Westport - March/April 2023

top: Bankside, a new residential development alongside the Saugatuck River bottom: Pasta by Stephanie Berghoff, The Home Cook CT

Turn Your Dreams into Reality in Westport

233 HILLSPOINT ROAD

4 BD | 5 BA | 3,000 SF

$7,900,000

Sophisticated and sleek, new construction waterfront home. Maison de la Plage has a truly open floor plan and is drenched in sunlight through walls of glass that frame the water from every room. This four-bedroom all en-suite home with a spectacular primary suite has it all. Nine-foot ceilings and understated elegance by noted architect, Lucien Vita. Roof-top deck with breathtaking panoramic views of Long Island Sound. There is still time to customize this beachfront beauty.

Mary Gai

203.984.2169

marygai@bhhsne.com

9 PLUNKETT PLACE

5 BD | 8 BA | 7,429 SF

$3,750,000

Stunning Colonial evokes timeless appeal with exquisite architectural details, stylish updates, generously scaled rooms and a thoughtful approach to practical living. This sun filled home includes, five en-suite bedrooms, nanny quarters, five car garage, five fireplaces and six zones. Outdoor oasis includes pool, stone patio, fire pit and built-in barbecue grill. Located on a quiet, private lane in the heart of Westport with a footpath to schools and a short drive to shopping, dining, beach and train.

The Maher Drury Team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties 203.803.8856

maherdruryteam@bhhsne.com

IT’S ALL

Drop into new restaurants around town, score the most stylish finds from local shops, see who’s out on the social scene—and take a frontrow seat to the most talked about happenings right here. It’s easy! Just follow us on Instagram

#1 in Connecticut 5 Fairfield County Locations

Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital brings top-ranked specialties, and some of the brightest minds in medicine, closer to you with locations in Greenwich, Norwalk, Trumbull and Bridgeport. From allergies to cancer treatment, children are cared for by a comprehensive team of leading experts in a facility tailored to the unique needs of children. All from a children’s hospital ranked in more specialties than any other children’s hospital in Connecticut.

Find the right specialist for your child: 877-925-3637 (877-YALE-MDS)

Fairfield County Locations

5 Perryridge Rd., Greenwich

500 West Putnam Ave., Greenwich

747 Belden Ave., Norwalk

5520 Park Ave., Trumbull

267 Grant St., Bridgeport

Since 1909, Cummings & Lockwood has provided sophisticated legal representation to individuals, families, family offices, closely held businesses, other commercial enterprises and charitable entities. Our core services include:

 Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning

 Wealth Protection Planning

 Philanthropic Giving

 Probate and Estate Administration

 Fiduciary and Trustee Services

 International Estate and Tax Planning

 Business Succession Planning

 Corporate and Finance

 Litigation and Arbitration

 Commercial and Residential Real Estate

editorial editorial director

Cristin Marandino–cristin.marandino@moffly.com

editor: westport, fairfield living, stamford

Diane Sembrot–diane.sembrot@moffly.com

style & community editor

Janel Alexander

books correspondent

Emily Liebert

contributing editors

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Terry Christofferson, Lynne Piersall, David Podgurski, Scott Thomas

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Liz Barron, Tom Connor, Carol Leonetti Dannhauser, Suzanne Gannon; Elizabeth Keyser, Jill Johnson Mann

editorial advisory board

G. Kenneth Bernhard, Bridgett Csapo-DiBonaventura, Nancy Conroy, Nancy Gault, Caren Hart Nelson, Jennifer O’Reilly

art

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STAMFORD | GREENWICH | WEST HARTFORD | NAPLES | BONITA SPRINGS | PALM BEACH GARDENS

Experience the pinnacle of senior living.

All your life, you have looked for experiences beyond the ordinary, and when it comes to retirement living, you want an experience that raises the bar. Meadow Ridge is a distinctive continuing care retirement community for discerning individuals seeking a fresh perspective on senior living.

Beautiful and spacious apartment homes are just the icing on top of the exquisite retirement experience we offer. Our world-class amenities, engaging activities, gourmet cuisine and impeccable service combine to create a brilliant opportunity to enjoy the best in senior living.

To find out more, call 203-293-0481 or visit MeadowRidge.com

Independent Living Assisted Living Memory Care

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation

vol. 25 | no. 2 | march/april 2023 WHAT’S IN YOUR YARD?

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sales & marketing

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editor’s letter

BEAUTIFUL LIFE

What I wouldn’t give to have the imagination and energy of Christian Siriano. Endlessly creative, he also has a snappy wit—and while working on the story in this issue, we also learned that he’s as approachable as he seems on TV. All the talent and success hasn’t swayed his ability to see beyond the dazzle to the real. By that I mean, while he’s dressed Michelle Obama, Mariah Carey, Taylor Swift, Billy Porter, Janet Jackson and so many other A-listers, he also designs for a range of body types and wallet sizes. He brings the good feeling of high fashion to one and all.

For an introduction to his world, all you need to do is stop by The Collective West, his store in Westport. I popped in on a quiet day and was amazed at the serenity of the place. It is crisp and fresh—and also utterly calming. Beautiful people in chic outfits are on hand to help show customers around. I was so dazzled, I almost missed a dreamy red gown in the window that, when I turned and took it all in, literally made me stop and stare. Someone laughed and said, “It’s really something, isn’t it?” I certainly had completely forgotten myself—and had drifted off to dreams of wearing the gown at a formal event.

I asked Jill Johnson Mann to write the story on Siriano that appears in this issue. It was no easy task to find time with this in-demand designer. The Westporter’s schedule is packed,

and it seemingly often takes him out of town to glamorous destinations. Luckily, on one of her visits to The Collective West, Jill found Siriano geneously creating sketches for a line of fans who described their dream dresses and outfits. From mere snippets of details, he was able to swiftly, almost magically, draw it on a sketchpad (you can see the Reel on our Instagram account). Watching him create art is a pure delight, and it’s impossible not to be charmed. For more proof, check out Jill’s story and interview inside.

If you’re inspired by the fashion talk, also look for our special spring fashion section, which has top picks from our style director. She shares the looks you’ll see in the warmer months—and includes actual picks that you’ll be able to find in Fairfield County’s most fashionable stores.

There are many ways to express one’s creativity. It might be through fashion design or pulling together fashionable outfits. It might be home design or cooking, gardening or writing—all of which are covered in this issue. I hope these pages fire up your imagination and a few big dreams.

MAR/APR 2023 / DIANE TALBOT SEMBROT

HOW TO SCAN: OPEN, AIM & TAP

Order Up!

What’s for dinner? That question. Forever, that question. Then one day maybe you silently wish that you will never have to cook again. Wish granted!

Stephanie Berghoff is ready to step in like your fairy godmother to magically make your meals appear.

With a background as a chef recruiter and education in hospitality and restaurant

Meals delivered by Stephanie Berghoff of THE HOME COOK CT

by diane sembrot

management, Berghoff founded her new business, The Home Cook CT, this year. The meal-delivery service is tucked away in a space at 37 Saugatuck Avenue in Westport. Just check out the menus on the website each Thursday, order by Sunday at 11 a.m. for a delivery on Monday and by Monday at 5 p.m. for Wednesday’s menu. Food is guaranteed to be delivered to your home between 4 and 6:30 p.m. on delivery days. No

subscription is required, so it’s easy to give it a try. We did and loved the experience. A meal was politely delivered in a cooler bag, and the instructions for reheating were easy to follow. Best of all, yes, everything was delicious, and we didn’t have to think about what we should make for dinner. It was already done.

Turn the page for Berghoff’s overview of her new launch, and see more at thehomecookct.com.

left: Stephanie Berghoff, owner of the new meal-delivery service, at Westport Farmers Market right, top: Berghoff’s Spring Salad with freshmade dressing right, bottom: Pomegranate salmon

Q+A with STEPHANIE BERGHOFF

When and why did you start this business?

I started The Home Cook in July 2017, a year after moving to Connecticut from New York City. I have always had a passion for food (I went to Syracuse for restaurant management) and for cooking (I wrote a cookbook, Kid’s Can Cook, when I was twelve years old).

When I moved up to Connecticut and had a lot more space for cooking, I wanted to prepare homemade meals nightly for my family. Unfortunately, my children prefer chicken dinosaurs to my homemade chicken tenders, and my husband is not a big fan of vegetables— hence, I wasn’t going to just cook for myself. I spoke to a friend and asked if she would ever like homecooked meals delivered to her door, and she thought it was a good idea. I did a three-week trial with her and from there, I launched The Home Cook.

What made you know you’d be good at it?

I don’t think I ever thought about it like that. I love to cook—being in the kitchen and preparing food makes me happy, so I figured if I could bring good food to others, it would make them happy too. It was, and still is, a passion of mine.

What can clients get—regular deliveries, pick up, catering? We offer prepared meals delivered to your door and boutique catering. Menus are posted on Thursdays and the cutoff for placing an order for Monday is Sunday at 11 a.m., the cutoff for Wednesday is Monday at 5 p.m. Meal deliveries take place on Mondays and Wednesdays, and we provide meals throughout Westchester and Fairfield

counties. Each meal is served family style—proteins and sides all come separately, so anyone can design a meal that suits their needs. Each meal comes with eight-ounces of protein per person and two side dishes. Each menu includes a choice of four entrees and twelve side dishes.

Any kind of food?

left: Satisfying Garlic Steak Bites with lots of flavor below: Overnight oats with blueberries

We offer all cuisines and switch up the menu weekly. We rarely prepare the same dish more than two or three times a year. I love cooking with Asian flavors, so that is a common rotation on our menus.

What about homes with mixed diets or food sensitivities?

We take allergies and food sensitivities extremely seriously. We offer plenty of celiac-friendly dishes each week, rarely prepare foods with nuts, and offer many DF [diet friendly] options as well.

A tip for better cooking?

Cook with love. I know that sounds cliché, but following a recipe should be used only as a guideline; trust your instincts— add more salt, some extra garlic, maybe a dash of paprika, for creating more complex flavors that are not always listed in recipes.

What’s your favorite meal?

left: Pasta with fresh sauce and topped with basil and parmesean

I love Mediterranean and Asian cuisines so those are my favorite meals to eat. I love it when we serve lemon chicken skewers with tzatziki and pita—as well as sesame chicken with fried rice.

Anything special for March and April?

Everything we offer is seasonal. So, in the spring, you can expect asparagus, artichokes, beans, etc. We also usually offer a special menu for St. Patrick’s Day, Easter and Passover.

Anything else you want to add?

The foundation of The Home Cook is based on providing easy to reheat, delicious homecooked food. I truly believe meals should be special and everyone deserves to eat food they find delicious.

COLOR MY WORLD

A TOUR OF THE ARTISTIC AND EDGY BLUE & CREAM by diane

The recently opened shop Blue & Cream (blueandcream.com) has a New York City skater and artist vibe, and this athletic/ creative blend works perfectly in Westport.

Located at 48 Post Road East, the shop offers clothing, accessories, footwear and more that exude unapologetic confidence

paired with laidback attitude—plus, it’s a fun place to shop. Blue & Cream carries men’s and women’s clothing, footwear and accessories, including cashmere scarves and eye-catching caps. You’ll find designer options, including A.L.C., Mother, For Love and Lemons, and Love Shack Fancy. The brand also has clothing

sembrot

and more for kids with big style. Founder and CEO Jeffrey Goldstein lives the Hamptonsweekend lifestyle, which permeates his store’s contemporary offerings.

The brand has locations in East Hampton and on Madison Avenue and Bleecker Street in NYC, so Westport’s store is in familiar company.

left: A wall of hoodies and t-shirts below: Aviator nation check sleeve hoodie ($175)

above: The display of the shop’s sneaker collection

right: Aviator nation bolt sweatpants in Paris pink ($148)

above: Westport edition Chrome trucker hat ($65) below: Nike blazer mid ($100)

by janel alexander

SPRING FASHION

WARM-WEATHER TRENDS YOU WILL WANT TO INVEST IN NOW!

It’s time to pack up your chunky sweaters and heavy boots and trade them in for clothing that speaks to more feminine textures and gentler forecasts.

CARGO GLAM DENIM

3D FLORAL HEAVY METAL

CARGO GLAM

THE MINI-BAG CRAZE HAS LED TO A FUNCTIONAL NEED FOR MORE POCKETS, AND DESIGNERS ARE BRINGING THEM IN FULL FORCE.

