CTC&G (Connecticut Cottages & Gardens) FEBRUARY 2023

COLOR ITChic

FEATURES 40

Oh Baby!

The client wanted a house by the summer. The catch? Designer Whitney McNell’s due date was a month away

48

The Full Spectrum

A Danbury Victorian hosts a painterly canvas of colors and patterns

58

The Brighter Side

Sophisticated family-friendly design fills a Nantucket home

66

Colorful Character

A classic Greenwich home boasts a rich and unique palette by Jamie Marshall

by Virginia MacDonald on the cover

“Colorful Character” page 66.

From “The Brighter Side” page 58.

Boho

Textile

Charlotte

COLOR OF THE YEAR 2023

Your Inspiration. Our Expertise.

Midwinter Inspo

To be honest, february always makes me feel as if I need a jolt of energy and inspiration. For this reason, Harry and I head to galleries and museums not only to get out of the house but also to see something new. And when we are suddenly upended by the weather, I go online. No matter how you access inspiration, it’s always fun to discover new artists and get new ways of thinking about design. ■ Two decades ago, I was invited to a designer’s house to shop a dealer’s collection of outsider art that he had found in Maine. Knowing very little about outsider art, I asked a lot of questions. I was taken with these works—often crafted from simple materials and found pieces—that were made by artists who were not formally trained. My eye kept going to a funny-looking wood sculpture that was painted a bright red, and its mouth was open to show a rather long tongue and yellow peg teeth. At first it looked like a fox, but the mouth looked like an alligator. It made me smile, so I bought it. It sits in my bookcase, and it still captures my attention with its whimsy. ■ I had the same reaction when I saw two other outsider artists online, Nellie Mae Rowe and Myrlande Constant. Artist Nellie Mae Rowe’s work is featured in Really Free: The Radical Art of Nellie Mae Rowe, published by the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, which has an extensive collection of her work. Rowe (1900–1982) created hundreds of drawings and welcomed visitors to her home outside of Atlanta, which she called “Playhouse” and decorated with foundobject installations, handmade dolls and chewing gum sculptures. A self-taught artist, she drew on her childhood for her art. I was intrigued by a sense of freedom and exploration in her work. Her drawings created with crayons are beautifully colored and layered. I ordered the book and have already pored over the images. Like the fox, her work speaks to me. I am already thinking of taking a trip south! ■ A little closer to home is an exhibit that runs through March at Fort Gansevoort (fortgansevoort.com) in New York. “Drapo” is the first solo exhibition with Haitian artist Myrlande Constant, who has attracted international attention for her dazzling hand-beaded and sequinembroidered textile works. Her art draws on the vernacular tradition of Vodou flags, known as drapo, which often adorn temples and are used in ceremonies. Her flags have a distinctive painterly quality. Intricate details and sumptuous colors come together in elaborate narrative scenes. I can’t wait to see her work in person. ■ Like the tools a designer uses, these two artists reminded me that in the right hands the simple can become extraordinary.

Hamptons

For 22 years the hampton Designer Showhouse has been a highlight of the summer season in the Hamptons and has delighted the hundreds of thousands of people who read our magazines and the 8,000 people who tour the house on foot. ■ Our sister publication HC&G is again honored to present the 2023 HDS—which benefits the Stony Brook Southampton Hospital—with Honorary Design Chairs Alexa Hampton and Jamie Drake. The showhouse will be featured in the September issues of NYC&G and HC&G, as well as on cottagesgardens.com, C&GTV and on all social media channels. ■ Visitors will be enchanted by the creativity and daring of the 25 A-list designers who will decorate the rooms inside and spaces outside the house without regard for convention or the requirements of their clients. Let’s face it, they can go a little wild! ■ The 2023 Hampton Designer Showhouse is a stunning new home being constructed in Southampton by renowned, family-run Cavallo Building. Designed in a transitional Hamptons style, this luxurious property sits on two secluded acres less than a 10-minute drive to the village of Southampton. ■ The light-filled, 9,000-squarefoot home boasts six bedrooms, including a primary suite with a spa-inspired bath, nine bathrooms, a custom chef’s kitchen designed by Ciuffo Cabinetry, home theater, tennis court and dedicated home office suite. The sprawling entertaining space on the lower-level is perfect for hosting family, friends and overnight guests. And no less than five outdoor spaces fulfill the need for indoor/outdoor living. ■ The Gala Preview Party is on July 22, and the house is open to the public July 23–September 4. For sponsorships, tickets and information go to cottagesgardens. com/HDS2023. ■ I hope to see you there.

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IN THIS ISSUE

WE ASKED THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS WHAT THEIR FAVORITE COLOR PALETTE IS AND WHY. HERE’S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY

RIKKI SNYDER

“I actually really love muted pastels for my personal color palette. It might be because I was born on Easter, but I do find them very calming and airy! I love to use muted pastel blues, greens and pinks as accents throughout my home. It lifts my mood and helps keep things feeling playful yet soothing at the same time.”

Photographer, “The Full Spectrum” page 48, rikkisnyder.com

ERICK J. ESPINOZA

“My favorite color palette is always changing with the times. This past year as I decorated my house, I was very much into strong and bold colors, leaning toward primary colors but with a twist. I like my yellows with a touch of orange like a sunflower. I like my reds like a postal box. Greens like a British race car. With each project comes a new obsessive color palette! Last year, I did a room with 50 shades of blue/green. Right now, we are working on a project with lots of blue, pink and raspberry, but in a completely modern way. I’m always on a never-ending quest for beauty and inspiration.”

Interior designer, “The Full Spectrum” page 48, anthonybaratta.com 285

WHITNEY MCNELL

“As a native of Nantucket, I’ve always drawn inspiration from the ocean hues surrounding us. My love for designing within the coastal color palette runs deep and is prevalent in my designs. By blending genres and bold-clean colors, it’s fun to create a unique palette for every client—my favorite being the marriage of blue and green hues.” Interior designer, “Oh Baby!” page 40, mcnellinteriors.com

Vega Kitchen & Bath Design provides a customer-oriented experience that helps you create a curated project plan. We are committed to friendly service and ensuring that you are completely satisfied. Vega has the experience and expertise to help you realize the vision of your space from concept to completion.

Out of the Box

THE COLOR FORECAST FOR 2023 IS HEATING UP WITH WARM SHADES OF BLUSH, CORAL AND CRIMSON | BY MARY

REDEND POINT

Redend Point, Sherwin-Williams’ 2023 color of the year, is a warm blush-beige. This versatile neutral is earthy in nature, radiating a sense of calm serenity. sherwinwilliams.com.

LANTERN GLOW

Shown here in Coral and Gild, Visual Comfort & Co.’s Cavanagh four light, small lantern from the Kate Spade New York collection is also offered in navy, cream and metallic finishes. $819, Greenwich, Norwalk, visualcomfort. com.

BEAUTIFUL BLOSSOMS

The bountiful blossoms and twisting branches of Phillip Jeffries’ Haiku in Perennial Rose are digitally printed on natural and vinyl grounds, inspired by traditional Japanese sumi-e paintings. Price upon request, phillipjeffries.com.

CHIC COMFORT

Designed by Philippe Nigro, the Phileas armchair is upholstered in Ligne Roset’s Parade Rose fabric with vertical quilting. $4,415, NYC, ligne-roset.com.

EMBOSSED LEATHER

Century’s four-door credenza can be customized in a choice of four embossed leather door fronts and a variety of base options and finishes. Wide oak picture frame molding frames the piece. Price upon request, available through Wakefield Design Center, wakefielddesigncenter.com, centuryfurniture.com.

RASPBERRY BLUSH

Raspberry Blush from Benjamin Moore is a vivacious shade of coral tinged with pink. This unapologetic shade is upbeat and optimistic. benjaminmoore.com.

