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12 New England Home’s Connecticut Spring/Summer 2010

longer—New England Home was launched to celebrate thefinest architecture and design in our very special region. Weknew from the beginning, and have rediscovered again andagain in our journeys across six states to search out the creamof the residential experience, that the true story of New Eng-land’s homes is much more than just a matter of furniture,finishes and square footage.

New England as a whole is one of those places blessedwith riches beyond the ordinary: terrain ranging from therugged granite mountains of the north through quiet valesand pastureland to the sandy reaches of Cape Cod and theislands; built environments ranging from intensely cosmo-politan downtown Boston to the bucolic seclusion of a farm-house in the Litchfield Hills; aesthetic styles ranging from aglass-and-concrete loft in Portland to the baronial splendorof a Berkshires horse farm—and none of this even mentionsour unparalleled historic heritage or the thriving intellectual,cultural and business life we enjoy.

But there are still some areas that exude an additionalcharm of their own. Southern Connecticut is one of thosehappy places, as we’ve gradually discovered through dozens of scouting trips and talks with families, friends, artists,builders and the designers and architects who do the trulyworld-class work we are privileged to showcase.

Although the media, when discussing the Gold Coast,tend to dwell on simple wealth, we know that living well inConnecticut means much more. I think it’s entirely appropri-ate that one of the earlier architectural treasures of FairfieldCounty, the so-called Putnam Cottage, wasn’t simply ahouse, but did a long stint as Knapp’s Tavern. I’m sure IsraelPutnam, the night before his lucky escape from the British,fully enjoyed the creature comforts it afforded. Even in Colo-nial times home life centered around the pleasures of thehearth. Today, as kitchens have again become a focus of fam-ily life, we’re not so far away from that.

Contemplating Connecticut’s lower corner always evokesfor me visions of a characteristic mellowness. Soft, sunlitwoods with perhaps a lively brook for contrast. Occasionalglimpses of white clapboarding and fieldstone through leafyboughs. The wonderfully diverse bridges along a misty Merritt Parkway. But being who I am, the taste of a butteryFrench pastry munched in downtown Greenwich or a ChevalBlanc sipped on a stone patio with friends also comes power-fully to mind. We know that warmth and togetherness aretwo of the qualities fostered by a truly successful home, andwe prize the best-designed houses for their sense of place andpossibility as much as for any purely visual elegance.

So welcome to the first issue of New England Home’s Con-necticut! We are delighted to focus on a particularly specialbit of New England and showcase the particularly rich troveof design and architecture found there. I hope you will con-tinue the journey with us for many issues to come.

From the Editor

Elegance, andSomething More

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On the cover: Designer Cindy Rinfret’s harmoniousmix of patterns and textures in a serene palette ofblues and tans brings quiet glamour to a Greenwichhome. Photograph by Michael Partenio. To see moreof this home, turn to page 54.

Featured HomesSPRING/SUMMER 2010 • VOLUME 1, NUMBER 1

54 Second Act Its star turn as a show house met rave reviews, but this Greenwich home revelsin its new role as a quietly glamorous family sanctuary. ARCHITECTURE: CHAD NEHRING • INTERI-

OR DESIGN: CINDY RINFRET • LANDSCAPE DESIGN: MICHAEL DUNSTER • PHOTOGRAPHY: MICHAEL

PARTENIO • TEXT: MEGAN FULWEILER • PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL

66 Swept Away Scaling down doesn’t mean scaling back the style in this Darien cottage, wherea mom is creating a haven in her soon-to-be-empty nest. INTERIOR DESIGN: CAREY KARLAN, LAST

DETAIL • RENOVATION: SCOTT CONNERY, INFINITE DESIGN • PHOTOGRAPHY: LAURA MOSS • WRITTEN

AND PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL

78 Designer Knows Best The owners of a nearly new house in New Canaan give designerMaureen Griffin-Balsbaugh full license to transform their purchase from big, beautiful houseto warm, welcoming home. ARCHITECT: JUDITH LARSON • INTERIOR DESIGN: MAUREEN GRIFFIN-

BALSBAUGH • PHOTOGRAPHY: JOHN GRUEN • TEXT: ERIN MARVIN • PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL

88 An Epic Undertaking A New Canaan architect lovingly renovates an old English-style cot-tage, using as inspiration the words of a favorite poem by a literary superstar from his nativeIndia. ARCHITECTURE: DINYAR WADIA AND ROBERT BUTSCHER, WADIA ASSOCIATES • INTERIOR DE-

SIGN: DINYAR WADIA • STYLING: RONNY CARROLL • PHOTOGRAPHY: MICHAEL PARTENIO • TEXT: PAULA

M. BODAH • PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL

Departments12 From the Editor

28 Artistry: Natural Reactions Cornelia Kubler Kavanagh’s sensuous, vivacious sculptures ex-plore the rhythms of life, the caprices of nature and the interplay between man and the naturalworld. TEXT BY ELENA M. DIXON • PORTRAIT BY RODERICK MICKENS

40 Special Spaces: Modern Makeover A New Canaan house designed by the legendary architect Philip Johnson gets a twenty-first-century update while staying true to its 1950spedigree. INTERIOR DESIGN: VICTORIA LYON • RESTORED BY CRISTINA ROSS • TEXT BY ERIN MARVIN •

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIC ROTH

• • •100 Perspectives Three Fairfield County designers offer luxurious appointments for the home.

110 New in the Showrooms Unique, beautiful and now appearing at Connecticut shops andshowrooms.

114 Resources A guide to the professionals and products in this issue’s featured homes.

118 Advertiser Index

120 Sketch Pad For South Norwalk architect Bernard Wharton, even Dempsey, the family dog,deserves a house designed to suit his personality.

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Kyle [email protected]

HOMES EDITOR

Stacy [email protected]

SENIOR EDITOR

Paula M. [email protected]

MANAGING EDITOR

Erin [email protected]

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR

Jared [email protected]

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Cheryl and Jeffrey [email protected] [email protected]

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Regina Cole, Deblina Chakraborty,Caroline Cunningham, MeganFulweiler, Jessica Keener, RobertKiener, Kara Lashley, Christine Temin

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Robert Benson, Tria Giovan, SamGray, John Gruen, Warren Jagger,Richard Mandelkorn, Laura Moss,Michael Partenio, Greg Premru, NatRea, Eric Roth, James R. Salomon,Brian Vanden Brink

EDITORIAL INTERN

Carling Sturino

• • •Editorial and Advertising Office530 Harrison Ave., Suite 302Boston, MA 02118(617) 938-3991(800) 609-5154

Editorial SubmissionsDesigners, architects, builders and home -owners are invited to submit projects foreditorial consideration. For informa tionabout submitting projects, e-mail emarvin@nehome mag.com.

Letters to the EditorWe’d love to hear from you! Write to us atthe above address, fax us at (617) 663-6377or e-mail us at letters @nehome mag .com.

SubscriptionsTo subscribe to New England Home ($19.95for one year) or for customer service, call(800) 765-1225 or visit our Web site, www.nehomemag .com.

Upcoming EventsAre you planning an event that we canfeature in our Calendar of Events? E-mail information to calendar @nehomemag .com, or mail to Calendar Editor, NewEngland Home, 530 Harrison Ave., Suite302, Boston, MA 02118.

PartiesWe welcome photographs from design- or architecture-related parties. Send high-resolution photos with information aboutthe party and the people pictured topbodah @nehome mag .com.

D a v i d D. H a r l a nA r c h i t e c t s , l l c

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ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/SALES DIRECTOR

Betsy Abeles [email protected]

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Roberta Thomas [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

MARKETING AND SPECIAL PROJECTS DIRECTOR

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PRODUCTION MANAGER

Glenn [email protected]

SALES COORDINATOR

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CIRCULATION MANAGER

Kurt Coey

NEWSSTAND MANAGER

Bob Moenster

• • •

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Advertising InformationTo receive information about advertising in New England Home, please contact us at(800) 609-5154, ext. 713 or info @nehomemag .com.

• • •

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Home Design DivisionPRESIDENT

Adam Japko

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Stuart Christian

DIRECTOR OF PUBLISHING OPERATIONS

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Daniel R. McCarthy

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ctuality is when the lighthouse is dark betweenflashes: it is the rupture between past and future,the void between events,” wrote noted art historian

George Kubler in his 1962 book The Shape of Time: Remarkson the History of Things. His concept of cultural change as a series of moments knit together by manmade creations issomething that his daughter, Cornelia Kubler Kavanagh,can’t help but illustrate in her own work. • The profound influence of her father’s words can be seen in the Norwalk

artist’s award-winning sculptures, which attempt to giveshape to some of the significant events in our times. Her ele-gantly wrought images call on fluid arcs and vibrant color todepict the poignant duality in nature. A potent intellectualand emotional sensitivity courses through her iconographicforms, where counterpoints of solid and void, light and shad-ow serve as a proxy for the vital rhythms of creation and de-struction, living and dying. • Kavanagh was immersed in themetaphorical language of art at an early age. Her aesthetic

Cornelia Kubler Kavanagh’s sensuous, vivacious sculptures explore the rhythms of life, the caprices of nature and the interplay between man and the natural world.TEXT BY ELENA M. DIXON • PORTRAIT BY RODERICK MICKENS

“A

Artistry

Natural Reactions

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took root as the familymoved around LatinAmerica and Europefollowing her father’sscholarly work. “Visitsto museums and cathe-drals throughout west-ern Europe created arich background formy lifelong apprecia-tion of art and its sym-bolic content,” she says.

Still, becoming aprofessional artistcame relatively late forthe former art historyteacher and mother oftwo. Driving throughVermont with her sonone day some twentyyears ago, Kavanaghstopped at a quarry,where she bought asmall block of marble.“I bashed at it in thegarage with my husband’s hammer butnothing happened except for a loud ping,”she remembers. “In a moment that couldhave held frustration, I found my life’swork. I was forty-six years old and wasabout to become a sculptor.”

She is entirely self-taught, learning hercraft by trial and error and by emulatingsome of the artists she most admires, in-

cluding HenryMoore, BarbaraHepworth andIsamu Noguchi.“Although mostof my early work was prettyclunky, I loved

the entire process of chipping away, turn-ing ‘pings’ into sculpture,” she says.

