A Connecticut Home Designed for Entertaining and Family Fun

Repeat clients called on Boothby to reimagine the interiors of this classic 1906 residence occupying five acres in Fairfield County.

Boothby introduced a C&C Milano striped wallpaper in a tent-inspired application to transform the entry, which, according to the designer, featured a dark geometric wallpaper when her clients purchased the home.

The grand living room was the jumping-off point for the design scheme; the client especially loves orange, so interior designer Chauncey Boothby incorporated an orange floral fabric from The Rosa Bernal Collection.

Boothby broke up the expansive living room into several seating areas to accommodate parties large and small.

In a corner of the living room, Finn Juhl chairs surround a games table by Alexa Hampton for Theodore Alexander; the children also use this table for homework.

For the dining room, Boothby brought in the clients’ Stark rug from their previous home, along with their antique dining table and chairs, which she had recovered in two different Perennials fabrics. A previous set of owners had installed the blue grasscloth.

To give the existing kitchen a light refresh, Boothby introduced mint accents in the form of a light fixture from The Urban Electric Co., barstools from Palecek, and a Muriel Brandolini fabric adorning a built-in cabinet.

Boothby also reused the existing suede wallcovering in the study, which showcases artwork from the clients’ extensive collection.

The powder room off the kitchen also has a green theme, thanks to a rattan-inspired print from These Walls.

A boy’s bedroom inspired by the Incredible Hulk features roman shades crafted with a Sister Parish fabric, a green bed from Crate & Barrel, and an Erin Gates for Momeni rug.

A girl’s bedroom is painted Benjamin Moore Ecru. The roman shades feature an Inchyra fabric, the bed is upholstered in a fabric by Penny Morrison, and the light fixture is from Oomph.

The serene primary bedroom is studded with soft blue tones, including a Holland & Sherry fabric on the bench, bedding from Brahms Mount and Hill House Home, and artwork by Kayce Hughes.

A Guy Goodfellow wallpaper envelops this combination sitting area and workspace off a guest room. Another piece from the homeowners’ art collection hangs above a vintage desk, a chair from Blu Dot, and a desk lamp from Vaughan.

A nearly 11,000-square-foot residence runs the risk of feeling overwhelming and cold, but this Fairfield County home decorated by Chauncey Boothby is anything but. It helped that Boothby was already quite familiar with the clients, having grown up with the wife in Maine and then, later, working with them on a ground-up project there. “I knew their tastes well, which made for a smooth process,” explains Boothby. “The goal was to create an environment that’s warm, cozy, and family friendly. They have four young children, so everything has to be bulletproof.”

Prior to purchasing the home, the couple had lived nearby and even had the opportunity to see the interior during a house tour. “They always loved the residence, so they snatched it up as soon as it became available,” says Boothby. Conceived by Manhattan-based architect Cameron Clark in 1906, the six-bedroom property features many original details, including the millwork and trim. “My job was to enhance this beautiful residence and make it feel like this couple,” says the designer. “I wanted the decor to be both timeless and current while remaining appropriate for the house.”

The design concept started with the living room—specifically a patterned chair fabric studded with orange blooms. “The client loves orange,” says the designer. “We went with a strong floral, along with plaid, stripes, and leather accents.” The homeowners often entertain, and this expansive room serves as the main gathering space.

“There are various seating areas that allow for intimate gatherings as well,” says Boothby, who notes that this isn’t the type of formal living room where no one is allowed. “The family actually spends time in this room. The table can be used for games or doing homework. This space dictated the feel of the entire house.” In terms of the palette, the blues and greens found here pop up in several other spaces. “Moving from room to room, everything doesn’t need to match entirely, but I wanted it to tie in and relate.”

In the kitchen, for example, mint accents abound, with new light fixtures, barstools, and curtain panels that “warm up the space and unite it with the adjacent breakfast room.” Green also pops up in the form of a patterned powder room off the kitchen as well as a boy’s bedroom inspired by the Incredible Hulk.

Throughout the residence, Boothby incorporated antiques from the couple’s previous home. “We repurposed a lot, but nothing was forced,” explains the designer, who furnished the blue dining room with the clients’ existing rug, table, and chairs after freshening them up with new slipcovers. “With the traditional architectural details, we didn’t want to introduce anything that is jarringly modern. The husband has a love of mid-twentieth-century design, so we sprinkled in some vintage pieces for an eclectic mix. We also incorporated custom upholstery along with the couple’s extensive art collection.”

The result is an elegant home that functions brilliantly for both entertaining and family fun. Although the house is quite expansive, says Boothby, “the floor plan, which contains separate rooms as opposed to being completely open, allowed us to create cozy spaces for the family to be together.”

Project Team
Interior design: Chauncey Boothby Interiors