CATBIRD SEAT

The fully upholstered Catbird chair from Highland House features a tight back in an eye-catching print. Price upon request, highlandhousefurniture. com.

SEEING RED

Add a pop of color with the Red Coral Caxixi ceramic pendant by Ferroluce. Available through Lightology, $486, lightology. com.

ON A ROLL

Available in a variety of colors and finishes, the Oxley bench from Eichholtz is shown here in an orange velvet with brushed brass finish legs. Price upon request, eichholtzusa.com.

Inspired by traditional Arabic urns, Oka’s set of Zion lidded $95,

COORDINATED

Wildwood’s Select line allows clients to customize any piece in a Benjamin Moore paint color. The Beveled Spot table, shown here in Raspberry Blush, is made from acacia wood and topped with tempered

available through the Collective, Stamford, thecollectivect.com, wildwoodhome.com.

CURVES AHEAD

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams’ Giselle sofa features a gentle curved back with a generous bench seat. The shapely collection also includes a swivel chair and sectional components, available in fabric or leather. $5,594, Greenwich, mgbwhome.com.

COCKTAIL GLASS

Ukrainian designer Kateryna Sokolova created Bilboquet, a series of small pedestal and cocktail tables with molded or blown glass tops for Roche Bobois. Offered in four colors, including Rouge shown here, and two base finishes, black chrome or matte brass. $2,990, Greenwich, roche-bobois.com.

VIVA MAGENTA

Pantone’s color of the year, Viva Magenta, is a courageous shade of crimsom. This fearless hue is exuberant and powerful. pantone.com.

MING

DYNASTY

The elegant silhouette of the Ming chest by Villa & House is wrapped in a red textured grasscloth with a lacquered finish. The podium base boasts curved Chowstyle feet, and the four drawers are accented with polished brass ring pulls. $3,347, available through Brass & Burl, brassandburl.com, vandh.com

HIGH PERFORMER

Running, from James Dunlop, is shown here in Magenta. The high-performance tactile fabric wears a chevron embroidered pattern and can be used indoors or outdoors. Price upon request, available through Crans Baldwin & Associates, cransbaldwinllc.com, jamesdunloptextilescom.

HEIRLOOM PIECE

Designed by Madeline Weinrib for the Met’s Heirloom Project, the floral motif of the Poppies plate is attributed to a fragment dating back to the 17th century from the museum’s Islamic art collection. Set of four, $200, store.metmuseum. com.

FRENCH TWIST

The Casa Branca Tavolo pitcher and Otto tumblers in Cerise are handblown in a small French workshop. Pitcher, $325, set of six tumblers, $495, casabranca.com.

CRISS CROSS

The Palmer cross-leg ottoman from Safavieh is classic in form with a plush red velvet cotton and brass nail head trim. Use in pairs at the end of a bed or in a living room for extra seating. Price upon request, safavieh.com.

Buzzworthy

A PEEK INSIDE THE LATEST DESIGN NEWS HAPPENING IN THE AREA

ARCHITECTURAL ADDITION

Celebrating 100 years in business, Interstate + Lakeland is still going strong, maintaining six lumber yards, three window and door design centers and a custom millwork facility. The storied company’s latest addition is a new design showroom in Westport. Situated a few buildings away from the company’s existing lumberyard, the state-of-the-art, two-story, 11,000-squarefoot space is a haven for architects, designers, builders and homeowners looking for luxury building products, including windows, doors, architectural hardware and millwork. 800 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-221-1620, interstatelumber.com.

SUMMER DREAMING

Award-winning outdoor furniture brand Brown Jordan recently opened a 6,600-square-foot flagship showroom in the New York Design Center where visitors can explore collections by legendary design collaborators like Walter Lamb, Richard Frinier, John Caldwell, Ann Marie Vering and Toan Nguyen. “With the opening of our new showroom at the New York Design Center, Brown Jordan officially plants a flag firmly into the epicenter of the design industry,” says Brown Jordan CEO Gene Moriarty. “This marks the beginning of Brown Jordan’s biggest and brightest chapter in our almost 80-year history. We’re not only offering never-before seen exclusive interpretations of our iconic designs, but over the next several months, we will begin rolling out multiple new collection introductions and expanding our list of best-in-class design partners.” NYDC, 200 Lexington Ave., NYC, 917-781-3995, brownjordan.com.

Sister Parish’s beloved textile and wallpaper patterns are now available at the brand’s first brick-andmortar location. The Sister Parish shop, in historic Litchfield, was designed by Creative Director and great-granddaughter of Sister Parish, Eliza Harris, to capture the brand’s heritage, paying homage to Sister’s legacy. “My mother and I have both made Connecticut our home and have found Litchfield to not only be a stunning historic town, but also a burgeoning design destination with a very welcoming community,” says Harris. “We are thrilled to introduce the community to Sister’s legacy and hope the new space will inspire not only local artisans, but design enthusiasts and professional designers to add a little bit of Sister Parish whimsy to their lives.” 7 West St., second floor, Litchfield, 914-2347452, sisterparishdesign.com.

FULL CIRC E

Artistic Tile launched its third collaboration with interior designer and recent CTC&G IDA judge Alison Rose. Fascinated by elemental shapes to create sophisticated patterns, Rose created the circular pattern of Sfera. “I am very inspired by modularity, and the way things are constructed,” says Rose. “This has been a thread through all facets of my practice and has most recently led me on an exploration of cells as the smallest basic units of life. Just as living cells are composed of three main parts, the elements of Sfera are arranged in triplets. The circles intersect and overlay, celebrating togetherness.” White Plains, NY, 914422-0041, artistictile.com. —Mary Fitzgerald

NEUTRAL

GROUND

PROVIDING A NEUTRAL, FOUNDATIONAL CANVAS, THESE RUGS ADD RICHNESS TO A ROOM—LAYERED WITH DIMENSION AND TEXTURE IN DISTINCTIVE MATERIALS LIKE JUTE, ALPACA, SILK, BAMBOO AND TIBETAN WOOL PRODUCED BY MARY FITZGERALD

ORGANIC FIBERS

1. Hamida in Sand, designed by Stark Creative Director Ashley Stark Kenner for Ashley Stark Home, is made in India from 100-percent hand-knotted wool. The rug is adorned with chunky tassels and high-low sculptural embellishments. ashleystarkhome.com.

2. Made from 100-percent jute with a cotton backing, the Penny Lane rug from Elitis is hand-braided by artisans, so each rug is unique. elitis-fr.

3. Rivoli by Studio Four NYC is handwoven in 100-percent jute in natural and black. studiofournyc.com.

4. The Moroccan rug by Bokara is based on designs adapted from Berber tribes from the city of Taza in Morocco. The tufted and flat pattern is handwoven in white and gray from 100-percent natural wool. bokara.com.

5. Kilim flat weave and Persian knotted pile techniques are combined to create a high-low dimensionality in New Moon’s Carrera rug. newmoonrugs.com.

6. The Elizabeth Cloth Nordic Grid pattern from Elizabeth Eakins

is handwoven and finished with a striped whipstitch. The reversible design can be woven as a simple border or an all-over grid design, shown here in latte. elizabetheakins.com.

7. Made in Nepal, the Rosemary Hallgarten Ombre Arch rug is striking both visually and texturally in wool and silk. rosemaryhallgarten.com.

8. Composed of 100-percent Sardinian wool, the Elder rug from Nordic Knots is designed in Stockholm and handmade in India. nordicknots.com.

9. Handcrafted by artisans in Nepal from lush Suri alpaca wool, the Stinson is a cut pile rug from the Sandra Jordan Prima Alpaca collection by Erden, shown here in Cloud. somerselle.com.

10. The Harwich woven jute rug sports alternating diamond colors and was designed by Mark D. Sikes for Annie Selke. annieselke.com.

