandy, TX 75755. U.S. subscription rates: $19.95/1 year (6 issues); $34.95/2 years (12 issues); $44.95/3 years (18 issues). Canada and foreign, US $36/year. Prices are subject to change without notice. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without express permission of the publisher. ©2018 athome in Fairfield County Magazine is a registered trademark owned by Moffly Media. The opinions expressed by writers commissioned for articles published by athome in Fairfield County are not necessarily those of the magazine.

FOR QUALITY CUSTOM REPRINTS/E-PRINTS, please call 203-571-1645 or e-mail reprints@mofflymedia.com PUBLISHERS OF GREENWICH, FAIRFIELD LIVING, NEW CANAAN • DARIEN • ROWAYTON, WESTPORT, STAMFORD and athome magazines, 205 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880. Phone: 203-222-0600; email: mail@moffly.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Lemuel Bandala: call 203-571-1610 or email advertise@moffly.com

athomefc.com

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M

ake your summertime dreams a reality.

We believe that great properties can transform an experience – creating new summer memories. And memories for every season. That’s why we have been serving the families of Fairfield and Westchester counties for over four generations.

To find out what we can do for you, visit GlengateCompany.com or call 203.762.2000.

L A N D S C A PE A R C H I T E C T UR E & C ONSTRUCTION G A R D E N D E S I G N & I N S TAL L ATION P O O L D E S IGN, BU I L D , & R E N OVATION C O M P R E HE NS IV E P O O L & P R OP ERTY CARE

WI LTON, CONNECTICU T

editor’s note

advertisers index BUILDING & HOME IMPROVEMENT Austin Patterson Disston Architects apdarchitects.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Cornerstone Contracting cornerstone-builders.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Deane, Inc. deaneinc.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover 4 Garrett Wilson Builders garrettwilsonbuilders.com . . . . . . . . . Cover 3 Gault Family Companies gaultstone.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Me and Lauren Fetterman at last year’s A-List Awards

Glen Gate glengatecompany.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

SNEAK PEEK

Hilton Architecture & Interiors hiltonarchitects.com . . . . . . . . . . . Cover 2, 1 Hobbs, Inc. hobbsinc.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

T

here are a lot of benefits to working on a magazine (showcasing amazing projects and products definitely tops the list), but one pro that’s often overlooked? Working in advance. That means that when we’re all trying to get through the seemingly endless days of winter, it’s already springtime in our office—planning our annual garden issue ahead of time means we’re poring over lush, green landscape projects while snow is still on the ground. That promise of a new season means garden inspiration is at an all-time high, and we hope you feel as excited as we do to plan your outdoor space. ¶ To celebrate the beauty that spring has in store, we offer plenty of outdoor ideas in our special compendium, where we’ve highlighted stunning gardens by three landscape design firms (“Landscape Love” on page 37). Next we walk through a beautiful New Canaan property, where Doyle Herman Design Associates seamlessly blended traditional and contemporary elements for a sophisticated landscape that perfectly complements the clients’ new build (“Grace Land” on page 44). Then we step inside a Darien home redecorated by Lynne Scalo, who created a vibe of understated elegance with each specifically chosen detail (“Classic Cool” on page 62). And finally, we take a tour through landscape designer Robin Kramer’s own garden, where she balanced scale and proportion for beautiful results (“Personal Approach” on page 76). ¶ While you’re dreaming up your next outdoor project, it’s also time to get ready for the 10th annual A-List Awards!

You have until May 6 to enter your best interior design, landscape and architecture projects at athomefc.com. The A-List is your chance to build your brand and celebrate our local design community, so don’t delay—enter now!

Neil Hauck Architects neilhauckarchitects.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Remodeling Consultants remodeling-consultants.com . . . . . . . . . . 27 Robert A. Cardello Architecture + Design cardelloarchitects.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

DECORATING & HOME FURNISHINGS Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design amyhirsch.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 3 Lillian August lillianaugust.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Morgan Harrison Home morganharrisonhome.com . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 5 Schwartz Design Showroom schwartzdesignshowroom.com . . . . . . . . . 19 Serena & Lily serenaandlily.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Wakefield Design Center wakefielddesigncenter.com . . . . . . . . . . . 25 WOWHAUS wowhaus.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 21

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACEK DOLATA

EVENTS A-list Awards athomefc.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34, 35

AMY VISCHIO Creative/Editorial Director amy.vischio@moffly.com

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LANDSCAPING, NURSERY + FLORIST Doyle Herman Design Associates dhda.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Homefront Farmers homefrontfarmers.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Susan Cohen Landscape Architect susancohenlandscapes.com . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Come visit our new Westport showroom for an interactive stone experience

WESTPORT SHOWROOM

203.227.5181

BETHEL SHOWROOM

203.790.9023 Exceptional Products, Personal Service

gaultstone.com

goods/COLOR by megan gagnon

DIG IN TO TERRACOTTA TONES

1

CLÉ Antique terracotta provincial red 6” hex; $33.16 per sq. ft. cletile.com

BLOCK SHOP Grain runner; $70. blockshoptextiles.com

4

HELLA JONGERIUS Maharam Merger rug in Brick; starting at $2,195. Design Within Reach, Stamford, Westport; dwr.com

5

2 REJUVENATION Barter planter bowls; starting at $29. rejuvenation.com

for me, terr ac ot ta unearths the essence of red, or ange and brown in one perfect h ue. it provides that intangible blend only nature c ould provide. it fills all the voids.

3

—mari ann maher, the antique and artisan gallery

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FARROW & BALL Red Earth, No. 64; $100 per gallon.

Greenwich; us.farrow-ball.com

7 athomefc.com

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ATRA Milan leather sofa; price upon request. deringhall.com

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS; PAINT BRUSH ©RUKANOGA - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

ROOMS Terracotta console; price upon request. futureperfect.com

35 elm street westport serenaandlily.com

goods/BEST BUDS BLOCK-PRINTED PATTERNS MAKE FLORALS FEEL FRESH

2 1 the ast oria print is one of our favorite pat terns. the design was inspired by an au thentic wo od bl o ck we found while tr aveling in jaipur.

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4

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1 MATOUK Joplin quilt; $525.

Maggie’s of Madison; maggiesof madison.com

6 2 CAITLIN WILSON DESIGN Block print wallpaper in peach blush; $112.50 for double roll. caitlinwilson.com

3 CABANA

4 JOHN ROBSHAW

Hand-painted glass; $120. modaoperandi.com

Cocktail napkins; $50 for set of four.

Kirby and Company, Darien; kirbyand company.com

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7 5 PETER DUNHAM TEXTILES Rajmata tonal pillow in Mist/Indigo; $175. hollywoodat home.com

6 PAMELA MUNSON

7 SERENA & LILY

The Beatrix; $398.

Neiman Marcus, The Westchester; neimanmarcus.com

Astoria crib sheet; $48. Westport; serenaandlily.com

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

—kirsty williams, chief creative officer, serena & lily

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE

LILLIAN

A N U N PA R A LLE LE D S E LEC TI O N O F C U R ATE D D E S I G N R E SO U RC E S .

N O R WA L K D E S I G N C E N T E R

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G R E E N W I C H AT E L I E R

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S TA M F O R D WA R E H O U S E S H O P

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T R A D E W E LC O M E

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L I L L I A N AU G U S T. C O M

goods /GROW PRO

TACKLE THE DIRTY WORK WITH STYLISH GARDENING TOOLS

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1 WILLIAMS SONOMA Sophie Conran garden apron; $29.95.

Westport; williamssonoma.com

2 MODERN SPROUT Brass mister; $30. food52.com

3 THE FLORAL SOCIETY Floral clippers; $58. thefloralsociety.com

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2

4 HAWS Professional watering can; $168.

Terrain, Westport; shopterrain.com

5 GARDEN GLORY Claw wall-mounted hose rack in brass; $199. gardenglory.com

i am obsessed with sussex trugs, a tr aditional english wo oden basket with a handle that’s not only beau tiful, bu t perfect for gathering every thing from weeds t o vegetables. —jane green, author

6 JAYSON HOME

4

5

7 FRONTGATE Premium garden hose; starting at $69.97. frontgate.com

8 THE FLORAL SOCIETY Canvas gardening wall organizer; $148.

Anthropologie, Westport; anthropologie.com

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9 CRATE & BARREL Plant markers; $19.95 for set of six. Westport; crateandbarrel.com

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9 athomefc.com

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ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

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Leather clippers; starting at $98. jaysonhome.com

fashion house/ ISLAND ESCAPE by megan gagnon

ROOMS THAT START ON THE RUNWAY

1 5

2

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room: de Gournay hand painted ‘Amazonia’ Chinoiserie wallpaper created with Edgardo Osorio of Aquazzura model: Temperley London/ Spring ’19

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4 1 OSCAR DE LA RENTA Raffia and leather mini tro bag; $1,990. oscardelarenta.com

2 BRADBURN HOME

3 TERRAIN

4 PAULE MARROT

5 MADE GOODS

Vista rose lamp; $722.50. bradburnhome.com

Fanning floral napkin; $16.