Pairs perfectly with a slim-cut top or bodysuit

1 ZARA Halterneck Bodysuit, $27.90, Greenwich and Norwalk; zara.com // 2 TOTÊME Long-sleeve Shirt Jacket, $580; farfetch.com //

3 ISABEL MARANT Votla Denim Jacket, $1,340; modaoperandi.com // 4 SACAI, Twill Belted Maxi Skirt, $825, Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com

CYNTHIA ROWLEY

Pairs perfectly with belt bag, worn cross body to break up the horizontal and vertical lines

5 FRAME Relaxed Straight Cargo, $428, Greenwich; frame-store.com // 6 PROENZA SCHOULER Stanton Crinkled Leather Sling Bag, $425; proenzaschouler.com // 7 MARE MARE X ANTHROPOLOGIE Sleeveless Utility Top, $129, Greenwich, Westport; anthropologie.com // 8 RIVET UTILITY Worker—Pink Velvet jumpsuit, $375; maisonmarche.com

CYNTHIA ROWLEY

CHANDELIER EARRINGS

Add a little bling to a basic look with these shoulder grazing dazzlers

DAAAAAYS DENIM FOR

ON THE RUNWAYS THIS SEASON: BAGGIER DENIM REIGNS, ESPECIALLY WHEN PAIRED WITH MORE DENIM

DE BEERS

ALTUZARRA

JUSTINE CLENQUET

Snow Dance Long Earrings in white gold, $49,400, Greenwich; debeers.com

GAS BIJOUX Tresse Serti earrings silver, $165, Greenwich; gasbijoux.com

MIGNONNE GAVIGAN Madeline Earrings in Periwinkle, $250; hampdenclothing.com

Shanon Asymmetric Crystal Fringe Earrings, $108, Greenwich; intermixonline.com

1 ALAïA Denim Button-Front Bodysuit, $1,520, Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com // 2 ALAïA High-Waisted Slim-Fit Jeans, $1,180, Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com

3 ALEXANDER McQUEEN Paneled Denim Peplum Jacket, $2,290; net-a-porter.com // 4 ALEXANDER McQUEEN Paneled Denim Midi Skirt, $1,390; net-a-porter.com

5 VERONICA BEARD Tika Denim Jacket, $498, Greenwich; veronicabeard.com // 6 VERONICA BEARD Haizley Extra Wide Leg, $298, Greenwich; veronicabeard.com

3D FLORALS

NOTHING SAYS SPRING LIKE FLOWERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE ADORNING YOUR BODY, HEAD TO TOE. DESIGNERS ARE PUTTING A NEW SPIN ON THE TRADITIONAL FLORAL MOTIF, USING FABRIC TO CREATE THE BLOOMS

WHITE BUTTON DOWN

This staple multitasks as a beach cover-up, jacket or top for evening or even wear it backwards—to name just a few upgraded uses!

HELMET LANG Cotton-Poplin Back Detail shirt, $350; net-aporter.com

ZIMMERMANN Ivory High Tide Pearl Button Down Shirt, $795; shop. mitchellstores.com

westportmag.com 28

ZARA Crop Poplin Shirt,

zara.com

SHAN White Classic Blouse, $365; dariensport.com

$39.90;

1 DRIES VAN NOTEN Dob Fan-Embellished Jacquard Minidress, $1,995, Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com

2 CYNTHIA ROWLEY Organza Flower Tie, $95, Greenwich; cynthiarowley.com // 3 ALAÏA Fleur PVC Mules, $1,780, Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com // 4 ZIMMERMANN Coaster Ruffled Top, $1,600; zimmermann.com // 5 ALÉMAIS Macie Rosette Taffeta Mini Dress, $625; modaoperandi.com

CHRISTIAN SIRIANO

Making Mealtime Easier

For Westport Families

So we asked some of your neighbhors to share their feedback:

F&F: What happened on the day you decided to join Feast & Fettle?

“ With two working parents and kids participating in extracurriculars, putting nutritious dinners on the table on weeknights became an Olympic sport. We resorted to takeout or the same crockpot dinners every week. The day we joined F&F was the day I decided I simply needed help preparing dinner.”

F&F: What sets Feast & Fettle apart from other services you’ve tried?

“ The food is never frozen, the menu is always changing, and the variety meets the needs of our picky family. But most of all, I love how F&F gets involved with the local community. I saw that they work with Le Rouge Handmade Chocolates & Cakes by Aarti which is my favorite chocolate shop in Westport. I even got a box of Aarti’s chocolates with my first order. ”

F&F: What have you gained by using Feast & Fettle?

Hi! We’re Feast & Fettle. A premium meal delivery service founded in 2016 at the intersection of nutritious food, community, and convenience for our members. When we launched we made a few commitments to our members:

• Your food would be locally-prepared and hand-delivered to your door

• Every dish would be made from scratch using the highest quality ingredients

• Sustainable packaging would be reused or responsibly upcycled

Not much has changed in the 7 years since we launched, and in 2022 we began servicing Westport, making the same promise to your town.

While we’re proud of the positive impact we’ve made on our member’s lives, we acknowledge that folks don’t just want to hear from us. They want to hear firsthand from local members in order to make the best choice for their own household.

“ We don’t have to worry about meal planning, cooking, and cleaning the dishes. We get so much time back in our evenings to spend as a family, and we get to sit down and enjoy a quality meal together every night.”

F&F: Do you have a special Feast & Fettle moment you’d like to share?

“ Their member services team goes out of their way to make everyone’s experience top notch. I was a huge fan of their bundt cakes and I made a suggestion that they create a fall flavor. In my next order, they unexpectedly gifted me a pumpkin bundt cake that the kitchen was testing... Best surprise EVER! ”

If you’re feeling FOMO after reading this, we can’t say we blame you! See what all the buzz is about and get your second week free, just use code WESTPORTMAG at feastandfettle.com

We can’t wait to deliver the dinnertime you deserve!

HEAVY METAL

SILVER AND GOLD , NORMAL DURING WINTER HOLIDAYS, WILL BE IN FULL EFFECT THIS SUMMER

WEDGE but make it skinny!

Wedge heels are seeing a comeback, but in sliver thin proportions.

JIMMY CHOO Brien 110mm Sandals, $850; farfetch.com

BOTTEGA VENETA Stretch 90 Leather Wedge Heel Sandals, $1,100, Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com

KHAITE The Seneca Wedge Sandal, $920, Norwalk; nordstrom.com

1 ISABEL MARANT Coria Metallic Leather Cargo Shorts, $1,890, Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com // 2 ALTUZARRA Kandoro Dress, $3,995; altuzarra.com

3 CYNTHIA ROWLEY Chrome Vegan Leather Dress, $425, Greenwich; cynthiarowley.com // 4 ZARA Minimal Flap Shoulder Bag, $39.90, Greenwich, Norwalk; zara.com 5 PACO RABANNE Heart-Paillette Mini Skirt, $2,250; modaoperandi.com

TORY BURCH

Award winning Color Salon, Day Spa and Barber Shop committed to our clients, beauty team and sustainability. Offering traditional, natural and organic services and products. Professional experts in what we do making you look and feel great.

Fashion Week Key Hairstylist Lead and owner of Artistex Salon & Spa brings fashion week trends to Westport. Follow @OdeteDasilvaHair to see the latest trends this season as she leads her FW team backstage during NYFW, London Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week F/W'23. Photo Credit: @KristinaStaalPhotography

EMDR Therapy

Patients can process trauma with a SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUE

WHAT IS EMDR?

EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a therapeutic intervention that allows clients to hone in on a traumatic event while concurrently experiencing bilateral stimulation. Memory recall, combined with this type of left- and right-body engagement has been correlated with a decrease in the intensity of emotions associated with trauma. EMDR has helped people recover from symptoms related to PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, addictions and numerous other disrupting symptoms.

Psychologist and educator, Francine Shapiro, pioneered the technique in 1987 after she found herself walking in a park and noticing that eye movements seemingly lessened the intensity of her emotions as they pertained to her own troubling memories. Thus, her extensive research began, and not long after, Shapiro was able to prove that bilateral stimulation and eye movements had the power to provide immense relief to those plagued with a variety of emotional struggles.

We spoke to psychotherapist Elissa Stein, the founder and director of The Riverwalk Group in Stamford, to learn more about EMDR and how it enhances her ability to treat clients.

WHAT WAS EMDR TRAINING LIKE, AND DID YOU HAVE ANY HESITATION AT FIRST?

I learned EMDR in 2009 as part of my trauma certification from ICP (Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy). To be completely honest, at first, I thought maybe I had lost my mind a little…this was so foreign compared to anything else I had ever done before. I was learning this odd technique that I really didn’t know anything about. After I began to understand more about the history and the efficacy of EMDR, I became very interested. It was a different modality than those I had used in the past, but I was open to trying it. EMDR has since become an invaluable tool for many of my clients. Part of the training is that you have to try it yourself. I not only did that, but then also went on to do it privately and had a lot of my own interesting and successful experiences. I would never be able to practice EMDR as much as I do, if I didn’t completely believe in it. The evidence for its success is overwhelming, and, because of EMDR, so many people are getting help and feeling better.

WHAT METHODS DID YOU USE PRIOR TO LEARNING EMDR, AND HOW HAS IT CHANGED THE WAY YOU PRACTICE?

Prior to my EMDR training, I focused mostly on relational talk therapy after having done postgraduate work in marriage and family therapy at The Family Institute of Westchester. I found myself working with so many people dealing with trauma and decided I needed to learn more, so I began my education in the world of Integrative Trauma Therapy, which has definitely changed the way I work. I now have a very different lens and incorporate EMDR and other trauma modalities and techniques when working with individuals and couples. Each case is unique. Sometimes I combine techniques and modalities, and sometimes I do straight EMDR; it really depends on the circumstance. Trauma therapy is not one-stop shopping.

About Elissa Stein

When Elissa isn’t working with clients, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, practicing yoga, reading, writing and hiking with her dog Yoda. She collects heart-shaped rocks and believes in the healing power of a good belly laugh. The Riverwalk Group is located at 666 Glenbrook Road in Stamford. For more information, visit theriverwalkgroup.com

HOW DO YOU PREPARE A CLIENT FOR AN EMDR SESSION?

I always do an initial assessment to see if someone is a candidate. Not everyone is. Sometimes people need preparation before doing the deeper work of going inside, which is what EMDR is all about. If EMDR seems like it could be a good fit for the client and situation, I will explain a little bit about the history of the treatment and the specific protocol that is used. I might show them the actual EMDR machine and talk to them about why I’m suggesting this technique. Then we generally do some work to prepare to begin EMDR, which could take anywhere from one to three sessions. I’m also happy to answer any questions the client may have prior to starting the process.

WHY IS EMDR SO EFFECTIVE FOR TRAUMA RECOVERY?

My experience has been that the mechanism of using bilateral stimulation creates an opening for a different kind of work than that of talk therapy. It helps the brain integrate information on both the right and left sides of the brain. Once this information has been fully integrated, someone can generally process their trauma more thoroughly.

EMDR allows people to get to a deeper layer, do more meaningful work and make connections they may not have made otherwise. I think it’s an invaluable tool for some. It is more of an inside experience as opposed to an external experience, and clients are able to access a subconscious place within themselves. The desensitization part means that the memory is lessened, so if someone starts off at a rating of nine out of ten, the hope is that their number will keep coming down as they move through the process. The reprocessing step involves pulling up the memory and experiencing it again with the bilateral simulation. This step helps the brain to absorb and download the information in a different kind of way. In trauma, there is often a freeze response, because the brain can’t fully process what is happening. This can cause someone to sort of get stuck, even in a subconscious

way. Sometimes during an EMDR session people will remember certain details that they weren’t consciously aware of before. The other thing I find fascinating is that in addition to all that EMDR does, it often helps people make connections in ways that aren’t obviously relevant. It can help someone at age fifty to process something that happened at age ten and to realize why they do things the way they do.

CAN EMDR BE USED FOR ANY SITUATIONS THAT ARE CAUSING STRESS, EVEN IF THE SCENARIO MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY SEEM TEXTBOOK “TRAUMATIC?”

Yes, absolutely. EMDR can be used for phobias and anxiety; it’s definitely not just for PTSD. In the trauma community, we use the language that there are capital “T” traumas and lowercase “t” traumas. Some of us have capital “T” trauma, and all of us have lowercase “t” trauma. Whether someone went through something horrific like an assault or an accident or has memories of being horribly bullied, shamed by a teacher or being cut from a sport or a play—all of these things can feel overwhelming. The definition of trauma is “an overwhelming experience to the mind and body,” and while situations might vary in intensity, EMDR can help ease a wide chasm of struggles.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN EMDR BUT APPREHENSIVE ABOUT SEEKING TREATMENT?

Over the past few years, my practice has received more calls inquiring about EMDR than ever before. I’d suggest speaking to a trained EMDR therapist to inquire about the process and gain a better understanding of the treatment. I’d also advise asking a lot of questions. EMDR is a different approach; and even though it’s become more common in recent years, people often have a lot that they are wondering about and are looking for a safe space to get information and answers. More details can also be found online at emdria.org.

The effects of a traumatic event are the trauma that happens inside you as the result of that event. It’s what happens because of what happened. EMDR helps us understand and helps that part inside that carries the trauma, to regain balance.

—ELISSA STEIN, PSYCHOTHERAPIST, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE RIVERWALK GROUP IN STAMFORD

left: Karlan says this 1920s wood dove cove in the style of a pagoda could be brought inside for decorative purposes. below: Blue is in resurgence, here in the form of accent pillows and a montage of latenineteenth-century Chinese export

Just in Time ANTIQUES

that work in today's homes

by suzanne gannon // photographs by garvin burke

On a recent January morning, Carey Karlan alights from an imported sedan in the parking lot of Stamford’s Antique & Artisan Gallery, a watering hole whose pilgrims arrive from all over the tristate area and beyond. In a houndstooth jacket suitable for hunting foxes in the Scottish Highlands, and with a leather tote ubiquitous among decorators for the easy access it provides to fabric swatches and paint chips, she appears ready for another kind of hunt.

After assessing the outdoor display— garden statuary, bronze armillaries, sundials with patina, fluted concrete urns, a cast-iron Victorian settee—Karlan pulls open the doors

of the 22,000-square-foot emporium owned by Mari Ann Maher and Bruce Wylie, veterans of the antique and auction worlds. With an air of conspiratorial impishness, the decorator shares her strategy.

“First I sweep,” she says, encapsulating in three words how she’ll cast her eye about the airplane hangar of tangible sentiments, taking a preliminary inventory of what’s for sale. “The second pass is for focus,” wherein she homes in on the baubles that excite her fancy. “It’s just like dating,” she says. “First you swipe, then you take a closer look.”

Whether she’s bringing a client back from the brink of death-by-Benjamin-Moore-fan-deck

of the fringe on a Chesterfield sofa, she can bundle up the decorating sensibility of an entire decade, or the signature motif of a particular period, into a single clarifying statement that is authoritative but not bossy, reassuring but not pandering. And in a profession where editing is essential and aesthetic telegraphy indispensable, her striking ability to distill a reverberating truth into a clever aphorism serves her well.