11. This sampling of handwoven FJ Hakimian rugs, designed by Ilana Aidman, illustrates the brand’s use of natural materials like mohair, natural lox mohair, chenille cotton and hemp. fjhakimian.com.

TEXTURAL IMPACT

1. Moroccan rug designs often stemmed from the weaver’s imagination. This creative style is displayed in the Modern Moroccan rug from Apandana. An abstract geometric pattern is hand-knotted in ivory and light brown wool. apadanarugsandcarpets.com.

2. Donghia’s textural Knotty or Nice rug is fashioned from ultra-fine Merino wool, handspun and twisted to create a nubby, multi-dimentional linear pattern. kravet.com.

3. Hand-knotted in Nepal, the Artwork Flow rug from Jan Kath is composed of wool, silk and nettle and can be customized in size and coloration. jan-kath.com.

4. Crafted from sheepskin in an ivory and camel palette, the Talano Lines rug from

Patterson Flynn is luxuriously soft underfoot. pattersonflynn.com.

5. The Thom Filicia Home Collection for Feizy includes Longridge, a handloomed dimensional rug in wool and viscose, shown here in Ivory. feizy.com.

6. Rich in textural interest, the lustrous tone-on-tone and cutpile motif of Safavieh’s Mirage rug is handloomed in India with sustainable viscose yarn to emulate the look and feel of silk. safavieh.com.

7. Roche Bobois’ Brushing Rug is handwoven in 100-percent vegetal silk. Subtle shades of gray resemble a painter’s brush strokes on canvas. rochebobois.com.

8. Bloom, designed by Marc Thee of Marc-Michaels Interior Design for Kyle Bunting, features

overlapping blossoms in cream and taupe hide. kylebunting.com.

9. The interlocking diamond pattern of Basilia by Sferra is inspired by an archival jacquard pattern, hand-tufted in viscose and wool. sferra.com.

10. The Sollies rug from Pierre Frey’s NateCru collection is made from New Zealand wool and bamboo in a cut and loop pile. The contrast of the matte wool with the more iridescent bamboo pile enhances the contrasting pattern in this neutral but textural rug design. pierrefrey.com.

11. Galaxy, a new design by Erick Lindstrom, is a textural labyrinth composed of three different pile heights. The layered paths are handknotted in Tibetan wool and offered in four tonal colorways. eriklindstrom.com.

BOHO CHIC

BRAZILIAN DESIGNER SILVIA FURMANOVICH GETS INSPIRATION FOR HER JEWELRY AND HOME COLLECTIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, jewelry designer Silvia Furmanovich comes from a long line of Italian goldsmiths. Her great-grandfather made ornaments for the Vatican and, as a child, Furmanovich spent hours observing her goldsmith father in his atelier. In 1998, she launched her own collection and opened her first boutique in São Paulo in 2009. Today, her jewelry is available in Brazil, Europe, the Middle East and throughout North America.

“My jewelry is a cross-pollination of traditions,” Furmanovich says. An avid traveler, she loves “discovering crafts in faraway places that I can show in a contemporary way.” For example, she has collaborated with people in the Amazon whose intricate wood marquetry has become a signature of her work. In the past, she has incorporated Japan’s ancient basketwork techniques into woven bamboo jewelry, as well as incorporating India’s centuries-old miniature painting traditions into new designs. Her latest collection, Silk Road, is inspired by a recent trip to cities in Uzbekistan—including Tashkent, Samarkand and Khiva—where the silk trade

with China has played a critical role throughout history. “Uzbekistan was the conduit not only for the exchange of products and goods throughout the ages, but also cultures and ideas,” says Furmanovich.

Underscoring the main tenet of her design philosophy, the designer says that “as a brand, our top priority is to preserve craftsmanship in all its many forms. On this trip, we were able to collaborate with female silk weavers deep in the Fergana Valley, a key trade site on the Silk Road. We were also inspired by centuries-old ikat tie-dye and suzani embroidery traditions to create our new collection.”

Furmanovich has recently launched her first home collection, which like her artisanal jewelry, utilizes crafts from various cultures. These are incorporated into jewelry boxes, trays, picture frames and vases, among other objects. Looking ahead to 2023, she plans to continue her exploration of bamboo basketry techniques, applied to jewelry as well as pieces for the home. And Furmanovich is on the road once again: This time she’s off to Japan.

Global Inspirations (clockwise from top left) A colorful selection of Silvia Furmanovich’s designs includes: marquetry earrings set in 18k gold with diamond, turquoise and tsavorite; marquetry clutch with 18k gold, carnelian and silk chord; marquetry box with brass and suede; bracelet with silk weaving, diamond and opal; marquetry vase with silk trimming; and earrings with silk weaving, diamond, sapphire and blue topaz. Prices available upon request. All available through Bergdorf Goodman, NYC, bergdorfgoodman.com, sylviafurmanovich.com.

DEEDS DON’TS

Simply the Best

While volatility has rocked real estate for nearly a year now, the luxury market has held its own. And the truth is, high-quality homes equipped with the best amenities and located in the most desirable neighborhoods will always find their buyers. The six listings featured here, including cool renovations, new construction and even a chateau, are guaranteed to prove that maxim—so move fast if one of them catches your eye!

THE BEST IN RENOVATIONS

Because this is awards season, we’re rolling out the red carpet for a couple of listings that have undergone stunning renovations, remaking two aging properties into glamorous, move-in-ready homes.

We’ll start in Newtown, at a swank, circa-1900 estate that won two CTC&G IDAs—for its gardens in 2015 and its kitchen in 2018. And that kitchen is still a winner, featuring two 11-foot Calcutta marble islands, a capacious

UNIQUE & LUXURY PROPERTIES JACLYN PICARILLO

Specializing in the marketing, sale & rental of Unique & Luxury Properties throughout Fairfield County, CT.

$5,750,000 RPM Home Inc. once again has raised the bar for Fairfield County’s new construction waterfront homes. This proposed ultra-luxe 4,500sf, 5-bedroom masterpiece with pool, covered and open air decks, balconies, and bluestone patio has been custom designed to answer your every wish in direct waterfront living. Whether a full-time residence or a coastal holiday retreat just an express train from Manhattan, at “Sea Gull Pass” you’ll feel like you’re on vacation every day. The boat dotted waters and ever-changing tidal landscape is the perfect backdrop for this generously sized home (with elevator option). The glorious colors from sunrise to sunset will provide endless interest stretching to the shores of Long Island and the skyline of Manhattan. The 15’ x 25’ pool offers added pleasure when taking a break from paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, and sandy beach time at low tide. Live life the way it is meant to be... on the water. Cottage offered “as-is” $2,585,000 216PineCreekAve.com

“Sea Gull Pass” at Pine Creek Avenue, Fairfield, CT. |

“Southport Chic”, Southport, CT. | $3,995,000 Just steps to the beach, Harbor and quaint Southport Village, this French inspired beauty boasts large and inviting public rooms with French doors uniting the inside with outside patios, pool, entertaining spaces, and glorious 2.79 flat, manicured acres. You’ll adore the high ceilings, timeless elegance, and easy lifestyle in the comfortable sun-drenched spaces: living room with fireplace; oversized dining room; kitchen with large island and breakfast area opening to the family room with fireplace; library with fireplace and bar; office; mudroom. There are 5/6 bedrooms including a first floor ensuite. The primary bedroom with fireplace overlooks the pool. Divine! 987Pequot.com

EXCLUSIVE LISTING AGENT: JACLYN PICARILLO

kitchen and firepit. And there’s a massive family room with reclaimed-hemlock exposed beams and a gas fireplace. Outside, across the 5.5 landscaped acres, there’s a pretty pool and pool house. The property lists for $2,540,000 with the Madonna & Phillips team of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty.