Westport; shopterrain.com

Pied-à-terre sofa; starting at $2,598.

Anthropologie, Westport; anthropologie.com

Savannah mirror; $1,100. CD Interiors, New Canaan; cdnewcanaan.com

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6 CURREY & COMPANY Palm table lamp; $2,190. Lillian August, Greenwich, Norwalk; lillianaugust.com

7 SCHUMACHER 175941 Thicket in Bright Bloom; to the trade. fschumacher.com

ROOM; MARIAM MEDVEDEVA. ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

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Now partnering with Verellen Sparking innovation and igniting the senses with a carefully curated showroom. schwartzdesignshowroom.com | to-the-trade only STAMFORD, CT METUCHEN, NJ

haute stuff / LIGHT HOUSE by megan gagnon

EXCEPTIONALLY BRIGHT IDEAS FROM SCHWARTZ DESIGN SHOWROOM

1

BLUEPRINT LIGHTING Spore chandelier; to the trade

2

3

VERMONT MODERN Stretch pendant; to the trade

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5

MADE GOODS

DANA CREATH

Breck table lamp; to the trade

Industrial globe chandelier; to the trade

IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

VISUAL COMFORT Avant large curved sconce in antiqueburnished brass by Kelly Wearstler; to the trade

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Inte rio r, S cen e 4, Liv in g: I d id n ’t th in k s h e would go

WOWHAUS Inter ior design and decor ation

wowhaus.c om N o 9 1 7 .3 0 1 .2 6 3 7

haute stuff

RO SHAM BEAUX

ARTERIORS

HUDSON VALLEY

J-Dub pendant; to the trade

Rimini pendant; to the trade

Cyrus table lamp; to the trade

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7

8

HUBBARDTON FORGE

9 PALECEK

Griffin pendant; to the trade

Josephine quattro floor lamp; to the trade

All items sourced through Schwartz Design Showroom, Stamford, 203-817-0433; schwartzdesignshowroom.com

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shoptalk above left: ABC’s new showroom has revolutionized the way clients view and select natural stone products. above right: Examples of how Concreo by Conclad can be used to stunning effect at home.

SOLID GROUND

ABC STONE’S NEW INNOVATIVE SHOWROOM OFFERS A WINNING EXPERIENCE

A

BC Stone recently launched The Experience Center in the heart of New York City’s Flatiron District. The state-ofthe-art showroom was designed

by STONEFOX Architects and brings together digital and analog forces to inspire innovative design on every scale. That innovation has earned the showroom recognition as the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s Innovative Retail Showroom (medium-sized) of the year. The awards celebrate showrooms that are providing great engagement, educating customers and creating an unforgettable experience.

With their Manhattan outpost, ABC looks to expand the parameters of material specification, change how they interact with

furnishings. Guests can sink into clients and how clients interact a buttery leather chair or get up with their materials, and ulticlose and personal with stone mately revolutionize point-ofsculptures by world-renowned sale procedure in the natural and artists such as Jago and Jon engineered stone industry.

Bizas. Beverages from espresso When entering The Experience to Pellegrino to Center, guests are champagne are surrounded by a also available. variety of domesCONCRETE IDEA Once guests tically quarried ABC Stone is also move into the Vermont and proud to offer Concreo main showroom, Colorado marbles

by Conclad. This concrete-free material ABC seeks to and granites. boasts zero emissions, redefine what ABC has partis made of natural fibers is possible nered with Frank and elements, and when viewing Pollaro, who comes in panels in a natural stone has outfitted solid state, very similar to a cast-cement. products. This the reception The environmentallybegins with their area with a friendly material is also online Virtual rotating display simple to install.

Warehouse of his bespoke designed handmade athomefc.com

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exclusively for ABC. They started with proprietary calibration techniques to produce highly accurate digital photographs of each slab in their inventory from the physical slabs located in their Brooklyn and Long Island warehouse facilities. Their Virtual Warehouse is viewed on 75-inch high-definition monitors, which allow clients to pore through as many slabs from as many lots as they wish. An email with highresolution imagery of the selected slabs is generated on the spot and emailed to the client in real time.

If clients still want to see their stone before fully committing, viewing arrangements can be made in either Brooklyn or The Center at Hicksville. The difference is that an appointment of this nature takes minutes instead of the hours it would have taken to move as many slabs as were viewed virtually.

ABC’s showroom is equipped with the award-winning Ketra Lutron lighting system, which can be tuned to dynamically shift throughout the day to precisely mimic the color temperature and intensity of natural light.

This allows clients to accurately imagine their selection no matter the surroundings. An ABC sales specialist can also walk clients through their on-site exterior showroom featuring more than fifty varieties of cladding and hardscape options in various finishes. They also have a full sample library in-house, so clients and guests can leave with four-by-four samples of interior or exterior stone in hand.

129 West 22nd Street, New York City; 646-707-3065; abcworldwidestone.com

PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESTY OF ABC STONE

THE LATEST DESIGN NEWS

WAKEFIELD design center

Curated by Designers for Designers

Instant Gratification | Finishing Touches and Makeovers by Appointment Only

To The Trade Only 652 Glenbrook Road, Stamford, CT 06906 T: (203) 358-0818 info@wakefielddesigncenter.com | wakefielddesigncenter.com

shoptalk

AWARD WORTHY HOFFMAN LANDSCAPES WINS GOLD FOR CREATING A DREAMY OUTDOOR SPACE Congratulations are in order to HOFFMAN LANDSCAPES. The firm took home the 2018 Gold Award of Excellence, the highest honor from the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), which recognizes landscape, lawn care and interior plantscape design projects across the country.

The winning project, designed by landscape architect Matthew Biron, included clearing and leveling the original space; designing, building and installing a custom freeform pool; and outfitting the space with multilevel terraces, a fire pit and an outdoor shower, all accented and framed with lush plantings and natural stone. The waterfall flows from spa to pool, and the natural escape comes complete with subtle lighting features and an outdoor audio system.

“We purchased our house with the plan to install a pool that would be a draw for family and friends,” the clients said. “Matt Biron created an outdoor space for us that is much more than we imagined was possible.”

The creative pros at Hoffman are celebrating the big win. “We’re honored to be selected by our peers in the industry through the nation’s top landscape organization,” says president Michael Hoffman. The firm has been transforming area properties for more than thirty years, and it specializes in landscape architecture and outdoor construction as well as property maintenance for lawns, planting beds, gardens, trees and shrubs in Fairfield, Litchfield and Westchester counties.

Hoffman Landscapes, Wilton; 203-834-9656; hoffmanlandscapes.com —Diane Sembrot

above: Visitors to Eleish Van Breems Home will find Scandinavian design inspiration and so much more.

Retail Value R

honda Eleish and Edie van Breems—the Scandinavian design duo known as Eleish Van Breems—first launched their interior design firm in Woodbury over twenty years ago. After relocating their business to Westport in late 2015, the childhood friends opened their eponymous design studio and showroom on Railroad Place.

“Our studio was a darling toehold in Westport,” says van Breems, “but it’s a small space, and it was difficult for designers to shop there with clients.”

Three years later, space is no longer an issue—Eleish Van Breems Home, a new retail store, has opened just steps away on Franklin Street (complete with dedicated parking, a rarity in Saugatuck). “We had a very large store in Woodbury, and we really missed being able to tell the full story of what we do,” says van Breems. “Now we can show the entire breadth of our edit.”

For Eleish and van Breems, this next step was a natural one, even though initially they were on the hunt for something else. “We were actually looking for a warehouse for our reproduction furniture line, which is handmade in Sweden and hand-painted and finished here with Farrow & Ball paint,” says van Breems. “We wanted a space close to the studio, and our landlord walked us around the corner and said, ‘How about here?’”

The historic building, reminiscent of a Swedish boathouse on the water, had long been vacant, but the designers

above: Hoffman Landscapes’s winning project includes a custom freeform pool, multilevel terraces, a fire pit and an outdoor shower.

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saw potential—the two decided to lease the entire building and turn it into a combined retail space and warehouse.

After a full renovation that included chic clay walls, new rafters, floorboards from Belgium and a sound system from Italy, Eleish Van Breems Home is full of Scandinavian design and much more.

Visitors will find a curated blend of antiques, midcentury modern furniture, Gustavian pieces, contemporary photography, Mud Australia tableware, sheepskin-covered Fritz Hansen armchairs from Denmark, Steiff stuffed animals, a beauty bar and unique home goods from artisans they have met during their travels to Scandinavia and abroad. Design ideas abound— like the pipe stove that descends from the ceiling—and a children’s section offers fun finds for little ones. “We have an eclectic mix because we’re not just Scandinavian; there’s so much more to us,” van Breems says. “We have something for everyone.”

Eleish Van Breems Home offers a trade program and will host special events, and its proximity to the studio has proved to be invaluable. “People come off the train and walk into the studio, and we send them around the corner to Eleish Van Breems Home,” says van Breems. “And the reverse is also true—if clients or designers come into the retail store, we have the studio right there for anything they need.”

