athome Magazine, Before + After 2018

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before + after

Who doesn’t love the “lift” of a fresh start?

The new year invites us all to reinvent our spaces, and there is no better (or faster) way to get the results we want than landing the right pro to uncover the possibilities. This is your opportunity to create your own “before and after,” so turn the page to get inspired and get started!

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left: Wet bar cabinet detail above: Before photo of entertainment room bottom: Entertainment room opposite page: Entertainment room looking toward wet bar

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ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBERT BENSON PHOTOGRAPHY

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CHARLES HILTON ARCHITECTS

Interview with CHUCK HILTON , hiltonarchitects.com 170 Mason Street Greenwich, CT, 203-489-3800

Main renovation objective: The owners of this 1940s brick Georgian in Greenwich wanted to transform an existing pool house—which was more of a dated afterthought—into a chic, inviting retreat. “The interiors were really dreary,” says Charles Hilton. “Everything was very heavy and drab.”

The main renovation objective became to update the tired interiors and create a fresh clean look, reflective of the building’s pool house function, that would provide a comfortable, inviting oasis for their family to use during the summer swim season.

Favorite element of the renovation: Our favorite element is the entertainment

room. Its bright interiors and hues of blue reflect its poolside setting. The main seating area is now ringed with white beadboard wainscoting, and Davenport North Interiors provided a custom blue-and-white striped woven vinyl rug that anchors a Lars Bolander coffee table and a pair of cream linen sofas. China Seas fabrics and wallpaper add a bold visual punch. It’s a cheerful and welcoming place in which to create memories with family and friends.

How long the renovation took: Three and a half months.

Biggest challenge you faced: The biggest challenge was to provide a

well-functioning kitchenette wet bar in a very limited space.

A special request you executed: The client wanted a kitchenette wet bar that fit the needs of their family, with a simple clean look and classicstyle cabinetry. The kitchen now features white-lacquered cabinets and trim and a cheerful blue glass tile backsplash; it also takes advantage of an existing arched pass-through window, which serves as a small eat-at bar.

A “signature” touch you added: Our signature touch was the simple, elegant bow-fronted, pass-through counter from the wet bar in the entertainment room that expands the seating space and adds a refined detail to that important element of the plan. The porthole windows in the entry and bedroom to refer to the building’s aquatic setting.

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ELISE DESIGN GROUP ELISE LANDSCAPES & NURSERY, LLC Interview with MARK W. HICKS/CHRIS ELKOW, eliselandscapes.com 530 Old Stamford Road New Canaan, CT, 203-966-3200

Main renovation objective: The focus of this award-winning project was the rear of the home. A steep slope limited use of the property and the landscape plan was unbalanced. The attractive house frontage needed proportional landscape balance. We designed multiple terraces cut into the hill at different levels, transforming unusable space to a special dining and entertaining area.

feature at their home in Maine, and we were pleased to bring a piece of Maine back to Connecticut for them to enjoy in their new landscape.

Biggest challenge you faced: Limited access to rear of the home; steep hillside and nearby septic area made logistics challenging, but achieved with careful excavation and plan layout. A crane or helicopter would have helped, but we execute unique plans as practically as possible!

Favorite element of the renovation: Strategic recapture of difficult space.

This area now sits directly behind the house with a built-in kitchen.

Stepping onto the upper terrace, the smaller terrace is designed for relaxing and party overflow with a custom fireplace for ambience and extending the outdoor season.

A “signature� touch you added: Transforming spaces and difficult locales

into beautiful, value-added landscapes is our specialty. We provided the client with a unique entertaining oasis, complemented by a vegetable garden near the kitchen! Hillside perennials and grasses with paths soften the stone and add an area to explore. The clients were so pleased that they had interior architectural alterations done to enjoy the view.

A special request you executed: An element that was brought to our

attention was Old Moss fieldstone. This special type of stone is a key

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BEN KRUPINSKI BUILDER

Interview with CHRISTOPHER QUINN , bkbuilder.com 13 Arcadia Road, Suite 11-15 Old Greenwich, CT, 203-990-0633

personal and professional service for our clients post move-in as well, making sure they didn’t feel overwhelmed or alone.

Main renovation objective: A complete transformation from a spec

house to a custom home with stunning and superior quality detailing throughout.