Eventually she found her own style, but echoes of her mentors remain. HenryMoore’s influence can be detected in Kavanagh’s 2007 Muse Project, a figuralseries honoring some of the heroicwomen whose work has inspired her.Each of her abstract muses wears colorsdesigned to reflect aspects of their life:Buddhist nun Pema Chodron wears thesaffron and red of a lama’s robe whileBritish sculptor Barbara Hepworth ispainted to represent the green grass andblue ocean of her Cornwall home.

The colors and shapes of the oceandominate Kavanagh’s work. Traveling be-

Above: MagdalenaAbakanowicz II, from theMuse Project (2007),painted resin over foam,20.5"H Right: OdalisqueII, from the Muse Project(2007), painted ure-thane over foam, 42"H

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photo by: David Marlow photos by: Durston Saylor

photo by: Scott Frances

tween homes on the Connecticut shoreand in the Virgin Islands, the artist has become acutely aware of how the sea re-sponds to environmental change. “Look-ing at the water every single day I’ve be-come sensitive to how imperiled we are bywhat we’re doing to our aquatic world,” shesays. It was through this affinity that shefound her ultimate voice.

After the tsunami hit Southeast Asia inDecember 2004, she made a deliberate de-cision to focus on natural disasters in an

effort to come toterms with nature’sdual capacity fortranscendent beautyand cataclysmic de-struction. “It’s no

longer sufficient to create something that’sjust beautiful,” she says. “Maybe it’s myage, but I feel it’s the time to do somethingwith greater meaning.”

She has traded stone for the more for-giving materials of foam and plaster, but afinished series can still take several yearsto complete. Working closely with herhusband, Penn, who helps with the engi-neering of the often-monolithic pieces,Kavanagh spends weeks meticulouslyplanning and drawing the details for eachsculpture.

This was clear in her exhibit Arctic Ice

Melt: moulins of my mind, which was intro-duced as part of the 2009 InternationalPolar Weekend at the American Museumof Natural History in New York City. Shedid a great deal of homework on the melt-

ing of the polar ice cap, going so far as toconsult a leading climatologist who showedher videos of the seldom-witnessed phe-nomenon of ice moulins, the narrow holesworn into the glacier by surface water.


Above: Wing Form(2004), Carrara mar-ble, 12" × 43.25" ×29" Right: TsunamiVIII (2005), paintedbronze, 17"H × 18"W

Artistry

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Kavanagh is realistic about the possibili-ty that she’s putting a lot of time and ener-gy into work that may never sell, but shesays that rendering her feelings into formhas helped her deal with the horror ofmonumental destruction.

New Haven–based designer RosalynCama is among the admirers of Ka-vanagh’s unique ability to translate herempathy into beauty. When Cama, whospecializes in healthcare facilities designand authored the 2009 book Evidence-Based Healthcare Design, was asked to design a therapeutic art program for thenew Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale NewHaven, she selected Kavanagh’s WingForm for the facility’s elevator lobby.

The designer liked the scale and the uplifting exuberance of the large marblesculpture and felt that the sensual coolcurves had a comforting tactile appeal. “It has a quality that makes you stand andcontemplate it, which is a distraction forthose who have bigger things on theirminds,” she says. Cama explains that theelements that define soothing art aresomething that can’t be articulated. “Youhave to be able to feel it. It has got to bepowerful to have that effect—therein liesthe magic of how art becomes healing.”

Kavanagh is currently working on aproject that will help her express her con-cern about the environmental damage tocoral populations worldwide. She’s alsotrying to imagine how to acknowledgethe recent crisis in Haiti, but admits thatthe devastation istoo raw to put herthoughts around atthe moment. De-spite the intensity of her process, shefinds balance withsmaller projects on other beloved subjectslike contemporary dance.

In his book, Kubler referred to art as a“visible portrait of the collective identity.”Kavanagh’s work reveals the deeply per-sonal impulse behind that phenomenon.The sculpture that results from her fusionof unique insights is a perfect example ofhow our creations can serve as the bench-marks of human experience that definethe shape of time. •Editor’s Note A retrospective titled CorneliaKubler Kavanagh—Sculpture, 2000–2010 will beon exhibit April 14–June 24 at the Hess Galleryat Pine Manor College, Chestnut Hill, Mass.,(617) 731-7157. To see more of Kavanagh’s work,visit www. cornelia kavanagh .com

Artistry


Above: Moulin I(2008), painted plaster on glass base,14"H × 10"W Left:Solar Moulin (2008),painted aqua resin,50"H × 10.5"W

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n the midst of the sprawling homes along one of NewCanaan’s premier residential streets sits a small, some-what nondescript white house set far back from the

road. It is unassuming and easy to miss when driving by. . .or it was, before a sixteen-foot reclining nude sculpturetook up residence in the front yard last November. • Builtin 1953 by noted modern architect Philip Johnson, the1,800-square-foot Alice Ball House on Oenoke Ridge—one of approximately 100 modern houses throughout New

Caanan—was Johnson’s first commission after complet-ing his own Glass House four years earlier. He was one of New Canaan’s renowned “Harvard Five,” a group ofmodern architects that also includes John M. Johansen,Marcel Breuer, Landis Gores and Eliot Noyes. • The out-door sculpture was placed in front of the house by Green-wich, Connecticut–based interior designer Victoria Lyon, who staged the entire house—inside and out—for a fallfundraiser, a weekend house tour to benefit the New

A New Canaan house designed by the legendary architect Philip Johnson gets a twenty-first-century update while staying true to its 1950s pedigree. TEXT BY ERIN MARVIN •

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIC ROTH • INTERIOR DESIGN: VICTORIA LYON • RESTORED BY CRISTINA ROSS

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Canaan Historical Society.Lyon first saw the Alice Ball House

while on a tour of modern houses run by The League of Women Voters of New

Canaan. She wasintrigued, and approached thehomeowner, archi-tect Cristina Ross,about giving a lecture there onthe artistic andaesthetic value ofmodern houses

and what they have to offer in terms oflifestyle to those who want to live inthem. Ross, who had lovingly restoredthe house and was putting it up for sale,had other ideas, suggesting that Lyonstage the entire house. Lyon agreed and, a mere three weeks later, the makeoverwas complete.

“Johnson is notone who wouldhave sat still interms of design de-velopment,” saysLyon of the famedarchitect. “I thoughtit was important tobring the houseinto the twenty-firstcentury in terms ofart and furnishingsand make it moreadaptable to howpeople might wantto live in it today.”

The project wasa true collaborationbetween Lyon and her large network ofartists and suppliers. Much of the originalart and sculpture throughout the houseand grounds was selected in collaboration

with art + interiors,and the furnishingsand home acces-sories came frommore than a dozenretailers, includingcustom pieces fromGrain of Thoughtand Artifact DesignGroup.

More than thirtypieces of art—somemuseum quality—from fifteen differ-ent artists decoratethe house. It wasimportant that theart not overpower

the house or vice versa, but rather strike adelicate balance. Lyon likens the collabo-ration to conducting a symphony: “If themusical piece is the house itself and the

Above: Angel Face by Michael Manninghangs in the guest -room. Right: FoldedLeaves Red, Blue andOrange by HughO’Donnell. Previouspage: The BlackMetaphor by RobertNatkin sits above theliving room fireplace.

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art pieces are the soloists, I had to con-duct it all and make it sing together.”

Lyon set out to emphasize what shecalls “the basic soul of the house,” whichwas to offer a serene, simple living envi-ronment that’s very connected to nature.She brought innatural elementsto the design andmixed vintage andcontemporarypieces, all whilekeeping things ap-propriately scaledto preserve thehome’s sense ofspaciousness.Much as Johnsonhad by counterbal-ancing the simplegeometric lines ofthe house againstthe curvilinearlandscape, Lyonplayed with offset-

ting these types of forms in the designpieces themselves.

Within the open layout of the main liv-ing room and dining area, a malleablechain carved from cherry wood sharesspace with a tall rigid totem pole, which

in turn plays offanother whitenude sculpturestanding just out-side the room’sfloor-to-ceilingglass walls. Behindthe living roomseating area is alarge dining tableformed out ofBrazilian ma-hogany that sits onglass slab legs andwas created espe-cially for this proj-ect. Neutral furni-ture—gray sofas, aglass coffee table, a

small light-wood side chair—allows col-orful art on the wall to really pop.

With all this art to take in, a TV hardlyseems necessary, but this project is a design for today’s lifestyle, so the guestroom/ reading room/TV room sports aflat-screen, albeit ensconced in its ownwork of art, a TV stand built to look likean artist’s easel.

Lyon says that Johnson believed themaster bedroom was for sleeping, nothingmore; accordingly,distractions arekept to a mini-mum. No extraseating, no TV, nolarge dressingarea—it containslittle more than abed, twin bedsidetables and a smallbench. The bed was created out of Macas-sar ebony, with two clear glass-and-resinpanels on the headboard that are embed-ded with money plant (translucent leaves

Above: Sherwood Island I, II, III and IVby Claudia Mengelhang over the bed; thepainting on the sidewall is Later On by LizDexheimer. Left: Theguest bathroom is litby an Urchin lamp de-signed by Helen Bilt.

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that look like silver dollars) and smalllights that illuminate the panels when

touched. Match-ing bedside ta-bles are craftedout of the sameMacassar ebony,with the grain

running vertically instead of horizontallyas on the bed itself. Small lingerie drawersadd additional storage, and black granitetops keep them functional for daily usewithout worry of scratching the woodwhen, say, setting down a glass of waterbefore bedtime. Along with the guestroom, the master bedroom opens to an

inner courtyard that Lyon turned into astudio space.

It is the downstairs “pleasure den” thatinvites excess. Here, Lyon transformed thebasement into acozy room withplush leatherchairs, wallshung with large-scale art on can-vas and a winecellar, the perfectplace to relax,have a glass ofwine and admire the art collection.

Though the makeover is complete, thehouse tour is over, and the reclining nudesculpture and other eclectic furnishingsare no longer in residence, surely Johnsonwould agree that the house remains, as italways was, a work of art in its own right. •Resources For more information about thishome, see page 114.

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Above: White fiberglassvases bring artistic flair to the house’s privatecourtyard. Below: Reclin-ing Woman sculpture byMatthias Alfen.

Editor’s Note As of press time, theAlice Ball House is for sale (unfurnished)through William Pitt–Sotheby’s InternationalRealty of New Canaan,Connecticut; contactPrudy Parris at (203)326-1695 for more information.