THE BEST IN NEW CONSTRUCTION

In darien, a brand new, 6,800-square-foot home has all the features on this year’s must-have amenities list. There’s the front-to-back foyer with double-height ceilings. There’s a no-one-has-ever-used-it kitchen that connects to both an oversized family room and, via butler’s pantry, a formal dining room. There’s a glass-walled office space with views onto the terrace. And there are six ensuite bedrooms, including one on the lower level suitable for an au pair, and a primary suite with a fireplace and dressing room. Finally, on the oneacre grounds, there’s a spa-like pool and terrace. It lists for $4,995,000 with Bruce Baker of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty.

Lacanche stove, a distinctive patterned tile floor and lovely built-in banquettes in the breakfast nook. Called Hermitswood, the 6,321-square-foot home also features a two-story family room with a 17th-century French fireplace, one of seven fireplaces throughout the house. In all, there are four bedrooms, including a well-appointed primary suite with a private balcony. And on the eight-acre exteriors is a gorgeous pool flanked by multiple terraces and a lily pond. The property lists for $2,699,000 with Libby McKinney Tritschler of Al Filippone Associates, associated with William Raveis.

In Bridgewater, a once-ordinary, ’60s-era Colonial now features cool, openplan interiors and the much-sought-after downstairs primary suite, fitted with French doors onto a private terrace. Called Skyfall Manor, the home has a new kitchen, built with cathedral ceilings and a wall of windows, which flows into a dazzling formal dining room with glossy charcoal walls. The dining room also offers access to a covered porch and bluestone terrace with an outdoor

WASHINGTON SLEPT HERE

Just in time for President’s Day: An antique that hosted George Washington has hit the market for $1,649,000. Once serving the town of Litchfield as Sheldon’s Tavern, the circa-1760 Colonial has retained some of its original features— from ornate fireplaces to wide floorboards—along with six bedrooms and a handsome, two-story covered porch overlooking the back lawns. The 6.55acre grounds also feature a pool, pool house and an apartment over the detached garage. Cleve Fuessenich of Klemm Real Estate in Litchfield has the listing. 860-567-5060.

THE BEST OF THE UNIQUES

A barn with a silo and an observatory?

A modern chateau? Unlike like pristine new construction (see: Darien), listings that don’t fall into easy categories aren’t for everyone. But iconoclastic buyers seeking something unique tend to flock to the fanciful—and in our state, two of the best include a barn-style home on 37 acres in Kent. At the heart of Cobble Brook Farm, as it’s called, is the stunning main house, converted from a barn by architects Haver & Skolnick Architects in 2001. The threestory silo, topped by an observatory offering 360-degree views, is the property’s most obvious unique feature. But its 66-foot-long great room with exposed beams and two floor-to-ceiling stone hearths is every bit as dramatic. The drama continues in the first-floor primary suite featuring a private, screened-in porch that’s cantilevered over a brook. There are an additional two bedrooms in the main house, three more in the guest house and, in yet another barnstyle structure, a home theater and studio/office. It lists for $4,695,000 with Maria Taylor and Claudine McHugh of Klemm Real Estate in Washington Depot.

Finally in Greenwich, a circa-2008 chateau-style home has a distinctly graphic appeal with its white façade trimmed in black, and elegant portico and turret. The elegance continues in the entrance hall, featuring 30-foot ceilings and double staircases, with an easy flow to the back terrace and its pool. As is required these days, there’s a handsome home office, this one with an impressive marble hearth and wood paneling. Equally impressive is the lowerlevel suite of amenities, including a billiards room, theater, gym and yoga room. It lists for $4,999,000 with Ed Villeda of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty. —Diane di Costanzo

TWO PALM BEACH ESTATE SECTION LOTS - DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES 1.4 ACRES

This one of a kind gated Palm Beach estate consists of two huge lots each 125’ x 256’ totaling one and a half acres. The East lot is currently a garden. The West lot features a delightfully scaled 11,500 sq.ft. Spanish Mediterranean residence with a guest house, pool, spa and dance pavilion. This stunning Estate Section property boasts a three car garage and full house generator. Deeded beach access provided.

EXCLUSIVE - PRICE UPON REQUEST | 160CLARENDON.COM Trust.

FEBRUARY

THE BOLD + THE BEAUTIFUL

THE CLIENT WANTED A HOUSE BY THE SUMMER. THE CATCH? DESIGNER WHITNEY MCNELL’S DUE DATE WAS A MONTH AWAY

OhBaby!

Conversation Pieces (this page) Visual Comfort & Co.’s Mill chandelier hangs over a colorful seating arrangement in the great room. A Jonathan Adler cocktail table makes waves amid a sea of pretty pieces, including a pair of blue lacquer table lamps from the Collective, and a custom sofa and chair. Happy Blues (opposite page) McNell had the breakfast nook chairs upholstered in Katie Ridder’s Bluebell Peony and Jab Anstoetz’ Great Gatsby fabrics. The table from Hive Palm Beach is perfect for large gatherings. See Resources

Designer Whitney McNell and her client were both on pretty tight timelines for this Rowayton project: The homeowners wanted to have it ready for the summer, and McNell wanted to get as much done as possible before the fast-approaching due date of her first baby. McNell’s Dallas–based clients—a couple with three children—had just sold a second home in Palm Beach, Florida, and were eager to replace it with something a little farther north. They were familiar with Rowayton, which happened to be situated within a couple hours of their two older girls’ colleges—and provided a great spot to

enjoy a sea breeze while escaping the Texas heat.

Within a couple weeks of closing on this waterfront property, the homeowner found McNell, of McNell Interiors, on Instagram and sent her a message. Was she interested in taking on the project? That message arrived in March. The client wanted the home to be move-in ready by mid-June. McNell was due in mid-April. Talk about a quick turnaround! But she couldn’t resist. “I had a really good feeling about the homeowner,” says the designer, “and I just knew this project could be something really great.”

With an eye toward a not-too-distant future, the designer and her client got right to work. Over a long lunch in Darien—their only in-person meeting— they looked at a whole bag of fabric samples, with McNell making note of preferences and potential combinations. “It was totally fast and furious,” says McNell. The homeowner was, thankfully, very decisive and in possession of great taste. She imagined a cheerful aesthetic for a home where family and friends could convene over the summer, the holidays and shorter school breaks. Perhaps most notably, she asked for the great room to be like a hotel lobby, with lots of different vignettes for family and guests to sit, chat or spend time separately, together.

When it came to color, she was all-in, though it was a big departure from the family’s primary residence in Texas. “Our house in Dallas is all neutrals and grays,” says the homeowner. She came to the right place for a new look: “I’ve never designed a room that’s neutral,” says McNell. True to form, she built layered color stories for each room, and found the perfect places to work in some great pieces the homeowner was sending up from Palm Beach.

Through a lot of texting, the pair were able to lay an incredible amount of groundwork in just a few weeks, so by the time McNell delivered her baby in

April, most elements had been found, ordered or were being fabricated. Given the timeline, you might think that custom furniture was an impossibility, but McNell’s trusted furniture maker, Luis Muralles (“a miracle worker,” says the homeowner), was able to put together quite a few pieces for the project.

You might also think McNell would need some downtime after welcoming her new family member. But after spending a few weeks at home with her newborn, she was back on the job site to oversee the installation, with little Tucker in tow.

Though the home is structurally much the same, there are new details everywhere, giving each room energy and life. “Whitney really leaves no surface unaddressed,” says the homeowner. “Even the closets have really fun painted woodwork.” They updated the floors, added whimsical wallpapers and painted every room. Familiar shapes like waves and curves are repeated throughout the house, making spaces feel playful yet harmonious. “When you walk in, it’s a complete sense of calm,” says McNell.