Eleish Van Breems Home, 99 Franklin Street, Westport; 203-635-8383; evbantiques.com —Lauren Fetterman

PHOTOGRAPHY: HOFFMAN LANDSCAPES: CONTRIBUTED; ELEISH VAN BREEMS HOME: NEIL LANDINO

ELEISH VAN BREEMS opens a new retail space steps away from their studio

MARCH/APRIL 2019

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athome

shoptalk

living the dream received my Bachelor of Architecture from Pennsylvania State University in 1988. I arrived and began to practice in Greenwich in May 1988. With the Gulf War in 1990, work dried up at my employer’s firm. I went out on my own, co-founding a very successful partnership in March 1991, and worked for the next twenty-two years in Greenwich until I launched my solo venture, Charles Hilton Architects, in March 2013. above: Charles Hilton

A

s of last year, architect Charles Hilton has spent thirty years designing gorgeous homes and buildings in our area (and beyond). He was a 2016 inductee into the New England Design Hall of Fame, 2016 Greenwich Citizen of the Year, and a four-time winner of the Top 50 Coastal Architects. His work is also featured in a recent coffee table book, The Classical American House.

Hilton shares highlights from his three decades in Greenwich and insight into architectural trends for the future: When did you move to Greenwich and open your business? I grew up in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and then

and cultures. I’m fortunate that my work takes me to new distant destinations a couple times a year.

How would you describe your architectural style? While our architectural expressions vary widely in response to our diverse clientele, our company mission statement sums up the values we try to infuse in all our projects. We aim to produce imaginative buildings that delight and inspire; humanistic architecture that meaningfully improves the lives of its inhabitants and designs with timeless relevance.

Why Greenwich? I had been working in the field of architecture for eight years, starting when I was a sophomore in high school in 1980. That experience was very influential in my decision to come to Greenwich. I wanted to design the finest residential work possible.

Greenwich’s proximity to all New York City resources, its history and tradition of fine residential design, and Greenwich clients with their discerning taste drew me to the town. I found myself gravitating toward Greenwich’s waterfront and proximity to the rest of New England.

Name your three favorite projects you’ve done in the Greenwich area.

Having built hundreds of projects through the years, it’s hard to single out just a few. If I have to choose, I would say, first, Sleepy Cat Farm.

It’s a beautiful fourteen-acre, sevenbuilding, and twenty-three-year labor of love that seamlessly integrates the inspiration from the owner’s travels and his collections, the picturesque landscape and highly detailed interiors, creating a European oasis in the heart of Greenwich. Next, a New England Shingle-style residence that we designed for a stunning waterfront

What inspires you? Beauty in all forms; articulate deep thinkers; nature, especially waterfront settings; and travel. I love to explore new countries

clockwise from top left: Hilton’s extensive body of work includes his first project (a new waterfront brick Georgian home in Cos Cob); a new Georgian Revival home; and a nautical-themed study. athomefc.com

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site overlooking Long Island Sound.

It was designed to maximize the light and integrate its waterfront views with a wide variety of comfortable and beautiful interior details. And, finally, our new four-building Lakeside Georgian Estate in mid-country was an exciting project that allowed us to blend the traditional exterior with modern interiors. The estate features a beautiful main house with a long alley entry, a tennis pavilion, a lakeside pavilion and a pool pergola.

Tell us about the historic signs you have designed for Greenwich.

Our firm has been active in a number of preservation efforts through the years in connection with the Greenwich Historical Society, the Greenwich Preservation Trust and the Greenwich Preservation Network. We recognized that one of the challenges with preservation around the town was that many people did not know about the town’s historic districts or recognize the importance of these resources in their community. The signs are an effort to change this through information and education. Partnering with the Greenwich Preservation Network and the Greenwich Historical Society, we designed a series of signs, one for each historic district in town.

The signs not only serve as markers, but also include a map of the district, identifying contributing structures in the area, and give a short history explaining the significance of each location. Cornerstone Contracting installed the signs pro bono, and many sponsors around the town funded the construction of the signs.

What architectural trends do you see dominating the next decade in this area? More modern design, energy efficiency, indoor/outdoor living, accelerated integration of technology, home designs for healthy living, use of low-maintenance building materials, design features for an aging population, and continued strong demand for home entertainment and personal hobby areas. Charles Hilton Architecture and Interiors, Greenwich; 203-489-3800; hiltonarchitects.com —Jill Johnson

PORTRAIT: NICHOLAS ROTONDI PHOTOGRAPHY; FIRST PROJECT: CHARLES HILTON; GEORGIAN REVIVAL HOME: ROBERT BENSON PHOTOGRAPHY; STUDY: WOODRUFF/BROWN ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Architect CHARLES HILTON reflects on his thirty years in design

Architect: Neil Hauck Architects Photographer: Tim Lee

DISTINCTIVE HOMES, ADDITIONS & RENOVATIONS CONNECTICUT • NEW YORK • NEW JERSEY • RHODE ISLAND

203.966.0726 www.hobbsinc.com

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SUSAN COHEN

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Author, The Inspired Landscape Fellow, Amer ican Society of Landscape Architects 203-554-7536

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SUSANCOHENLANDSCAPES.COM

shoptalk

SPACE UPDATE LILLIAN AUGUST EXPANDS AND RENOVATES THEIR STAMFORD WAREHOUSE SHOP

below: Lillian August’s Corso sofa and Aria lounge chair gather around the Nolan Bunching table. These items are all from Lillian’s Hickory White collection.

above: James Gould, CEO of Rogers & Goffigon; some of the luxe offerings at the chic new store in Greenwich.

design secret No need to wait for the summer sidewalk sales to score some AMAZING FABRIC DEALS

A

nyone who’s been to the sidewalk sales knows the excitement (and madness) of scoring a great deal. For savvy designers, the annual SUMMER SALE at luxury textiles company Rogers & Goffigon offered equally coveted bargains in the home-décor world; people would wait in line at the Byram warehouse with a police officer directing traffic to access the top-of-the-line fabrics. The new Summer Sale shop on William Street brings back those amazing deals minus the crowds in a chic store that’s open year-round.

“These are top-quality European linens at a fraction of the price,” says James Gould, Rogers & Goffigon CEO, of the company’s textiles produced in Belgium, France, Italy and Scotland. (Fun fact: The Italian silks are made in the same mill that produces the Pope’s vestments.) Gould compares the best-kept-secret shop to the Stark and Holly Hunt outlets also in Fairfield County.

All of the fabrics are organized by color, and there’s a big range—from

lighter- to thicker-weave linens, linen and brushed-cotton blends, cottons, chenilles, linen velvets and silk as well as indoor/outdoor fabrics. And these aren’t random remnants. Most are available in sizeable quantities, enough for covering sofas or even finishing an entire room’s worth of furnishings. Some fabrics are a third of the normal prices, and most are available immediately; others ship within a week.

If you’re looking to have custom pillows or curtains made or to reupholster a chair or sofa, the R&G staff will make referrals to a workroom.

Summer Sale welcomes individuals and designers, offering a trade discount on top of the already great prices. The shop also sells luxe handmade placemats, napkins and aprons and will soon carry passementeries for the perfect finishing touches on window treatments, pillows and upholstered furniture. Summer Sale, 41 William Street, Greenwich; 203-769-5319 —Mary Kate Hogan

PHOTOGRAPHY: LILLIAN AUGUST: LUV BAJAJ; SUMMER SALE: JAMES GOULD: VENERA ALEXANDROVA; LINENS: GARVIN BURKE

Brothers DAN WEISS, CEO, and JOHN WEISS, COO, co-owners of Lillian August Furnishings + Design, are proud to announce that their Stamford Warehouse Shop has been newly expanded and renovated. The space is vastly expanded beyond its original use as the distribution center for the luxury home furnishings company. It now boasts so much more—everything from designer looks at all styles and price points to outlet and vintage finds. Most notably, the largest rug gallery in the area and dedicated to-the-trade showroom cater to the growing number of interior design professionals who go to Stamford as a shopping and design destination.

“We recognize the Stamford area as a vibrant destination for design, and our expanded warehouse shop delivers something for everyone,” says Dan. “It’s important to have a strong presence in Stamford, and we’re proud of our new offerings to the design community.” Adds John, “The decision to expand and renovate the warehouse shop is part of a strategic plan to consolidate our store offerings and improve the customer experience. The Stamford location is best suited to complement the offerings at the Design Center in Norwalk and the Greenwich Atelier.”

The Stamford Warehouse Shop boasts 50,000 square feet of retail space and an impressive rug gallery with over 5,000 rugs in stock.

In addition to the outlet deals and one-of-a-kind finds that appeal to shoppers who loved the SoNo Annex, the Stamford location also carries the best luxury products showcased in beautiful vignettes on par with the Norwalk Design Center. Lillian’s own signature line for Hickory White is featured here, including the popular new Modern Living collection. Many of the employees who had been at the SoNo Annex location (which closed a few months ago) are now at the Stamford site, further strengthening the customer experience.