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hat a show house it had been! Frescoes, faux finishes and fancy trims thrilledticket holders. Every room hosted a different theme. But when the sell-outevent ended and the doors closed, this lovely Greenwich house was left with a melange of colorful walls and glam finishes. Not in sync with the area—onerenowned for gorgeous, traditional-style houses—and lacking continuity, shewas a painted damsel in distress. The stunning architecture lay hidden behind

all that decoration, and modern materials minimized, rather than enhanced, the thirty-some-year-oldhome’s charm. “It’s really a Cinderella story. Despite the good bones, too many ideas all at once gave theplace a sort of craziness,” says Greenwich interior designer Cindy Rinfret. • A major player in the designworld (Tommy Hilfiger has recruited her help on fourteen homes), Rinfret, in addition to heading aneponymous firm, has a book to her credit and a home and garden retail shop. But where to start on avast four-story, five-bedroom house that sports almost as many sitting rooms as closets? “First, in myhead, I picture how it will look when it’s all together. Then I work backwards. It’s like a treasure hunt,finding the right pieces,” says Rinfret. Her vision in this case was inspired by her close relationship with

SecondActIts star turn as a show house met rave reviews, but this Greenwich home revels in its new role as a quietly glamorous family sanctuary. TEXT BY MEGAN

FULWEILER • PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL PARTENIO • ARCHITECTURE: CHAD NEHRING •

INTERIOR DESIGN: CINDY RINFRET • LANDSCAPE DESIGN: MICHAEL DUNSTER • BUILDER: FRANK

USOWSKI, FRANCIS DEVELOPMENT • PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL

W

Spring/Summer 2010 New England Home’s Connecticut 55

The gracious foyer includes nickel-studded ottomans and classic porce-lain. Facing page from far left: TheTV room’s coffee table was once agate. A hand-painted mirror adornsthe living room mantel. The sunroomplays with patterns and textures.


her clients. Their lifestyle and tastes were familiarto her, as she’d already successfully guided a num-ber of their previous homes.

With three children and dogs, the owners hadzero interest in taking the formal route. “What theywanted was a classic transitional look. Not grand,but comfortable, young and welcoming—a housewhere people like to hang out,” Rinfret explains.

Accordingly, the complete gut, launched byRinfret along with architect Chad Nehring ofDanbury and Old Greenwich builder FrankUsowski, was primarily focused on undoing pasterrors, bringing to light once and for all thehome’s best features and making it über livable.

“In almost every room,” Nehring says, “there

was something to be done.” All the moldings andtrimwork were replaced, new walnut floors werelaid throughout and a variety of coffered andpaneled ceilings went up to lend a more eleganttenor. Baths were modernized and the kitchen re-born. Today’s hub—given more footage with theremoval of a wall—is outfitted with handsomeChristopher Peacock cabinets and a beefy islandwearing a stainless steel top.

The owners also sought the sorts of upgradesthat wouldn’t have been found in the most state-of-the-art homes of three decades ago. The housenow also boasts a wine cellar and an exercise roomand gym complete with basketball and lacrossecourts. The generous terraces were rebuilt to pro-

The living room is meant for entertaining,with a built in bar and (facing page, top) a billiard table. Facing page bottom: Incontrast to the silk wallcovering, diningroom curtains sport simple rings and poles.


The many chandeliers, each more beguiling than the last,

F. Schumacher’s Imperial Trellis fabricframes the sunroom’s windows. Facingpage top: An Art Deco sconce and custommirror enliven the powder room. Facingpage bottom: A tongue-and-groove ceilingheightens the breakfast room’s character.


vide for al fresco dining and entertaining. EvenMother Nature’s vagaries were tempered. “We in-stalled radiant snow melt in the terraces and drive-way. Winter is no problem,” Nehring says.

The interior Rinfret created suits her clientsand the house from top to bottom. A harmoniouspalette of pale blues, grays and tans unites therooms and complements a blend of materials. “It’sall about textures and layering,” the designer says.“The house needed to be one period, but periodwith an edge—a meeting of old and new.”

So deft was Rinfret’s handling of the decor, vis-itors get the distinct impression the family hasbeen in residence for heaven knows how long.

Inviting rooms like this take time to evolve,right? In reality, the work was completed in eightmonths. A masterly feat, when you consider thescope of the project and the details involved.Nothing—certainly, not the light fixtures—waschosen haphazardly. “There must be, at least, fiftyfixtures,” Rinfret admits. “Lighting is important tome. It’s a home’s jewelry.”

According to the designer, the many chande-liers, each more beguiling than the last, help “hu-manize” the lofty spaces. In the dining room,where walls are covered in misty blue de Gournaycombed silk, two wood and crystal chandeliershover above the table. “All crystal would havebeen an overload. I’m a silk shirt and blue jeanskind of person. I like mixing it up,” she says.

From the spacious foyer (where an originalblack-and-white stone floor peeks from under awool-and-linen rug) to the expansive living room(where two substantial mahogany chandeliers co-exist without crowding), past and present easilymarry. Neither staid nor sterile, the cheery come-stay atmosphere is just the way it was meant to be.

At the wife’s request, the living room includes astellar walnut bar and a fun pool table. A hand-made Tibetan carpet, soft upholstered furnishingsand a revamped fireplace are welcoming ele-ments, too. Only upon scrutiny are the clevercontrasts evident. Antique nickel heads, for in-stance, finesse the wing chairs, while the hearthsurround is cool steel.

Head to the sunroom, where several intimategroupings of settees and tables afford opportuni-ties for conversation or cocktails, and you’ll findmore visual play: sisal, needlepoint, glass andwood. A woven Ralph Lauren wallcovering and arepetition of patterns on carpets, curtains and pil-lows are the linking threads.

help humanize the lofty spaces.


Four shades of marble enrich the kitchenbacksplash. Facing page top left andright: A festive awning shields luncheonparties that feature cool drinks and garden bouquets. Facing page bottom: Designer Cindy Rinfret on the terrace.


In the TV room, an outdoor lantern swingsfrom the ceiling to evoke a relaxed conservatory-like mood. “I love garden elements inside,” Rinfretsays. Creature comforts here like a fox fur thrownabbed at a Wyoming sale are casual and classy.

No surprise, the bedrooms have also beentransformed. A teenage daughter’s summeryblue-and-white sanctuary includes a sophisticatedsitting area. A leather headboard in a son’s roompairs with suede-banded curtains and wallsswathed in suiting cloth.

Stunning each and every one. Yet, none so luxeas the parent’s retreat. Taking a silverpoint etch-

ing as her cue, Rinfret has concocted an irides-cent scheme of pearl-like colors. A crystal chan-delier dangles over an heirloom loveseat andhand-painted cornices above the bed and win-dows interject memorable character.

The master bath, with its marble floor andmirrored vanity, unfolds with similar swankiness.“Baths should be wonderful. This is where youstart the day,” Rinfret says. In truth, however,morning or night, she’s made certain every roomin the house is life-enhancing. •Resources For more information about this home, seepage 114.

Mirrored nightstands elevate the masterbedroom’s glamour quotient. Facingpage top: Mercury glass, silver and freshflowers spell luxury. Facing page bottom:The haute master bath includes a daintychair upholstered in snowy terry cloth.

Greenwich · 335 Greenwich Avenue · Greenwich · CT 06830 · Telephone [email protected] · www.engelvoelkers.com/greenwich · Real Estate Agency

A prominent landmark of Green-wich, historically known as the “John Sands House” and presently called Sunset Farm. Built in the 1840’s, this sophisticated & elegant Dutch colonial was recently rebuilt by famed builder Mark Mariani. Offer-ing state of the art accommodations

while celebrating its historic origins. Defined by its exquisite craftsman-ship & impeccable taste & detail. Features over +/-13,000sf, 10 bdrms, 6.3 bths, 5 fpl’s, banquet style dining room w/wet bar & gourmet kit. 2nd level features stunning master suite w/fp, his/her vanity areas, domed bth

w/radiant htd marble flr, plus 4 other large-scaled bdrms. Finished lower level features exercise rm, sauna & steam rms. Sited on over 3 acres of sweeping park-like lawns leading to htd in-ground pool. Separate cottage offers 2 bdrms, full bath, LR, laun-dry & kit. Price Upon Request

A prominent landmark of Greenwich, historically known as the “John Sands House” and presently called Sunset Farm. Built

in the 1840’s, this sophisticated Dutch colonial was recently rebuilt by famed builder Mark Mariani. Offering state of the art

accommodations while celebrating its historic origins. Defined by its exquisite craftsmanship and impeccable

taste and detail. Features over 13,000 square feet and includes 10 bedrooms, 6.3 baths, 5 fireplaces, banquet-style dining

room with wet bar, and gourmet kitchen. Second level features stunning master suite with fireplace, his/her vanity areas,

domed bath with radiant heated marble floor, plus four other large-scaled bedrooms. Finished lower level features exercise

room, sauna and steam rooms. Sited on over three acres of sweeping park-like lawns leading to heated in-ground

pool. Separate cottage offers two bedrooms, full bath, living room, laundry & kitchen. Price Upon Request

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The entry to designer Carey Karlan’s Darien home doubles as alibrary and display area. From theentry, visitors get their first glimpseof the glass-domed conservatory.


Scaling down doesn’t mean scaling back the style in thisDarien cottage, where a mom is creating a haven in hersoon-to-be-empty nest. WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY STACY

KUNSTEL • PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURA MOSS • INTERIOR DESIGN: CAREY

KARLAN, LAST DETAIL • RENOVATION: SCOTT CONNERY, INFINITE DESIGN


o what does it feel like to be swept off your feet by a house? “It was like a thunderbolt,” says Carey Karlan, who four years ago

attended an open house to look at a tiny cottage not far from thegrand Darien home where she was raising her five children.

When she laid eyes on the 1920s structure, her heart beat fasterand, just as any fairytale reads, she wanted to live with that househappily ever after. “It just had so much charm,” she says of her stuc-

co-covered Prince Charming. At that moment, she gave little thought to where her family of six of would sleep or

how the kids would even react to the notion of moving to a home one-quarter the sizeof the house they were living in now. “My only thought was, ‘I’m going to do it,’ ” saysKarlan, the owner of Last Detail, her Fairfield County–based interior design firm. “Itwas like a mad love affair, and I had to have that house.”