Biggest challenge you faced: Addressing all the hidden structural defects throughout and putting the building back together in a fashion that we stand behind.

Budget: This project came in right at about 5 million dollars.

Favorite element of the renovation: The complete transformation of

A special request you executed: We fabricated and installed custom

the front entry, including the finite detailing of the stair tower. We took a basic entrance and added a covered porch with a barrel ceiling, complemented by gas lanterns and a blue stone patio with integral LED step lights. The stair tower was reframed for the installation of new and striking windows with heavy timber brackets and a new slate roof with custom finial at the top—adding character and beauty to this home.

steel railings for the main circular staircase. These rails needed to be turned onsite and each piece fitted due to the completed adius.

A “signature” touch you added: The unwavering pursuit of always

trying to exceed our clients’ expectations. Our world-renowned project team went above and beyond to achieve a level of high quality that speaks for itself and has recently won a HOBI Award for Best Major Renovation.

How long the renovation took: The project took fifteen months from the

selective demolition to the clients’ move in. We provided a high level of JAN/FEB 2018

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SASCO FARMS LANDSCAPE DESIGN, INC.

Interview with DIANNA CUTLER , sascofarms.com PO Box 488 Southport, CT, 203-767-6305

Main renovation objective: Take a new construction space and create a timeless design that nods to the past with the classic style of relaxed formality.

planted the week before. When our team finally reached the home after the storm, there was NO damage to anything planted. We were all astonished at the destruction around the coast, while there was minimal damage to our fresh plantings. It was very lucky!

Favorite element of the renovation: The multi-sensory experience of the

cutting garden parterre. Gravel crunching, flowers in bloom wafting through the air, apples hanging off of the tree in the background beckoning to be eaten.

A special request you executed: Finding older apple trees. The homeowner had fond memories of eating apples as a child, specifically older arieties that are more difficult to find. The apple orchard peeking out in the rear of the image are forty-year-old heirloom apple trees from an upstate New York grower. There are six apple trees planted at the site in an orchard leading from the parterre area.

How long the renovation took: We began this renovation during the construction of the home. This enabled us to work with the builder, with respect to where his utilities would be located so that we could plan for future planting. In doing so, we afforded the homeowner our design eye to the construction phase.

A “signature� touch you added: A parterre. This was added towards

the end of the project as our design suggestion. The cutting garden parterre created a relaxed formality on the property and provided a special destination in the setting.

Biggest challenge you faced: A few days after all of the larger trees were

planted on the perimeter (a few are seen in the photo above) Hurricane Sandy visited CT. There were tractor-trailers of trees that had just been

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BEFORE PHOTOGRAPH BY WENDY MACDONALD; AFTER PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID SLOANE

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DAVENPORT CONTRACTING & HOME

Interview with BRIAN P. MACDONALD , davenportcontracting.com 78 Harvard Avenue Stamford, CT, 203-324-6308

bath reconfigured so that an upstairs laundry closet with a washer and dryer opens to the hallway. While reconfiguring the master bath, we combined several small closets in the bedroom to make a large fittedout walk-in closet. A skylight ensures a bright interior.

Main renovation objective: Wendy and Peter MacDonald purchased this house as their retirement home. As such, their “Wish List” included items and room functions different from those in the home in which they raised their family, such as the open kitchen/dining area shown above which eliminated the separate dining room. The renovation evolved from a hand-drawn plan in classic “well since we are already doing ...; since the wall is already opened up...”. In the end approximately fifty percent of the house was renovated. Homeowner Wendy MacDonald designed the revised interiors in collaboration with Davenport Home’s Jake Cleveland and Rob Jacobson. This partnership provided the flexibility to adapt and/ or rearrange as the plan evolved.

Biggest challenge you faced: The redesign of the interior of the house

needed to be accomplished within the existing footprint of the home.

To accommodate the open floor plan, we reinforced sections of the existing house to carry the rearranged walls.

Favorite element of the renovation: Wendy MacDonald’s design

sought to achieve better flow and room function. The open floor plan, which presents itself as you enter the home, is the achievement of this new design. There is a logical flow as you move about in the spaces.

Room entries were opened up and aligned to further a natural flow from room to room.