The ongoing renovation and expansion of the Stamford space marks a successful initiative by Lillian August to better serve its clients in the ever-changing retail and design landscape. 47 John Street, Stamford; 203-847-1596; lillianaugust.com

FRESH START

2018 WINNER

A GREENWICH SHOWROOM DEBUTS A NEW LOOK GILLES CLEMENT DESIGNS opened his newly redesigned Greenwich flagship showroom in February. The Parisian designer spared no expense, featuring his exclusive new couture collection as well as all the top European brands on the market. The opulent two-level store showcases exotic woods, amazing textures, luxury fabrics, whimsical one-of-a-kind artist pieces as well as an incredibly curated collection of international fine art. 120 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich; 203-717-1919; gclementdesigns.com

PHOTOGRAPHY: CONTRIBUTED

above: Antiq nxvc nx cvnbx cvnbx cvnbxc vnbxcv bxcv nbxcv nxbcv xncbv xcnvb

above: Gilles Clement Designs in Greenwich specializes in European transitional design.

Southport | Quogue | apdarchitects.com

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style fıles

FRANCES PALMER

what's blooming The artist discusses floral arrangements, fine pottery, photography + what's next

“It is always thrilling when the flowers begin to bloom in the spring garden after the long winter. Usually, I get up just as the sun is rising and look for what is opening up at that moment.

I cut everything and bring it into my barn studio. There is a particular window that catches the early light, and that is where I assemble the gathered flowers in one of my vases. This photo shows my tulips with the first peonies as well as hyacinths, dogwood, viburnum, daffodils and azalea.”

What's Next for Palmer 1 Spring Teaching

Teaching her dahlia class at the end of March at the NYBG. 2 Fall Floral Workshop

Hosting a dahlia workshop in her studio in September.

Taking Shape

“I love to place flowers in a footed bowl. The pedestal always adds a bit of gracefulness to the arrangement. This particular shape is inspired by the plaster footed bowl by Diego Giacometti that is on display at the Decorative Arts Museum in Paris.

Giacometti made a collection in the 1930s for Jean-Michel Frank, and I often reference his designs.”

3 Product Development

Working on a collection for Moda Operandi.

4 Aerin Project

Recently designed a group of pots for Aerin Lauder for the launch of her new fragrance.

The New Cirrus Collection

“I wanted to create a set of simple, elegant plates and bowls that work well together on the table. I am especially excited to have the collection made in Stoke-on-Trent in England and be true English creamware. The dishes also integrate wonderfully with my white handmade pieces, as they are of the same clay body.”

Visit francespalmerpottery .com for more.

interview with k athryn herman, d oyle herman design asso ciates | phot o gr apher neil l andino

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PORTRAIT: MARION BRENNER; POTTERY, FLORAL ARRANGEMENT AND PHOTOGRAPHY: FRANCES PALMER

Spring Eternal

this page: Palmer grows her flowers herself. The vase shown here is her No. 25 Footed Bowl.

PHOTOS BY KRISTIN BURKE HYNES

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Deadline to enter: May 6 SAVE THE DATE for the A-List Awards Gala!

September 11, 2019 at the Palace Theatre in Stamford.

2019 PANEL OF JUDGES

THE EMCEE

JANE GREEN

BRIAN SAWYER Sawyer | Berson

MARA MILLER Carrier and Company

JESSE CARRIER Carrier and Company

KEITH WILLIAMS Nievera Williams

JENNIFER POST Jennifer Post Design

RICHARD HARTLAGE Land Morphology

EDWARD SIEGEL Edward Siegel Architect

JOHN MEEKS Aman & Meeks

JAMES AMAN Aman & Meeks

YA R D TO TA B LE

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when it comes to gardens,

design inspiration is never more than a season away. If you're ready to catch spring fever, these stunning landscapes full of life, color and texture are just the cure. And who knows—you might just become the outdoor type (and make your neighbors green with envy). >> MARCH/APRIL 2019

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Setting the scene: Our client

diane devore

// D E V O R E A S S O C I A T E S

grew up on this property and has vivid memories of his time there. Over the years, it had become overgrown and lost its luster, so he decided to renovate.

It was extremely important that

the property be developed in an ecologically sensitive manner for subsequent generations to enjoy.

Design concept: Working closely with Mac Patterson of Austin Patterson Disston Architects, we

to a holding tank under the overlook, ensuring that all of the water work features are gravityfed, resulting in a peaceful sound.

Resources: Landscape architect: Devore Associates, Fairfield; 203-256-8950; devoreassoc.com Residence architect: Austin Patterson

Creating a permaculture environment is a gradual, longterm process. This property will change and evolve over time; however, the basic design elements are now in place. It will remain a positive ecological influence and serve as a model for stewardship of the land while providing organic food for the family.

decided to create a sustainable farmstead based on the principles of permaculture. It would produce fruits and vegetables for the family along with capturing the native New England landscape.

PROJECT PHOTOGRAPH Y: DAVID HEALD

APD Architects restored the original farmhouse and barn, and additional structures were added to support the concept of a farmstead. As part of the service court, the garage was designed with a green roof, which we used for the vegetable garden. A gate and lawn ramp planted with herbs leads to the garden, and below, to the west, is a small walled garden for root crops.

Blueberries, raspberries, native meadow grasses and bee hives were installed for pollination and production. To avoid the need for any future pesticide applications, the existing orchard was supplemented with numerous varieties and species of disease-resistant fruit trees. The wetlands were revitalized, and hundreds of

native trees, shrubs and wildflowers were planted along the periphery of the property.

Planting palette: The plantings throughout the property were all carefully chosen to ensure that each season would be highlighted through various floral or foliage displays. Different gardens and different spaces celebrate the changing season. For instance, the orchard is planted with thousands of daffodils to herald in spring, the cutting garden peaks in June and July, and the wetlands have a glorious fall meadow.

Making an impact: Over the years, traffic had increased on the two adjoining roads, so it was imperative to our client that we address the resulting noise.

I believe the largest impact to the site was the implementation of a rill and series of spillways.

We added these to create “white noise� in the backyard. The water is pumped from the well stone

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Disston Architects, Southport; 203-255-4031; apdarchitects.com Interior designer: Paul Stuart Rankin, New York City; 212-727-3869

Setting the scene: The landscape

was a complete blank slate— an expanse of grass abutting a dramatic cliff—and a new pool house was under construction.

Design concept: The house is a

“castle-style” home built around the turn of the century, so we proposed formal gardens with a traditional layout that would complement the architecture.

Our design concept arose from

Planting palette: The large, open lawn is framed with pea gravel paths and traditional perennial bed borders. These beds are filled with an abundance of species providing color and seasonal interest. This style of planting corresponds with the turn-ofthe-century English garden. At the rear of the new pool house, in a sunken area that hadn’t been considered as a potential garden space, is a rose garden enclosed

French and English classical layouts, with a succession of “rooms,” strong axes and focal features. Central to the garden layout is the formal boxwood garden. All four paths converge on a central fountain feature, which is an antique flowerfilled urn floating over water.

The clipped boxwood border of the quadrants is punctuated at the corners with taller conical boxwoods.

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with new wrought-iron arches, and it features a romantic periodstyle cupid statue.

Making an impact: Deciding

to establish a formal geometry and creating framed views and sequences of spaces were crucial to defining the previously untamed landscape. The more architectural clipped boxwood parterre plantings were located closest to the home, and as the

PORTRAIT: BOB CAPAZZO; PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDRE BARANOWSKI

john r. conte III, john r. conte + cleo abrams-horsburgh // C O N T E + C O N T E , L L C

design draws away from the house, it becomes less formal with more bountiful colors and textures in the perennial gardens.

Resources: Landscape designers: Conte & Conte, LLC, Greenwich; 203-869-1400; conteandconte.com Landscape construction: Fairfield House & Garden Company, Greenwich; 203-661-8900; fairfieldhouseandgarden.com Pool house: Murphy Brothers Contracting, Mamaroneck, NY; 203-629-1291; murphybrothers.com

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Setting the scene: The existing

yard sloped and was an open, undefined lawn space. Since the slope consumed the majority of the lawn, it was an expansive and unusable piece of the property.

Design concept: We wanted the

pool space and landscape to look and feel serene. We sited the pool and pool house to have a strong architectural relationship with the main house, and we regraded the site to create two distinct levels.

A lawn area extending from a gravel rock terrace bordered with bluestone banding creates the upper level, and it connects to the lower pool area by a set of bluestone slab steps that lead down an architectural slope through a mass of Little Lime hydrangea and a line of Rutgers hybrid Kousa dogwoods. We defined the pool space within a simple oval privet hedge

// G L E N G A T E

of green and white throughout builds on the home’s white architecture and creates a subdued yet sophisticated feel.

A privet hedge defines the pool space, and a mass of Little Lime hydrangea sit under a line of Rutgers hybrid Kousa dogwood trees. A perennial garden with a mix of gaura, white phlox, Calamintha nepeta and Artemisia ‘Snow Queen’ terminate the views from the pool house across the pool and spa and up the stone steps punctuated by simple American boxwood globes.

that surrounds both the pool and the pool house.