On offer, for instance, might be a commentary on when the cabbage rose bloomed, why cocktail tables became vast stages for adult picture books and Buddha heads rather than places where highballs linger on coasters, or how an industry-wide fascination with saturated color faded.

“And then yellow was banished,” quips the self-proclaimed lover of “all the greens, from limey to acid.” She is explaining the disappearance, for example, in the mid-’80s, of Grey Poupon from the walls of drawing-roomsof-distinction as if by despotic decree. “After

left: The entry to The Antique and Artisan Gallery below: Karlan shops for handsome hardcover books to fill shelves.

that, it was Planet Beige,” an alien outpost of numbing neutrality that she believes has only recently begun to show signs of, ahem, color— again. But not before a sustained reign of gray.

Spry and petite, the Darien-based designer crisscrosses the floor, cutting through alleys delineating discrete dealer vignettes that together showcase both the canon of decorative styles and the narrow purview of individual fetishes. Her stylish suede booties are already proving their mettle.

Amidst Federal-style Girandole mirrors embellished with giltwood eagles and intricately painted Chinoiserie chests on bun feet, she spies a curvaceous, statement-making Biedermeier chaise. With its scrolled arms and feet shaped like cornucopia baskets, she muses that the asymmetrical lounger would make an interesting installation in a bay window or a foyer, requiring nothing other than a tiny table.

“It’s an object of art, a piece of sculpture.” The graphically patterned blue and white upholstery, she adds, has a contemporizing effect. “I’m always looking for something that no one else has, that’s unique, not mass-produced.”

Inside one of the gallery’s many simulated libraries, Karlan shares some tricks. Busts work well on bookshelves, as do brass bookends, and unexpected accessories like metal ice buckets and candleholders, and anything else that adds interest and sheen. In an age of lost books, she believes paperbacks are more appealing than no books at all. Framed art—landscapes, portraits—is attractive when hung in front of books or propped against the back of the case.

Her eye roams. A mirror adorned with antlers could double as a perch for hats in a mud room; a Chippendale-style settee would wake up with modern batik pillows; and glassware available in nearly every shape and color presents an opportunity to add pleasure to a room. (Shopping for tabletop essentials is a frequent assignment).

Delighting the eye is the overarching objective of this self-described purveyor of an eclectic, collected look—with detectable French-antique and English-cottage influences—that mixes color and texture into schemes that often incorporate, mercifully, her curated selection of her client’s existing pieces.

glassware as a way of introducing color into an otherwise neutral kitchen or dining room. left: The Biedermeier chaise is, the designer says, “a work of art.”

right: Silver pieces like these double as vases for floral arrangements and shiny objet decor.

right: Antlers, horns, skulls, and taxidermy add a naturalworld dimension to interiors and can often be drafted for another purpose. Here they serve as hooks for hats. below: This accent pillow is headed to a client’s home.

COOL AND CALM

If the ten-dealer gallery in Stamford is highoctane overwhelm, then Westport’s serene Eleish Van Breems boutique, known for its selective importation of Swedish antiques and modern objet decor, is an invitation to slow down and savor spare arrangements. Eighteenth-century Swedish case clocks lovingly painted in the pale pigments derived from Scandinavia’s abundant natural resources are juxtaposed with newer acquisitions, including a spindly Trident floor lamp whose pliable stems are wrapped in leather, and a snuggly pair of Fritz Hansen lounge chairs from the 1940s—stained-beech legs, lambswool upholstery.

Karlan appreciates the contrast, gravitating toward a massive, nineteenth-century Swedish clock secretary that presides over the back room of the store. While its height requires high ceilings, she says its shallow depth makes it serviceable almost anywhere, particularly in a kitchen or a family room.

“It’s a fabulous command post,” she says, gamely demonstrating the furniture’s many features, including a desk that folds out, a plethora of secret compartments, and cupboard doors where one could post—and then conceal —school calendars and party invitations.

Then an array of English and Swedish steamers and molds for elaborate cakes and puddings captures her attention. The quaint shapes evoke a time when life moved more slowly—when one could wait for an aspic to set. Grouped in a small collection, they fill a kitchen with a hearty glow Julia Child would covet, and on a cabinet or in a bookcase, they deliver a chic gleam.

Carey Karlan is an Oklahoma native born into a tradition of decorating rooms and arranging freshly cut flowers. She ventured north to Trinity College and then spent a decade in television advertising sales before departing to raise five children. Along the way, she attracted a steady stream of friends and acquaintances who asked her to furnish their homes with the same taste they admired in hers. Then, after sewing window treatments and tablecloths, re-doing numerous living rooms and libraries, working retail, and studying at the New York School of Interior Design, Karlan established the award-winning Last Detail Interior Design.

At the helm of her own firm for more than twenty years, she has found both her creative bliss and her niche of excellence: designing a few rooms at a time, usually on the main level, all the while building client relationships that span many years—and many homes—from Greenwich to Nantucket and from New York

left: Brisbane shelving in walnut. Green glass bowls from Empoli, Italy. Two pitchers from the 1970s, one by Paul McCobb, the other a Swiss import; Louis Poulsen’s Panthella mini table lamp in opal. right: This Swedish clock qualifies as storage, workspace, timekeeper and statement-piece.

with candleholder.

German Baroque, etched mirrored glass with candleholder.

This montage of nineteenth-century copper molds epitomizes the re-purposing of shiny copper implements once used in a scullery into decorative artists of interest on a library shelf.

to Naples. When finishing a space, she sometimes pulls into a client’s driveway trailed by a truck loaded with ceramic lamps and antique vases, accent pillows and English pottery, side chairs with rush seats and hand-painted tilt tables. The pieces can be auditioned inside—and purchased if they work—or trotted back to the curb if they don’t.

“It’s occasionally glamorous and very thrilling,” she says of her work, dispensing yet another lesson in concision, this time one that embodies her very own opus maximus.

On the Hunt in Fairfield County

From the CLASSIC TO THE QUIRKY, these markets have it all

AVERY & DASH

A helicopter is recommended for exploring the breadth and depth of wares on offer at Avery & Dash (averydash.com), a glamorous hypermarket meticulously curated by father and son Edward and Nicholas Savard. Located on Stamford’s design strip, the warehouse comprises 23,000 square feet of paintings, prints, porcelain, silver, and fine furniture, much of it from the family’s own collections.

FAIRFIELD COUNTY ANTIQUE & DESIGN CENTER

If you’ve got only a few hours to spare before lunch any day of the week, duck into Norwalk’s Fairfield County Antique & Design Center (fairfieldantiqueanddesign.com) where a humble exterior belies the fun contained within. Upon entry, browsers encounter an intimate shopping experience deliciously heavy on quirk and thematic creativity. (The floor is regularly trolled by set designers from Hollywood— surprise!)

Open since 2014, the space consists of 12,000 square feet and more than forty dealers who peddle furniture, art, decorative objects and jewelry from a slew of periods and genres. Notables on a recent visit include a Shaker rocker, its original woven seat intact (JB Richardson Gallery); a pair of bobbinturned corner chairs and matching table in pristine condition (Andrew Stark); a Qing Dynasty blue-on-celadon vase and covered jar (MTE Antiques); and dainty, ebonized Chinoiserie side chairs embellished with mother-of-pearl inlays (Ryan Matthew Cohn).

The curiosities, and the re-purposing of old objects as new art, titillate the senses. DC Kingswood obliges taxidermy fiends with mounted stags, grounded pheasants and piles of turtle shells and alligator heads. The aforementioned Cohn, a self-described purveyor of oddities, offers spooky bisque and leather articulated dolls and industrial spotlights with thick green lenses likely useful after a prison break, while Tiny French Flea’s corner stall features a pale pink aviary tall enough to accommodate a Saugatuck River egret. The divine symmetry of industrial design is on display in Lost Found Art’s perforated brewery crates and golf-ball molds turned into art and mirrors. Steel Petanque balls would bring heft to a console table or a bocce court.

From the hovercraft, the binoculars could rest on many a prize: a pair of porcelain plates in leaf form made by Mary Kirk Kelly with a spring luncheon in mind (Antiquarian at Greenwich); a pair of Modigliani-inspired blown-glass figures designed by Walter Furlan and made on Murano by his son, Mario (Antique Soul); and a compact, lollipopred storage trolley on castors by midcentury design-futurist Joe Colombo that could brighten even the dreariest day in the WFH age (Nicholas Savard).

Worthy of a helipad landing: A late nineteenth-century locking liquor enclosure known as a tantalus and named for the Greek king condemned by Zeus to a fate of perpetual thirst whilst standing in a pool of water he could not drink. (Tantalus, in other words, was tantalized.) This etchedcrystal example, with its Aesthetic Movement essence and ornate, bronzedore detail, would likely have had the same effect on the parched monarch. For sale by Rita Fusaro Antiques, it features four gilded decanters and matching glasses—and of course a lock and key. The other show-stopper: an ebonized 1930s cocktail cabinet for sale by Nicholas Savard—demilune in shape, with interior mirrors. Think Greta Garbo ordering a whisky with a ginger ale on the side. Just don’t be stingy, baby.

left: The clock's exterior paint is made from pigments derived from the natural elements of Scandinavian soil. Made in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, they are restored to working order, though not set when on display in the store so that guests can shop in peace.

left: A few finds from Eleish Van Breems to try out in a client's home.

right: Swedish case clocks, either embellished with details or austere, have become one of the signatures of

Assisted,

FRESH TAKE

COLOR COMBOS TO GIVE YOUR KITCHEN NEW LIFE THIS YEAR

Early spring! You know what that means. The flowers will begin to emerge— and homeowners might feel the urge to freshen up the look of their homes. That doesn’t mean they’re all doing renovations. A change can have impact without being a major project; switching up the color in jus one room could do the trick. Take, for example, the kitchen. Everyone, including visitors and party guests, loves to gather in this room. So, when we reached out to Anna MacDonald, color and design sales associate for Ring’s End, we asked her to suggest colors to try in the kitchen.

by diane sembrot

“When choosing kitchen cabinet colors, it’s important to consider the kitchen’s natural stone and tile elements—like the backsplash and countertops,” she says. “We want to select a paint color that works with and enhances those features. We continue to see customers selecting deep hues for their kitchen cabinets, for all of them, or just the island or a section of cabinetry, like the refrigerator wall or coffee nook.”

One color, in particular, seems to be enjoying the spotlight these days. “Among the recent more commonly used colors is deep green,” MacDonald says, “such as Benjamin Moore’s

Narragansett Green, Salamander, Hidden Falls or Amazon Green, and Farrow & Ball’s Green Smoke or Studio Green.”

She adds that she might understand why people are attracted to this earthy color now. “As customers continue to incorporate more organic elements in their décor, these deep greens coordinate nicely with natural wood tones and seagrass elements. They also work well with a wide variety of architectural hardware options in gold, steel or nickel tones. And, of course, green looks great with traditional white.”

Farrow & Ball’s Green Smoke 47 Farrow & Ball’s Studio Green 93

above: The bold new look around the house this year is rich, earthy green.

Benjamin Moore’s Narragansett Green HC-157

Benjamin Moore’s Hidden Falls 714

Benjamin Moore’s Salamander 2050-10

Benjamin Moore’s Amazon Green 2136-30

EARTHY SHADES OF GREEN

FINDING BALANCE

HOME DESIGN FROM THE HEART, WITH NANCY GALASSO

by

senses what feels right. This home’s design is solid without bringing in intrusive heaviness, and that type of balance takes a professional’s training and years of experience to master.

While the living room has the smooth coolness of stone, the bar area is a warmer earth tone. The floor-to-ceiling cabinetry is awash in a creamy white with a shimmery backsplash with floating shelves and a strip of light underneath each one. It’s well lit, enough to see what you’re doing at this work station, yet it’s a luxe glow, like a sunset.

The kitchen blends all of these elements for a cohesive feel. Here are the mix of neutrals, the shiny backsplash, the shelves, the rich and creamy colors of the walls, ceiling and cabinetry. What did the client most want from the project? “The client wanted to update the kitchen of a home that they recently purchased to fit the need of their lifestyle,” she says. “First steps were getting to know the client and see how they lived and how they wanted to use the space.”

Ultimately, the kitchen was renovated, with the butlers pantry included, and the fireplaces were upgraded with new marble.

Of the entire project, she says, “The biggest change was the kitchen—making it lighter and brighter.” It was worth it, because the clients were happy. “The loved the way the kitchen was light and how it all flowed with the family room.”

Galasso is not surprised that the kitchen makeover had such an impact. Many clients dream about it. “We find that the kitchen/ family room concept is always the first thing that people want to do,” she says, “to make life easier on a day-to-day basis.”

Westporter Nancy Galasso has been a professional interior designer for twenty-five years; for fifteen of those years, she served as a senior designer at Lillian August. Now she heads her own interior design firm: Nancy Galasso Interiors (nancygalassointeriors.com). Her projects take her to New York City, Los Angeles, the Bahamas and other beautiful places—including nearby towns. For example, we asked her about one of her projects in Ridgefield (above). She and

Richard Cerrone created the interior design for the home and Mary-Beth Oliver of Karen Berkemeyer Home worked on the cabinets and tiles in the kitchen. Galasso worked with decorative paint finishers for the walls in both the kitchen and the family room.

In this suburban project, the mix of stone, shades of gray, blue-grays and cool white, and the thick glass of the coffee table in the living room have grounding effect. It’s a feeling, which is part of Galasso’s approach to projects—she

She knows what her clients want, generally, too. Calling on her fifteen years at Lillian August, she uses the experience to influence her work now. “I learned to work with so many personalities and on all jobs big and small,” she says. Before diving into a project, she learns about them. This way, she can deliver results that not only make an impression, but also make living in—that is, using—the rooms better. “I really want to get to know my clients and how they want to live in their home,” she explains. “Lifestyles are important.”