A special request you executed: Moving the laundry room from the

lowest level to the master bedroom level was a special request. The existing upstairs master bath had a hallway entry, plus a second entry from the master bedroom. The hall entry was closed off, and the interior of the JAN/FEB 2018

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GLENGATE COMPANY

Interview with JORDAN SCOTT AND BRANDON JONES , glengatecompany.com 221 Danbury Road Wilton, CT, 203-762-2211

the home and carriage house into the structure’s panels, hipped roof and eyebrow pergola, anchoring the structures to a renovated garden shed.

Main renovation objective: The owners of this five-acre property asked us

to re-interpret their garden and pool area to create a sense of architectural continuity and cohesion. This included re-imagining outbuildings, creating a more inviting entertainment-and-lifestyle-focused space, adding structures to provide shade, destination and a defined sense of space.

Favorite element of the renovation: The re-imagining of existing outbuildings into showcase amenities, the pavilion, eyebrow pergola, and converting the old garden shed into a fully functioning cabana with wet bar, outdoor shower and changing room. The concrete terrace that once surrounded the pool was replaced with gray granite that replicated materials used for the home’s front walkways.

How long the renovation took: Less than four months A special request you executed: When transforming dated outdoor spaces, it’s important to improve the family’s experience, strive to improve the family’s levels of comfort and familiarity and to make the property easier to navigate. It was also important to consider the existing site conditions as well as the physical characteristics of the home’s Colonial architecture and its environment, such as the adjacent mature forest. We created unity and movement with a stone path curving around existing mature trees and a pavilion as a focal point. We incorporated architectural details found on

A “signature” touch you added: Dominant characteristics, focal points, strong patterns, and strategically simple plant pallets that achieve harmony through distinguishing unique elements. The framework for the plant palette included mass plantings of hydrangeas, roses, and rhododendrons flanking woodland borders and a master plan for the renovated garden and pool’s ongoing care.

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SBP HOMES LLC

Interview with DORON SABAG AND JIM HOFFMAN , sbphomes.com 289 Selleck Street Stamford, CT, 203-323-2200

Main renovation objective: To transform a primitive storage barn into a

Biggest challenge you faced: On the technical side, there were two

Favorite element of the renovation: The views and the clean, open space are the most appealing parts of the barn. We added dormers and huge windows all around the first and second floors so that when you’re inside, you’re drawn to the windows and the surrounding landscape, which is spectacular in all four seasons. There’s no bad view—you can see one house off in the distance, but otherwise you’re just looking at the natural surroundings. And this makes it an incredibly peaceful spot. Because each floor is wide open space, the barn is incredibly versatile, too. The big open spaces work well for us day to day, but it can also work well as a large event space.

A “signature” touch you added: In Connecticut, where our clients tend to shy away from going completely contemporary, our signature seems to have become a traditional exterior with a more contemporary interior. This barn is a classic traditional barn from the exterior, but inside, it’s quite contemporary with white, black and concrete finishes.

sleek party barn with pool house, gym and yoga studio functions, and to assimilate it into its setting, providing views and access to the immediately surrounding gardens as well as views to the pond, fields and Audubon sanctuary in the distance. Our goal was to create a truly special environment in the barn that would become a “go-to” destination from the house.

big challenges. First was supporting the barn, sitting on dirt, while we poured proper concrete footings. Second was dealing with the natural ledge that surrounded the barn to get the gardens and pool site we wanted. On the design side, it was balancing the desire for big, open spaces with carving out enough space so the barn could function a bit as a real barn. It has its own mechanical room with 2,000-gallon water storage tanks for the property’s irrigation system, and the back side of the barn opens up to the outdoor tool shed, storage and potting area that also houses the mega generator for the property.

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEVEN ROSSI

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JENNIFER ANDERSON DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

Interview with JENNIFER ANDERSON, jenniferanderson-designs.com 154 Belden Hill Road Wilton, CT, 203-834-9666

Favorite element of the renovation: Every landscape needs at least one

one patio to the next. An additional set of steps from the newly built upper deck provided a much-needed transition from inside to out.

focal point, like the gas fire bowl incorporated into the upper retaining wall and the rustic orb sculpture at the end of the pool.

A special request you executed: With so many outdoor rooms and

elevations to compete with, we were asked to keep the planting as simple as possible. We allowed for one small parterre garden next to the lounging patio and stuck to boxwoods for structure and hydrangeas and roses for seasonal color.