The pool house’s architecture takes its cues from the home.

Masonry stonework found on the home’s three chimneys was replicated in the fireplace and masonry counters within the pool house itself. A delicate panel detail that sits between columns was inspired by the side lights on the home’s front door, creating an airy yet grounded base for the pool house’s dramatic roofline to rest on. The interior furnishings and décor create a comfortable space to spend long summer days and extended evenings in.

Making an impact: The decision to define the two levels through distinctive grading linked by a simple planting palette, hedge and stone staircase creates a nice separation and frames each area cohesively. The deliberate nod to the home’s architectural features

Planting palette: A restrained planting palette was a purposeful choice to ensure that the overall effect of the space would be tranquil. A simple color palette

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replicated in the pool house also adds to the property’s calming vibe, while the detail in the pool house’s corner panels adds a subtle yet noticeable level of refinement to the space.

Resources: Landscape designer/contractor; pool designer/builder; and pool house designer/contractor: Glengate, Wilton; 203-762-2200; glengatecompany.com Interior designer for outdoor furnishings and pool house décor: Lisa Hilderbrand, Hilderbrand Interiors, New Canaan; 203-722-9642; hilderbrandinteriors.com

PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHY: BILL MILNE; PORTRAITS: NEIL LANDINO

cheryl russ + brandon jones

this page: Rows of tall fescue grass, taxus hedges and London planetrees are bisected by bluestone slab steps and stepping stones set in decomposed granite leading to the rear terrace.

interview with k athryn herman, adam cesanek & justin quinn, d oyle herman design asso ciates | phot o gr apher neil l andino

grace land

traditional design gives way to contemporary

in this sophisticated New Canaan property

above: In the front yard, existing plantings and mature trees evoke a woodland feel for the approach of the property. A Munder Skiles Wharton bench is nestled into a curved freestanding wall, and the palette includes Japanese dogwood, climbing hydrangea and Japanese pachysandra.

design that focused on an intentional connection to the ouside.

We featured the interiors of this home in our July/August 2017 issue, and the home was a 2018 A-List Awards finalist; now we’re excited to see

What did the property look like in the beginning? KH: As Adam mentioned, the existing house was oriented perpendicularly to the road—which was interesting, as most homes face the street—and there really wasn’t much of a landscape to speak of.

Justin Quinn: It looked disjointed and totally out of context with the neighborhood, but it was a good site. The clients were ready to do something special with it.

the beautiful landscape. How did you meet the homeowners?

Kathryn Herman: The clients had seen another project we completed, and

I think it was something they admired. We’ve been working on this project for a long time.

Adam Cesanek: I believe we started this back in 2013. At that point, the clients’ previous home was oriented away from the road, and they were building a new home. They are a large, active family, so we were trying to create a

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below: Bluestone slab steps and stepping stones create a path from the front of the property down to the side, where an outdoor spa can be found. Retaining walls match the fieldstone used on the house, and plantings include Japanese holly hedging, beds of Japanese pachysandra, red maple trees and Japanese dogwood. this spread: A wall of doors in the back of the great room opens up to showcase peaceful views of Gray’s Creek for an indoor/outdoor feel. The sofa and custom ottoman were made by Brownstone Upholstery, and the armchair is from Verellen. The seating area is centered on the clean-lined fireplace, which has a custom mantel of AKDO white ash and a surround and hearth of soapstone. The reflective ceiling, painted in Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace, conceals a TV above.

this spread: Coming around a bed of Japanese pachysandra and Japanese holly, a decorative gravel path leads to a year-round spa crafted from bluestone. Steps feature bluestone treads with fieldstone risers, and the spa is lined by fieldstone retaining walls.

Accessible from the gym in the home’s lower level, the spa is outfitted with a BL bench from Atelier Vierkant.

AC: There were a lot of existing trees on the site, which was something that we and the clients wanted to integrate into the landscape. We had to be very careful when helping to site the house properly because we wanted to keep that classic, small, New England community feel. When you come onto the property, it’s like entering a woodland glade; it opens up once you go through that mature forested area.

elements on the site. The clients asked for a sports barn, which we helped site away from the road to give it a bit more privacy, as well as a cabana and pool.

We sited those in the backyard to help keep the space open, create a larger play lawn and respect that pool area as a separate space.

In terms of design, what atmosphere were the clients looking to create?

AC: The home has a fairly traditional approach to the property, and there is a stone wall as you enter. We did an oil-and-gravel stone driveway, and as you move toward the back of the property, it gets a bit funkier. We did an aerial hedge with linden trees around the pool area and other geometric plantings such as sheared taxus hedges and other boxwood globes near the covered porch areas. It’s kind of this transformation as you walk through the landscape.

JQ: The clients were looking for a robust set of programmatic elements,

Since the clients were demolishing their home and building new, when did you begin your work? KH: We were brought on while the original home

was still there to design a landscape plan that would marry with the plans the architect, James Schettino Architects, had for the new home. We love being involved early on, but as far as the actual implementation, a lot of our work came once the home was up and out of the ground.

AC: We worked with the architect to site some of the other programmatic

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above: Off of the bluestone rear terrace, boxwood globes, taxus hedges, boxwood hedges and London planetrees offer layers of texture. opposite: Bluestone slab steps with shadow lines paired with bluestone cheek walls lead down to a decomposed granite path and the formal lawn. Fieldstone retaining walls elevate groupings of London planetrees and boxwood hedging; Summit Boomerang lounge chairs are grouped under the covered porch.

but they also wanted to create a sense of place, which sometimes can be challenging on that size of a site, which is two acres. They also wanted the property to feel private.

KH: And to add to that, the clients have really built a beautiful home, with the interiors and the exterior, and I think they had a chance with this new home and the property to express and incorporate all of the features they had always wanted.

that really help to create this concept of a large, graceful outdoor space.

KH: The rear property feels more contemporary as you go through it. We wanted to respect the architecture of the back of the home—there are a lot of large windows that look out onto the landscape, so it was important to give the clients a great-looking one.

AC: The house sits on an architectural plinth, so we extended it out past the back of the house, and that became the rear terrace. Drawing off of those architectural elements really helped us integrate everything.

JQ: There is stone on the exterior of the house, and there is a dialogue with that. We needed to pick up on that in the landscape, so we used the same stone that’s on the house in the landscape.

How did the architecture of the home influence the landscape design?

AC: The home is more traditional in the front, but it has a contemporary interior, so as we moved toward the backyard, things get a bit more geometric.

Boxwood parterres in the front of the property are paired with fothergilla plantings, and we did a formal planting around the parking courtyard with dogwood. Then, shifting toward the back, we created spaces that were more celebratory of the landscape, such as the perennial garden, various nodes— different meeting points around the perennial garden, such as the fire feature, and the spaces off of the covered porch—and large, elegant stone slab steps

I see a spa tucked into the side of the home. Can you tell me about that?

AC: The spa was definitely one of the most successful areas on the site, and we designed it to be usable year-round. We visited the property last year when snow was on the ground, and you could see that people had run out there in their bare feet and jumped in.

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above: Across the formal lawn, a lush perennial garden is full of blue cornflowers, ‘Caradonna’ sage, ‘White Giant’ alliums, ‘Husker Red’ beardtongue, ‘Hummelo’ betony and ‘Merrill’ magnolias. opposite: Off a corner of the rear terrace, boxwood globes in various sizes are an elegant point of interest. Taxus hedging, boxwood hedging and a yellowwood tree round out the view.

KH: The spa is accessible from the gym in the lower level, so the idea is that after you work out, you can dash outside and enjoy the spa.

AC: The wing walls for that area extend off of the building architecture, and we had to work closely with the architect to make sure those could be pinned to the foundation. If you look up toward the covered porch, it’s about fifteen feet above the spa, so there were a lot of things to consider in regard to grading and how those retaining walls came together. But the clients were really happy with how it turned out.

The rear terrace has several entertaining spaces. Was that important to the clients? AC: Yes, and there are these little moments throughout the

property. There’s a spot off of the rear covered porch, adjacent to the office, with a few lounge chairs where you could go out and enjoy a cocktail. There are other lounge and dining areas on the rear terrace as well as a contemporary fire feature at the terminus of the perennial garden. athomefc.com

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Walk me through the landscape once you step off of the rear terrace.

AC: As you come down, you’re met with a formal lawn panel surrounded by steel edging and decomposed granite, which was an interesting choice for us for the surface material because it gives a different texture. The bluestone stepping stones with decomposed granite reinforce the central axis that runs from the front door all the way to the back of the property. Those stepping stones then go through the perennial garden, which has a lot of different varieties as well as boxwood evergreens for structure. To step down onto the larger play lawn, there are large bluestone slab steps set into that bank with tall grass that we have cut once or twice a year. As you follow that across, there is an espalier apple tree centered on the back of the sports barn.

And then we arrive at the pool. How did that area come together?