That applies to changes at her own home, too. “I will be adding a new sunroom and veranda in the next year,” she says. “I’m very excited about that.”

diane sembrot // photography by tim lenz

left: The new kitchen awash in shades of white and different levels of sheen right, top: The tiles are an eye-catching and attractive addition to the room. right, below: The well-lit butler's pantry in soft white

BREEZY RE-DO

GET THE COASTAL LOOK

WHY IT ENDURES

“It’s like comfort food for the eyes. Bright, yet warm and inviting. An interior space that is still connected to nature.”

MAKE IT WORK

“Lots of light and windows. Plus, you always want to see the water! Soft color tones with the additional warmth of wood completes the look and feel desired.”

Few things are as calming as the gentle swoosh of waves lapping the shore. One frontrunner that brings the feeling indoors, though, is a recent Westport project by designer Iris Michaels with Karen Berkemeyer Home (karenberkemeyerhomecom). It captures the siren song of coastal properties—the fresh air, the use of soft white, the mix of shades of blue, seaglass green, rich cream and earthy brown—including the natural wood floors and woven chairs. In total, the look settles one’s pulse as fast as a deep breath. If all that weren’t enough to charm, consider that the home is just a five-minute stroll from the beach.

Michaels brought open space to her redesign of the kitchen, bar and TV and eating areas. She placed the

table in the center and arranged other areas for efficient use. The result? Uncluttered rooms that are unfussy.

“The client requested an open layout for the kitchen, while adding other amenities such as a large bar, a table to seat six, and the inclusion of a door to the exterior deck,” she says. “The main work centered around the use of generous amounts of windows, the addition of the exterior door and the reassigning of typical wall cabinet function to base cabinetry, most notably large drawer bases.”

To ensure the project’s success, the designer collaborated closely with the client. Some of the details even became her favorite parts of the project: “Keeping a soft color palette on the island cabinetry

and those on the perimeter, while also incorporating various warm tones in the floor, chairs and bar top. Also, I love the open pantry with three sides of cabinet storage, floating shelves and counter space,” she says.

Speaking more generally of her design work, she says that good communication with the client is invaluable. “The challenge is always to deliver a design and product which addresses the wants and needs of the individual client, with no surprises,” she says. “As a kitchen designer, the two most satisfying aspects of my work are to have clients thrilled with their project, and to have that project result in a beautiful kitchen. In this design, I think both were achieved.”

TIMELESS ELEMENTS

“Cabinets that are simple in design, tall ceilings, and as much visual access to the beautiful exterior as possible. Inclusion of design details suggesting nature such as the blue petals in the backsplash also complements the beachy feel. And having a spectacular view of the water certainly helps.”

OPTION TO TRY

“Adding warm tones to a soft color palette, and the addition of large drawer bases, in lieu of cabinet doors.”

THE SECRETS OF A FRESH AND CALM COASTAL RENOVATION by diane sembrot // photographs by tim lenz

above: The interior design has a soothing blend of colors and natural elements

Our Mission

The mission of Breast Cancer Alliance is to improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer through better prevention, early detection, treatment and cure.

To promote these goals, we invest in innovative research, breast surgery fellowships, regional education, dignified support and screening for the underserved.

To learn more visit breastcanceralliance.org

Breast Cancer Alliance, 48 Maple Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 info@breastcanceralliance.org

Yonni Wattenmaker, Executive Director

breastcanceralliance @BCAllianceCT @breastcanceralliance

e Westy Mission

Settling In

The home INTERSTATE + LAKELAND open a new center in Westport

by diane sembrot

Ijust love the Levitt Pavilion,” says Shelly Kahan. “It’s a great place.” As the owner of Interstate + Lakeland, which recently opened a new center/showroom in Westport, he speaks like a proud local, complete with a genuine smile crossing his face.

Clearly, he’s recalling good times listening to live music along the Saugatuck. He also lived the good life in town for many years, and the emotional attachment remains. He also poured that heart into this new center, which reflects the town’s taste for the slightly edgy/urban and a contemporary feel, which is expressed in abundant natural light, bright white walls, a minimalism for displays, and high ceilings with dark steel beams. It’s chic with a loft feel.

The story of his business is told in his book, Custom-Made Customer Driven. His grandfather, Leon, started it in 1922 in Greenwich. Leon brought in his sons Jack and Herb in 1945. Jack’s son, Sheldon (a.k.a. Shelly) started in 1978. The family business was deeply rooted by that third generation. Under Shelly, Interstate + Lakeland Lumber has grown, infused with a sense of place and purpose and values that have passed through the generations. The family enterprise is now on its fourth generation, having long bested the arguable belief that family businesses do not endure beyond the founders. This one has not only survived, but also thrived, evidenced in the new footprint in Westport.

We asked Shelly a few questions in between meeting local builders, architects, suppliers and design professionals.

You have a design center in Greenwich. What made you decide to come to Westport?

You know, Westport is a very special town to me. I lived in Westport for close to thirty years, raised my family here. So I know from experience what an amazing place this is. It’s a community that demands the best, and that’s exactly what we’re going to provide. I was out with one of our salesmen, and he suggested we find a little space to establish a presence in town, show off our millwork capabilities. I drove around looking for that little space but didn’t find anything that felt right. What I did find, though, was a big space. The wonderful owners of Torno Hardware were looking to start their next chapter away from the business, and I knew the future of Interstate was here. Bringing my family business to the town I raised my family in? It was a no-brainer.

How is the Westport center unique?

There’s never been a design center like the one we’ve built in Westport, I guarantee it. When it comes to the variety and caliber of products we have on display, the Interstate Design Center is second to none. For this new Design Center, we wanted it to communicate the clean, smooth aesthetics of modern architecture. This stands in contrast to our Greenwich space, which has more of a traditional focus with its wooden floors and ceiling. Our Design Centers are spaces where people can come in and truly envision what their home could be like.

Who was the architect?

The architects were Jim Margeotes,

above: Windows on display in the two-floor center recently opened in Westport

above: Display of hardware below: Ribbon cutting at the new center in Westport

left: Displays of moldings of many variations below: A selection of doors to choose from

Cormac Byrne and Kristin Rinaldi at Jones Byrne Margeotes Partners Architecture. And the construction was done by the fantastic builders at A.V. Tuchy. Interstate wouldn’t be where we are today without the great builders and architects who we were incredibly fortunate to get to work with.

You have a degree from Carnegie Mellon in architecture. So, you must have been involved in the design of the Westport center? That’s right, my first love was architecture. When I left Carnegie Mellon, I had a job all lined up at an architecture firm. But my father and uncle who were running Interstate at the time gave me a better offer to come to Interstate and see how I liked it. The rest, as they say, is history. But I never lost that love of architecture. Whether it was our Greenwich Design Center, the

homes I’ve lived in, the Westport Design Center, I always like to get involved with the design process. But we worked with some truly incredible architects at JBMP, and you always have to let the experts work their magic.

Highlights of the design center? There are so many amazing things about this Design Center, it’s taking me a minute just to narrow it down. On the lower level, we have window displays from some of the finest window manufacturers in the country. The Marvin Skycove display, a new glass structure that projects into the open air, is especially worth seeking out. And upstairs we have our architectural hardware displays. We’re proud to have put together the largest selection of luxury handles, knobs, and locks in the region. And you can also get a taste of Interstate’s

custom moulding with our moulding profile wall, which showcases the most popular moulding profiles from our classic architecture and modern design lines.

Is it open to just designers, builders, etc., or also the general public?

The Interstate Design Center welcomes everyone looking to enhance their home. We want to be a resource for all the homeowners of Westport and the surrounding area to come in and get expert guidance and building product knowledge. We’re so excited about the space and the team we’ve put together in Westport, and we hope it can be a real destination for builders, designers, architects and homeowners in Fairfield County.

Tell me about your beautiful conference table!

This conference table is really something else. It’s made from the wood of a copper beech tree that was planted by Teddy Roosevelt at the end of the nineteenth century. The tree had to be cut down, and the Roosevelt Foundation commissioned us to create a series of tables and desks out of the wood. They were gracious enough to let us keep enough of the wood to create

the amazing conference table that graces the Interstate Design Center. The amazing craftsmen at our Custom Mill Shop got to work and created the one-of-a-kind table you see today.

Favorite thing about Westport?

Without a doubt, my favorite thing in Westport are the concerts at the Levitt Pavilion. The free concerts during the summer especially. It’s such a fantastic space, and they do such a great job bringing the community together to enjoy so many great acts. Even before we opened our Westport location, we’ve been a longtime sponsor of the Levitt Pavilion. There’s no better way to spend a Saturday evening in summer than a trip to the Pavilion to hear some great music.

Anything else to add?

We'd like everyone to know how thrilled we are to be in Westport. It’s a great town, and we want to be a business that lives up to the quality that Westport deserves. Interstate has supplied building materials for builders in Connecticut and New York for one hundred years, and we can’t wait to share that century of knowledge and expertise with Westport’s builders, architects, designers and homeowners.

above: The conference table, made of a tree planted by Teddy Roosevelt PHOTOGRAPHY

go

Turning the Page

With spring nearly upon us, warmer weather is fast approaching. What better time to expand your reading list? From a fashion designer’s debut and two heartwarming novels to a lovable heroine and a Nordic crime thriller, you won’t want to miss these FIVE STANDOUT TITLES

by emily liebert

EMBRACING THE CALM IN THE CHAOS

BY STACY IGEL

In this captivating business-guide-meetsleadership-manifesto, fashion designer Stacy Igel—founder of the global impact brand BOY MEETS GIRL®— takes readers on her twenty-year journey of building her company from the ground up, while raising a family and overcoming the daily challenges that women entrepreneurs face. She talks about: conquering discouragement; what it’s like to hire and fire employees; collaborations with celebrities and philanthropic organizations; and the ins and out of negotiating deals and partnerships. Through Igel’s story, along with insights gleaned from her colleagues and friends, she also covers topics such as, how to remain authentic, make a difference, celebrate every milestone, protect your assets and stand out in a competitive marketplace.

FOR HER CONSIDERATION BY AMY

SPALDING

Nina Rice has written off romance. And friends. And her dream of scriptwriting for TV—all thanks to her devastating breakup three years ago. Now, safely ensconced at her aunt’s condo, working her talent agency job from home, a surprise meeting called by Ari Fox, a young breakout actress, reawakens all sorts of feelings Nina thought she’d left behind. Not to mention that Ari is a hot commodity, she’s out and proud, and she’s also a total control freak who encourages Nina to start writing again. The question is: Is Ari flirting with Nina? A relationship with a movie star is surely something she’ll mess up. But could it be worth the risk? Brimming with passion and tenderness, this book proves that unexpected love can last.

GEORGIE, ALL ALONG BY

KATE CLAYBORN

As a longtime personal assistant, Georgie Mulcahy has always put everyone else ahead of herself. But when unforeseen turmoil sends her away from her job in L.A. and back to her hometown, she’s forced to confront the fact that her own desires have consistently taken a back seat. When a “friendfic” diary she wrote as a teenager resurfaces, she realizes there were so many possibilities she once imagined for her life, and it becomes a guidebook for starting on a new path. Only her plan is averted as soon as she comes face to face with an unwelcome roommate—one-time town troublemaker and current town hermit, Levi Fanning. Yet, in a bewildering turn of events, Levi actually offers to help Georgie find her way and, in doing so, they begin to let go of the pasts that are holding them back from pursuing what’s right in front of them.

YOU WILL NEVER BE FOUND BY

TOVE ALSTERDA

In the chilling second installment of the High Coast Series, residents of the small town of Malmberget are being relocated as the mine that built the town swallows it street by street into a huge pit they call “the hole.” When two workers hear a sound coming from a basement, they find a petrified man curled up in a corner. At the same time, in Ådalen, 700 kilometers away, police officer Eira Sjödin is investigating the disappearance of a man. Along with her colleagues, Eira searches his apartment, contacts his friends and family, and questions local hospitals, but the man is untraceable. She understands the pain of loss, as her own mother has dementia and, as a result, loses herself in an affair with GG— who’s twenty years her senior and her boss… until he goes missing and Eira is at the mercy of a mysterious perpetrator and an undeniable love.

FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN

BY ELLE COSIMANO

Beloved heroine Finlay Donovan is back. And now she’s dealing with dating and diapers as a single mom (and author). Of course she’s still dodging bullets too. After she and her nanny/ partner-in-crime Vero mistakenly destroyed a luxury car that they “borrowed” while saving Finlay’s ex-husband’s life, the Russian mob got her out of debt. But now she owes them big time. Mob boss Feliks tasks Finlay with finding a contract killer before the police do. Only one small issue: The killer might be an officer. Fortunately, hot cop Nick has started a citizen’s police academy and pressure from both Finlay’s looming book deadline and Feliks convinces her and Vero to dive in. Through firearm training and forensic classes, Finlay and Vero have the smokescreen to track down the real criminal and evade the mob's grasp.

Bite of Bliss

Treats from THE CHEESECAKE COLLECTION

It started with baklava. Anthoula Pantoz had been making it for years for her family’s restaurant, but when the restaurant was sold around the same time, The Cheesecake Factory in Westport closed, Pantoz saw an opportunity. What if she married the fun, over-the-top cake decorating style she was seeing on social media, to the best homemade cheesecakes? The Banging Baklava was born.

Today the Westport resident is baking and decorating a growing selection of trendy and traditional cheesecakes out of a professional kitchen in Norwalk (owned by Rebel Daughter Cookies). They are available for pickup and delivery (thecheesecakecollection.com)

Cheesecake is sensitive. To create a light creamy texture, the custard is gently baked in a hot water bath, then cooled in an ice bath. Pantoz and her husband, Chef Hercules of Southport Diner, tested many recipes before discovering the right balance for their New York–style cakes (the secret: a bit of Greek yogurt lightens the cream cheese). The result is a smooth filling that isn’t too dense.

