Fairfield County

The porch runs along the front of the house and wraps around one side.
Handler balanced masculine and feminine sensibilities in the main bedroom. The painting by Cameron Schmitz was purchased at The Drawing Room in Cos Cob.
The brass-capped acrylic stools around the kitchen island are by Interlude Home, and the roman shade fabric is from Thibaut.
Drapery in a dotted stripe pattern from Schumacher adds a graphic burst of green to the guest room. The chest and chair are from local antique shops.
The Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams velvet sectional in the family room is comfortable, durable, and perfect for lounging; the horizontal muntins on the doors to the patio echo the sidelights in the front entry.
The scheme for the entry started with the stair runner by Prestige Mills, which inspired the color choice for the chest, Benjamin Moore Champion Cobalt. The Urban Electric Company lantern ties the black door to the handrail. “If it were up to me, every room would have some black,” Handler says. “It’s classic and dramatic.” The photograph over the mantel in the lounge is by Fairfield County-based artist Allyson Monson.
A mixed-media diptych by pop artist Jenn Lewis takes centerstage in the dining room, painted Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter, in this modern farmhouse. Interior designer Kimberly Handler says, “The piece includes newsprint, duct tape, a little bit of everything. The longer you look, the more things you find.”
The bar, which connects the lounge to the family room, has a mosaic marble-and-metal backsplash by Akdo.
The blue cushion on the antique stool in the main bathroom inspired the choice for the spotted Schumacher fabric used for the roman shade.
Nancy Monahan enjoys a glass of wine with Boca, her Havanese, in the backyard, where a fire table expands the seasons and ceramic stools allow seating for several guests.
After dinner, the Monahans retire to an informal upstairs sitting room with comfy faux sheepskin chairs lit by a unique layered lighting fixture found in Soho.
An urn from Terrain was given its own pocket garden in the front courtyard where a dining table waits to entertain company.
Deux Femmes Decorative Art custom applied a textural linen-like finish to the wall and molded ceiling in the main bedroom. For art, Monahan framed a favorite Tiffany scarf.
In the living room, Monahan cleverly crafted the windows to appear larger without changing their exterior dimensions by adding a bank of mirrors above the panes. To make a sisal rug pop, she layered a cowhide rug beneath overlapping glass sectional coffee tables. The wall displays the ethereal lines in a pair of works by up-and-coming Connecticut artist Tracie Cheng, while furniture is comfy but sleek.
The kitchen needed a complete revamp with the exception of the numerous casement windows, which make the homeowners “feel like we’re eating outdoors.” Monahan went for a seven-foot island with stools sitting on a vinyl floor mat by Beija Flor.
To reflect the curved gates to the entry courtyard that doubles as a dining area, homeowner and designer Nancy Monahan installed a bluestone pathway. The weathered brick pillars exemplify her respect for the past.
Monahan increased light by using large glass panes in the entry foyer. An idiosyncratic collector, she displays finds such as carved pillars originally from a Boston bank beside a wooden horse torso on a metal table.
A series of molding-framed murals by Susan Harter could easily steal the scene in the dining room. Instead, Monahan selected the calming earth tones of grisaille, letting her mahogany dining table and antique chairs stand out. A chandelier from Arteriors accents a custom-finish ceiling painted by Deux Femmes Decorative Art.
A Saarinen table below a pendant lamp by Arteriors can accommodate many for breakfast thanks to the banquette seating.
A powder room features a simple but elegant design with a sink of statuario gold marble and an embedded mirror flanked by dark gray paneling.
Sloping gables, dormers, and a curving roofline help to break down the mass of the house.
The first-floor billiard room boasts floor-to-ceiling windows and a marble-fronted fireplace.
The home’s traditional front portico offers a sheltered spot to relax.
The master bathroom includes his and her vanities as well as a teak-lined sauna that opens to the walk-in steam shower clad in Siberian white marble.
A clean, simple design and quiet palette (with just a punch or two of color) turn the master bedroom into a peaceful sanctuary.
A lineup of glass pendants in different shapes and sizes lends subtle interest to the streamlined kitchen.
The dining room’s white walls, like many throughout the home, were designed to display the family’s growing collection of modern art. The generously proportioned, custom-designed dining table is flanked by chairs that offer bold accents of color.
Flooded with light, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and eleven-foot-high ceilings, the airy living room features a neutral palette of grays and off-whites. The dramatic fireplace surround is Siberian marble.
A barrel ceiling in the master bedroom is both pretty and practical, lending height and depth to a modest-sized room.