AC: We were trying to create a larger play lawn off of the back of the terrace, so we moved the pool to the eastern-most side of the property. The two pool houses and pergola are centered on the pool, and to make it feel more like its own space, we surrounded it with an aerial linden hedge as well as some taxus hedges. There is lighting for the trees and a sound system down there as well—the clients were really pleased with it.

out the spaces that were closest to the house. In the front, there was an existing freestanding stone wall adjacent to the roadway that we rebuilt, and we inlaid a reclaimed piece of granite, carved the home address into it and painted it black. It really helped enhance the arrival experience.

What drove your decisions regarding the overall planting palette?

AC: We were definitely interested in seasonality. That was the choice for using some of the dogwoods in the front as well as the fothergilla, which provide great fall foliage. The perennial garden offers a lot of different colors, with shades of white giving way to shades of purple, with an evergreen structure. Many different layers make up the planting—a tree canopy, evergreen hedging, evergreen shapes, deciduous shrubs, perennials—and it was that thoughtful combination that made the palette come together.

JQ: The overall style is clean punctuated by moments of juxtaposition between really clean hedging and either soft perennial colors or ornamental grass. It varies as you move through the property.

Do any of you have a favorite part of the landscape? AC: The perennial garden—I really fell in love with it. Kathryn had a huge hand in helping the design of that come along, and she introduced a lot of very exquisite plant varieties, which speaks to the depths of her knowledge in plant design.

KH: That’s very nice of Adam to say. I would say I love the perennial garden too. There’s just something about all of the different textures, shapes, layers and colors, and the fact that it spans every season. Even in the winter, with the massive boxwoods in it, it holds a really interesting form and shape.

JQ: One of the things I’m most proud of that our team did is that we packed a lot of program into the site, yet it doesn’t feel that way—it feels graceful, gracious and spacious. It feels right.

How did you decide where to use retaining walls and stone walls?

AC: The architecture helped inform some of the placement of the stone walls. One wall that we think was really successful, and that helped define the entire rear terrace and perennial garden, comes off of the southwestern corner of the house—it eventually turns into the wall near the spa. We really just pulled from the architecture—it must have been fifty to sixty feet—to carve

What feedback have you gotten from the clients? KH: My sense is that

below left: Bluestone slab steps lit by copper Hunza Twig Lites lead down from the perennial garden to the expansive play lawn below. Taxus hedges, ‘White Giant’ alliums and ‘Caradonna’ sage can be glimpsed above. below right: In a corner of the terrace, a Cornelian cherry tree makes a statement in a zinc oval planter by Domani. opposite: At one end of the perennial garden, a set of Kettal Basket chairs cozies up to a modern Paloform Bento fire feature set on decomposed granite.

‘Caradonna’ sage, blue cornflowers and ‘White Giant’ alliums provide a background of color.

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this page: The perennial garden is bordered by steel edging, punctuated by boxwood globes, and lit by copper Hunza Twig Lites. opposite: A row of Barlow Tyrie Capri lounge chairs are ready for relaxation on the bluestone pool terrace.

“Many different layers make up the planting, and it was that thoughtful combination that made the palette come together.� —adam cesanek

“The rear property feels more contemporary as you go through it. We wanted to respect the architecture of the back of the home—there are a lot of large windows that look out onto the landscape, so it was important to give the clients a great-looking one.”

—kathryn herman

this page: Sited on the eastern-most side of the landscape, the twenty-byforty-foot pool is framed by a littleleaf linden aerial hedge, taxus hedges and Japanese pachysandra. The setting sun can be glimpsed through the property’s existing wood line.

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“Our intention is not to resell this house. We knew we may do things that may not work for resale, but it’s the way we live , so we wanted to do it.”

—the homeowner

this page: Tucked under the pergola, a pair of Kettal Basket chairs flank a Henry Hall Flow side table in front of the poolside fireplace. The pool house was designed by James Schettino Architects. opposite: Centered on the sports barn, an espalier apple tree provides plenty of fruit for holiday pies.

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they’re deeply proud of what they’ve created—with the house, the interiors and the landscape. I get the sense that they use everything, and that it’s really well loved. They had the house on a local annual kitchen and home tour, and I think it was so nice of them to open up their home to show people what they’ve done.

we’ve enjoyed working with them.

AC: Absolutely—we’re on cloud nine. It’s what we sign up for when we get into this. It’s always great to see people enjoying their landscapes.

That’s the best part. —interview by lauren fetterman Resources: Landscape designer: Doyle Herman Design Associates, Greenwich; 203-869-2900; dhda.com Residence architect: James Schettino Architects, New Canaan; 203-966-5552; schettinoarchitects.com

How does it feel as designers to know the clients are so proud of the end result? KH: It’s very gratifying; there’s no greater compliment. It also speaks to what great clients they were and how trusting they were, and how much

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this page: Topped with teal pillows, the living room’s four custom tufted chairs by Lynne Scalo Design are covered in an Osborne & Little fabric; artwork from Amy Simon Fine Art adds additional color to the space. The vintage glass bowl on the table is from The Flat in Westport. opposite: In the dining room, artwork by Charlie Bluett through Lynne Scalo Design presides over a custom brass chest from Lynne Scalo Design; the vintage glass piece on top of the chest is from The Flat. A custom English mirror from Lynne Scalo Design reflects light in the foyer.

interview with lynne scal o, lynne scal o design | phot o gr apher john bessler

CLASSIC COOL well-edited spaces and carefully chosen details elevate the aesthetic of this Darien home to an art form MARCH/APRIL 2019

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“It’s a beautiful Connecticut, young, hip but still classic , vibe.”

—lynne scalo

above left: The front door, covered in a Fine Paints of Europe black lacquer by Shoreline Painting, opens up into the foyer. A custom rug and wall sculptures, all from Lynne Scalo Design, dress up the entrance to the home. above right: Anchored by an Alexander McQueen rug from The Rug Company, the office boasts a sleek desk from Donghia and artwork from The Flat.

A custom fuzzy chair from Lynne Scalo Design sits next to a Tom Dixon tea set on top of a black glass side table, both from The Flat. opposite: A painting by Shivani is paired with a striking mother-of-pearl chest, both from Lynne Scalo Design, with Venetian glass from the clients’ collection resting on top.

environment. What they had was great, but it was from a previous time, place and architectural style, and it had a completely different vibe. You can’t show up to a black-tie event in a pair of cut-offs, or go to a pool party in a ball gown. Anyone who hires an interior designer really appreciates having a beautiful environment to live in, and I believe that there are rules. The architecture and interior design need to go hand in hand.

What can you tell me about the clients? They’re a young couple with

a family, and they both work. The wife called me, and we immediately clicked. We had a great rapport with each other, and I really understood what they wanted. I think that is such an important part of design; it’s really a collaborative art form. They were so wonderful and such a pleasure to work with.

How would you describe the architecture of the home? It’s in a beautiful spot in Darien. It’s a Shingle-style home with an open floor plan, and the kitchen, mudroom and eat-in area flow directly into the family room.

It’s a really well-designed home, and the flow is perfect. It’s classic on the outside with a more contemporary layout, and it was really well done.

What vibe did you help the clients create? It’s a beautiful Connecticut,

young, hip but still classic, vibe. Like the black chairs flanking the family room fireplace—those are based on seventeenth-century fireside chairs, and they’re shaped that way because people would sit near the fireplace, and the curve around the head, the height and the proportion would help keep people warm. What’s great about these chairs is that they’re interesting, they look sculptural, but they’re also kid-friendly. Because the scale of the rooms was so large, the back living space was an interesting thing

Since this project was a redecoration, what did the interiors look like at the beginning? The clients had moved from a completely different

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“You want the design to reflect back on the clients and what feels good to them, and to pick up on the colorways that work for them.”

—lynne scalo

above: A rug from The Rug Company adds texture to the elegant, light-filled dining room that is furnished with the clients’ existing table and chairs.

The artwork and a custom shagreen buffet, all from Lynne Scalo Design, create a chic vignette with a piece of sculpture from The Flat.

to conquer. We had to break it up like a salon environment. It’s hard to get the flow, to not overdo it or underdo it. I like a well-edited place, but not a cold one. You want it to reflect back on the clients and what feels good to them, and to pick up on the colorways that work for them.

clients, and there’s a mix of many different centuries and periods.

How did you approach the entry to the home? That was really fun.

We wanted it simple but impactful. It’s not a huge entry, it’s very highend and very welcoming, but the space needed to have a balance to it.

I like the installation of the light fixtures—I chose a lantern, but a more modern interpretation of a lantern, because it’s classic to Connecticut.

I was on-site during the installation, and I was there saying, “An inch higher, an inch lower,” and it became a sculptural element in the room.

With a long, high space, you can’t forget that the second floor is part of

What colorways spoke to these clients? We wanted a very relaxed,

understated elegance with pops of warmer and cooler tones. It was a mix, and different colors were appropriate for different rooms. I have a strong background in art, art history and the history of furniture, textiles and fabrications. It came together in a really light-handed way for these

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the space that needs to be designed. And while they’re classic Connecticut lanterns, we did it differently and hung them at different heights. There is a large silver mirror that reflects the light outside, and the Moroccan furniture, modern artwork and some of the Venetian glass from their honeymoon are elements that reflect who the clients are.