Once upon a time, Karlan needed a big house. As a divorced mom with five youngchildren she needed the seven bedrooms, large kitchen and space for a grand piano ina sprawling home. But as her two older boys headed to college, Karlan could feel thehouse expanding beyond her comfort zone and her means. “Having a big house withgrowing kids was wonderful, but all I could think about was that they would be goingaway to school and I would be alone.”

The older boys were out of the house and sympathetic to their mom’s thinking, butit took bribery to convince her three high schoolers (triplets, in fact) that they could allfind happiness with the object of their mother’s affection. “I scaled down before it was

It certainlyhelped that thecottage hadstorybookcharm, withits steeplypitched roof andbrick detailsrecalling a Cotswoldcottage.

S

The open living room and dining roomoffer long vistas in the small cottage.Facing page top: An antique secretary inone corner of the living room offers a civ-ilized space for bill paying. Facing pagebottom: Homeowner and designer Karlanwith Buckley, her three-year-old boxer.

The lime greenceiling was abold choice by a previous ownerthat Karlanloved and kept.She brought the baby grandpiano from herprevious home,but rid herself of most of herthings, choosingto go with small-er furnishings for the cottage.


prudent,” Karlan says with a laugh. “We only moved after much negotiating.” Promises included a large-screen television (the family had lived without a TV until

then) and the payment of the kids’ car insurance, and Karlan assuaged them with herpledge to renovate an attached garage at the new house into a hangout for them andtheir friends.

“They were really good sports about it,” says Karlan. “I also let everybody decoratetheir room.”

It certainly helped that the cottage had storybook charm, with its steeply pitchedroof and brick details recalling a Cotswold cottage. An ivy-strewn lawn and an eccen-tric glass conservatory reminiscent of Cinderella’s carriage at the back of the housegave it added appeal. All it needed was Karlan’s eye for color and unerring sense ofscale to make the small rooms and low ceilings yield a sense of cozy rather thancramped.

On the main level of the house, the entryway, living and dining rooms, kitchen andconservatory work in a circular pattern, easing any traffic problems when everyone ishome. One floor up are the master suite and two small bedrooms. One floor down liesthe converted garage and an under-the-stair, built-in bed for one of the older boys. A

The former garage gets an English huntcountry treatment with horse stalls, redwalls and the children’s trophies ondisplay. Below: Karlan dressed themudroom bureau with art. Facing page:Low ceiling angles create interest inthe L-shaped kitchen that connects thedining room with the conservatory.


third-floor attic acts as a bunkroom. “The house has the advantage of having lots of rooms that offer different experi-

ences,” says Karlan. Dominated by a large fireplace, the living room is also the musicroom with that grand piano slipped into one corner. “Three of my kids are very musi-cal,” says Karlan. “It was more important to have a piano than to have more seating.”Still, there are stools from the entryway to be pulled around when needed. That wouldbe the entryway that also serves as a library and display space for portraits of the twoolder boys.

The dining room pulls double—make that triple—duty as breakfast room, home-work station and formal dining area. Karlan barely had to touch the kitchen, merelypainting the Klaff ’s cabinetry. As for the conservatory, it makes the perfect display casefor an enormous Christmas tree during the holidays and a bright painting studio forKarlan the rest of the year.

Karlan’s most fun project in the house was tackling a decrepit garage with builderScott Connery of Infinite Design in Darien, turning it into a space that doubles as thepromised TV room and a good-sized mudroom. “As a mother of five,” she says, “there’sno sense in having a small mudroom.” Town zoning laws required that the space be

Karlan’smost fun

project wastackling a

decrepitgarage,

turning thespace into aposh trophy

room andmudroom.

Reflective colors and fabrics make themaster bedroom light and airy. Facingpage top: A lace-draped dressing table inthe master suite holds a vintage mirror.Daughter Hayley chose the New York de-partment store Henri Bendel as the colorinspiration for her second-floor bedroom.


large enough to accommodate a car, so interior framing had to be kept to a minimum.Connery and Karlan’s clever solution included separating the mudroom from the sit-ting area with a stall-like partition inspired by English horse barns. Old beams give thedivider an authentically rustic feel, and a coat of paint in handsome hunting-jacket redcompletes the look. “I like a home that looks like it has a lot of age,” Karlan says. “Iwanted to make it look like it had been a stable or barn for horses that had been con-verted into a living space.”

About the hats, crops and equestrian paraphernalia she collected from tag sales andantiques stores, Karlan says, “We don’t even ride. I just think it’s charming.”

The triplets are now freshmen in college and will be on their own in a few years.Karlan will be a true empty nester soon enough, so it was important that she create herown getaway now in the form of a soothing master suite. She painted the beams on thesteeply pitched ceiling white to show off the room’s height, while a custom headboardmounted on one wall sits surrounded by windows. “There’s a reduction of distractionin here,” she says. “There’s no TV, no desk; I wanted it to be pretty, serene, relaxing,very simple.”

The attached bath is small, but as the mom, she doesn’t have to share. As for everyother space in the house, she’s living happily in closer quarters with her children.

“Houses have gotten so big there’s no real family experience anymore,” says Karlan.“I think a smaller home encourages more quality time and less isolation. I’ve really en-joyed that part of it.” •Resources For more information about this home, see page 114.

Karlan willbe a true

emptynester soon

enough, so it was

importantthat she

create her owngetaway

now in theform of asoothing

master suite.

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Designer Maureen Griffin-Balsbaughcalls her style “a softer side of mod-ern,” with traditional elements given amodern feel through materials, colorsand silhouettes. Facing page: The ex-terior was inspired by New Canaansummer homes of the late 1800s.


When the new owners of this 12,000-square-foot house in New Canaan gave interior designerMaureen Griffin-Balsbaugh a folder filled with pictures of rooms, furnishings and other

home decor items that they loved, Griffin-Balsbaugh instantly knew their collaboration was agood fit. “Ironically, there was something that I had done in there, so I knew a lot of things inthat folder were exactly my style,” she says. • Her style, which she describes as “a softer side ofmodern,” was just what the homeowners had in mind. So the designer set to work bringing

in all new furnishings and finishes, even inviting an art consultant to help the owners choosewhat artwork to hang on the walls. “They were so willing to learn about stuff and let me

choose what was appropriate for different rooms,” says Griffin-Balsbaugh. “It was wonderfulto work with them—I couldn’t ask for better clients.” • The house was originally built by thehusband-and-wife design-build team of Judith Larson and Bill Gardiner for their own use.

Architectural designer Larson was inspired by the shingle- and colonial revival–style summerhouses popular in New Canaan at the turn of the last century, but here incorporated a more

playful use of traditional classic detailing such as flared overhangs, squared and round ta-pered columns and shingles on top of New England fieldstone. With their children already

grown and out of the house, Larson and Gardiner quickly realized it was too much space for

The owners of a nearly new house in New Canaan give designer MaureenGriffin-Balsbaugh full license to transform their purchase from big, beautiful

house to warm, welcoming home. TEXT BY ERIN MARVIN • PHOTOGRAPHY BY

JOHN GRUEN • INTERIOR DESIGN: MAUREEN GRIFFIN-BALSBAUGH • ARCHITECTURAL

DESIGNER: JUDITH LARSON • BUILDER: BILL GARDINER • PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL

DesignerKnows Best


The striéd, salmon-glazedwalls of the living room

echo the chairs backed withpink silk-velvet in the adjacent dining room.


A light palette is used throughout the house except in the dining room,where chocolate-glazed walls and hotpink accents add drama. Facing page:The armchairs in the living room weara commercial-grade fabric that lookselegant but is still durable, a must forthis family with three children.


The family often dines at the kitchen table,where large windows overlook the NewCanaan Reservoir beyond. Facing page top: Two-inch-thick marble from Danby,Vermont, tops the kitchen island. Facingpage bottom: Griffin-Balsbaugh custom-designed the natural linen chaise, chairs incrushed velvet and glazed linen and faux-leather ottoman in the upstairs sitting area.


just the two of them; they lived in the house for onlyabout a year before selling.

Griffin-Balsbaugh’s goal was to make this big beau-tiful house, with its six bedrooms, billiard room,media room, large children’s play area and more, intoa real home for the new owners. Structural changeswere extremely minor; she felt that the house’s openfloor plan really fit the way the family lives, and thedetailed interior architecture—paneling in somerooms, wainscoting in others; small tulip leaf detailsalong the crown molding in places throughout thehouse and on leaded glass panels—was a perfectmatch for the decor she envisioned within its rooms.The designer added a few built-in bookcasesthroughout the house for this family of avid readers,as well as a custom work station with a twenty-five-foot desk for the owners’ teenage daughter. “Therewere little elements of livability that needed to hap-pen,” says Griffin-Balsbaugh.

Quarter- and rift-sawn oak hardwood floors, beau-tiful as they are, are now adorned with area rugs tosoften the echo that might otherwiseoccur in the large house. In manyrooms, walls are upholstered in fabric tocreate an additional feeling of warmth.

The layout of the house is orientedso that the principal rooms—the fami-ly, living and dining rooms, the kitchenand the master bedroom—open to thewonderful view. Over-scaled, double-hung windows bring in vistas of thelushly landscaped lawn and thesparkling New Canaan Reservoir be-yond. Griffin-Balsbaugh wanted thecolor palette of the furnishings to echothat natural lightness. Such is the casein the living room, with its creams,light greens and pale blues. The roomis divided into two seating areas: onenear the fireplace offers a cozy spot forcasual gatherings while the second, sit-uated around the piano, is the perfectsetup for a recital.

Though Griffin-Balsbaugh tends topick durable fabrics as a rule, she wasespecially careful in a house with threekids. “Someone came and treated allthe fabrics in the house,” she says. “Youcould throw red wine all over the placeand they come the next day and it’sgone.” Thus she felt no qualms aboutoutfitting the living room with custom-made cream-colored sofas.

The striéd, salmon-glazed walls of theliving room echo the chairs backed with


pink silk-velvet in the adjacent diningroom. Chocolate-brown lacquered walls,a French-deco, rock-crystal chandelierand a large mercury-shaded mirror adda dose of drama. “There are certainly el-ements of the traditional in this room,but it’s not over-the-top traditionalism,”says the designer.