Strawberry Glaze is the most popular traditional cake. Fab Ferrerro, a

by elizabeth keyser

chocolate-hazelnut cheesecake decorated with an explosion of European chocolate-hazelnut confections and crisp chocolate-covered wafers, is the most popular trendy cake.

New on the menu is the Basque Burnt, a crustless (gluten-free) cheesecake cooked at a high temperature just long enough to rise and form caramelized sides and top. After baking, the puffy top sinks invitingly. It needs no decoration.

The ten-inch cakes serve twelve to sixteen people, the eight-inch serve eight to ten—plus, the cakes freeze well. Four-inch mini cakes are also popular for parties. When Pantoz appears at pop-ups, she often sells the cakes by the slice. “I love the interaction with the customers,” she says, “I missed that after my parents sold the restaurant”—Atlantic Pizza in Stamford. She also will bake to order and offers an invaluable tip on how to slice a cheesecake (dip the knife in a glass of hot water before slicing).

Decorating is her other favorite part of The Cheesecake Collection. Her creativity has been unleashed. “My teenage daughters say, ‘Wow, Mom, that looks really great!’ ”

left: Fab Ferrerro, the most popular trendy cake right: Strawberry Glaze is the most popular traditional cake

people&PLACES

Make the Connection

The biennial Crystal Ball was beautiful and even enchanted its guests with a touch of magic. The event, after all, was a Cirque des Etoiles celebration—the creative and collaborative effort of Greater Fairfield County Foundation, Inc., and Fairfield County (CT) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. The formal fundraiser, held at The Greenwich Hyatt for the first time since 2018, supports the organization’s community projects and academic scholarship program for the under-resourced people throughout Fairfield County. At the event, members recognized the career accomplishments of two African Americans: first, Cheryl McKissack Daniel, president and CEO of McKissack and McKissack—the nation’s oldest minority- and woman-owned design and construction company; second, Malcolm Lee, acclaimed film director, writer, and producer, who was honored as one of the most bankable filmmakers in Hollywood. The not-for-profit organization has nearly 300 chapters across the country, the Bahamas and the U.K., with the shared purpose of promoting the culture and economic progress of African Americans and other people of African ancestry. See more at thefairfieldcountylinks.org. »

1 Dr. Shuana Tucker-Sims, national vice president of The Links, Inc., flanked by gala cochairs Tanya Clemons (l.) and Valerie Adams Baker, president of The Fairfield County (CT) Chapter of The Links, Inc. (r.) 2 Members of The Fairfield County Chapter twinkling like the evening sky in midnight blue and silver and gold 3 Honorees Mr. Malcolm Lee and Ms. Cheryl McKissack Daniel with U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal 4 Stacy Hyman for corporate sponsor Point 72 and Lynn Sullivan-Harmon 5 Sheryl Battles for corporate sponsor Pitney Bowes 6 Dr. Jackqueline McLean-Markes, The Greater Fairfield County Foundation Board member 7 Yolanda Seals-Coffield for corporate sponsor PWC and Nicole Mitchell for corporate sponsor Spida Cares

CRYSTAL BALL / The Links, Incorporated

Good People

The Person to Person’s Transforming Lives Luncheon was a very tasteful affair. The event included Debra Ponzek, owner of Aux Délices, in conversation with acclaimed chef Lidia Bastianich, to the delight of the more than 350 guests. It raised nearly $240,000 to support the nonprofit organization’s vision of helping people in lower Fairfield County access services and resources, including food and clothing as well as financial coaching and scholarships, to improve their lives. Rev. Dr. Robert Nelson Back of Saint Luke’s Parish in Darien founded Person to Person in 1968 following the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Lurther King, Jr. Now it helps nearly 25,000 people and even runs a pantry and social services mobile unit in Stamford. Moreover, following the Transforming Lives Luncheon, the organization hosted its annual toy drive for some 2,000 children during the holiday season. See more news and events at p2phelps.org. »

1 Lidia Bastianich, best-selling cookbook author, and restaurateur Debra Ponzek of Aux Délices 2 Karen McNair, Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas, Linda Koe, Moira Colangelo, Cynthia Russell and Danielle Blaine 3 Michelle Lappas, event cochair; Lidia Bastianich; and Christina Johnson Wolff, event co-chair 4 Lucia Rilling, Lidia Bastianich and Raenah Farina 5 Polly O’Brien Morrow and Lidia Bastianich

TRANSFORMING LIVES LUNCHEON / Person to Person

Living with Purpose

By doing good work for decades, Rick Amill has made many friends throughout Fairfield County. He has dedicated his time and talent to giving to his community. The fortyfive-year resident of Weston is the past president, and thirty-year member, of the Weston Kiwanis Club and served as a volunteer and leader of the Weston Boy Scouts. He also held volunteer leadership and advisory board roles with Weston Recreation Department, Norwalk Hospital, Connecticut Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, Whittingham Cancer Center, Bridgeport Public Schools, Norwalk Public Schools, Open Doors and Homes with Hope. Amill shared his experience gained in senior leadership roles at Time Inc., Cowles Communications, McGraw-Hill, Random House and MacMillian and founder/President of Learning Supplements, Inc., to make his good changes indelible. To celebrate his life of giving, his family recently hosted a celebration for him, including his friends, at La Plage restaurant at Longshore Inn. W

RICK AMILL / Celebration at La Plage

1 Rick Amill 2 Andy, Sally, Rick and Alex Amill 3 Centerpieces from Compo Farm Florist

4 Bill Brady, Alex Amill, George Moraitis and Rick Amill 5 Carl Urbania, Rick Amill, Tally and Juan Negroni and Sue Urbania 6 Friends and family 7 George Moraitis, Rick Amill and Sean Amill 8 Frank Ferrara and Rick Amill 9 Cake from Old Mill Market 10 Amill Family

11 Andy, Rick and Alex Amill

money matters

BY CAROL LEONETTI DANNHAUSER

INVESTING IN YOUR HOME

a real estate agent with Houlihan Lawrence in Greenwich. “Sellers who did that when Covid came along and there was limited inventory, those houses were primed and ready.”

house,” Mosher says. “You walk in and you don’t have to do any work—insta-house, insta-life.”

You remember what happened to real estate during Covid in 2020. You blinked and—boom!—the house down the road sold for more than you imagined possible. Then you blinked again, and— boom!—another house, then another...

Was your house in for-sale shape?

“I am constantly telling people, don’t wait until you want to sell to do an improvement on your house. Do it as soon as you are able. It’s all about keeping your home current,” says Ellen Mosher,

Mosher is the top-selling residential real estate agent in Connecticut, according to industry tracker RealTrends, so her advice is borne of experience. It’s also what she does in her own home. “I practice what I preach,” says Mosher, who has lived in Old Greenwich for almost thirty years. “Every year I do one or two projects to my house. The key is to stay on top of everything.”

While they can be costly, investments you make in your house today can pay you back down the road. “Buyers across Fairfield County are paying a premium for used homes that have been updated, upgraded and redesigned. Even if you have a 100-year-old house that you’ve completely freshened and updated, they’re selling at a premium. Buyers want the instant

A DEEPER LOOK

Unless you’re planning on staying in your house for the next twenty years, you don’t need a full tear-down and build back to make your house appealing. What, then, makes for a smart upgrade? Assess your house as a potential buyer would to determine what needs attention. Start at the curb, beginning with, yes, the mailbox. Hopefully that “is interesting,” Mosher says. From there, how is your walkway looking? “Great shape,” should be the answer. Next, do you see tidy, low-maintenance landscaping that affords privacy? A recent paint job on the millwork? Good garage doors? Energy-efficient windows? If any of these seem wanting, you know where to start. Before a buyer even enters a house, these first impressions set the tone for what happens next.

Once inside, head to the kitchen and bathrooms. Stainless steel appliances, cabinetry that is

“classic with a nod to modern,” and decor in “neutral tones with pops of color” might be all that you need. And don’t forget to look down. Says Mosher, “A lot of people are updating the floors with wide planks. That’s very in right now.”

Upgrades should be in line with the other homes in your neighborhood. Luxury buyers might expect a home theater, wine cellar and full outdoor kitchen, with bonus points for a generator and electric car chargers. But those costs could be hard to recoup in a neighborhood with a lower price point, Mosher says. No matter. A tidy firepit and outdoor grill area will show buyers that they can enjoy the yard. In the basement, sheet-rocked walls and a finished floor nearly always pays for itself. Should this be a workout space? A gaming room? An office? You don’t need to dictate that, so long as it’s wired and heated. Says Mosher, “People can envision how to use it. You don’t need to do this for them.”

Ellen Mosher

Before you spend time and money making changes to what potential buyers will see, find out what’s lurking out of view. Cracks in your foundation, electrical issues, hidden mold, drainage problems, invisible radon and more can sink a sale (and compromise your health) without warning. To be on the safe side, hire a certified home inspector—even if you’re not selling—to assess your home’s health. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to fix small problems before they get worse.

The designer in front of one of his “Met Gala Gilded Age” paintings at his Westport store, The Collective West.

CHRISTIAN

by jill johnson mann portrait by tim lenz

SIRIANO finds a home for himself and his new store, The Collective West, in fashionable Westport

here seem to be fewer and fewer reasons to jump on a train to New York these days, and designer Christian Siriano is offering Westporters yet another way to indulge in a bite of the Big Apple right here on the Post Road.

In fact, with the opening of his new store, The Collective West, Siriano is enticing Manhattanites like Sarah Jessica Parker and Katie Holmes out to Westport. It’s that cool. For anyone who knows a little about this creative powerhouse, this is no surprise. He’s the most magnetic human being to roam these parts since Paul Newman’s days dazzling us at the Playhouse. And he’s certainly the most important designer to put down roots in our area.

When he moved in next door to Westport mom and philanthropist Andi Sklar, she felt like she had “hit the neighbor lottery.” In addition to bringing the excitement of black SUVs with models spilling out of them for the fashion show the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) designer famously executed in his backyard during the pandemic, Sklar says, “He’s friendly and so funny! And he’s the most generous person.” That Siriano now has a store down the road where she can pop in and buy, say, a blue strapless latex dress—even better. “I wore it to my kids bat mitzvah party and people are still talking to me about it,” she raves.

The Collective West is a “collective”— carrying Siriano’s ready-to-wear collection, accessories, furniture and art, as well as young brands he curates himself. The result is a shopping experience that feels like a stroll through SoHo. Fashionistas will find SJP’s shoe line and the decadent evening wear Siriano is known for, but the designer has masterfully mixed a haute couture sensibility with a downto-earth street vibe, so neither the stiletto nor sneaker set will feel out of place here. Likewise, bodies size 0 to 18 will find their fit.

Siriano was ahead of the curve on the body positivity movement, putting plus-size models

on his New York Fashion Week runway as far back as 2016, eight years after he made his name as the youngest winner of Project Runway. He dressed curvy Leslie Jones when no one else would. He has designed for Lane Bryant and Payless, because those are the places the mom he adores shopped when he was growing up in Annapolis, Maryland. He creates fashion up to size 26 in his New York atelier, because he feels all women should have access to beautiful clothes; he designed Billy Porter’s iconic 2019 Academy Awards tuxedo dress, showing men should too. His forward thinking earned Siriano a place in Time’s “100 Most Influential People” in 2018.

When a client selects Christian to dress them—from Michelle Obama for the Democratic National Convention to Janet Jackson for her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction—they are making a statement beyond a cobalt blue dress or an ’80s-inspired power suit. They are affirming Christian’s inclusive stance and bold choice to blaze his own path. When fashion’s dictators frowned upon his low-brow collaborations or curvaceous creations, the young designer with the tattooed arms and brainiac black-rimmed glasses stayed his course.

Now the wunderkind rebel who trained under Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood is finding a serious place in fashion history. The prestigious SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design) Museum of Art presented Christian’s work retrospective, “Christian Siriano: People Are People,” in 2021, and then moved the exhibition to Atlanta last fall. Rafael Gomes, SCAD director of fashion exhibitions, comments, “Working with Christian Siriano provided SCAD Fash the opportunity to teach inclusivity and body positivity to both SCAD students and museum visitors. This message resonated with both audiences, which we saw firsthand as visitors flocked to SCAD Fash.”

Even as a celebrated American designer, Siriano continues to remember the little people—even the really little people. He recently gave a signed copy of his coffee table book (Dresses to Dream About, now out in a deluxe edition) and personalized video to a fourth-grade class at Kings Highway Elementary for their fashion ArtSmart project.

“It was a huge hit!” says Westport mom Sara Weiner, who met the designer through a mutual friend. “Christian is a force of nature and ridiculously talented, but he also has an unmatched generosity of spirit and is the life of any party. He’s hands down one of my favorite dinner guests,” comments Weiner.

When she first invited him over, the interior design enthusiasts realized they have identical giant brass palm trees in their living rooms. Not surprisingly, Weiner loves Siriano Interiors. “I found a custom Lily stool in a dark green boucle at the store that I snatched up for my husband’s home office,” she says. “Christian also brings in great artists and brands, and I’ll be returning for one of the fabulous one-ofa-kind Eny Lee Parker lamps.”