Doors and screens in the glass sitting room are designed to slide completely open to let the outdoors in.
The stones in the fireplace surround, chosen to match those on the beach out front, dictate the living room’s earth-tone palette.
Visitors arriving via the front door can see clear through the house to the water. A cupola, which opens into a hallway, adds a nice architectural detail and lets in light, while an exaggerated stone chimney helps ground the house.
.” Copious windows enable the owners to take full advantage of the water views.
To add to the living room’s airy feel, designer Christina Sullivan Roughan removed crown molding above the French doors and hung the draperies as high as possible. The neutral palette of pale gray and white gets youthful energy with the occasional shot of sky blue.
A dazzling Ricardo Rumi painting and a Lubomir Tomaszewski sculpture add contemporary flair to the library.
Casual barstools in the kitchen offer an informal contrast to the dining room.
In the family room, hemp wallcovering and wool carpeting enhance the cozy feel.
The house presents a classic, simple Georgian facade in keeping with its New Canaan location.
Polished nickel light fixtures sound a contemporary note in the entry.
The dining room features a round table custom designed by Roughan for the house; a graphic rug adds movement to the serene space.
The random dots in the Stark stair runner meander from the lower level to the fourth-floor office.
A once-dark powder room got a light and bright makeover with Gracie wallpaper, marble floor tile, and a lighter-than-air Lucite vanity from Waterworks.
The dining room’s delicate Dennis & Leen chandelier balances the heftiness of the moldings, but both share a sense of shine. In the living room, glistening nailheads and zebra fabrics add interest to the lounge chairs.
Morgan Harrison gave the kitchen some pop with a globe light fixture from Remains, fresh window treatments, and new hardware.
Comfortable simplicity reigns in the master bedroom, where delicate night tables from Worlds Away flank the plush upholstered headboard.
Designer Michelle Morgan Harrison introduced shine throughout the house, from the living room’s crystal chandelier to the silver-leaf coffee table to the high-gloss finish on the home’s moldings, stair balusters, and newel caps.
The exterior of the Greenwich townhouse.
A Barbara Barry chaise offers an alternative lounging spot in the guest room.
Just off the living room, a staircase winds up all four floors of the home, originally designed by architect Anthony J. Tartaglia.
New and old blend in this backyard view of the home: the original 1826 section of the house is in the middle, flanked by the 1916 addition to the right and the new family room to the left, where a carriage house once stood.
Cathedral ceilings and skylights let the light pour into the family room, a gathering space with a quiet nook for reading up in the loft
Tamara Kalin’s favorite color makes a bold appearance on pillows, throws, and accent pieces in the couple’s bedroom.
A balcony was closed in to create the master suite’s chic sitting area.
In the bath, a large soaking tub stands before double windows peering over the gardens.
The living room’s sofas, custom designed by interior designer Gilles Clement, get extra visual interest with built-in shelves at their backs.
The pendulous chandelier is suspended by a cascade of chains. Unfinished ceiling beams are a nod to the home’s Colonial heritage, while the black-and-white palette and graphic fabrics are a modern touch
Serena & Lily bar stools surround a marble-topped kitchen island; the owners acquired the vintage, orange-lacquered lunch box on a trip to Myanmar.
Appliances are concealed within a wooden enclosure designed to resemble an old ice box; like much of the interior millwork, it was built by Michael Smith.
A reclaimed nineteenth-century door opens onto the foyer, construction of which required the removal of an old fireplace and the relocation of a staircase.
The cocktail room’s gold paint and drapes brighten the substantial leather furniture and deep teal shelves.
The comfortable everyday dining area just off the kitchen has sunny backyard views on two sides.
The cheerful upstairs office, with walls painted in dramatic Charlotte’s Locks from Farrow & Ball, is functional and fun: the owners run their winery from here when they’re not in California.
A new tin-roofed wraparound veranda, eyebrow windows, and authentic gaslights from Bevolo of New Orleans add character to the historic home on a hilltop in Wilton.
A slew of Williams Sonoma pillows in a host of summery blue tones raises the living room’s comfort level, while a glass top enhances the dining table’s practicality. Leather-bound books and an antique copper boiler add to the hearth’s charm. The handsome rug pulling it all together is from Ballard Designs.
To create a lighter atmosphere for the living room, designer Patricia Lapierre removed the doors that once enclosed the lowest part of the shelving and brought in beachy accessories. She also embellished a small upholstered chair with nailhead trim, upping its character tenfold.