White cabinetry and a white wain-scoted backsplash brighten up thekitchen where, other than cosmeticchanges, the original layout remains thesame. Griffin-Balsbaugh painted fauxcross-hatch on the walls, hung Romanshades above the sink and added drap-ery panels to the rounded windowsthat frame the kitchen table and over-look the backyard. Stools gatheraround the Danby marble-topped wal-nut kitchen island, which also has abuilt-in cushioned window seat thatfaces a raised-hearth gas fireplace. Mul-tiple hanging brass fixtures illuminatethe island while a European-inspired,two-tier chandelier is suspended abovethe kitchen table. This room was origi-nally outfitted with Frank LloydWright–like sconces, which Griffin-Balsbaugh and the owners felt had togo. “There were like 200 of themthroughout the house,” she recalls. “Wechanged out every single sconce in thehouse and joked that we could haveopened our own store!”

Upstairs, the master suite decor isstill soft and light, but with a slightly Asian flair. Theadult’s private oasis comes complete with a sittingarea with two plush wool chaises that invite lingeringlong after the kids have gone to bed. Varying tex-tures—a natural linen chaise, crushed velvet chairs, afaux-leather ottoman, shimmery metallic pillows—add elements of surprise and delight throughout thehouse. “I like textures. It’s my thing,” Griffin-Bals-baugh says. “The texture and the quality of the fab-rics makes things warm and interesting.”

Interesting, too, how satisfying the results can bewhen the clients have so much faith in their designer.Knowing they’d chosen a pro whose tastes are so insynch with their own let these homeowners relax andtrust Griffin-Balsbaugh to turn their new house into awarm, welcoming home. The designer couldn’t bemore pleased with the outcome. “They let me takemy talent and give them a beautiful home.” •Resources For more information about this home, seepage 114.

Varying textures add ele-ments of surprise and delight

throughout the house.


With its pale blue walls and plush creamwool chaises, the sitting area in the mas-ter suite is an oasis of calm. Facing page:The elegant powder room is swathed inblue floral fabrics: on the walls, the drap -eries and the chair. “I wanted to make ita jewel box,” says Griffin-Balsbaugh.

~2009 Connecticut Home Building Industry Grand HOBI Award

for Remodeling Project of the Year&

2009 Connecticut Home Building Industry HOBI Award for Best Old / New Remodeled Home

~

J.N. RUDDY BUILDING & RESTORATION

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AnEpicU

ndertaking

A New Canaan architect lovingly renovates an old English-style cottage, using as inspiration the words of afavorite poem by a literary superstar from his nativeIndia. TEXT BY PAULA M. BODAH • PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL PARTENIO •

ARCHITEC TURE: DINYAR WADIA AND ROBERT BUTSCHER, WADIA ASSOCIATES •

INTERIOR DESIGN: DINYAR WADIA • BUILDER: WADIA ASSOCIATES • PRODUCED

BY STACY KUNSTEL • STYLING BY RONNY CARROLL

The new kitchen wing includes thiscozy sitting room, where Chineseporcelain collected by the architect/homeowner’s grandfather adornsthe Indiana limestone mantel. Thehomeowners bought much of theirfurniture on buying trips to England.

The upstairs hallway, outfitted with quarter-sawn white oak and moss-green paint, wasmoved from the center of the house to bring inlight and garden views. Facing page top left: The breakfast room has sunny, turmeric-coloredwalls. Facing page top right: A see-through curiocabinet separates the mudroom and kitchen.


ack in the early part of the twentieth century, the NobelPrize–winning author, playwright and poet RabindranathTagore published a poem called Gitanjali. Tagore, whowas born and raised in Calcutta, India, wrote Gitanjali inhis native Bengali, but even translated into our less melo-dious English, the piece—an epic, lyrical poem of devo-

tion and praise whose title means, more or less, “an offering of song”—has inspired poetsever since. In the introduction to the first English translation, William Butler Yeats wrotethat the poem has “stirred my blood as nothing has for years. . . .”

Nearly a century later, architect Dinyar Wadia, a native of Bombay (now Mumbai),India, who lives and practices in Connecticut, bought a broken-down old house in NewCanaan. The 1870 structure, once the guest cottage for a large estate, sat on ten bucolicacres that, like the house, had been neglected for years. The gardens were overgrown andthe noble old trees were slowly succumbing to suffocation by poison ivy.

Nevertheless, the place spoke to Wadia and his wife, Gool, on a deep level. Inspired bythe poem written so long ago by his fellow countryman, he named his new home Gitan-jali, and vowed to return the house and gardens to their former beauty.

Initially, Wadia thought he would need to tear down the house, but to do so wouldhave meant cutting down two enormous ash trees that flanked the building. Unwilling tokill the beautiful old trees, Wadia instead set about to salvage what he could of the house.

The extensive renovations included moving the upstairs hall from its position in thecenter of the house, where it was flanked by a series of small bedrooms, to the side of the

B


house. The new hallway is painted an earthy moss green and outfitted with floors, built-in glass-front cabinets and moldings of quarter-sawn white oak. “Now as I go from thestaircase to my bedroom I see a nice view of my gardens,” says Wadia. “It’s as pretty on asnowy day as it is on a summer day.”

The master bedroom occupies the second floor of an addition, above the airy newkitchen with its informal dining area and sitting room looking out onto the loggia wherethe Wadias enjoy summer lunches.

Still, were the original owners to happen by, they would hardly notice the changes.Wadia was careful to keep the home’s essential look—that of a rambling English cot-tage—intact. He even saved the climbing hydrangeas at the front door, peeling them offthe house and holding them up with scaffolding until the rotting crossbeams were re-placed and the facade given a new coat of stucco. The front door itself, a two-and-a-half-inch-thick slab of carved wood that came from a Spanish monastery, is original to thehouse, too, as is the brick trim on either side and the lamp that hangs above it. “It’s a gasfixture,” Wadia says. “It has a real flame.”

At 5,500 square feet on two levels, the house is intimate, but not cramped. On the firstfloor, ceilings are kept to the lower height typical of an English cottage. “It’s exactly thekind of house I like to live in,” Wadia says. “It’s a very cozy house.”

Upstairs, however, the new hallway rises high, and Wadia bowed to his wife’s wish fora tall ceiling in the master bedroom. “After forty-five years,” he says with a laugh, “I’velearned that the key to a good marriage is compromise on the part of the husband.”

The guestrooms, though larger than the tiny rooms that had flanked the old hallway,are still snug, and rather than adding closets that would make the rooms even smaller,the Wadias opted for antique armoires, which are, the architect notes, more in keepingwith the character of an old English cottage.

The new kitchen has cabinetry of quarter-sawn white oak and floors and counters ofFrench limestone. A hood of copper and brass hangs above the stove-top, which sits con-veniently in the kitchen island. “My wife is a fantastic cook,” Wadia says, and the kitchen

The formal dining room glows with persim-mon-hued walls. Facing page top left:Informal dining takes place in the breakfastnook, tucked into an alcove in the kitchensuite. Facing page top right: French lime-stone floors and counters and oak wood-work give the kitchen a country ambience.


The larger success lies in how perfectly house and gardens coexist; it’s hard to imagine

one without the other.

Clockwise from top left: Architect Wadia replicated many details, such asthe carved roof fascia. Much of the origi-nal lush landscaping and hardscape waspreserved. A greenhouse holds tropicalspecimens including dischidia, cycad anda tree fern. Among the things salvagedfrom the original house are the door,from a Spanish monastery, the brickworkand the glass lamp above the door.


was designed for maximum efficiency. The walls here, as well as in the nearby breakfastarea and sitting room, are painted the warm, golden color of turmeric, a favorite spice inIndian cooking.

In the sitting room, the golden paint is an accent for the oak paneling. A wide brickfireplace with an Indiana limestone surround and mantel takes center stage. On themantel and in niches in the paneling above sit Chinese porcelain pieces collected byWadia’s grandfather as well as antique Indian dolls of ivory and gold leaf.

“We love bright color,” Wadia declares, pointing out the persimmon hue of the formaldining room’s walls. The Chippendale dining chairs and the table, like much of the furni-ture in the house, were purchased on trips to England from Lady Pamela Pidgeon whowas, until her recent retirement, renowned for her combination home/shop in an eigh-teenth-century manor house in Herefordshire.

Wadia rebuilt the living room, replacing the old paneling with new, adding glass-frontcabinets and removing the wooden beams that crossed the ceiling. The couple’s love ofcolor shows up here in the ruby-red oriental rug, the saffron-colored toss pillows on thesofa and the bittersweet-hued leather stools in front of the fireplace.

Outside, Wadia has worked to preserve as many of the land’s trees, bushes and flowersas he could. “We have beautiful old maples, Atlantic cedar and beech trees,” he notes, aswell as Japanese cut-leaf maples, ivies that cascade over walls and down stone steps andthe hydrangeas that once again creep above and around the front door.

Wadia succeeded in restoring the house to its original charm and the landscape to itsoriginal lush beauty. The larger success, though, lies in how perfectly house and gardenscoexist; it’s hard to imagine one without the other.

Early on in Rabindranath Tagore’s epic poem are these words: “All that is harsh anddissonant in my life melts into one sweet harmony. . .”

Gitanjali, it would seem, is the perfect name for the Wadias’ piece of heaven. •Resources For more information about this home, see page 114.

Wadia replaced the paneling in the liv-ing room and removed wooden ceilingbeams to give the room a less rustic look.Accents of saffron, ruby and bittersweetreflect the owners’ love of bright color.

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Barbara McEntee9:30-4:30 Mon.-Fri., Sat. by appointmentVisit our showroom; A Design Destination

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PerspectivesFresh outlooks on design and resources

• Three FairfieldCounty designersoffer luxuriousappointments forthe homeLighting

LYNNE SCALOSilver Baubles Chandelier“Lighting is one way to add glamour—just as jewelry adds glamour to your favorite little black dress.” AVAILABLETHROUGH LYNNE SCALO DESIGNS, WESTPORT,(203) 222-4991, WWW .LYNNE SCALO .COM

KENLEIGH LAROCKBlue Sara Lamp from Canopy Designs“This gorgeous fixture is a favoriteof mine. It’s a new interpretation of an ancient classic, inspired byan antique Egyptian light fixture.”AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DRAWINGROOM, COS COB, (203) 660-3406, WWW .THE DRAWING ROOM.CC, ORTHROUGH WWW. CANOPY DESIGNS .COM

ROBERT RIZZOBoyd Lighting’s Parisian Pendant Light“Crown the table, the entry or a long hallway with this fabulouspendant.” AVAILABLE THROUGHCOBBLE COURT INTERIORS, NEWCANAAN, (203) 972-7878, WWW.COBBLE COURT INTERIORS .COM

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LYNNE SCALOModern Wing Chair“This is traditional, but with atwist that results in exquisitebalance between practical andposh.” AVAILABLE THROUGHLYNNE SCALO DESIGNS

Kenleigh Larock owns TheDrawing Room, a stylish design boutique and teahouse that she runs withher husband, Michael, whomshe met in design school.