The goal was to get into the home for summer, “but we enjoy it just as much on a cold and rainy day,” notes the homeowner. “It cozies up so nicely.” Though the project was completed quickly, what they came away with—designer and client both—is sure to bring long-lasting joy.   ✹

Primary Colors

(opposite page) In the primary suite, McNell created a cozy space with a round marble table from CB2 and a custom banquette.

Red, White & Blue

(this page) In a sunny bedroom, a vintage nightstand found on Chairish complements Serena & Lily striped bedding and a custom roman shade. See Resources

The Full Spectrum

A Danbury Victorian hosts a painterly canvas of colors and patterns

In Living Color

The living room’s layered look is accomplished with numerous elements that include an ottoman covered with a sturdy Sunbrella outdoor solid canvas and an area rug from Country Braid House. See Resources

EVERY DAY, INTERIOR DESIGNER ERICK ESPINOZA occupies two distinct worlds at his home in Danbury. He characterizes his upstairs home office as “a white box,” while he refers to the downstairs living spaces of his late-Victorian home he shares with his partner, Justin Byous, as “a magical land of color.” Espinoza keeps his office monochromatic and free of excess décor because, as he says, “I need to work in a state uninfluenced by other things. But when the day is done and I head downstairs, I enter rooms packed with color and pattern, and I love that.”

As creative director for Anthony Baratta, LLC—a firm long known for fashioning interiors characterized by multiple hues, competing patterns and accessories of every period—Espinoza also understands the appeal of a more muted palette. “I can appreciate a very clean, neutral interior, and I understand the challenges of designing rooms with those constraints, but I want to be surrounded by colors where I live.”

After sharing an apartment in Queens for years, Espinoza and Byous were ready, as Espinoza explains, “to go to the next step, to hunker down and settle into a home where we could grow as a family.” The circa-1895, three-bedroom house they came upon near downtown Danbury was atypical of most residences of the era, in that it was “sober in design, without all the bells and whistles, turned moldings and carvings you find in places of that era,” says Espinoza,

Getting Cozy (left to right across spread) A corner of the living room features an antique cupboard topped with a weathervane; the star quilt is from Julie Silber Quilts. The den—painted a bright yellow—is where the homeowners spend much of their time. Custom red-hued lampshades from Blanche P. Field provide a sharp contrast to the walls and décor, which includes stacks of vintage National Geographic magazines. The jute rug is from Fibreworks. See Resources

ESPINOZA HAS INVENTED A STYLE HE CASUALLY CALLS “POP ART COUNTRY”

“which makes it more interesting and allowed me to make some very bold strokes.”

The couple brought along their existing furnishings, finding new ways to live with them in rooms that sometimes assume peculiar angles. Among Espinoza’s first tasks was to paint interior walls white, allowing him to indulge in color with the furnishings. “I come from a painting background,” he explains, “having attended art school before interior design school. Configuring interiors is a lot like doing a painting, with similar aspects of addressing proportion, color and pattern.” A look into their living room, for instance, revels a painterly palette of reds, greens, blues and yellows. And like all good works on canvas, Espinoza recognizes the importance, too, of establishing a focal point—in this case, a circular ottoman upholstered in a variety of patterns that harken to American folk art, a circus tent and even Tramp art.

Although visitors to the house become immediately acquainted with a novel design scheme, an Empire-style console table in the foyer essentially announces in one word what is soon to come. The piece is decoupaged with a white Italian paper printed with words, the first and most readable of which is “magnifico.” “What a positive statement to read when you first walk in,” says Espinoza, “the idea that everything’s going to be magnificent. And it is!” Given the mix of hues and decorative elements, Espinoza has invented a style he casually calls “Pop Art Country,” in which every room “is fun and invigorating to occupy.”

Espinoza and Byous spend much of their time in a yellow-hued den, its prevailing color scheme determined initially by stacks of vintage issues of the National Geographic, a publication noted for that shade on its covers. “The magazines were a housewarming gift from Anthony [Baratta], which he’d had for years,” says Espinoza. “He used them in his first house as décor but he gave them to me, not only knowing my love of yellow, but also because this was our first house.”

Just as Espinoza knows how to combine multiple hues to maximum effect, so, too, does he understand restraint. For their breakfast nook, off of which on opposite sides are the color-intensive living room and den, Espinoza employed a quiet shade of green for the door, window and ceiling trims. Meanwhile, the white walls create “a blank canvas” for his collection of iron ice-fishing spears, which appear to radiate from the surfaces.

Although the couple has been in the house for two years, the effects of life there continue to surprise them. As Espinoza recalls, “We were cooking dinner the other night, and as I looked from the stove into the progression of rooms beyond, we both became aware of what a beautiful space we live in and have created, and how far we’ve come.”

Nantucket Reprise (opposite page) When they wanted to move closer to town on the island, repeat clients of Lynn Morgan Design asked the designer and architects, Botticelli & Pohl, to create a home that wasn’t the typical Nantucket house. Blues Clues (this page) In the living room, a Holly Hunt sofa wears a Lee Jofa fabric. A Hwang Bishop table lamp tops a custom table designed by Lynn Morgan through Old Mill Road Table Company. The custom club chairs are covered in a Quadrille print. See Resources

The Side Brighter

They are the only clients I know who do not like stripes or shells in Nantucket,” says Lynn Morgan of her repeat clients (this was their fifth project together) and their latest collaboration on the Gray Lady. The couple wanted a place closer to town and enlisted B otticelli & Pohl and Lynn Morgan Design to create a summer house that would last for the next generation—and, the big ask, not to look like the typical Nantucket house. They wanted something a little more modern, simple and filled with light. “Their last house was spectacular,” notes Morgan. “I could have duplicated it! But they’ve become more progressive as their tastes evolve.”

While the outside—clad in unpainted shingles and surrounded in blue hydrangea—is your typical Nantucket house, the inside, with Morgan’s signature blue, is simple, colorful and warm. Every wall is painted in Benjamin Moore’s crisp, cool white, Chantilly Lace, and the floors are a pale white oak. In the living room, a modern Holly Hunt sofa covered in a performance blue with white piping sits with club chairs in a Quadrille Ikat print and a custom sapphire ice waterfall

Simply Bold (this page) Hunt Slonem artwork hangs in the dining room, where the painted floor is by Nantucket decorative artist Karen Ward. Group Therapy (opposite page, top) The breakfast table—made by Dunes and Duchess—is illuminated by a Visual Comfort & Co. fixture. Blue Mood (opposite page, bottom) A Coleen and Company fixture hangs just inside the entry. The x-bench is custom in a Lee Jofa textile. See Resources

Pretty In Pink

In a pale pink guest room (far left), Roman shades are in a Peter Fasano print, and the Matouk bedding is through Home Boutique of Greenwich. The walls of the bathroom (near left) wear a Meg Braff Designs paper.

Tucked Away (below) Throw pillows in the girls’ bunk room sport Hunt Slonem’s iconic Bunny print. Bright Spot (opposite page) In another guest room, Peter Dunham’s Fez covers the windows. The bedside table is from Oomph, and the ceiling fixture is by Ro Sham Beaux. See Resources

coffee table. The bar, lacquered in Benjamin Moore’s Soft Jazz, “adds a little glam with the color and the beautiful French shelving,” notes Jim Ribaudo, senior designer at Lynn Morgan Design. “The pale pink and Greek key pillows [on the sofa] aren’t your typical Nantucket look,” he says. “It’s modern and sophisticated while still feeling comfortable.”