How long the renovation took: While the project took over six months to

complete, we timed the work so that the homeowners were ready for their first party by Memorial Day. The pool installation and masonry work were completed between late fall and winter, and that left only the planting and fence work for the spring.

A “signature” touch you added: The standard-size pool is a thing of

the past, especially if your kids are grown. This pool is 12’ x 36’ and at its deepest is 5’. The narrowness of the pool provides an elegant, streamlined look, and the long bench built into the pool wall is perfect for hanging out with friends and sipping a glass of wine! This new landscape has everything—multiple conversation and entertaining spaces, a beautifully executed garden design and a pool.

Biggest challenge you faced: The wish list for this project was a

challenge. Included were a covered entertainment/bar room, outdoor lounging area, room for a large dining table, and a pool. With limited space, steep slopes and town requirements to meet, we designed each “room” at a slightly different level. To accomplish this, fieldstone retaining walls were staggered to raise the grades, while a series of steps lead from

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RINFRET, LTD. INTERIOR DESIGN & DECORATION

Interview with CINDY RINFRET , rinfretltd.com 39 Lewis Street Greenwich, CT, 203-622-0000

Main renovation objective: The main renovation objective was to transform a boy’s dark bedroom into a fresh and light-filled guest bedroom suite. For a completely new look, the project included re-papering all walls, re-painting all woodwork and ceilings and adding new light fixtures, furnishings and window treatments, as well as new tile and plumbing in the adjoining bath.

Favorite element: Rinfret’s favorite feature of this space is the

Biggest challenge: The client’s choice of purple is an unusual color

Ltd. has been creating iconic interior design and defining true “Classic Greenwich Style” for three decades. Rinfret consistently is recognized with important design awards and editorial coverage every year. Most recently awarded by the A-List Awards and the Andrew Martin Interior Design Review in 2017, Rinfret’s full-service interior design business is additionally celebrated for its gorgeous new design studio at 39 Lewis Street in Greenwich.

show-stopper bed. This four-poster bed balances the height and scale of the room, while adding a touch of glamour. It helps to create an atmosphere where guests can feel like they are right at home.

About Cindy Rinfret: Cindy Rinfret, principal designer of Rinfret,

for a guest suite, but Rinfret managed to keep the room sophisticated, instead of saccharine, by keeping the major components very tonal, while adding color and pattern in the accessories. For the adjoining bathroom, Rinfret was determined to to find a natural marble tile that delivered a sophisticated aesthetic—no easy task when shopping for purple tile.

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SUSAN COHEN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Interview with SUSAN COHEN, susancohenlandscapes.com 199 Sound Beach Avenue Old Greenwich, CT, 203-554-7536

Main renovation objective: As part of a complete redesign of the existing landscape, the clients requested a white garden with touches of blue. Since the new landscape is mostly green, with masses of blue hydrangeas at the front entrance, this continuous color scheme provides a sense of harmony to the whole property.

The generous flower border, which replaced an existing patch of shrubs, perennials and mulch, provides a lush and romantic garden for the owners to enjoy over a long season. The exuberance of the garden also provides a nice contrast to the simplicity and restraint that characterizes the rest of this landscape.

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Favorite element of the renovation: The flowers in this garden move in the breeze, which is essential for a garden by the sea. Also, the restrained color palette does not distract from the lovely view.

A “signature” touch you added: The garden is in scale with the house.

For me, getting the scale right is the most important part of any project.

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ARTEMIS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, INC

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Interview with TARA VINCENTA, artemisla.com 277 Fairfield Avenue Bridgeport, CT, 203-683-1808

Main renovation objective: Being part of the entertainment industry, our

clients love to throw a party. As part of a major addition to their home, they wanted to integrate and enhance all areas with a newly imagined outdoor entertaining area. The wish list included updating an existing pool and adding a year-round spa, a new deck and pergola, a sunken fire pit, a media wall, an outdoor kitchen and a custom kids’ play area.

Biggest challenge you faced: Challenges often become opportunities.

Due to regulatory requirements, we had a very limited area to create a gracious outdoor living and entertaining space. We managed not only to fulfill the client’s wish list, but accomplished it in a way that feels seamless with the architecture and the site.

A special request you executed: The original plans included a small outdoor grill area. As the project progressed the client increased the scope within a limited space. We were able to create a totally custom outdoor kitchen tucked against the house that answered all their needs.

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