We then picked the artwork and all of the objects on the shelves. The shelves were really hard—aquiring all of the things that were sentimental to the clients, and having a pleasing aesthetic, was like creating a visual piece of artwork.

On the other side is the dining room. Tell me about this space. I really love how this room came out. The fabric on the chairs was a good call.

I loved the artwork we chose as well as the rug and the curtains. It all creates a mood. There are so many different elements mixed together, so many different centuries, and I feel like it’s very fresh, young and not out-of-the-box; it’s very personal. I like to choose objects—not a lot— that have gravitas and some meaning to them. Every piece was a very specific choice.

Off to the left, there’s a room with pops of teal—it’s so pretty! That’s

what we would consider the formal living room. It’s not a huge room, and it’s right off the hallway, so it had to flow into that. I wanted to create a moment in there, so I did four corner chairs based on an eighteenthcentury Chesterfield design but reinterpreted into a new classic shape.

This client liked to keep things simple and classic, like a little black dress.

She wanted gray and silver tones, and we added the pop with the teal.

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below: The breakfast nook is furnished with a table, rug and antique Shakerstyle chairs, all custom from Lynne Scalo Design. opposite: The gentle curve at the top of the custom kitchen stools by Lynne Scalo Design echo the bend seen in the hood above the stove.

“It’s never about the objects for me— it’s about creating an overall experience .”

—lynne scalo

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left: In the family room, a deep custom sofa sits beneath a Yves Saint Laurent photograph and is bookended by two custom angle chairs, all from Lynne Scalo Design.

Oly side tables are sleek additions. below: A pair of hammered-metal wing chairs by Lynne Scalo Design cozy up to the fireplace and offer kidfriendly seating.

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right: A cloud-like Zoffany wallpaper gives the master bedroom a dreamy feel, and the custom bed by Lynne Scalo Design offers a reflective touch. Next to the fireplace, a vintage side chair from Lynne Scalo Design is covered in a Schumacher fabric. below: White lacquer custom end tables by Lynne Scalo Design flank the bed; fresh flowers are displayed in a Tiffany & Co. posey cup. opposite: Covered in an Osborne & Little fabric, a custom sofa and a custom brass mirror, both by Lynne Scalo Design, create a sophisticated moment. A silverand-wood side table from The Flat and curtains crafted from fabric by Lynne Scalo Design complete the effect.

How did you handle the open living space in the back? What is so wonderful about this whole area is the way the family engages back there.

While the entire house is an open floor plan, it doesn’t feel overwhelming or cold or not addressed. What I love about these spaces are the materials chosen and the mix. There’s an airiness to everything, and it’s all usable. I’ve seen the clients and their children come home and sit around the kitchen table and do homework, and then the kids move into the family room with the Yves Saint Laurent photograph and the touches of green. It’s a very serene space with bursts of color, and it just feels dreamy.

It’s really relaxed, and it feels good when you walk in there. That’s the hardest part about making these very large, open spaces feel intimate and have moments within them. Each entity needed to function on its own yet still have a relationship with the others. As you move from space to space within the larger space, there are interior moments that are functional and private and say something different.

I love those stools in the kitchen. They’re an Italian design, and the fabrication is leather with stainless-steel footrests. The design is based on a French chair design but done in a different point of view. There’s a

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this spread: The master bath is a true oasis, thanks to artwork from Amy Simon Fine Art as well as vintage pottery and an acrylic side table from Lynne Scalo Design.

continuity between that design and the design in the dining room, and the shape, size and back height of the chairs are not only comfortable and functional, but the backsides are mimicked in the gentle curve of the hood over the stove. It’s a flow of energy in what could be a cold, white-and-gray kitchen. You can see how that shape is carried through in the graceful lines of the Shaker-style Windsor chairs around the kitchen table. There’s a language between every little detail.

this space is that I like to incorporate wallpaper whenever I can, and this English wallpaper, this “floating on a cloud” look, is just dreamy; it has a romantic quality to it. And with the settee, everyone is doing that pink, and this tea rose color was really hard to find—it’s a sophisticated pink.

At night, when the lights are dim, the little bits of shimmer and reflective elements in here are like candlelight in the room. I love to add elements with some history to them, and the leopard on the chair is a beautiful tapestry-like fabric, done on a midcentury profile. The leopard pattern is over a hundred years old, and that’s where the history of design comes in.

How did you select the furnishings for the family room? The sofa is low,

long and deep, and the chairs on either side can be moved and can swivel one way or the other. There’s plenty of room on the sofa, and there are a couple of poufs and a couple of other chairs. There’s plenty of seating for everyone, including the kids and the dog. I really love the softness in here and the hits of color. It’s just livable and elegant.

How would you sum up this project? I think the dining room says it very well—it’s youthful and cool but classic. From the artwork to the furniture, it’s educated and well-informed. I love incorporating street art, black-and-white photography, French design, antiques, fine rugs, hand-hammered objects. I love how everything comes together to make a young family home. But it’s never about the objects for me—it’s about creating an overall experience. That’s a very core statement for me.

—interview by lauren fetterman

Who is working in the office? The husband is using the office right now.

The desk is from Donghia, the fabric on the curtains is very luxe, and the Alexander McQueen rug is like a piece of artwork. You can use that rug in this room because it’s a small space, and it won’t get a lot of wear and tear.

Resources:

The master bedroom has an ethereal quality to it. What I love about

Interior designer: Lynne Scalo Design, Greenwich; 203-222-4991; lynnescalo.com

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personal approach This landscape designer went big and bold in her own garden with surprises at every turn

interview with robin kr amer, robin kr amer garden design | phot o gr apher robin kr amer, c ourtesy of robin kr amer garden design

this page: A series of handstacked walls and steps travel up from the rear terrace to a woodland walk around the property. Hundreds of ‘Triumphator’ tulips bask in the sunshine; allium stipitatum ‘Mount Everest’ and ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ peonies will take their place once they pass. opposite: Reblooming ‘Immortality’ irises first unfurl their fragrant petals in June and then again in late summer.

below: A wave of hydrangea arborescens ‘Incrediball’ ripple around each side of the driveway as the house appears in the distance.

Climbing hydrangea are planted around the stone base of the house, and off to the right, a Hilltop Steakhouse cow was a gift to Kramer from her husband.

What is the story behind this home? It was a spec house in Manchester-

by-the-Sea that was almost completed when I found it. The builder was particularly interested in light, and that made the house very special.

The main living space was on the second floor, where there was a doublestory, barn-type great room, and the house was built into the hillside with a lot of rock outcropping. The property had what I would call “highway planting”—some juniper, some rhododendrons—like a Home Depot mishmash.

What other challenges did you have to contend with? When you have property well off the road, parking is definitely an issue. I created a massive courtyard as well as a gravel area in the front that functioned as a turnaround. There was very little flat land, which was a problem for everything, and although it was a big site, there was very little usable space.

“It’s important for a garden to have spaces that unfold because the idea is that you’re trying to deliver an experience at each and every turn.”

—robin kramer

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left: To create a sense of arrival, Kramer repeated a series of ‘Chanticleer’ Callery pear trees on both sides of the porte-cochère.

The trees produce a small stone fruit through early winter, and flocks of robins feast on them. Kramer has hosted three weddings in this courtyard and often tented it for parties. below: A sixty-three-inch tall handstacked wall with eleveninch wide granite steps set the stage for this garden room on the upper lawn.

The front beds are framed in boxwood with circles in the middle, and Gaura lindheimeri add a painterly touch. Two English lead urns are juxtaposed with a set of modern mirrored glazing globe towers designed by Kramer.

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above: Off the rear terrace, rows of boxwood follow the lines of the walls, and lanterns punctuate the entrance to the master bedroom terrace above.

How did the design of the home factor into the design of the landscape?

What were some additions you made? In order for the design to make

The great room has several sets of French doors on either side, so the concept was very much about what you would want to see when you looked outside. Areas close to the house were very manicured, and then you moved into a more woodland landscape. It’s a Shingle-style house in a town known for its pretty beach, so the idea was to have a simple, summery feel with a lot of structure for the winter months—the repetition of the hornbeams and boxwood provides a really beautiful landscape even when it isn’t green outside.

sense with the home’s architecture, I started working off of the lines of the house itself, which is T-shaped. And because the house was so large, the proportions needed to be bold. When clearing land like this, which happens a lot when building new homes, there weren’t any large trees near the house. So, in the front, I put in pear trees very close to the house, and that helped the house sit down again in the landscape. On the upper lawn, the level of the hornbeams relates really well to the scale of the roofline, which was important as well.

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top right: The upper lawn seating area is layered with a series of hedges beginning with boxwood, then privet and finally pleached hornbeams. White daffodils fill the boxwood squares in spring, while Styrax japonica trees and hydrangea flower white in the summer. bottom right: With ‘Triumphator’ tulips debuting in the spring, this tiered planting begins with reblooming ‘Immortality’ iris, hydrangea arborescens ‘Incrediball,’ ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ peonies and ‘Mount Everest’ allium.