The room’s beams are finished in a custom high-gloss white. “Lynn had to talk the clients into it,” says Ribaudo. “It adds so much definition and makes the architecture even better.” It’s subtle tricks like this throughout the house that make the simple design so brilliant—quietly highlighting architecture without over-the-top statements, letting the clients’ artwork do the talking. In the dining room, millwork applied on the walls provides some much-needed character. “We wanted to add architecture to the room, and we wanted something that felt special and different,” says Ribaudo. The dining room’s painted floors and white velvet chairs with nailheads and blue backs against the crisp walls and white curtains emit an almost Swedish vibe. “I put painted floors in almost every project” says Morgan. “I love the simplicity of it, yet it adds so much detail.” Notes Ribaudo: “We wanted everything to feel modern and fresh. We deliberately didn’t use dark wood or dark colors anywhere.”

While the dining room’s custom table can fit 12 people, the kitchen’s breakfast area is the real hero. Another custom piece—this one by Dunes and Duchess— can fit 14 people if needed. “This is the biggest banquette we have ever done,” says

Morgan. It’s covered in a high-performance faux leather, and the chairs around it in a vinyl-coated Quadrille print. “Everything had to be casual and liveable,” says Ribaudo. “They have grandchildren and a huge dog that sheds on everything, so there are dirty hands, paws and wet bottoms everywhere, but nothing is off limits.” The house does really fit everyone too. Downstairs, two bunk rooms—one a girls’ and one a boys’—can sleep eight. Upstairs are two more guest rooms—one in a pale pink driven by a Peter Fasano print and the other in a more vibrant pink, dictated by a saturated Peter Dunham pink and a fuschia and orange Quadrille Ikat. In the downstairs mudroom, another Peter Fasano textile covers a bench. “Every blue we used in the house is right there in that fabric,” says Morgan. But the pillows on the bench really say it all: Each one is monogrammed with the name of every grandchild. “This is one of the prettiest projects we have done,” says Morgan, “timeless with bright blues but also sophisticated.” Adds Ribaudo: “It’s a summer place for everyone. It’s about having family time and a wonderful summer.” ✹

Flower Power Hydrangeas (above) add color inside and out. Mudroom (right) light fixtures are from Urban Electric, and the bench fabric is by Peter Fasano. The guest-house bedroom (opposite page) features a Tillett Textiles fabric on the headboard, skirt and windowseat pillows. See Resources

T

he couple wanted a summer house that would last for the next generation—and, the big ask, not to look like the typical Nantucket house

COLORFUL Character

A CLASSIC GREENWICH HOME BOASTS A RICH AND UNIQUE PALETTE

When a young couple with three children moved back to the States from London pre-pandemic, they bought a classic stone Colonial in the Belle Haven section of Greenwich, a waterfront community with a friendly neighborhood vibe. However, when it came time to conceive a plan for the inside, classic was the farthest thing from their minds. They turned to onetime Greenwich resident and now Toronto–based designer Anne Hepfer, whose work they had long admired. “They are a young, hip, fashion-forward couple, and they really wanted something energized and fun,” says Hepfer. “They felt like a lot of homes in Connecticut are too much of the same. They wanted someone who could think outside the box.”

Thinking outside the box is Hepfer’s specialty. She is known for her ability to combine color, pattern and texture in artful—and unexpected—ways to create specific moods in different rooms. To that end, “the big focus was on creating something really special and meaningful to their family,” she says. “They wanted it to be very comfortable and colorful. Dressy enough but not to the point where you can’t put your feet up on anything.”

The house, which was built in 2011, had good bones. After some updating— including a new kitchen and new bathrooms—Hepfer turned her attention to the interiors. First up, the octagonal-shaped entry foyer with its double-height ceiling and spiral staircase. “We needed something whimsical and reflective of nature to bring the outside in,” she says. A custom de Gournay wallpaper, with tropical plants

Fun + Functional (this page and bottom left opposite) A white Bolon rug grounds a dining table from Roche Bobois, while chairs are dressed in cotton velvets from Brunschwig & Fils, and the chandelier is through Maddox Quirke. An inset lazy Susan makes for easy family dining. Orange Pop (opposite top) In the kitchen, Kravet’s Tangelo covers counter stools from Safavieh, while black and brass Urban Electric pendants illuminate the island. See Resources.

RECURRING MOTIFS AND COLORS FLUIDLY TRANSITION FROM ONE ROOM TO THE NEXT

Snug Sanctuary

In the library (this page), the sofa wears a Threadcount linen and is topped with custom throw pillows from Ayadeena. The Womb chair is through Design Within Reach; the brass picture light is Urban Electric; and the polished brass overhead light is from Paul Marra Design.

Perfect Gem (opposite)

A pair of alabaster wall lights by Visual Comfort & Co. flank the Anne Hepfer–designed mirror in the powder room. See Resources.

and flowering trees hand-painted on a crackled silver leaf, infuses the space with elegance while still feeling fresh and modern. To make it even more personal, the initials of every family member were painted into the scenery.

That set the tone for the rest of the house, where recurring motifs and colors fluidly transition from one room to the next. The mood turns from reflective to playful in the dining room, where two-tone chairs in persimmon and royal blue velvet and a marine-blue lacquered spool-style table evoke the colors of the Amalfi Coast. The inset lazy Susan is “fun and conducive to conversation,” says the designer. The white silver-flecked cork walls showcase one of the couple’s favorite works of art by Yosuke Takeda.

In the kitchen, the designer swapped out the original wood floors for marble tiles done in a classic Roman rhomboid pattern. “The design is centuries old but it looks so modern,” Hepfer says. “It’s a great way to add energy to a floor and give the kitchen a little zip.” As do diner-style swivel stools upholstered in an orange tangelo faux leather from Kravet. For the sun-drenched family room, Hepfer introduced a mix of blues and corals that riff off the breakfast nook with its orange banquette. “There are something like nine different patterns in this space. Somehow it just works,” she adds.

Slightly more formal but no less inviting, the living room is a play on contrasting shapes. A curved emerald-green velvet sofa grounds a seating area in front of the fireplace. The black lines of the Serge Mouille light fixture, and the Roman shades edged with black trim accentuate the fragmented design of the rug, which Hepfer based on a Moroccan pattern and enlarged to scale.

The designer carried the colors into the snug library, with its black-lacquered walls and millwork. “I love black because it’s so reflective, it makes a smaller space feel bigger,” she says. A custom hand-knotted rug with a swirl of green pays homage to Hepfer’s favorite semi-precious stone—malachite. The needlepoint throw pillows on the white linen sofa are a nod to her former hometown. “We had needlepoint pillows made in green and white and black, which is a very modern and contemporary pattern. I think of it as preppy goes wild.” ✹

HBRA Awards Di nner

CTC&G was the proud media sponsor of the HBRA OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY’s annual awards dinner & holiday celebration.

Frank Bowron 2 Top

Theresa

Cross Insurance’s Kim LaChance, Kim DiMatteo and Ted Antonellis Bottom Row: Cross Insurance’s Maria Rodrigues, Rita Maggi, Dee Bachman, and David Branning 3. HBRA of Fairfield County’s Sarah DePrado and Kerry Brunn 4 Chris Pike of Clarke Distributors and Roger Stolting of EDOS 5 Cornerstone Contracting’s Brittany Pusser, George Pusser, Chad Smith, Heather Pusser and Mindy Gerhardt

The Connecticut Design Guide Release Party

CTC&G celebrated the release of the annual Connecticut Design Guide with JennAir & Ferguson at

DESIGN STOPS

MUST-HAVES FOR THE DESIGN-OBSESSED SHOPPER

THE POST

Beautifully handcrafted, this showstopper of a bowl or vase is a riot of rich texture to refresh for spring! The surface of the vase is emblazoned with dimensional, hand-formed ceramic paillettes. 203.292.5700 / thepostct.com @thepostct

RESOURC E S MORE

OH BABY!