Furniture

ROBERT RIZZOJackson Skirted Wing Chair by Hickory Chair“Proportioned for use as a desk chair, hostchair or occasional chair, this elegant piece isdistinguished by the gently flared wing thatcurves into trim, well-scaled arms. It’s complet-ed with a dressmaker skirt.” AVAILABLE THROUGHCOBBLE COURT INTERIORS

KENLEIGH LAROCKJacqueline Bench“This tufted bench is a timeless piece.With its generous di men sions, it couldbe used as a coffee table, at the foot of a bed or on its own in a foyer with a great piece of artwork hanging above.I love it in this delicious plum velvet.”AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DRAWING ROOM

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KENLEIGH LAROCKMetallic Acid Wash Hide Rug“This is quite the show stopper, and a great way to add glitz to anyroom. The hide is treated with ametallic acid wash that gives it aunique texture and delightful sparkle.And it can be ordered in any widthor length you want.” AVAILABLETHROUGH THE DRAWING ROOM

Robert Rizzo is known for his stylish transitionalspaces, and he likes to mixmodern and traditionaldesign components for anelegant result.

ROBERT RIZZOChenille and Linen Rug by J.D. Staron“Inspired by the past but with a thoroughlymodern sensibility, this hand-knotted rug,available in custom colors and sizes, wouldmake a fabulous addition to the living ordining room.” AVAILABLE THROUGH COBBLECOURT INTERIORS

LYNNE SCALOMongolian Snow Rug“Dreamlike! It creates a sexy,‘wow’ factor any room.” AVAILABLETHROUGH LYNNE SCALO DESIGNS

Models on Display

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Lynne Scalo describes herdesign aesthetic as “classicstyle for a modern age.” Herpassion for fine arts, designand beauty are reflected inher line of bespoke furniture.

LYNNE SCALOGreen Glam Wall Panel“Recycled teak and small bubblemirrors create a juxtaposition thatcan add an exotic touch any-where.” AVAILABLE THROUGH LYNNESCALO DESIGNS

ROBERT RIZZOBradley Collection Hardware“Bradley’s innovative hardware is designedto accentuate accent-driven interiors. I findit’s the ideal canvas on which to hang mywindow treatment creations.” AVAILABLETHROUGH COBBLE COURT INTERIORS

KENLEIGH LAROCKWhite Horn Boxes“I fell in love with theseboxes! They’re made fromnaturally shed water buffalohorn, and the craftsmanshipis impeccable, transforminga gift of nature into a workof art.” AVAILABLE THROUGHTHE DRAWING ROOM

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1 The pure, polished glaze of the contem-porary Cavendish collection at SimonPearce is versatile enough for use at ei-ther an intimate breakfast or a formaldinner party. Each piece is handcrafted;matching glassware, vases and candle-sticks are available to complement thenew tableware. GREENWICH, (203) 861-0780, WWW.SIMONPEARCE.COM

2 Those in the know turn to Irwin Feld De-sign for all things mid-century modern.This chic, 1950s-era coffee table caughtour eye with its mercury mirrored topwith beveled baguette trim atop a choco-late brown base. It just goes to show thatsometimes the season’s best new findsaren’t so new after all. STAMFORD, (203)588-0567, WWW.IRWINFELDDESIGN.COM

3 HM Oliver Interiors puts your animal instincts to the test with a fantastic newselection of neutral-colored and classiccowhides, including the eye-catching sil-ver and white option shown here. Thecowhides can be used as area rugs or for upholstering ottomans, chairs or foot-stools. DANBURY, (203) 210-7268, WWW.MARVIN GARDENSUSA.COM

4 Life is about simple pleasures, as evi-denced by the new Teff Collection fromElizabeth Eakins. All of the new rugshave a linen warp and wool weft; BasketStripe in Grassy Green is shown here, the perfect shade for spring. SOUTHNORWALK, (203) 831-9347, WWW. ELIZABETHEAKINS.COM

5 Sleep peacefully on a deluxe Hästensmattress, now available at Lillian August.The Luxuria, shown here, provides bothsumptuousness and support withHästens’ patented spring system, whichis then padded by two layers of hand-placed genuine horsehair and four layersof natural cotton and wool. NORWALK,(203) 847-3314, WWW.LILLIANAUGUST.COM

6 Ethan Allen’s large shade pendant isavailable in three sizes and finish options(including silk, linen and other texturedmaterials) and ten stylish colors. Each ismade to order, so designs run the gamutfrom modern to traditional, helping toshed some light on the spring and sum-mer seasons in any interior. DANBURY,(203) 743-8500, WWW.ETHANALLEN.COM

New in the ShowroomsUnique, beautiful and now appearing in Connecticut shops and showroomsBY ERIN MARVIN

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7 Bina Collections, a new line fromFourHands, is now available at HomewardBound. Eco-conscious designer ThomasBina mixes modern design with reclaimedwoods for an innovative take on homefurniture. We’re especially enamored withthe distressed-cushioned bench shownhere. WEST HARTFORD, (860) 233-9500, WWW. HOMEWARD BOUND STYLE .COM

8 Whether your home is on the water, oryou just want it to feel like it is, these col-orful fish from Redding artist SuzanneNicoll, new at Cottage & Bungalow, willadd coastal flair to any home. Createdout of weathered fence posts, each ishand-painted and approximately 3 incheswide by 22 inches long. (877) 441-9222, WWW. COTTAGE AND BUNGALOW .COM

9 How does your garden grow? Quite styl-ishly, thanks to these beautiful new ce-ramic hand-glazed stools from RinfretHome & Garden. Stools are in stock in anumber of exciting colors and can alsobe custom-ordered in a specific colorbased on a client’s needs. GREENWICH,(203) 622-0204, WWW.RINFRETLTD.COM

10Perfect for serving outdoors or in, theelaborate detailing and whimsical designof Juliska’s new Jardins du Monde Bee-hive pitcher evokes the splendor of Euro-pean gardens. A matching sugar andcreamer set is also available. STAMFORD,(203) 316-0212, WWW.JULISKA.COM

11 Meet Anna, arriving this spring at Pimlico.A patinated steel-frame fretwork chande-lier with arts-and-crafts-inspired latticework and glass panels, the Anna Lanterncan be finished in either dirty gold (pic-tured) or dirty silver. Anna is one house-guest you’ll want to keep around all year.NEW CANAAN, (203) 972-8166, WWW.PIMLICO HOME .COM

12 Your home’s interior will look even betterwhen reflected in one of the many newmirror styles available at Cobble CourtInteriors: The rectangular Melia is one ofour favorites, with its artfully reproducedlettuce coral border that’s available in acoral white or coral blue finish. NEWCANAAN, (203) 972-7878, WWW. COBBLECOURTINTERIORS.COM

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New in the Showrooms


HGTV was here to film an outdoor kitchen designed and built byPreferred Properties Lsc. SEE FOR YOURSELVES: on YouTube

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blanchefield.com


Oreg., (541) 732-1996, www.henrycalvin.com;pillows by Clarence House and Robert Allenwith Samuel & Sons tape; wood coffee tablefrom Payne Street Imports, High Point, N.C.,(847) 967-8300, www.paynestreetimports.com;Nancy Corzine console, New York City, (212)223-8340, www.nancycorzine.com; wing chairsby Vanguard with fabric from F. Schumacher,New York City, (800) 523-1200, www.fschumacher .com; round side tables with gran-ite tops from Global Views, Dallas, Tex., (214)956-0031, www.globalviews.com; lanterns byJohn Rosselli, New York City, (212) 593-2060,www.johnrosselliassociates.com.Page 58: Sun room curtain fabric by F. Schu-macher with wood bead trim from Samuel &Sons and contrast lining from Pindler & Pindler;hardware from Morgik Metal, Patterson, N.J.,(212) 463-0304, www.morgik.com; patternedarea rug from Asmara, Boston, (800) 451-7240,www.asmarainc.com; wallpaper by Ralph Lau-ren, New York City, (888) 475-7674, www .ralphlauren home .com; lanterns from Dennis & Leen;armless sofa and Lattice pillows from RinfretHome & Garden; plaid pillows from Beacon Hill,Foxboro, Mass., (800) 333-3777, www .beaconhill design .com; floral pillows from Stroheim &Roman, New York City, (718) 706-7000, www.stroheim .com; wood and glass tables fromPalecek, (800) 274-7730, www .palecek .com;boxes, end tables and small round tables fromGlobal Views; camel and silver-leaf finish chairsfrom Niermann Weeks, New York City, (212)319-7979, www .niermann weeks.com; HighlandCourt chair fabric by Duralee, Bay Shore, N.Y.,(800) 275-3872, www .duralee .com; urns fromRinfret Home & Garden.Page 59: Powder room wall fabric by Lee Jofawith trim from Samuel & Sons; silver leaf ovalmirror from Manor House, Collierville, Tex.,(901) 861-1957; breakfast room wallpaper fromF. Schumacher; ceiling and trim paint from Far-row & Ball; curtain fabric by Jasper MichaelSmith at John Rosselli; contrast lining byPindler & Pindler; wood bead trim from Samuel& Sons; hardware by Morgik; rug by MeridaMeridian, Boston, (800) 345-2200; lanternfrom Dennis & Leen; round table from Baus-man, Ontario, Canada, (909) 947-0139, www.bausman .net; dining chairs from Vanguardcovered in Highland Court fabric from Duralee;accessories from Rinfret Home & Garden.Page 60: Outdoor furniture from Gloster, SouthBoston, Va., (434) 575-1003, www.gloster.com,and Restoration Hardware, www .restorationhardware .com; pillows from Rinfret Home &Garden.Page 61: Roman shade fabric by Lee Jofa withbead trim by Kravet; valance fabric and trim byKravet; stools from Lee Industries, Newton,N.C., (800) 892-7150, www.leeindustries.com;stool seats in faux leather by Robert Allen;lantern from Holly Hunt, New York City, (212)755-6555, www.hollyhunt.com.Pages 62–63: Master bath wallpaper fromCowtan & Tout, New York City, (212) 647-6900,www.cowtan.com; curtain fabric by Kravat withlining by Norbar, Boca Raton, Fla., (800) 645-8501, www.norbarfabrics.com; curtain poles byMorgik Metal; dressing table and chair from