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“What I’m most proud of is that the garden gave a heart to the landscape that the builder had given to the house.”

—robin kramer

below: Lined with Lady’s Mantle and ‘Blushing Bride’ hydrangea, a long set of steps travels down to the upper lawn. Blooms from Franklinia alatamaha trees add fragrance at the end of summer. opposite top: A Clematis x jackmanii ‘Alba’ is tucked into a corner bordered on two sides by stone. The protective enclave suits the delicate vine, which offers a generous display of blooms well into fall. opposite bottom: Six oversize pots of Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’ add movement on the balcony overlooking the courtyard.

below: Weathered teak chairs contrasted with shiny stainless side tables create a sunny spot for a glass of wine. Ranunculuses tip toward the sun in tall glazed ceramic planters. opposite: The raised upper lawn cleverly conceals any parked cars in the courtyard below. Kramer’s chocolate Labrador Big Papi loved to watch the comings and goings from this perch.

“Taking simple statements and making them big and bold was a risk, but it paid off.”

—robin kramer

How did you create year-round interest? My objective is always to have a

and then there were masses of hydrangeas on either side. As you came around the corner, you got this peek of the house, and I put two trees on each side to give some height to the front of the house. The land then flattens out through the porte-cochère, and as you enter the gravel driveway, you’re like, “What is this place?” That was always the fun part— the gardens were a bit fancier than the town was used to, so it was a nice surprise. I think it’s important for a garden to have spaces that unfold because the idea is that you’re trying to deliver an experience at each and every turn, and it’s that sense of surprise that I like as well. It’s fun to play around with that.

design that feels fresh and that you can maintain in a way that, when you have the time to spend outdoors, it’s ready to go. It’s not about English border gardens; it’s about having something happening all the time.

The beds worked overtime because there were a lot of succession blooms.

It started in the spring with tulips and allium, then it went to peonies and irises, then the hydrangeas came, and at the end, there were anemone.

You had these explosions of different things right through November.

I use spring bulbs heavily, and I think it’s an easy way to get a lot of flowers without a lot of effort. Winter can feel so harsh, and these little bulbs pushing up is your first sign that you made it through the winter. I love spring for that reason—it’s so hopeful.

Why is that important to you? My first career was illustrating children’s

books, so when going to a site, dreaming up a garden, and getting to know the family that lives there, I’m also thinking of how the children will experience the space. Everyone loves a landscape, and so much of that comes from experiences you might have had as a child. I have strong memories of what my parents’ garden was like, and it wasn’t that it was such a garden; it was about being proud of your home. Those associations really stick with people, and that’s what I’m trying to do—lure you back to that basic feeling. Maybe there’s fragrance, maybe there are birds chirping. This garden was amazing for that reason—it was really set in nature, so you never knew what you were going to find.

Did you keep any existing elements? Some of the steps in the back were

already there, so I was married to the stacked stone, but I was fine with that because I love it and use it a lot. I built a lot of walls, and that was my first way to understand the spaces and get a handle on the various grades of the terrain.

The approach to the home looks so inviting! It started at the bottom of the

hill with a fairly tight privet hedge, and as you pulled in, the woods were behind that. As you traveled farther up the driveway, the hedge stopped,

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The upper lawn is beautiful—how did you design that? We needed

some flat land, so we built that wall, backfilled it and put those steps in.

We used really generous proportions because even though the lawn wasn’t large, those wide steps made it feel grander and more special. The hornbeams were a way to create an enveloping feeling while you sat there, especially with the woods around you. The geometry of the upper lawn is based on the center of that bridge of the home, and by building the upper lawn so tall, you couldn’t see cars parked in the courtyard. You looked back to the house and then to the woods; you didn’t see any driveway.

It was fun to play with those levels and see how you could create longer views in a short space.

Was the rear terrace existing? There was an idea for a small terrace off of the master bedroom, but I broke it down and then took away a bit of a retaining wall that was there. I built new walls, backed the plantings into those walls and added steps so you could travel up. On top of that rock, even farther up into the woods, my kids built a fire pit, which was great.

Tell me about the palette you used. It was an all-white garden, and that was something I was mindful of. We had just moved back from Germany, and I had recently lost a friend. It was a really sad time for our family, and building this garden was a lot of grit and a lot of healing. Looking back, I think the white was a soothing palette.

What do you look back on fondly with this property? I actually don’t

live there anymore, but what I’m most proud of is that the garden gave a heart to the landscape that the builder had given to the house. During the first two months after I moved there, he was there every day and told me the story of how he built the house, and it was such a labor of love for him. One day, he was supposed to come over and do some work, but he didn’t show up—he had had a heart attack. I went to the service and introduced myself to his family, and they all came over to see what we had done. It was one of those meant-to-be houses for me. I think that the combination of the dramatics of the house—sitting high on the hill, the double-height proportions—with the garden was very successful. Taking simple statements and making them big and bold was a risk, but it paid off here. —interview by lauren fetterman

this page: Backed by a massive rock outcropping, a combination of Physostegia virginiana ‘Miss Manners,’ hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ and Japanese anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’ are bordered by boxwood.

Resources: Landscape designer: Robin Kramer Garden Design, New York City; 978-526-4221; robinkramergardendesign.com Landscape contractor: Corliss Landscape & Irrigation, Ipswich, MA; 978-356-4224; corlisslandscaping.com Outdoor pillows: BOYWONDER, Reading, MA; 781-872-1315; boywonderdesign.com

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last word/CROPPING UP

A PRO SHARES HIS ADVICE FOR HOMEGROWN SUCCESS

I would love to grow my own organic fruits and veggies. How do I get started?

First, you need a sunny spot, preferably near the kitchen. Next, you’ll need to fence it in to protect your crops from deer, woodchucks and rabbits. We recommend using raised beds inside the fenced area.

We’re a family of four. How large should our garden be? It really depends on what

you want to grow—you can grow a lot of carrots in the area used by one zucchini plant! Most families your size find that growing space between 100 and 200 square feet works well.

What type of crops can I grow?

There’s a huge variety of vegetables you can grow here in Connecticut, from basics like tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, beans and carrots, to less common crops like pac choi, sweet potatoes and rutabagas. But what’s really fun is to grow varieties of vegetables that you can’t buy in stores, like Dragon Tongue beans, Striped German tomatoes and Adirondack Blue potatoes.

How much sun do I need in my yard?

More is always better! Most crops need at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day throughout the growing season.

How long is the growing season?

We think in terms of three seasons: an early cool-weather season, the warm frost-free summer months, and then another cool season. After the last spring frost, cool weather crops like spinach or radishes can be replaced with crops like tomatoes that can’t survive frost.

What if I need help maintaining my garden? Homefront Farmers maintains

gardens throughout Fairfield and Westchester counties using only approved organic methods. We can take care of it all or teach you how to manage your garden yourself.

I’m hosting a party. What’s a great recipe I can make to show off my harvest?

Try Fish Tacos with Radish Cilantro Slaw—bright, crunchy slaw is paired with succulent, crispy fish. Check out the recipe on the right! athomefc.com

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FISH TACOS Bright spring slaw perfectly complements succulent, crispy fish.

INGREDIENTS From the garden: 3 scallions, sliced thinly 1 large bunch French breakfast radishes, julienned 1 large bunch cilantro, leaves stripped and chopped ½ tsp ground cayenne pepper From the pantry: ½ avocado, mashed thoroughly with a fork ½ cup sifted all-purpose flour 1 pound firm, sustainably raised fish, like halibut or mahi mahi 3 Tbsp light olive oil ½ cup sour cream ¼ tsp cumin 1 package organic, non-GMO corn tortillas 3 limes, cut into wedges for serving Juice of 1 lime

PREPARATION For the slaw: Combine the scallions, radishes, cilantro, lime juice and mashed avocado in a bowl.

For the tacos: Cut the fish into ½-inch strips, season with salt and pepper, and dredge in the flour, shaking off any excess. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat, and fry both sides of the fish for 3-5 minutes until they are golden brown, working in batches. Drain the fish strips on paper towels, and keep them warm in the oven until you’re ready to build the tacos.

Steam the corn tortillas until they are warm and soft.

Whisk the cumin and cayenne into the sour cream, then spread a heaping teaspoon inside each tortilla.

Fill the tortillas with a couple pieces of fish, and top them with a dollop of the slaw. Serve the tacos with more cilantro and lime wedges.

Makes 3-4 servings.

PHOTOGRAPHY: GARDEN AND FISH TACOS: CAM GOULD

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resh farm-to-table fare is local eating at its best. But with yard-to-table, your produce-to-plate time could be mere minutes (and just steps away). If you’re ready to relocate the farmers market to your own backyard, JOHN CARLSON, owner of HOMEFRONT FARMERS, fills us in on how you can reap the rewards with your own customized organic garden.

119 Post Road Fairfield, CT 06824 203-259-3333 GARRETTWILSONBUILDERS.COM