Pages 40–47: Interior design, Whitney McNell, McNell Interiors, mcnellinteriors. com. Custom furniture upholstery, Luis Murrales, Furniture Murrales, 475266-0727. Exterior: Sconces, RH. Door paint, Benjamin Moore. Great room: Chandelier, Visual Comfort & Co. Cocktail table, Jonathan Adler. Table lamps, The Collective. Breakfast nook: Chair fabrics, Katie Ridder and Jab Anstoetz. Table, Hive Palm Beach. Sconce, Hudson Valley. Sconce shade fabric, Peter Dunham. Family room: Sofa, Furniture Muralles. Sofa fabric, Kravet. Wallpaper, Peter Fasano. Chair and Roman shade fabrics, Schumacher. Table, Chairish. Rug, Erin Gates by Momeni. Lighting, Hudson Valley. Hallway: Bench, Palm Beach Regency. Bench fabrication, Diane Sargent, Classic Drapery. Bench fabric, Peter Fasano. Bathroom: Wallpaper, Schumacher. Mirror, One Kings Lane. Sconce, Ro Sham Beaux. Trim and vanity paint, Benjamin Moore. Vanity hardware, Modern Matter. Tile, Ideal Tile. Primary suite: Table, CB2. Rug, Sacco Carpet. Drapery, Carolina Irving. Pillow fabrics, Schumacher. Wallpaper, Phillip Jeffries. Bedroom: Bed fabric, Kravet. Nightstand, Chairish. Bedding, Serena & Lily. Roman shade fabric, Schumacher.

THE FULL SPECTRUM

Pages 48–57: Interior design, Erick Espinosa, Anthony Baratta LLC, anthonybaratta.com. Entry: Table, Black Swan Antiques. Living room: Area rug, Country Braid House. Ottoman fabric, Sunbrella. Star quilt, Julie Silber. Den: Wing chair fabric, Lee Jofa. Area rug, Fibreworks. Lampshades, Blanche Field. Breakfast room: Area rug, Spicher & Co. Chairs, Shaker Workshop. Wall accessories, Find Weatherly. Guest bedroom: Ship paintings, Chairish. Wallpaper, Waterhouse Wallhangings. Primary bedroom: Fabrics on walls, bed and chair, Lee Jofa. Rug, Anthony Monaco Carpet & Textile Design.

THE BRIGHTER SIDE

Pages 58–65: Interior design, Lynn Morgan, Lynn Morgan Design, lynnmorgandesign.com. Architect, Botticelli & Pohl, botticelliandpohl.com. Landscape designer, Elizabeth O’Rourke, Jardins International, jardinsintl.com.

Living room: Sofa, Holly Hunt. Sofa fabric, Lee Jofa. Club chair fabric, Quadrille. Coffee and side tables, Old Mill Road Company. Lamps, Hwang Bishop. Rug, L&M Custom Carpets. Paint, Benjamin Moore. Art, Simeon Braguin.

Sconces, Waterworks. Breakfast area: Table, Dunes and Duchess. Banquette pillow fabric, Schumacher. Chandelier, Visual Comfort & Co. Entry: Light fixture, Coleen and Company. Bench fabric, Lee Jofa. Dining room: Dining table, Old Mill Road Company. Chair fabric, Romo. Chandelier and sconces, Visual Comfort & Co. Artwork, Hunt Slonem. Painted floor, Karen Ward. Bowl, Christopher Spitzmiller. Guest room: Roman shade fabric, Peter Fasano. Bedding, Matouk through Home Boutique of Greenwich. Headboard and bedskirt fabric, Romo. Window seat pillow fabric, Studio B. Monogramed pillow, Lynn Morgan Design. Table, Oomph. Bathroom: Wallpaper, Meg Braff Designs. Girl’s Bunk room: Pillows, Hunt Slonem pillows through Ryan Studio. Quilt, John Robshaw. Bed linens, Matouk. Painted floor, Karen Ward. Guest bedroom: Roman shade fabric, Peter Dunham. Chandelier, Ro Sham Beaux. Bedside table, Oomph. Lamp, Fox Mill Lighting & Supply Co. Headboard fabric, Quadrille. Bedskirt fabric, Romo. Bed linens, Matouk through Home Boutique,

Greenwich. Mudroom: Light fixtures, The Urban Electric Company. Bench fabric, Peter Fasano. Guest house bedroom: Headboard, bedskirt and window seat pillows, Tillett Textiles. Bench fabric, Schumacher. Chandelier and sconces, Aerin for Visual Comfort & Co. Bedding, Matouk through Home Boutique Greenwich. Roman shade fabric, Romo. Area rug, AT Proudian. Window seat cushion fabric, Perennials.

COLORFUL CHARACTER

Pages 66–73: Interior design, Anne Hepfer, Anne Hepfer Designs Inc. annehepfer.com. Builder, Dan Valentine

Construction Management, 203-770-4795. Entry foyer: Wallpaper, de Gournay. Table, Worlds Away. Family room: Sofa fabric, Perennials. Sofa trim and pillows, Schumacher. Sofa pillows, Jonathan Adler and Crawford Bead through Robert Allen. Coffee table, Safavieh. Armchair and drapery fabrics, Lee Jofa. Wallpaper and drapery hardware, Kravet. Carpet, Bolon. Kitchen: Counter stools, Safavieh. Stool fabric, Kravet. Pendants, The Urban Electric Company.

Dining room: Rug, Bolon. Leather trim on rug, Kravet. Table, Roche Bobois. Chair fabric, Brunschwig & Fils. Chandelier, Maddox Quirke. Living room: Sofa and Roman shade fabric, Kravet. Chair fabric, Lee Jofa. Ceiling light fixture, Serge Mouille. Coffee table, Jonathan Adler. Cube table, Made Goods. Rug and pillow fabrics, Kravet. Sofa pillows, Memo Showroom. Table lamps, 1stDibs. Roman shade trim, Samuel & Sons. Wallpaper, Crown Wallpaper. Side table and floor lamp, Ah Ha by Anne Hepfer. Sconces, Aerin by Visual Comfort & Co. Library: Sofa fabric, Threadcount. Sofa pillows, Lee Jofa. Roman shade fabric, drapery fabric and hardware, Kravet. Custom pillows, Ayadeena. Womb and desk chair, Design Within Reach. Wall and picture lights, The Urban Electric Company. Overhead light, Paul Marra Design. Rug, Elte. Powder room: Sconces, Visual Comfort & Co. Ceiling fixture, The Urban Electric Company. Wallcovering, Metro Wallcoverings. Fixtures, Sherle Wagner. Mirror, Ah Ha by Anne Hepfer.

SOURCE LIST

1stDibs, 1stdibs.com

Ah Ha by Anne Hepfer, annehepfer.com

Anthony Monaco Carpet & Textile Design, amctdesign.com

AT Proudian, atproudian.com

Ayadeena, ayadeena.com

Benjamin Moore, benjaminmoore.com

Black Swan Antiques, blackswanonline.com

Blanche Field, blanchefield.com

Bolon, bolon.com

Brunschwig & Fils, kravet.com

Carolina Irving, carolinairvingtextiles.com

CB2, cb2.com

Chairish, chairish.com

Christopher Spitzmiller, christopherspitzmiller.com

Classic Drapery, 203-906-5086

Coleen and Company, coleenandcompany.com

Country Braid House, countrybraidhouse.com

Crawford Bead (see Robert Allen)

Crown Wallpaper, crownsurfacesolutions.com

de Gournay, degournay.com

Design Within Reach, dwr.com

Dunes and Duchess, dunesandduchess.com

Elte, elte.com

Erin Gates (see Momeni)

Fibreworks, fibreworks.com

Find Weatherly, findweatherly.com

Findlay Galleries, findlaygalleries.com

Items pictured but not listed here are either from private collections or have no additional details. CTC&G relies upon the providing party of the image to give accurate credit information.