MODERN MAKEOVERPAGES 40–46Interior designer: Victoria Lyon, Victoria LyonInteriors, Greenwich, Conn., (203) 540-5350,www.victorialyoninteriors.comRestored by: Cristina A Ross, New Canaan andNorwalk, Conn., (203) 550-6283Page 40: Painting above fireplace The BlackMetaphor by Robert Natkin, from art + interi-ors, Westport, Conn., (203) 581-3133, www .artand interiors .net; painting above console tableUntitled I, 2005 by Bart Gulley, from art + inte-riors; standing sculpture next to console tableVertebrae, 2004, sculpture on floor under con-sole table Cherry Chain, and sculpture on con-sole table Bunch, all by Bryan Nash Gill fromart + interiors; specimen lizard in Lucite, c.1950, on console table from Mondo Cane, NewYork City, (212) 219-9244, www .mondo cane.com; Tora wooden tray, Fino wooden vasesand Quilombo wooden sideboard from Espas-so, New York City, (212) 219-0017, www .espasso.com; Wells sofas, Portica stainless steel andstone end table, tall wooden Manako floorlamp, limited-edition Hans Wegner Sawbuckchair and Spectrum carpet from Room &Board, New York City, (212) 334-4343 www.room and board .com; twin glass coffee tables,Carat and Japon lamps and Touron lemonenameled bowl from The Conran Shop, NewYork City, (866) 755 9079, www .conran usa.com; Dransfield & Ross ostrich feather pillowsfrom Pimlico, New Canaan, Conn., (203) 972-8166, www.pimlicohome.com.Page 42: Painting over daybed Angel Face byMichael Manning, from art + interiors; paintingon side wall Still Life I by Liz Dexheimer, fromart + interiors; Portland Studio sofa, Quinn chaiand Tiki small round table from Room & Board;Zoe side table, Ceramic Matters Cabbage Headvase and T1210 lamp from The Conran Shop;giraffe cowhide rug from Cobble Court, NewCanaan, Conn., (203) 972-7878, www .cobblecourt .com; orange wool throw and Dransfield &Ross pillows from Mis En Scene, Greenwich,Conn., (203) 422-0567, www .misen scenegreenwich .com; Folded Leaves Red, FoldedLeaves Blue and Folded Leaves Orange wall artall by Hugh O’Donnell from art + interiors.Page 44: Paintings over bed Sherwood Island I,II, III and IV by Claudia Mengel from art + interi-ors; painting on side wall Later On by Liz Dex-heimer from art + interiors; custom bed, sidetables and bench from Artifact Design Group,Wilton, Conn., (203) 834-7757, www .artifactdesign group.com; wedding quilt and chunkycable-knit throw from The Conran Shop; tablelamps from Pimlico; Urchin lamp in bathroomby Helen Bilt from ROOM, Westport, Conn.,(203) 577-9066; vintage Lucite stool fromIrwin Feld Design, Stamford, Conn., (203) 588-0567, www.irwinfelddesign.com; shower curtainand towels from Waterworks, Greenwich,Conn., (203) 869-7766, www.waterworks.com;Block lamp from The Conran Shop.Page 46: Tall white fiberglass vases, Grey Clothrubber and aluminum patio table, Haven meshchairs and pewter platter with cups and bowlsfrom The Conran Shop; Quinn orange chair

ResourcesA guide to the products and professionals in this issue’s featured homes

(inside) from Room & Board; Reclining Womansculpture by Matthias Alfen, Norwalk, Conn.,(203) 722-8143.

SECOND ACTPAGES 54–63Architect: Chad Nehring + Associates, Danbury,Conn., (203) 743-9878, www .nehring architects.netInterior designer: Cindy Rinfret, Rinfret Ltd.,Greenwich, Conn., (203) 622-0000, www.rinfret ltd .comLandscape designer: Michael Dunster, DunsterLandscaping, Riverside, Conn., (203) 637-9444Builder: Frank Usowski, Francis Development,Old Greenwich, Conn., (203) 637-3222Page 54: Living room fireplace mantel fromChesney’s, New York City, (646) 840-0609,www.chesneys.co.uk; mirror over mantel fromRinfret Home & Garden, Greenwich, Conn.,(203) 622-0204; www.rinfretltd.com.Page 55: Blue and white accessories from Rin-fret Home & Garden; wallcovering by Zoffany,(800) 395-8760, www.zoffany.com; lantern byDennis & Leen, Los Angeles, Calif., (310) 652-0855, www.dennisandleen.com; upholstered ottomans by Kravet, Bethpage, N.Y., (516) 293-2000, www.kravet.com, in Clarence House fab-ric, New York City, (212) 752-2890, www.clarence house .com; mirror by John Richards,Greenwood, Mich., (662) 453-5809, www .johnrichard .com; lamps on chest from Charles Ed-wards, London, +44 (0) 20 7736 8490, www.charles edwards.com,; area rugs from Patter-son, Flynn & Martin, New York City, (212) 688-7700, www.pattersonflynnmartin.com.Pages 56–57: Living room window fabric byRogers & Goffigon, New York City, (212) 888-3242, with banding by Robert Allen, BostonDesign Center, (800) 333-3777, www .robertallen design.com; wood blinds from Hartmann &Forbes, Tualatin, Oreg., (503) 692-9315, www.hfshades .com; hardware from Sarkis Studio,(800) 793-0337, www.sarkisstudio.com; cus-tom area rug from J.D. Staron, Stamford, Conn.,(203) 351-1130, www.jdstaron.com; wood andmirror pedestal by Aidan Gray, Carlton, Tex.,(888) 273-4229, www.aidangrayhome.com,with vase from Rinfret Home & Garden; diningroom silk wallcovering by de Gournay, NewYork City, (212) 564-9750, www .degournay.com; carpet from Patterson, Flynn & Martin;window panels by Zoffany with Samuel & Sonstape inset, New York City, (212) 704-8000,www.samuelandsons.com, and contrast liningby Pindler & Pindler, Moon Park, Calif., (805)531-9090, www.pindler.com; hardware bySarkis Studio; chandeliers by David Iatesta,New York City, (212) 593-2060, www .davidiatesta .com; dining chair fabric by Lee Jofa,Bethpage, N.Y., (800) 453-3563, www .leejofa.com; living room wall and trim paint by Farrow& Ball, www.farrow-ball.com; ceiling paint byBenjamin Moore, www.benjaminmoore.com;custom-built wall unit with mirrors and bar de-signed by Cindy Rinfret and built by FrankUsowski; Donghia bar stools, New York City,(212) 935-3713, www.donghia.com; stool fabricby Clarence House; sofa from Vanguard,Hickory, N.C., (828) 328-5601, www .vanguardfurniture .com, in Henry Calvin Fabric, Medford,


Hickory Chair, Hickory, N.C., www .hickory chair.com; chair fabric and contrast buttons fromHolland & Sherry, New York City, (212) 355-6241, www.hollandsherry.com; ceiling fixturefrom John Richards; custom built-in designedby Cindy Rinfret and built by Frank Usowski;area rug from Stark Carpet, New York City,(212) 752-9000, www.starkcarpet.com; masterbedroom wall, trim and ceiling paint from Far-row & Ball; window panels with cornice fromFriedman Brothers, Medley, Fla., (305) 887-3170, www.friedmanmirrors.com; curtain fabricby Hodsoll McKenzie, London, +44 (0) 20 72549940, with lining by Pindlar & Pindlar; woodblinds from Hartmann & Forbe; mirrored head-board by Amy Howard, Memphis, Tenn., (901)547-1448, www.amyhowardcollection.com;headboard upholstery fabric from Rogers &Goffigon; canopy fabric by Hodsoll McKenzie;custom fringe by Samuel & Sons; tailored bedskirt fabric by Hodsoll McKenzie with tape fromLee Jofa; velvet bed pillows with tape and cordfrom Kravet; chandelier from Ochre, New YorkCity, (212) 414-4332, www.ochre.net; bedsidetables from F. Schumacher; bedside lampsfrom Currey, Atlanta, Ga., (678) 533-1500, www.curreyco dealers .com; chair by Lee Industries;settee pillows in Zoffany; round table fromWorlds-Away, (901) 529-0844, www.worlds-away.com; custom area rug by J.D. Staron.

SWEPT AWAYPAGES 66–75Interior design: Carey Karlan, Darien, Conn.,(203) 921-5151Renovaton: Scott Connery, Infinite Design,Darien, Conn., (203) 243-0373Page 67: Polka dot pillows from the WakefieldCollections, Stamford, Conn., (203) 358-0818;sofa from Lee Industries, Newton, N.C., (800)892-7150, www.leeindustries.com; rattan chairfrom Wisteria, Carrollton, Tex., (800) 320-9757,www.wisteria.com; stools from Bungalow 5,Oakland, N.J., (201) 405-1800, www .bungalow5.com.Pages 68–71: Desk chair fabric from Zoffany,(800) 395-8760, www.zoffany.com; dragon-flypillow and sofa from Wakefield Collections;round, two-tiered table from Dovecote, West-port, Conn., (203) 222-7500; www.dovecote-westport.com; ottoman fabric from Cowtan &Tout, New York City, (212) 647-6900, www.cowtan .com.Page 72: Paint in Picture Gallery Red from Far-row & Ball, www.farrow-ball.com; oriental rugfrom J.D. Staron, Stamford, Conn., (203) 351-1130, www.jdstaron.com.Page 74: Wall color from Donald Kaufman,New York City, www.donaldkaufmancolor.com;headboard fabric from Osborne & Little,Stamford, Conn., (203) 359-1500, www.osborne and little.com; nightstand from WestElm, (888) 922-4119, www.westelm.com; lampfrom the Wakefield Collections; carpet fromJ.D. Staron.Page 75: Wall color in Barrista from BenjaminMoore, www.benjaminmoore.com; rug fromWilliams-Sonoma, www.williams-sonoma.com;desk from Pottery Barn, www.potterybarn.com;headboard fabricated by Traditional Draperies,

111 Cherry Street, New Canaan, CT 06840 (203) 966-8333

R o b e r t B r u c e D e a n , A I A

w w w . r o b e r t d e a n a r c h i t e c t s . c o m

r o b e r t d e a n a r c h i t e c t s

robertdeanarchitects.com


Bridgeport, (203) 365-0634, www .tdrapery.com; lamp from Good Food, Good Things,Darien, Conn., (203) 655-7355, www .good foodgood things .com.