A bar tray holds entertaining essentials at the ready.
A sisal rug defines the sunroom’s dining area. Cheery curtains make a colorful frame for the view.
To update the existing outdoor furniture collection, Lapierre had the pieces repainted and outfitted with new pillows and umbrellas.
The master bedroom’s dream–inducing horse photos, bed linens, and reading lamp are from Ralph Lauren. Fresh bouquets throughout the cottage keep the rooms connected to the outdoors.
An ever-growing collection of copper cookware brings Old World luster to the freshly painted kitchen.
Walls painted Benjamin Moore’s Bunny Gray soften the guest bedroom. To introduce a note of texture, the standing lamp wears a burlap shade. “Small rooms can be cozy,” says Lapierre.
In the living room, accessories from Ralph Lauren Home lend an antique chest fresh personality.
Less than two decades old, this classically designed colonial home in New Canaan offers no hint of the redesign from the front.
A zinc-topped wet bar features a well for liquor bottles and ample storage for barware.
The conservatory doors open onto a stone patio and fireplace. A small deck off the master bedroom sits above the sunny passage between the kitchen area and the wet bar.
The Lucite legs of the upholstered bench at the foot of the master bed add a glamorous touch.
A silk rug grounds the living room, where a sofa reupholstered by the designer in Venetian velvet and chairs re-covered in Osborne & Little Oriole fabric beckon. Ikat and animal-print toss pillows lend an exotic note.
Phillip Jeffries wallpaper provides a subdued background that lets the art play a starring role.
Comfy cowhide-covered swivel chairs fill the sitting space off the kitchen.
An upholstered banquette and cafe chairs surround the breakfast area’s Saarinen table. Comfy cowhide-covered swivel chairs fill the sitting space off the kitchen.
A fireplace fabricated with London Fog stone commands attention in the family room.
A sculpture by New York artist Jeremy Holmes makes a statement on the custom wallpaper that wraps the elegant formal dining space.
White sofas and a cowhide rug, glass cocktail table, and an airy cage chandelier are washed in light in the glassed-in conservatory.
A Victoria + Albert soaking tub in the master bathroom sits between a pair of vanities topped in mitered Carrara stone.
The master bath offers luxurious serenity.
The children’s bedrooms (above center and right) illustrate the casual comfort vibe that the homeowners and designer were going for.
The children’s bedrooms (above center and right) illustrate the casual comfort vibe that the homeowners and designer were going for.
The master suite blends an urban sensibility with a warm country feel. Keeping it neutral was an important part of the design strategy.
The kitchen has plenty of family-friendly seating options.
Interior designer Sara Jordan made sure that her family-friendly choices in the dining room and kitchen were in sync with the breakfast table and chairs that moved in with the family.
Comfortable, durable seating was of paramount importance to the homeowners, who have three young children.
A hand-painted chest custom made in Thailand serves as a bar.
New windows with transoms let the sun wash the living room, and wide-plank white oak floors were laid throughout the house in a renovation that honors the original but has a fresh feel.
The reclaimed barn.
A cozy deck off the breakfast area (the new owners added the pergola).
The breezeway connects the barn and main house.
The property offered the whole country package, including the farmhouse with its classic colonial facade.
The homeowners were living in Brooklyn, New York, and had never heard of Westport until they started looking for a home for their growing family. They were sold after one look at this iconic farmhouse on lovingly tended, parklike grounds.
The living room includes a well-equipped bar.
The kitchen was the starting point for the home’s design.
A half-wall and columns separate the large living room into two more intimate seating areas.
Symmetry defines the front of the Shingle-style house.
n back, symmetry gives way to interesting roof lines, a turret, porches and a fieldstone chimney that serves four fireplaces.
Casual comfort reigns in the more rustic family room.
A nook in the master suite provides a cozy spot for relaxing.
Copper-toned chair cushions accent the neutral color scheme in the casual dining area.
Granite-topped counters and a walnut-topped island provide plenty of working space in the kitchen.
Over the years, the 1840s Federal-style house had been given a mansard roof and Victorian flourishes.
Grassi designed the house’s curved doorway.
The exterior brackets on the tower addition match those flanking the back door.
The living room plays out a simple, neutral palette with a black-accented vie.
A deep Jacobean brown stains all the floors. The marbleized globe ceiling fixture was brought in from the front porch ceiling.
The pale palette is broken only by an accent wall in green, a custom color chosen to reflect a bit of the outdoors.
The thick turned legs of the dining table reflect some of the home‒s heavier architecture details.
