This Greenwich Home has Views of Long Island Sound

Folding glass doors in the great room help promote indoor-outdoor living. Designer Marie-Christine McNally kept the palette quiet so as not to detract from the water view or the reclaimed oak beams and flooring.

An informal dining area in the great room—which is open to the kitchen—contains a custom banquette, a light fixture by Apparatus, and Serena & Lily bistro chairs.

The clients requested a showstopping staircase to connect all four levels; a vintage center table and console bring additional character into the space.

Reclaimed oak and vintage copper factory lights spice up a classic white kitchen.

A pantry off the kitchen features deep blue cabinetry, wood countertops, and a Phillip Jeffries wallcovering

Reclaimed oak details lend warmth to the dining room, which includes a custom table by Dos Gallos and a light fixture by Bocci.

The office faces the street as opposed to the water, so McNally used the opportunity to embrace a clubby, cozy feel with rich woods, leather, dark grass cloth, and antiques. “It felt natural to create a darker jewel box here,” notes the designer.

The primary suite faces the water, so McNally selected a soothing neutral palette.

Most of the serene primary bath is white and marble.

In the primary bath, a brick wall inset with Moroccan-inspired tiles is an unexpected backdrop for the soaking tub.

The closet is painted Benjamin Moore Hale Navy.

An upholstered headboard wall serves as a focal point in a child’s room.

“I wanted the lower level to feel powerful, so granite stones root the foundation,” says architect Jimmy Crisp. “Above that, the materials are much lighter.”

For one of the outdoor sitting areas, McNally combined furniture from RH with a vintage side table, while Janice Parker Landscape Architects planted colorful flowers and textural grasses.

One of the client mandates was a pool overlooking the water.

One of the most difficult tasks as a designer or architect is knowing when to exercise restraint, but when you’re presented with a spectacular waterfront location clamoring to be the star, it pays to listen to the site. Architect Jimmy Crisp and designer Marie-Christine McNally did just that while working on this Greenwich new build for an active family that includes a baby, two older children, and a dog.

Crisp was already familiar with the homeowners’ aesthetic, having previously worked with them on a farmhouse renovation. When it came to their new contemporary Shingle-style residence, the couple asked for something more modern and open that would make
the most of the views while still incorporating some of the more traditional, older materials that drew them to their farmhouse.

“The orientation and layout were prescribed by the site, which is a tight lot,” explains the architect. “Greenwich is very restrictive with regards to lot coverage and volume, so we maximized the space we had. We also had to consider the flood plain, which meant that the lower level needed to be waterproof.”

The clients had a few additional desires, including a pool, multiple outdoor areas for taking in the sun and views, and a striking open staircase that serves as a focal point and connects all four levels.

“Aside from the lot restrictions, one of the biggest challenges was determining how to build this floating staircase, which required a lot of steel,” recalls builder Joe Pisoni.

Another time-consuming task that paid off in the end? Installing reclaimed oak flooring and beams—elements that both Crisp and the clients are partial to, having used them in the farmhouse project as well. “The imperfections found in reclaimed materials make them a
bit harder to work with, as it requires picking through to find the perfect pieces,” explains Pisoni. But everyone involved agrees that the attention to detail is well worth it in the end. “These elements are critical in providing a feeling of warmth,” adds Crisp.

To accompany Crisp’s architecture, the clients tapped designer Marie-Christine McNally to furnish the 5,400-square-foot home.

“Jimmy’s use of reclaimed materials works well with my interiors because I like to incorporate vintage and antique pieces,” says McNally, who also sells vintage items at her decor shop in East Hampton, New York. “My job was to complement those materials and not overpower them. In the great room, for example, we took a quieter approach with neutral, non-patterned textiles, leather, and wood that don’t dominate the materials or the views. The idea was to create bright, airy spaces using natural tones and blues that recall the feeling of water, air, and sunshine. It’s also very durable and practical.”

While the main water-facing rooms—including the primary suite—received a calm palette, McNally did take the opportunity to inject more color into the street-facing areas such as the “cozy, clubby” office and the dark blue pantry.

“We were able to go more dramatic in the rooms that aren’t as focused on the light and water views,” explains McNally. And, of course, there are plenty of vintage items scattered throughout.

“It was fun to work with clients and an architect with the same appreciation for vintage furniture, patina, and
imperfect materials,” says the designer. “These are the things that create an authentic, one-of-a-kind interior.”

Project Team
Architecture: Crisp Architects
Interior design: Marie-Christine Design
Builder: Stonecrest Builders
Landscape design: Janice Parker Landscape Architects