Bold & Beautiful in Riverside, Connecticut
November 30, 2022
Personality and a fearless palette share the spotlight in this Fairfield County home.
Text by Maria LaPiana    Photography by Julia DâAgostino Pierce
![NXT22_William Lyon Desogn_Kitchen eating area Kitchen with painted and white oak cabinets](https://i0.wp.com/nehomemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/NXT22_William-Lyon-Desogn_Kitchen-eating-area.jpg?w=252&h=378&ssl=1)
Sometimes it takes a minute for things to click. Take one couple, for instance, who spent several months house hunting after selling their Cos Cob residence only to realize their new home was right there the whole time. âWe had actually walked by this home several times during our long Covid walks,â remembers the homeowner. âWe never imagined it was a spec home.â They fell in love with the Riverside new build because of its modern farmhouse aesthetic and distinctive millwork.
William Lyon had designed the coupleâs previous, more transitional home, and they enjoyed working with the Stamford-based designer so much that they called on him again. This time, though, they wanted clean lines and something starkly different. âWe always appreciated how William challenged us to step out of our comfort zone and take risks,â says the homeowner, who also credits builder Mike Radman of RA Building Management with creating a home designed for easy family living.
Lyon, for his part, was all-in. âWe embraced the sleek design elements of the well-constructed, light-filled home,â he says. âWe paired the clientsâ original artwork from Latin America with bold colors, wallpaper, mixed metals, and textureâyet kept the space simple and livable.â
The project included designing a new dining room and completing the family room, living room, and entry. Lyon reworked the primary bedroom, refreshed the powder room, designed kidsâ rooms, created a âchill zoneâ in the basement, and installed new window treatments everywhere. He relied on performance fabrics to make things easy on his clients, who have two children and a dog. âIt was very important to me to make sure they didnât have to tiptoe around and could actually relax and enjoy their home,â he says.
And details count for everything. âThe simple design meant I had to be very particular with what I added to the space,â says the designer. The dining room chair legs and the Dunes and Duchess table, for instance, match the floors exactly. Inspired by the homeownersâ love of color, Lyon also spent time perfecting the finish on the walls in that room. âThe paneling was beautiful in white, but when the client hinted at adding green, my mind raced straight to floor-to-ceiling, high-gloss walls in Lush by Benjamin Moore,â says Lyon.
Not surprisingly, that cozy-yet-elegant dining room is a favorite space. âThe walls have a unique glow in the evening, which we enjoy sharing with family and friends,â says the homeowner. âWe love how it all turned out.â
Project Team
Interior design: William Lyon Designs
Builder: RA Building Management
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