Narrow built-in drawers add a graphic note.
Round and oval ornamental windows add interest to the house’s front facade.
The large dining table, which offers plenty of seating for family and friends, came with the owners from their previous house.
Interior designer Nance Vigneau styled the intimate living room with a monochromatic beige-and-tan color scheme.
The paneled wall underneath the staircase landing encloses a small powder room.
Some of the bookcases architect McKee Patterson designed wear a cover of ornamental wire.
The terrace, with its large barbeque area, outdoor dining space and stone fireplace, connects the main house and cabana.
The back porch sprawls across the living room, family room and kitchen with their spectacular views of the harbor beyond.
A rough-sawn oak timbered ceiling lends the kitchen and adjacent sitting area a rustic look.
The master bedroom boasts a variety of soft colors and sumptuous textures, from the velvet headboard to the quilted bedding.
The bowed ceiling and beaded paneling of the cabana’s bedroom was inspired by boat interiors.
The tub in the master bathroom offers harbor views.
A heated marble floor ups the master bath’s comfort level.
An antique tea table resides between the master bedroom€’s velvet-covered chairs.
Antique light fixtures illuminate the kitchen island.
Antique prints enliven a son’s room. The pine chest holds keepsakes.
A nineteenth-century Hungarian oil painting hangs above a living room loveseat.
The dining room includes an antique mahogany sideboard.
The home’€™s exterior and its surroundings blend references to the stately houses of Europe and New England’s iconic stone walls.
The foyer’€™s curved wall lent itself to the Scenes of North America” wallpaper by Zuber, a paper also found in the White House.
A figurative painting by Volpone hangs on a mustard-colored wall in the artist’s study, which also holds a custom Parsons-style desk by DLF Contractors.
A Venetian carved Bernini bed with parrots perched on the posts dominates the master bedroom.
After admitting that her family room “just didn’t work,” Volpone took Hirsch’s advice and replaced a small coffee table with a large custom-designed painted table to better anchor the room. Twin sculptural lamps help define the room’s -sitting area.
The tile-floored kitchen includes a breakfast table topped with a Sally Aldrich bird sculpture and surrounded by antique upholstered chairs. One light-filled area holds a streamlined work surface and a modern West Elm desk chair.
The flamboyantly luxurious dining room features a painted ceiling with a mirror effect and a sideboard faux-painted to resemble a Tibetan chest.
A vintage garden trellis makes a compelling background for objects and art in the living room. Connecticut, Fairfield County,
Dranow carved out a restful sitting nook in the large living room.
Dranow carved out a restful sitting nook in the large living room.
True to her artistic roots, Rachel Volpone fills her home with bold, colorful combinations of her own art and the creations of artist friends that range from painting to sculpture to photography and more.
Splashes of vivid color were a must for Volpone.
Hanging his and her lights free up space on the nightstands in the master bedroom, where hand-painted metallic wallpaper covers the wall behind the bed. A faux-shagreen-framed mirror adds interest to the fireplace.
The breakfast room’s custom table combines a stained white-oak top with an industrial-inspired steel base. The colorful art, which couldn’t be a better fit for the orange-and-purple theme, also graced the owner’s previous home.
The welcoming 4,000-square-foot, shingled house incorporates timeless features like a port cochere.
Muse used a soothing gray-blue paint in the family room to create a backdrop for a host of lively fabrics including pillows dressed in a blue-and-taupe leaf motif from Zoffany and geometric stripes by Christopher Farr Cloth. New Lucite hardware and a freshly lacquered mantel increase modernity.
The living room’s high level of -interest stems in great part from all “the varied elements of texture,” says the designer. The metal side table is topped with petrified wood, while two stools flaunt velvet-clad bases to complement their seats of striped fabric by Duralee. Pale linen curtains afford privacy and soften the windows. The arresting painting is by Patrick Wilson.
Interior designer Lauren Muse -collaborated with Michelle -Brunwasser of Weber Fine Art Greenwich to help the owners find works that would please them visually and suit their decor, such as the dining room’s lively painting by Judith Kruger.
The entry’s contemporary console and attention-getting art by James Nares provide a lively contrast to the traditional architecture.
The floor of the master bath, fabricated from Thassos and statuary Carrara marbles, is designed to look like a garden path; the beautiful collection of botanical photos reinforces the theme.
With subtle gold and silver accents and a cozy sitting area, the master suite is a soothing retreat for the homeowners.
Detail of the master bedroom sitting area.