During a busy store event in November, Christian put his creative output on pause just long enough to share how he fell for Westport and what customers will discover at The Collective West. On this particular day, they would find the launch of his boyfriend Kyle Smith’s latest Future Lovers of Tomorrow men’s collection and Christian zipping between fittings by the dressing rooms and dream-dress sketching for an enthusiastic crowd near the store’s entrance. After finishing up a whimsical drawing of a pink jumpsuit with a dramatic train, dreamt up by an elevenyear-old aspiring designer, he sat down for a chat.

above: Christian Siriano sketching for customers at The Collective West. below: The entrance.

left: Billy Porter wearing his Siriano tuxedo gown to 2019 Oscars right: A close-up of the tuxedo in Dresses to Dream About

left: Christian Siriano early sketching center: Sewing pandemic masks right: 2023 Siriano runway show

You just finished shooting the latest season of Project Runway. How does it feel to be on the other side as a judge now?

Yes, Season 20 is finally done. It’s great! I’ve been a mentor now for four seasons. I’m the host and mentor. It’s awesome to help these young designers try to succeed. It’s very rewarding in the end, when you can help someone else.

Your So Siriano show on Bravo was also so much fun! Was that just a pandemic venture (along with manufacturing over two million masks for New York hospitals)?

Yes, there’s just too much going on now!

Your pup that you introduced on the show is adorable!

Poppy—she’s a vizsla and lab mix. She’s so sweet.

How did you discover Westport?

I owned a house in Danbury for eight years. That was my weekend getaway. We used to come to Westport all the time because there’s more to do, and I just fell in love with it. I bought my first house here three years ago, and then we opened the store in July.

What do you love about Westport?

It’s like a mini Hamptons but not pretentious. I think people here are much more open and creative and warm. Yes, they may have a lot of money, but they don’t treat it the same way, and I thought that was really nice— which is also why I wanted to open a store here because my world is that too. Obviously, yes,

we have expensive clothes, but we also have great things that are wearable and accessible. Or a young girl who just wants a beautiful sketch can come in—I love that.

Tell us about the concept for the store.

I wanted this to be like a mini department store, but the designers are the boss. We don’t have someone telling us what to carry, what the buyer wants this season—no. The designers curate and control it.

What price range will customers find in the store?

We have such a range, from the more wearable ready-to-wear items to the more expensive gowns. Nothing in here is unattainable, which is what is really important for me. We have Kyle’s brand, Future Lovers of Tomorrow—his t-shirts are $100. We have candles that are $50, sunglasses that are $45.

Do you feel Westport taking on more of a New York vibe since you’ve been here, with such an influx of hip New Yorkers during the pandemic?

Yes, and that’s also why we opened the store. We have all these women and where are they shopping? I wanted this to be that place. Look at all the great people that have come today. Almost every one of our customers is now a local but was a New Yorker. Even that family I just met with their four kids. They just moved last week. People are still moving here. It’s so interesting; it’s still happening. I think people are keeping their apartments in the city, but they want a different quality of life. Westport brings that and it’s just

an hour from the city.

Are you here mainly weekends?

Yes, I try to come as many weekends as I can. It’s my favorite place to get away. In the summer, we are here a lot more. We’ve made a lot of really close friends here.

You brilliantly brought your runway show to your backyard here during the pandemic. Any plans for a fashion show in the store someday?

Yes, it’s happening! I think in the spring. We might do something for Pink Aid [his neighbor Andi Sklar is involved in the charity]. My vision is to have a full fashion show for Pink Aid, and every single look will be pink.

Are you seeing customers of all sizes?

In this store we carry up to size 18, and it has been really amazing to see those women come. We literally have size 0 to size 18 in the store and they’re all selling!

Customers will also find your furniture line here?

Yes, we have a mixture of vintage and my pieces throughout the store. People can come in and order or they can buy pillows. We have throws and blankets so quite a range as well.

What are your favorite trends and looks for spring?

Last collection we showed at Elizabeth Taylor’s townhouse. I went very Old Hollywood. I wanted glamour and color and texture. My whole idea is that it’s more dreamlike—I think we need that in our world. With all the things going on, fashion should be escapism.

We used to come to Westport all the time because there’s more to do, and I just fell in love with it. I bought my first house here three years ago, and then we opened the store in July.

below: The Sweet Swift dress of tulle and embossed jacquard bustier, in his book, Dresses to Dream About

top: Siriano, in his New York atelier, designing the dress used in Taylor Swift’s Wonderstruck fragrance campaign.

A suburban middle-aged mom wants a quick style makeover—what would you suggest?

She can come in and get a really cool pair of my Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. I’m also really about all these statement tops that we’ve been doing, so if you don’t want to break the bank, we’re doing a lot of cool blouses that have layers or wraps or the sleeve drapes in an interesting way — that’s been my signature for an updated look. I think a lot of different women can wear that.

Has being in Westport influenced your aesthetic at all?

In designing the clothes for this store, definitely. They’re a little more casual and wearable—looks I wouldn’t necessarily put on the runway. I have some things here that I think women would really wear every day.

How would you describe your personal style?

Oh gosh, very boring. I wear black jeans and a black t-shirt pretty much every day. I make clothes all day long and I paint, so I just have to be classic.

What if a client wants something custom made?

We do it every day. Women can come in and find a dress that they love, and we can change the color, the shape, make alterations—we do everything. We’ve made so many custom gowns here already, which is wild.

A lot of Hollywood A-Listers are settling in Westport. Are they coming in?

At the opening, it was so cool, we had Laura Linney, Katie Holmes, and Debra Messing. Shonda

SIRIANOS’S WESTPORT FAVES

FASHION

Kerri Rosenthal, Mitchells, Theory

HOME

Bungalow Decor, Terrain, L’ Antiquaire, Glen Leroux Antiques, Furniture On Consignment II

GIFTS

Bungalow Decor, Terrain, L’ Antiquaire, Glen Leroux Antiques, Furniture On Consignment II, Blue Mercury

FLORIST

Compo Farm Flowers, Blossom Stem Floral Studio

RESTAURANT

OKO, The Cottage, The Whelk, Kawa Ni, Hudson Malone, The Spotted Horse Tavern, Sakura, Don Meno, La Plage BAR

Hudson Malone, La Plage, The Whelk, Black Duck Cafe

SALON

Salon Dada

GYM

Equinox

BEACH

Compo Beach

LEISURE

Kayaking at Westport Paddle Club

CULTURE

MoCA Westport

DOG WALK

Winslow Dog Park

PEOPLE WATCHING

Downtown Westport, drinks on the patio at the Spotted Horse Tavern

above and below: Siriano’s Spring/ Summer 2023 Collection shows he champions inclusivity

MARCH/APRIL 2023 WESTPORT 65

At the opening, it was so cool, we had Laura Linney, Katie Holmes and Debra Messing. Shonda [Rhimes] just moved in across the street from me. I have a lot of famous friends who live here in Connecticut.

Posing with some of his dresses in the SCAD exhibit Christian Siriano: People Are People in Atlanta

[Rhimes] just moved in across the street from me. I have a lot of famous friends who live here in Connecticut. And Sarah Jessica Parker will be here in the spring, because we just launched her shoes, so that’s exciting.

What is your favorite star look from a recent event?

I just dressed Mariska Hargitay for the CFDA [Council of Fashion Designers of America] Awards, and it was incredible. People died! It was so much fun.

How often do you have special events in the store?

We’re trying to do events a few times a year, whether jewelry or art, or yoga and facials with Franny’s Farmacy, which we love having here.

Any other exciting projects?

We’re busy working on clothes for every single actress you can imagine! We showed again for Fashion Week in February. There’s lots of good stuff going on. It’s going to be a good year.

The Lowdown on The Collective West with Store

You’re driving past The Collective West and notice the glamorous silhouettes in the windows. You look down at your yoga garb and figure no way can you stop in the store of the fab designer behind Mariah Carey’s Thanksgiving Day Parade gown or Julianne Moore’s “vote” dress wearing frumpy attire fit for cow— not catwalk—pose.

Think again. Store Director Allison Gurley is here to tell you to come in and have some fun. Dressed in a casual plum sweater, jeans and silver sneakers,

Director Allison Gurley

she is utterly approachable. “People drive by and get the impression they have to be fancy to come in. Then they come in and realize, ‘No I don’t!’ Our thing is: Come in, hang out, experience everything,” says Gurley, who ran Bungalow for twenty-four years and met Christian as a client there.

“We have jeans, we have t-shirts, we have couture. We have art, we have fine jewelry.

Josh Levkoff’s jewelry is fantastic—everything from bar mitzvah gifts to serious pieces. Franny’s Farmacy— people don’t realize it’s in

here. I don’t think enough people understand what’s going on. It’s the intimidation factor. But we have a lot of fun!”

She points out Christian’s interior pieces dotted around the store—benches, barrel chairs, stools, dining chairs, a daybed. Other vintage furnishings have been handpicked by the designer. There is a gallery within the store with art curated by Swoon, including largescale pieces that won’t fit in their Sconset Square space. Christian is also painting prolifically, so if a sketch won’t suffice, there is one of his massive Met Gala paintings to fill a wall. Lots of cool photos will appeal to the hip set, from Reid Masamore’s beachy scenes to three hunky men in swim briefs who could seriously throw off a suburban mom’s concentration.

Not surprisingly, Gurley notes, “We are doing big business in evening wear. I think Christian is filling that void in Westport.” Out-of-town customers are finding their way to

the store also, including superfans from as far as D.C. and Boston. When Gurley describes her boss, it’s evident that none of them will be disappointed by what they find.

“What you see is what you get,” she says of Christian. “He is fun. He is kind. He speaks to everyone. He’ll take a picture with you. He’s a really good guy, and I always said this before I even knew him in this capacity: Christian is someone you cheer for and wish well because he hasn’t forgotten who he is. He has a very tight-knit group of friends, but he’s really fun and kind to everyone. He’s really a good person. Also, as the owner of a business, some bosses would be like, ‘Oh the staff will take care of it.’ Christian bags stuff. He pins people. He works. He is not above doing anything. It’s very refreshing.”

See More: THE COLLECTIVE WEST 940 Post Road East (near West Parish Road), Westport Mon.–Sat., 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Sun., noon to 5 p.m.

A rendering of Bankside, the new development at

The Local Market Now: Predictions and Tips for Buyers and Sellers

If the real estate market were a roller coaster, our area has been click-clacking up a steep hill at a dizzying pace since the pandemic changed where people live and work. Now it feels like a big downward drop is upon us—hands are gripping the sides of the car for dear life and the suspense is giving everyone motion sickness. Well, calm down, people. Sometimes roller coasters fool us with a steep incline followed by an anticlimactic kiddy-coaster of a downward slope. Housing prices may stabilize in the coming year, but low inventory and the desirability of our towns—Westport, Weston and Wilton—make it highly unlikely anyone’s going to be screaming down a vertical drop anytime soon. Read on for input from area realtors regarding where we are, and we are going, on this housing market ride. by Jill Johnson Mann

Low Inventory, High Demand

The most prominent theme in our real estate market as we head into 2023 is low inventory. Sue Lieberman, founding partner at The Riverside Realty Group, says: “Demand is still strong, but lack of inventory has been a challenge. Westport, Weston and Wilton are seeing a historically low number of available properties for sale. This is partly because homeowners either locked in or refinanced at very low interest rates, and because of the sheer number of transactions we saw during the pandemic. Homeowners are reluctant to sell because they are hesitant to give up their interest rate or they simply can’t find a suitable place to go.”

The National Association of Realtors defines months of inventory as the number of months it would take for the current inventory of homes on the market to sell given the current sales pace. As of last November, our towns averaged two to three months of inventory, as compared to seven months two years prior. (Under three months constitutes a seller’s market; over six months constitutes a buyer’s market.)

“Homes prices in Westport, Weston and Wilton are still rising but not at the same rate they were during the pandemic,” says Lieberman. “Average sale prices in November 2022 were: Westport $2,265,519, a 30.3 percent jump from November 2021; Weston $1,325,613, up 10.9 percent; and Wilton $1,083,012, up 6.7 percent. Buyers are being more thoughtful as prices remain at record highs and the cost of ownership has risen for people relying on mortgage financing.”

Bill Raveis, founder of William Raveis, says, “Basically what’s happening in the market is sales are down, but that is due to the lack of inventory. Last year the market was off by 25 percent, but the average price was up 30 percent in Westport. There’s a lack of supply but the demand is still there.”

Raveis reassures those passengers who fear what’s

ahead on the real estate ride: “The beautiful thing is that the housing industry continues to add value to your net worth. Prices are not going down because there’s no supply. If you find a house you like, buy it. You can refinance at the end of the year and get a lower rate, but you got the house you want. The housing values in Fairfield County are going up all the time. You get a very good return on your investment—better than the stock market, better than anything else.”

To assist clients with a fast-moving market, William Raveis has added a financing arm. “Because the market is so good, anything that’s priced right goes very quickly,” says Raveis. “What we have done is we will offer to buy your house for you, and we can buy the house you’re selling too. We will also renovate the house for the consumer.”

The Pandemic Effect

The shift to working remotely continues to influence where people choose to live. In the National Association of Realtors’ report “11 Takeaways from the 2022 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers,” data showed a retreat from urban areas and migration flow into small towns and rural areas. How far a buyer moved jumped to an all-time high of fifty miles from ten to fifteen miles. “The hybrid work model appears to be a fixture in work culture at least for the foreseeable future,” says Lieberman. “As a result, buyers are still willing to consider homes that are a bit more remote evidenced by the lack of inventory in Wilton (1.9 months of inventory as of November 2022) and Weston (2.5 months; Westport had 3.3 months in the same time period).” She adds, “Homes that require little to no work are on the top of most local buyers’ checklist. Buyers continue to focus on homes with flexible spaces in suburban settings with pools or at least room for a pool.” Bill Raveis ruminates, “Where is there a better place to work remotely than this area, with our restaurants, schools, environment and culture?”