DESIGNER KNOWS BESTPAGES 78–85Interior design: Maureen Griffin-Balsbaugh,Griffin Balsbaugh Interiors, Brookline, Mass.,(617) 264-9006Architect: Judith Larson, Judith Larson Associ-ates, New Canaan, Conn., (203) 972-1409, www .gardiner larson homes.comBuilder: Bill Gardiner, The Gardiner Group,(203) 972-1409, www .gardiner larson homes.comPage 78: Minton-Spidell chairs through M-Geough, Boston Design Center, (617) 451-1412,www.m-geough.com, with Orleans fabric inAstor from Classic Cloth, New York City, (212)758-0844, www.dessinfournir.com; table fromFormations through Webster & Co., BostonDesign Center, (617) 261-9660, www .webstercompany .com; large white vase from TheDrawing Room, Cos Cob, Conn., (203) 661-3737, www.thedrawingroom.cc; Chinese paint-brushes on table from Red Chair Antiques &Collectibles, Peterborough, N.H., (603) 924-5953, www.redchair-antiques.com; custom rugfrom Stark Carpet, Norwalk, Conn., (203) 899-1771, www.starkcarpet.com.Page 80: Custom sofas by Griffin BalsbaughInteriors; French Blue floral fabric on throw pil-lows by Verlaine from Clarence House, NewYork City, (212) 752-2890, www .clarence house.com; brown center lumbar pillow is Cervo inLoam from Rogers & Goffingon Ltd., Green-wich, Conn., (203) 532-8068, with trim fromSamuel and Sons, New York City, (212) 704-8000, www.samuelandsons.com; GregoriusPineo New Castle armchairs, Culver City, Calif.,(310) 204-0400, www.gregoriuspineo.com, up-holstered in Lacey fabric from Rogers & Gof-figon; Romney side tables and Paxton Bouil-lotte table lamps from Dessin Fournir, NewYork City, (212) 758-0844, www .dessin fournir.com; white lacquered cocktail table from Gra-cie, New York City, (212) 924-6816; blue throwon ottoman, green vase on side table andhorse head sculpture on the coffee table fromThe Drawing Room; custom rug from Hokan-son Carpet, Boston, (888) 361-9900, www.hokanson carpet .com; drapery fabric fromBrunschwig & Fils, Boston Design Center, (617)348-2855, www.brunschwig.com, by PMK De-signs Workroom, Boston, (617) 268-9980.Page 81: Dining table and chairs from owners’collection; back of chairs upholstered in Castel-lo Rose from Clarence House, and leather onfront of chairs from Edelman Leather, Boston,(617) 330-1244, www.edelmanleather.com; mir-ror and rock crystal chandelier from NiermannWeeks, New York City, (212) 319-7979 www.niermann weeks .com.Page 82: Dining chairs from A. Rudin, NewYork City, (212) 644-3766, www.arudin.com,with upholstered fabric in Jaipur Tree from F.Schumacher, Boston Design Center, (617) 482-9165, www.fschumacher.com; Ponti chandelierfrom Dessin Fournir; drapery fabric from Glant

through Webster & Co. by PMK Designs Work-room.Page 83: Green Roman kitchen shade fabricfrom Glant through Webster & Co. with brownGreat Plains inset fabric from Holly Hunt, NewYork City, (212) 891-2500, www.hollyhunt.com;kitchen lamp from Urban Archaeology, BostonDesign Center, (617) 737-4646, www .urbanarchaeology .com; kitchen stools from Minton-Spidell through M-Geough; sitting room cus-tom chaise, chairs and ottoman from GriffinBalsbaugh Interiors; chaise upholstered in natu-ral linen fabric from Rogers & Goffigon; pillowson chaise from The Drawing Room; sconces insitting area from Paul Ferrante, Los Angeles,Calif., (323) 653-4142, www.paulferrante.com;sitting room drapery fabric from Classic Clothby PMK Designs Workroom.Page 84: Powder room walls upholstered inMonferatov by Groves Brothers through Furn &Co., Boston Design Center, (617) 342-1500, www .furnco .us; chair from Jan Showers, Dallas,Tex., (214) 747-5252, www.janshowers.com.Page 85: Custom chaises from Griffin Bals-baugh Interiors in Saville Row fabric from Car-leton V, New York City, (212) 355-4525,www.carletonvltd.com; Blossom Tree pillowfabric from Sanderson, www .sanderson fabrics.co.uk; brown throw on chaise from The Draw-ing Room; Lisbon desk from Formationsthrough Webster & Co.; Gustavian Klismoschair from Niermann Weeks, upholstered inDelphina Lady Slipper fabric from Rogers &Goffigon; rock crystal desk lamp from VaughanLighting, New York City, (212) 319-7070, www.vaughan designs .com; Fortuny chandelier, www.fortuny .com; custom carpet from HokansonCarpet.

AN EPIC UNDERTAKINGPAGES 88–97Architects: Dinyar Wadia and Robert Butscher,Wadia Associates, New Canaan, Conn., (203)966-0048, www.wadiaassociates.comInterior designer: Dinyar WadiaBuilder: Wadia AssociatesFurniture and rugs: Unless otherwise notedfrom the owners’ collection or from LadyPamela Pidgeon (now retired), Madley, Here-fordshire, EnglandPages 88–89: Wall color by Donald Kaufman,New York City, www.donaldkaufmancolor.com,through Benjamin Moore, www .benjamin moore.com; ceiling light fixture from The BrightonCollection, Fairfield, N.J., (973) 227-5280, www.brighton collection .com.Page 90: Donald Kaufman wall color throughBenjamin Moore.Page 93: Donald Kaufman wall color throughBenjamin Moore; hanging lamp from TheBrighton Collection; sconces from VaughanLighting, New York City, (212) 319-7070, www.vaughan designs .com.Pages 96–97: Coffee table designed by DinyarWadia and crafted by Stuart Interiors, Somer-set, England, +44 (0) 1935 826659, www .stuartinteriors .ltd.uk; leather stools from Dovecote,Westport, (203) 222-7500, www .dovecote-westport .com; fabrics on sofa and armchairsfrom Stuart Interiors. •

Resources

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Furniture • Gifts • Antiques • Accessories

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Aqua Pool & Patio 14

Armstrong Associates 111

Back Bay Shutter Co. 24

Barbara McEntee 99

Blanche P. Field 113

Brooks and Falotico Associates 27

Charlestown Gallery 35

Clarke Distributors 98

Clear Design 33

Coastal Point Construction 109

Cobble Court Interiors 19

Coldwell Banker Previews International 52

Colony Rug Company 11

Connecticut Lighting 107

Connie Beale Back cover

Country Carpenters 105

Country Club Homes 37

Creative Interior Design 51

David D. Harlan Architects 20

The Drawing Room 6–7

Earthscapes 8–9

Ed’s Garage Doors 65

Engel & Völkers Greenwich 64

Gardiner & Larson Homes 2–3

Glen Gate Properties 49

Hemingway Custom Cabinetry 4–5

Hilton-VanderHorn Architects 15

HM Oliver Interiors 25

Irwin Feld Design 22

Jablonski Associates 119

Jia Moderne 39

JN Ruddy Construction 86

Katherine Cowdin 48

Lillian August Inside front cover

Linda Ruderman Interiors 21

Lynne Scalo Design 13

Mar Silver Design 26

Marble and Granite 111

Michael Smith Architects 36

Ocean House 41

Olson Development 17

Orrick & Company 109

Peacock and Beale 117

Peter Cadoux Architects P.C. 53

Preferred Properties 29, 113

Quidley & Company 47

Advertiser IndexA helpful resource for finding the advertisersfeatured in this issue

Ram Construction 101

Ridberg & Associates 10

Rinfret Design Limited 43

Robert Dean Architects 115

Robert Storm Architects 105

Robin McGarry 87

Runtal North America 50

Sachs Plumbing Supplies 119

Shope Reno Wharton 31

Skyline Flight 108

Sudbury Design Group 38

Suzanne Novik 76

Vermont Verde Antique Marble Co. 103

Victoria Lyon Interiors 107

Wadia Associates Inside back cover

Wainscot Solutions 45

Woodmeister Master Builders 77

Wright Brothers Builders 23

Zen Associates 18

New England Home’s Connecticut, Spring/Summer 2010 © 2010 by Network Communi-cations, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission toreprint or quote excerpts granted by writtenrequest only. Editorial and advertising office:New England Home, 530 Harrison Avenue,Suite 302, Boston, MA 02118, (617) 938-3991,(800) 609-5154. Corporate office: NetworkCommunications, Inc. 2305 Newpoint Parkway,Lawrenceville, GA 30043, (770) 962-7220.

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WWW.JABLONSKIASSOCIATES.COMwilton, ct

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Sketch PadDesign ideas in the making

A DOGHOUSE MAY SEEM trivial and a bit indulgent to some, but to Dempsey, our beagle, it was very important.How often does an architect have the opportunity to design such a building, especially for a beloved member of

the family who in this case just happens to be a dog? It was paramount to me that Dempsey have the most beautifuldoghouse on the block. His keen eye for scale and proportion made this project particularly challenging for his

architect. The doghouse had to fit into its environs (our backyard) and be stylistically sensitive to the surroundingbuildings on the site, yet still reflect Dempsey’s own style and personality. The structure is clad in red cedar shingles,while the trim is a dark green reflective of the main house. The curved projecting rafter tails add a sense of whimsy,

while also providing much needed shade. The sawtooth shingles above the door add distinction and offer a fore-boding appearance to other dogs who might want to trespass. It is sometimes the most modest and unusual struc-

tures that can bring the biggest grin of satisfaction to the architect.

BERNARD WHARTON, SHOPE RENO WHARTON ARCHITECTS, SOUTH NORWALK,(203) 852-7250, WWW.SHOPERENOWHARTON.COM

shoperenowharton.com

wadiaassociates.com

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