The Carrara- and Thassos-marble backsplash in a soft gray-and-white pattern lends a wow factor to the kitchen.
The designers incorporated indoor/outdoor fabric on the sofa and ottomans in the TV room, making them family- and pet-friendly.
The eye-catching triptych above the sofa is by Darien artist Andrea Bonfils.
The table in the eat-in kitchen juxtaposes a distressed antique wood column base with a sleek cast-iron top.
An oversize walnut coffee table with sculptural legs anchors the large family room.
To tie the color palette together in the living room, Deb Nicoud designed a custom, hand-woven rug.
An elegant chandelier paired with a more transitional table bridges formality and functionality in the dining room.
A statement-making shagreen-textured bar cabinet with antique mirrors on the inside adds visual appeal and puts aperitifs within arm’s reach
Mirrored drawers and cabinet doors play up the substantial light that spills through the master bathroom windows.
A custom hood and island are commanding elements in the bright white kitchen.
A farmer’s sink is a practical addition to the mudroom.
In the master bedroom, the walls and ceiling wear the barest whisper of lavender.
The husband’s love of rich color is addressed in the dining room with its blue grasscloth walls and blue-velvet chairs.
A side entrance opens to a spacious mudroom with plenty of storage options.
A giant ikat print wallcovering flows around the first-floor powder room’s charming oval window.
In the family room, the designer satisfied the wife’s penchant for neutrals by washing the space in shades of taupe.
Pops of purple and a fiery painting brought back from Italy add a little kick to the living room’s palette of soft grays.
Silvery chairs frame a view of the sofa and a sculpture in the window overlooking the front lawn.
A smoky-colored Phillip Jeffries wallcovering and a soft Merida rug enhance the master bedroom’s cocoon-like ambience.
So classic are the lines and materials of this Shingle-style waterfront home in Greenwich, it’s almost hard to believe it was only recently built.
A black-and-white palette streamlines the compact powder room.
Camel, navy, and cream are colors a young boy can happily grow along with.
A contemporary chandelier and an acrylic coffee table are fun contemporary notes in the paneled library. The rug adheres to the owner’s preference for elements that incorporate warm and cool colors, while the Osborne & Little sofa fabric speaks to the pale suede wall panels.
Scalo designed the striking chandelier of iron and quartz that hangs in the breakfast area.
In the family room, Julian Chichester shelves provide a home for a growing collection of books and mementoes. In addition to providing light, the stylish metal lanterns hanging from the ceiling help unify the space.
The dining room’s leather-upholstered seats are favorites with Scalo, who labels them her "Prada chairs, since they’re sexy like high heels."
The living room features seating design by Scalo.
The living room’s polished-metal mirror adds another jolt of interest, as does the sculptural lamp.
The home’s classic architecture serves as a timeless backdrop for a beguiling range of styles and eras, beginning with the entry’s vintage sconce and Oly chest.
"Timeless but also livable and fresh," is how designer Lynne Scalo defines the elegant living room and its medley of handsome textures. Silver sconces flank a piece of contemporary art, while a more classic painting and a rustic mirror hang nearby-a perfect example of the designer’s keen eye for mixing and matching.
With its pale blue walls and plush cream wool chaises, the sitting area in the master suite is an oasis of calm.
The elegant powder room is swathed in blue floral fabrics. “I wanted to make it a jewel box,” says Griffin-Balsbaugh.
Griffin-Balsbaugh custom-designed the natural linen chaise, chairs in crushed velvet and glazed linen and faux-leather ottoman.
Two-inch-thick marble from Danby, Vermont tops the kitchen island.
The family often dines at the kitchen table, where large windows overlook the New Canaan Reservoir beyond.
A light palette is used throughout the house except in the dining room, where chocolate-glazed walls add drama.
The armchairs in the living room wear a commercial-grade fabric that looks elegant but is still durable, a must for this family
Colonial-style light fixtures and bar stools made way for a more modern interpretation.
Coffered ceilings forge unity between the family room and kitchen.
Velvet roman shades and an upholstered headboard add a plush note to the master bedroom.
A son’s bedroom is kid-friendly but not babyish.
Restful aqua mixed with neutrals forms the palette for the main living spaces.
The library’s dark wood paneling was lightened up with a coat of luscious butterscotch-colored paint.
Classic and modern elements mingle in the dining room chandelier. The dining chairs wear an easy-to-clean Sunbrella velvet.
The brass-and-glass table’s shape is a perfect match for the tufted dining chairs.