EXPERT ADVICE

Tips for Sellers

“As soon as you make the decision you would like to sell, have your realtor come and do a walkthrough of the house and make recommendations on how best to prepare the home for market. Ideally, at a minimum, the house will be decluttered, deep-cleaned, freshly painted and repairs made where needed. And pay attention to exterior curb appeal, with attractive landscaping, clean windows and the driveway in good repair. Also be open to having a professional stager visit and make recommendations on staging the house, be it an ‘edit’ using sellers own furniture and adding accessories or having a full stage with furniture brought in—this would be highly recommended in our local markets.”

Jane Jones, Berkshire Hathaway

“Less is more. Declutter would be my number one. Get rid of anything you aren’t taking with you to where you’re going next. Staging is always best, but if you don’t want to spend the money, declutter and get rid of any personal effects, including pictures. Paint is the cheapest and best fix to make a home feel fresh. People are focused on the property as well as the house. Make sure the exterior is tidy, well kept, manicured. The first impression has a subconscious affect on the buyer.”

Kim Harizman, Compass

“

Homes prices in Westport, Weston and Wilton are still rising but not at the same rate they were during the pandemic. ”

Sue Lieberman The Riverside Realty Group

above: A view of the living room inside the waterfront residences at Bankside House, 60 Wilton Rd., Westport // Kim Harizman, KMS Team at Compass below: This bright open floorplan is a representation of the builders’ project at 10 Greenwood Ln., Westport ($3,999,000) // Sue Lieberman, Riverside Realty

EXPERT ADVICE

“My advice to buyers, as they start their search, would be to think very carefully about their absolute ‘must-haves’ in their new home—not a general wish list, but items that would be deal-breakers if they are missing from the house/property. For example, a two-car garage, a level lot, a quiet road, all bedrooms on same floor. This will help with a much more efficient search. Also let your agent know about particular neighborhoods or streets that you are drawn to, to help narrow down the search. Also, think carefully about whether you would be open to any level of renovation to get the house of your dreams!”

Jane Jones, Berkshire Hathaway

“Be really prepared to make the offer. Be pre-approved. Understand what it means to drop the financing contingency—people don’t want to take a buyer with a mortgage contingency. Know the market and align yourself with a good agent. Present the cleanest offer possible, as far as financing and inspections. I would never recommend dropping the inspection, but request an inspection for health and safety issues only or for major defects; that indicates you aren’t going to be picky. Understand what the seller is looking for as far as timing on the closing. Oftentimes that can be the deciding factor.”

Kim Harizman, Compass

“We definitely have young families moving out from the city. Westport and Weston are very popular with Brooklynites,” says Kim Harizman at Compass. “Also, people from Westchester, if they don’t have to commute to the city, looking for better taxes. We have two primary buckets: New Yorkers and those moving locally. But we also are seeing buyers from all over: California, Texas, Atlanta, Florida—everywhere. They are moving to be closer to family or for jobs, or because they can work remotely and choose where they want to live.”

The pandemic has also loosened up the rules on the best time to sell. Jane Jones, an agent at Berkshire Hathaway in Westport, says, “The ideal time to list will always be during the spring months, as this is when the most buyers are out searching for their next home, particularly families with school-aged children, planning to get settled before the start of the school year. That said, during the pandemic we have seen less of a slow down during the traditionally quieter summer/fall market, and houses in good condition, priced appropriately, have attracted multiple offers at

whatever point in the year they come on the market.”

Hidden-Gem Factor

“Relatively speaking, you get more for your money in our three towns,” says Harziman. “What you get in property size, size of house, real estate taxes, quality of public schools and amenities make our area more affordable than other comparable towns. Connecticut has been a hidden gem, but the cat is out of the bag that this is a great part of world, a great place to raise a family. You can be in New York, the greatest city in the country, in an hour, but you get this open space and fresh air.”

The appeal of Fairfield County provides some amount of insurance against a housing market free fall, and our special nook supplements that even more. “Westport is the easiest town in the world to sell,” says Harziman. “With the beaches, arts, Westport Country Playhouse, shopping, restaurants, Longshore, great schools, etc. Even before the pandemic, I always said if the commute wasn’t

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an issue, there’s no better town in the tri-state area.”

Zeroing in on why, she adds: “What’s unique is that the majority of people in our town send kids to public school—that’s very community building. In a lot of affluent towns, kids go to private schools. Here, everyone ends up together at Staples. So wherever you go, you run into people you know. This also benefits our public schools. The way schools are ranked has to do with the kids who go there. If the brighter kids are being siphoned off and sent to private schools, it affects the schools.”

Predictions

We asked realtors to pull out their crystal balls and let us know what they see for 2023 (caveat: they made these predictions in December, so readers have a two-month advantage).

Jane Jones says, “I would predict that we will remain in a seller’s market. Inventory will likely continue to remain low and buyer demand high, resulting in continued pressure on pricing in spite of higher interest rates.”

Kim Harziman comments, “I think, assuming

that we remain in a low inventory environment, prices will stabilize. I don’t think we will have a rising market situation like the past three years, but I don’t see prices plummeting either. It will be a more normalized market, less frenetic, more stable, with more negotiating. It won’t be a slam-dunk buyer’s market. I think it’s going to be a healthier market.”

Sue Lieberman notes: “For all our local markets, days on market continue to decrease or remain almost flat for well-priced homes with little work to be done. Lawrence Yun from the National Association of Realtors predicts a small increase in home prices during 2023 and a larger jump in prices in 2024.”

What will happen in 2023 “depends on what the government does with interest rates,” says Bill Raveis. “If they continue to raise them, the market will pull back. However, you marry your house but you date your interest rates— they will change. I predict by the end of the year, interest rates will go down. I believe the government will reduce its inflation targets, so they want to prop back up the marketplace. You can always refinance a house later on, so to not buy now is a mistake.”

EXPERT ADVICE

The Rental Market

“The number of available rentals [as of December 2022] are as follows: Westport has sixteen singlefamily rentals with an average asking price of $8,531/month. Weston has three available rentals with an average asking price of $5,900/month. Wilton has eight available rentals with an average asking price of $5,650. The average rent price in Westport is up 13.3% from last year; up 6.6% in Weston; and down 15 percent in Wilton.”

Sue Lieberman, The Riverside Realty Group

“Beach rentals are very expensive right now; there’s not a lot of inventory. If you’re going to be spending money on a rental and have the chance to buy a house, do it. The pricing of annual rentals is increasing substantially. For condos and apartment units, there’s inventory. But most people coming to Connecticut don’t want that.”

Bill Raveis, William Raveis Real Estate

PHOTOGRAPH: COURTESY BRETT & JENN LIEBERMAN/THE RIVERSIDE REALTY GROUP; BY REALTY PLANS

This spring, ECO-SENSITIVE LANDSCAPING MEETS LUXURIOUS OUTDOOR LIVING .

More homeowners are opting for wild meadows over manicured lawns and gardens for the birds and bees as much as for the aesthetic.

Glengate’s principal designer and landscape architect, Cheryl Russ, combined “extraordinary beauty and sustainability” for this natural property.

there’s anything new in landscaping and gardening this spring, it’s us. From a confluence of unlikely factors— climate change, the Covid pandemic, an influx of New Yorkers seeking open space—we’ve come to view property as a sanctuary from the stresses of living in “interesting times.” We’re more appreciative of nature, more tuned in to the creatures with whom we share the earth, more aware of the human impact on the environment but also of our role, however small, in its welfare.

“For many of my clients, their yard is so much more important to them than it ever was before,” notes Heather O’Neill of Second Nature Landscape Design in Norwalk. “A lot of them weren’t coming home until after dark and barely saw their property except on weekends. Now, with a majority of people working either remotely or a hybrid of remote and in the office, they’re home a lot more and are taking a real interest in the animal life that comes onto their property and the changing colors of plants as the seasons change.”

Landscape architects and designers from Greenwich to Fairfield report an uptick in homeowners asking for meadows in place of lawns; pollinator pathways to attract birds, bees and small animals; rain gardens and drought- and flood-resistant plantings.

And yet this is Fairfield County, where living well is an art as well as an antidote to modern life. The same landscape architects are designing complete outdoor kitchens with grills, pizza ovens and smokers; outdoor fireplaces and firepits in handsome stone surrounds; infinity pools that cool the body as they soothe the spirit; and garden rooms for observing nature and for peace of mind.

That we can have it all is one of the great benefits of living where we do!

ne benefit of the Covid pandemic has been that it’s inspired more residents to take up vegetable gardening, a trend that began in earnest during the recession of 2008 and 2009.

Besides an interest in growing their own produce, people simply enjoy being outdoors and closer to nature.

“So many people were at home and not going away in the summer,” says John Carlson of Homefront Farmers in Redding. “That really continued the trend of outdoor living.”

For first-time home gardeners, Carlson walks the property with homeowners to identify locations with optimum sunlight.

“You really want six to eight hours to be able to grow the full range of crops,” he says. “There are plenty of vegetables that don’t require as much sun, but the most popular ones—tomatoes, peppers, squash— need the maximum amount.”

Also important is proximity to a source of water (though many of Carlson’s clients have

in-ground irrigation systems), plus a relatively level location. “It’s easier and less expensive if there's a level spot,” he says. “We’ve built on pretty steep slopes, which require stepping and terracing, but the effect can be beautiful and really dramatic.” Homefront Farmers’ gardens are raised and fully enclosed in white cedar, which is rot-resistant, and they also have wire netting. The effect is a clean, handsome, structure space, with pebbled walkways among the raised beds for easy access, weeding and harvesting.

This spring, homeowners are hiring professional gardeners like Carlson for gardens that produce serenity as well as produce, with space inside for a small table and a couple of chairs for sitting and relaxing at the end of the day.

Homefront Farmers constructs organic vegetable gardens of all sizes in the optimal spot on clients’ properties.

For this project by James Doyle Design Associates, changes in topography were embraced. The ground plane was manipulated to create form and interest, and the earth was cut to create areas for bioretention as well as manage runoff from the driveway.

property that are planted with wild grasses and flowering perennials to soak up rain runoff from roofs and downspouts, driveways, patios and the natural slope of the land. Rain gardens filter significant amounts of pollutants and sediments from rainwater runoff, while allowing some 30 percent more water to soak into the ground than a lawn.

“Basically, we contour the land near the source of the most rain runoff in the shape of a bowl or a long, serpentine depression, remove a foot or so of the soil that’s there and replace it with a mixture of sand and compost for better percolations,” says Eva Chiamulera, a landscape architect with Austin Ganim Landscape Design in Fairfield.

For new owners of a neglected three-acre lot in the Greenfield Hill section of Fairfield, Chiamulera created two large rain gardens bordered by meadows, which are frequent neighbors. She connected the two with a strip of riverbed-like stones and crammed them with pollinator plants that change colors with the seasons and attract successions of birds and insects.

he prolonged heat wave and drought of last August and September were followed by torrential downpours and flashflooding, causing damage to gardens as well as to homes and businesses. As large bodies of water, like Long Island Sound, continue to warm, Connecticut meteorologists warn that we’re likely to see more weather extremes this spring and summer.

For properties prone to flooding, local landscape architects are creating rain gardens—long, narrow, depressed sections of the

“Beebalm and Eupatorium are in their glory from mid-summer into early autumn and are probably our biggest pollinator attractors,” she says. “Insects and birds perceive color differently than we do. Bees prefer mellower bluish-pink and purple-whites and some of the lighter yellows. Butterflies and hummingbirds like the reds and the oranges and brighter pinks and purples—they would’ve been really comfortable in the 1980s!”

To manage rainwater runoff and pollutants from the driveway of a Greenwich property, meanwhile, James Doyle Design Associates carved a 40’-by-20’ rain garden out of the land between the drive and the street. This “bioretention swale,” as it’s called, also captures pollutants from the runoff and filters them and excess water through a bed of sand and gravel that underlies plants—river birch, for example, and winterberry viburnum—that don’t mind getting their feet wet.

A rain garden, like this one by Austin Ganim Landscape Design, is often bordered by meadows. This method helps filter pollutants and sediment from rainwater, and more water can soak into the ground.

TOP PHOTO BY AUSTIN GANIM LANDSCAPE DESIGN, LLC; BOTTOM PHOTO BY ALLEGRA ANDERSON

mong the most popular plantings this season, landscape designers say, are pollinators—flowers, grasses and shrubs that lure bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to pollinate other plants, thereby producing seeds and fruit for us to share with the most important guests: other insects, birds and small mammals.

“I'm getting a lot of calls for a mix of grasses and native pollinator plants that look great but also attract insects and birds and small mammals,” says Jay Petrow of Petrow Gardens Landscape Design in Westport. Especially beneficial are goldenrod, echinacea and milkweed, among others, which attract monarch butterflies on their migration route north for the summer.

The interest in pollinator plants and pathways—corridors of native, pesticide-free plants—has led to a greater interest in beekeeping in Fairfield County.

“Pollinator pathways are a wonderful way to attract and help

sustain honeybees,” says Rick Glover, a Fairfield beekeeper who manages 65 beehives, lectures widely on bees and beekeeping, and sets up and maintains hives for homeowners in lower Fairfield and Westchester counties.

“The more flowers you plant that open throughout the year,” Glover adds, “the more nutrition and health you’re bringing to honeybees.”

For Cheryl Russ, principal designer and landscape architect at Glengate in Wilton, it is rewarding to work on environmentally friendly projects.

“Every year, we have more and more clients requesting nativeplant landscaping, pollinator gardens and meadows—and we are also thrilled to introduce Glengate clients to these concepts,” says Russ. “It’ a win-win when we can create something that is beneficial to our local ecologies and results in a luxurious setting for family life. The idea that eco-sensitive landscaping is too wild or messy is totally outdated;

it’s 100% possible to have both extraordinary beauty and sustainability.”