Fox Mill Lighting & Supply Co., foxmillco.com

Furniture Muralles, 475-266-0727

Hive Palm Beach, hivepalmbeach.com

Holland & Sherry, hollandandsherry.com

Holly Hunt, hollyhunt.com

Home Boutique of Greenwich, homeboutique.com

Hudson Valley, hvlgroup.com

Hunt Slonem, huntslonem.com

Hunt Slonem Pillows (see Ryan Studio)

Hwang Bishop, shophwangbishop.com

Ideal Tile, idealtile.com

Jab Anstoetz, jab.de

John Robshaw, johnrobshaw.com

Jonathan Adler, jonathanadler.com

Julie Silber, juliesilberquilts.com

Karen Ward, nantucketdecorativepainting.com

Katie Ridder (see Holland & Sherry)

Kravet, kravet.com

L&M Custom Carpets, lmcustomcarpets.com

Lee Jofa, kravet.com

Lynn Morgan Design, lynnmorgandesign.com

Maddox Quirke, maddoxquirke.com

Made Goods, madegoods.com

Matouk (see Home Boutique of Greenwich)

Meg Braff Designs, megbraffdesigns.com

Memo Showroom, memoshowroom.com

Metro Wallcoverings, metrowallcoverings.com

Modern Matter, modern-matter.com

Momeni, momeni.com

Old Mill Road Company, oldmillroadtable.com

One Kings Lane, onekingslane.com

Oomph, oomphhome.com

Palm Beach Regency, palmbeachregency.com

Paul Marra Design, paulmarradesign.com

Perennials, perennialsfabrics.com

Peter Dunham, peterdunham.com

Peter Fasano, peterfasano.com

Phillip Jeffries, phillipjeffries.com

Quadrille, quadrillefabrics.com

RH, rh.com

Ro Sham Beaux, ro-sham-beaux.com

Robert Allen, robertallendesign.com

Roche Bobois, roche-bobois.com

Romo, romo.com

Ryan Studio, ryanstudio.com

Sacco Carpet, saccocarpet.com

Safavieh, safavieh.com

Samuel & Sons, samuelandsons.com

Schumacher, fschumacher.com

Serena & Lily, serenaandlily.com

Serge Mouille, sergemouilleusa.com

Shaker Workshops, shakerworkshops.com

Sherle Wagner, sherlewagner.com

Simeon Braguin (see Findlay Galleries)

Spicher & Company, spicherandco.com

Studio B, studiobfabrics.com

Sunbrella, sunbrella.com

The Collective, thecollectivect.com

The Urban Electric Company, urbanelectric.com

Threadcount, threadcountinc.com

Tillett Textiles, t4fabrics.com

Visual Comfort & Co., visualcomfort.com

Waterhouse Wallhangings, waterhousewallhangings.com

Waterworks, waterworks.com

Worlds Away, worlds-away.com

February 2023

FROM STAMFORD TO KENT

COOL & COLLECTED

Kenise Barnes Fine Art presents its annual “Cool & Collected” exhibition. This year, the exhibition is curated by Associate Director Lani Halloway and will showcase work from new and emerging artists that have captured the attention of the gallery. The artists include Amanda Acker, Yayoi Asoma, Kirstin Lamb and Mary Tooley Parker. On view now through March 5. Kenise Barnes Fine Art, 7 Fulling Ln., Kent. For more information, visit kbfa.com.

NOW THROUGH MARCH

WORKSHOP AT THE ALDRICH

The Aldrich will host a special three-hour fabric workshop titled “Can It Be My Home?” led by artist Hangama Amiri. Participants will learn about the artist’s work and practice while reflecting and sharing their own ideas of home, whether it is a place, a person, a scent, a dish, or an object. Amiri will lead the group through a process of developing ideas into drawings and further into a textile piece to take back Saturday, February 25, 1 p.m.–4 p.m. $15 for members, $30 for non-members and $25 for students/ seniors. The Aldrich, 258 Main St., Ridgefield. To register, visit thealdrich.org.

MAPLE SUGAR FEST SUNDAYS

Starting February 26, the Stamford Museum & Nature Center will host the first of three Maple Sugar Fest Sundays with First County Bank. Celebrate maple season at the center with added attractions, enhanced programming and fun offerings for the whole family, including storytelling, sock skating, farm animal demos, maple sugar demos, tree tapping, food trucks and more. February 26, March 5 and 12, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Stamford Museum & Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Rd., Stamford. For more information, visit stamfordmuseum.org/maple-sugar-festival.

To list your upcoming event in our next issue, contact Jennifer Barbaro at jbarbaro@candg.com

Charlotte Gaisford

After careers working on yachts and in ski lodges, painting airplanes for a Steven Spielberg movie, selling exotic Crafty Computer Papers and creating trompe l’oeil surfaces, Charlotte Gaisford went back to art school. Studying textiles, she discovered a love of printing on fabric and wallpaper, and her expertise devising computer graphics has resulted in unique, creative, custom-printed designs. Prized by decorators in the U.S. and abroad, Happy Times Again, Summer Flowers and China Tea are among Gaisford’s charming bespoke fabric and wallpaper collections. With two grown sons in school, she lives and works in a barn she renovated in the Northumberland, England, community where she grew up, with her husband who is a fence contractor, “a complete opposite from me,” and their dogs, Rosie, Betty, Punch, Frazzle and Sizz. charlottegaisford.co.uk.

What was it like to go back to school as an adult? I was the age of the other students’ mothers and grannies, but I loved every minute. It was four years to be free to create. I had the time to learn so much.

How do you devise your designs? I do lots of sketches—painting, watercolor, pencil—and I can draw on the computer tablet with a pen. The hard part is mathematically calculating it into an image on the computer, but then you can change the color and size and move it around, repeat it. In the old days it was all done by hand. Now with the computer, it’s quicker and you can experiment.

What are the limitations of working on the computer? You don’t see the real colors, it might look good on the monitor but then not so good in a sample. You always have to have a physical reference. You can’t tell what it’s going to look like until you get the actual sample printed.

Which comes first, the color or the pattern? I usually do the pattern until I get to the point where I can use color. Then I do the scale, which is hardest. You want to see what it looks like from a distance, so I do a mock-up, I take photos of a white wall with furniture in front of it and I superimpose a pattern on it. It helps work out the scale to see what works and what doesn’t.

What are you aiming for? You want the colors to balance—to show the pattern as well as possible. In some patterns, the color can look stronger or weaker.

Why do you describe your palette as quite simple? When decorating, people don’t want anything strange color wise, they want something they can live in. Blue, green, red and pink sell. Yellow, purple, orange don’t sell. People like what they can relate to.

But aren’t there color trends? The interior market is much slower than clothing. People choose stuff they can live with, not necessarily the colors they are wearing.

Why do you advocate selecting fabrics before painting a room? Painting first limits your options. You might find a fabric you love that’s not going to go with your blue wall. Find the fabric you love to live with and pick a paint to go with it.

How should you combine fabrics in a room? I have an easy way of doing it. You pick a showstopper fabric—the one I love I’m going to

Happy Hues (clockwise from top) Sketches are the starting point for Gaisford's designs. Her Stitchery collection fabrics include Knot Tom Tom, Grace Blizzard and Emma Blizzard. More Stitchery fabrics are complemented by Gaisford's Sharanshar red wallpaper.

start with—then I choose other fabrics in the same colors, only working within those colors. Put that with a stripe or something that reminds you of a stripe—maybe a line of flowers or something like a dot. If you mix the pattern and scale within the same colors, you can’t go wrong.

What should you avoid when mixing colors? Using too much of one color. Frightened people use one color all the way through to stay safe, and when they finish the room, it looks boring.

How do you rescue a room from dead color? One little thing—a bright cushion—can make the whole thing pop.

What is your favorite color? Red. I’ve always liked it, I’m drawn to it. I’m in the Chinese year of the dragon, and the dragon’s head is in my family crest, and it’s my logo.—Sharon King Hoge