Russ offers some important guidelines to follow when going the natural route:

“Work with designers who are well-versed in selecting the perfect plants for your conditions and wildlife; the company planting your gardens should also be experienced in these types of landscapes—make sure installers are sourcing material that has not been grown with substances harmful to pollinators (such as neonicotinoids). ‘Eco’ does not mean set it and forget it. Whoever does your property care should know, for example, how and when to mow a meadow, and which kind of plant treatments and fertilizers are safe to use. The right professionals will help you create an incredibly rewarding landscape.”

In some instances, local laws require eco-friendly measures to be implemented.

“Given the environmental

sensitivity of many sites and the regulations in place by the local governing authority, buffer zones, rain gardens and the like are frequently mandatory," says Renée Byers, principal of Renée Byers in Greenwich.

Byers, who has seen an increase in clients wanting a more natural landscape, considers multiple factors when designing a project.

“Striking the right balance between beautiful, high-quality design and natural beauty is achieved by collecting all the data, from the owner’s program to environmental macro to microclimatic factors, and then taking cues from the surrounding architecture and natural landscape beyond,” she says. “It is important to examine the transition points and proportionality between the built landscape and the more wild parts, and to create harmony so the two truly speak to each other. In this way, each appears inevitable and effortlessly linked.”

James Doyle Design Associates describes this environment of flora and fauna: “Sustainability gives a connection with the natural world, and this safe habitat supports an extreme abundance of local insects, pollinators and wildlife.”

Using native pollinator plants and a mix of grasses, Jay Petrow of Petrow Gardens Landscape Design, creates a meadow that is attractive, yet still appeals to butterflies, birds and small animals.

JAY PETROW

he growing interest in beekeeping coincides, in turn, with a movement away from turf lawns and toward wild, open meadows.

Lawns are a relatively recent landscaping phenomenon. It wasn’t until after the Civil War that wealthy property owners began planting their yards in grass as a status symbol, mimicking European bowling and putting greens.

But while a carpet of Kentucky Bluegrass may be pleasing to the eye and feel good on bare feet, lawns can be detrimental to practically everything else— birds, insects, mammals, the environment at large. Keeping

After coming across this unspoiled property in Little Compton, Rhode Island, Heather O Neill of Second Nature Landscape Design used it for inspiration on a local project.

them green and weed-free demands excessive amounts of water and fertilizer that is toxic to water supplies and to the birds, fish and mammals that consume or come in contact with them. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, turf grass lawns, which cover up to 50 million acres in this country, consume nearly three trillion gallons of water a year and 70 million pounds of pesticides.

One influence on the meadow movement has been New Yorkers who moved to Fairfield County during the pandemic. In addition to boosting the residential real estate market, they brought with them an appreciation of meadows from their exposure to the High

Line, the former elevated freight rail line on Manhattan’s West Side that has been turned into a 1.45-mile-long public park and walkway through some 150,000 wild and cultivated plants, trees and shrubs.

But so have neighbors who, understanding the impact of lawns on the environment, have been replacing sections of it with open meadows. Where once they might have asked for neat, orderly spaces that relied on manicured lawns and boxwood edges, more now prefer wild grasses and perennials that change with the light and with the wind. Enhanced as a result is “the aesthetic value in people's eyes,” says Jay Petrow.

“Homeowners call for the ecological benefits of meadows and pollinators, but if they weren ’ t aesthetically pleasing, they wouldn ’ t want them.”

Adjacent to a swimming pool on a three-acre lot in Stamford, Petrow installed a small area of pollinator plants, then seeded the area with a wildflower mix to create a meadow border that’s pleasing to the eye as well as to the birds and the bees.

There’s more to meadows than meets the eye, though, and much more to maintaining them once they’re planted.

“It's not just a matter of letting your grass grow or not mowing it,” says Heather O’Neill. “Meadows need to be mowed twice a year

so that you don’t get big woody plants growing and turning into trees. People think, ‘Hey, I don’t need to mow my grass—I'll get a meadow.’ But what they end up with is something that looks like an empty lot someone hasn't taken care of in a while.”

For new owners of an old home on four acres in Southport, O’Neill is creating a substantial meadow with plugs of plants as well as seed in and surrounding an existing apple orchard. “The couple wants a natural-looking space that won’t require fertilizer or as much mowing as a lawn. They, like others, want to do their part to help the environment without committing their whole property to nature.”

This meadow rendering by Heather O’Neill is for a four-acre landscape in Southport that surrounds an existing apple orchard.

omething else transplanted New Yorkers sought in the suburbs during the height of the pandemic were swimming pools, not exactly standard features in Manhattan apartments and condos.

This spring, as in the recent past, local companies are installing pools with more thought to their place in the overall landscape.

For an eco-friendly project with rain gardens, landscape architect Renée Byers designed a pool and spa to complement a scenic riverfront view.

“At this special site along a tidal river, we kept the pool and spa orthogonal with the house and created linear sightlines from key points inside and outside the house to the pool area," says Byers. “We massaged the edges of the planting areas, made of flowing grasses, perennials, trees and shrubs, so that they weave in and out, and are repeated throughout the garden.”

In addition to a “buffer zone between the river and swimming pool, the mown lawn was reduced to allow for generous rain gardens," adds Byers. "These

filter stormwater and are an extravaganza for pollinators.” Other factors to consider are how clients plan to use the outdoor space and what kind of pool works with their lifestyle.

“Over the past two to three years we’ve seen a focus on creating multidimensional outdoor environments,” says Dan Koller, chief operations officer at Shoreline Pools in Stamford. “We’re now finding people who think about a pool holistically and how they would use it on a day-to-day basis. Is it for swimming laps or more for socializing?”

Accordingly, the design will configure steps and spa to one side for end-to-end swimming and have expanded steps or benches along one side for sitting and talking.

The company is also continuing to see a preference for clean lines and sleek, contemporary design. And there’s ongoing interest in automated heating and lighting systems that can be operated from digital devices, vanishing or infinite edges, LED lighting for nighttime swimming, and filtration upgrades for improved water quality.

When designing a swimming pool and outdoor environments, Shoreline Pools builds something specific for clients based on how they plan to use it on a daily basis.

AWARDS FOR THIS DESIGN INCLUDE:

Connecticut American Society of Landscape Architects, Merit Award for Residential Design

New York American Society of Landscape Architects, Merit Award for Residential Design athome FC, Winner, Landscape Design for Over One Acre

Designed by landscape architect Renée Byers, the swimming pool and separate spa are enveloped in pollinator-friendly plantings, including both natives and ornamentals. Large native Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) trees were planted to provide shade and enclosure to the garden.

Interior designer Christina Roughan helped her client achieve a casually elegant style, described as “a perfect mix of Nantucket meets Monaco.”

he efforts we’ve made to create ecologically sensitive yards hasn’t taken away from the desire to luxuriate in the great outdoors. Here again, the pandemic only increased the opportunity to do so at home.

“Backyards were where people wanted to be around family and friends,” says Tony Aitoro of Aitoro Appliances in Norwalk. “They weren't going out to restaurants as much, and they realized if they had some cool equipment they could cook just as well as the chefs.”

Where the company used to sell stand-alone grills, homeowners now want grilling islands that include pizza ovens and smokers, Green Egg

ceramic grills and outdoor kitchens equipped with sinks, garbage disposals, refrigerators and storage cabinets. At the highest end are hand-made, stainless-steel, hybrid gas and wood-burning Kalamazoo grills made for coastal areas like Fairfield County’s Gold Coast. They are the centerpieces of grilling islands that can exceed 12 feet in length and cost as much as a quarter of a million dollars.

The surprise is that not a lot of property is needed to create a home resort for living outdoors all summer and into the late fall. For a half-acre lot in Greenwich, for example, James Doyle designed a long, narrow entertaining area with outdoor kitchen, fire pit, pool and outdoor

furnishings—all on one level.

When it comes to outdoor kitchens, experts use a discerning eye to achieve the right aesthetic.

According to Renée Byers, “Poorly placed grills and outdoor kitchens mar many promising suburban landscapes.” To avoid this issue, Byers recommends creating spaces that complement the home's architectural style and maintain key views.

“We try to marry the kitchen's geometry with the house and terraces, and use materials consistent with those in the rest of the landscape,” says Byers. “By their nature, outdoor kitchens are contemporary elements, but by pulling together the right material palette, they can become a timeless element that works even with older homes.”

To maximize outdoor entertaining options, interior designer Christina Roughan helped a family of five create a pool and poolhouse ideal for casual gatherings for friends and family of all ages.

“Our clients wanted an outdoor oasis where their children could bring friends, and the adults would enjoy themselves in a space that was nice but not too formal,” says Roughan. “One of their friends called it ‘a perfect mix of Nantucket meets Monaco.’ Wow! What a wonderful compliment!”

WELCOME VISITORS

Homeowners aren’t the only ones reaping the fruit of sustainable, high-end outdoor design.

Landscape architects report an increase in the number of honeybees, butterflies, hummingbirds and swarms of beneficial insects in local backyards these days. So are coyotes, bobcats and black bears— all helpful visitors keeping the deer population in check.

More than ever, our sanctuary belongs to our fellow creatures, too. Living in harmony with them, and with family members and friends, will be the real fruit of our labors this planting season.

In designing this outdoor kitchen, Renée Byers took cues from the architecture of the home, wrapping the work area in matching stonework, and creating a flowing stair for access. GEORGE BYERS

Spring Luncheon

A Conversation with Samantha Bee

Samantha Bee is an Emmy-winning comedian, writer, and television host best known for her work as the host of TBS’s Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. Bee began her career as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, where she quickly gained recognition for her sharp wit and ability to deliver hilarious yet thought-provoking commentary on current events. In 2016, she became the first woman to host a late-night comedy talk show on a major network with the launch of advocate for reproductive rights and has used her platform to speak out against restrictive abortion laws and to promote affordable health care for all.

Rob Simmelkjaer is a journalist and television host with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He has worked for major news networks such as NBC, ESPN, and CNN, covering a wide range of topics including sports, politics and current events. In addition to his work as a journalist, he is an avid supporter of various charitable organizations, including those that focus on health care and education.

A Night Under the Stars

Honoring

MEET FLOWCODE, THE NEXT GENERATION OF QR CODES

Go ahead, try it out. Point your phone’s camera at the Flowcode to scan.

postscript

MARCH/APRIL 2023 / DONNA MOFFLY

FUN & FOOLERY

Who among us doesn’t enjoy a good laugh or prank as long as nobody is insulted or maimed? Practical jokes are a kind of art form, not just reserved for April Fool’s Day. We can all remember dandies that bear repeating.

When we newlywed Mofflys visited Wooly Henry in Lake Forest (he’d one day live in Greenwich), we’d never seen the huge white elephant of a house the Henrys had just bought. After dark with all lights blazing, it looked like the Queen Mary. A butler named Hearther answered the door, took my fur coat (my mother’s) and introduced us to Master Woolcott, a three-year-old in a Fauntleroy outfit riding his tricycle around the marble foyer. He then rang for the elevator, escorted us up to a luxurious guestroom and asked if he might draw my bath and bring me a martini. I said yes to both, though I’d showered that morning and hated Martinis.

Back downstairs for cocktails with forty people, none I’d ever met, Hearther hovered over my chair with the shrimp, reached down and goosed me. I screamed, and everybody exploded with laughter.

In actual fact: To economize, the Henrys usually lit only half the house; our room was really the master bedroom, and the butler was a Princeton classmate in a uniform borrowed from the Onwensia Club. Everybody, including Jack, was in on it. I could have killed him.

That took planning, but some pranks are spontaneous. During one Christmas party at Harbor Point, Jack excused himself from dinner in the candlelit recreation room to go upstairs and found Lynn Rohrer trapped in the loo. She couldn’t unlock the door but had managed to open the window. Ever the gentleman, he went outside, helped her climb out into a snow drift and re-enter through the front door. Then they looked at the living room and had a brainstorm: With everyone still below singing carols, they’d have time to rearrange the furniture so

when people came up for coffee, it would look like a whole new house! And they went to work. End of story: It did look like a whole new house, and we were never invited back.

And another: When Effie and Gene Connett applied to Riverside Yacht Club, Bill King and Edgar Walz said they’d have to be interviewed by the Commodore. Bill Cullman arrived at the Walz’s house in his whites, chatted with Gene, then asked Effie if they’d mind sharing a pool locker with the Hanafees and Van Gals. (Between them, they had twenty-one children.) Then the Kings wrote ridiculous lyrics to “Rule Britannia,” which new members supposedly had to sing at the Lighting of the Winter Log. Effie was a wreck. But the jig was up at the Lighting when Gene asked another guy wearing a new member carnation, “Do you know the words to that song?” And he replied: “What song?”

Meanwhile in Old Greenwich, Leo Jiranek and Verne Westerberg were waging notorious prankster wars. Verne once hired a pair of models to walk around Lucas Point in bathing suits and hand out fliers for free massages at Leo Jiranik’s Massage Parlor, the poor guy’s house on North Way.

The best prank our gang ever pulled was shanghaiing Mary and Bill Clowney (brother of Riverside’s Frank Clowney) from Cleveland to the Rolling Rock Club in Ligonier, Pennsylvania—a couple of hours drive—for a one-day golf tournament. Meanwhile, we’d hired their favorite sitter to spend the weekend with their four kids; and once the golfers drove off, we stormed their house and packed their clothes, including black tie for an Awards Dinner—awards like a raw beef kidney quivering in a silver cup for the Biggest Liver.

But we forgot The Pill. Nine months later little Lester Clowney was born—an accidentprone fellow who kept doing things like falling out of windows but always lived to tell about it.

Have any tales to tell? Do share. I’ll save them up for another column. No fooling.

“End of story: It did look like a whole new house, and we were never invited back.”

Worldwide Awards & Recognition

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