LANDSCAPE Ambrosio Brothers Contracting Company, Inc. | The details in Ambrosio’s design plan accentuate the homeowners’ love of athletics and the outdoors. A multilevel terrace is built around a sycamore tree and enhances the serene country setting, while the infinity-edge swimming pool and DecoTurf tennis court showcase the home’s sleek and sporty side. An outdoor kitchen and entertainment area add a comfortable ambiance perfect for entertaining. Ambrosio Brothers Contracting Company, Inc., West Redding, 203-762-5167, ambrosiobros.com.
BUILDER Baldwin & Baldwin | Baldwin & Baldwin constructed this 4,000-square-foot house designed by New Haven-based Peter Jackson with traditional and sustainable materials. On a hilly one-acre site, a north entry allows light to stream through the front door and keeps the home lean with four linked hipped-roof pavilions. Consistent clean detailing, requiring extraordinary precision and execution, contrasts with more traditional furnishings. Baldwin & Baldwin, Guilford, 203-453-6799.
ARCHITECTURE Beinfield Architecture | Beinfield Architecture crafted this multidimensional New England boathouse with dark hemlock floors, visible ceiling beams and a wood shake roof. Five floor-to-ceiling windows, along with stone columns, a dock and waterfront boathouse add an outdoorsy spin to this timeless classic. Beinfield Architecture, South Norwalk, 203-838-5789, beinfield.com.
BATH Carol Kurth Architecture PC + Carol Kurth Interiors Ltd. | This nature-inspired bathroom doesn’t skimp on luxury—marble floors and an eight-head walk-in shower enhance this one-of-a-kind space. A wide two-sink limestone countertop sits under a long mirror, and cedar plank boards adorn the walls and cabinets. Carol Kurth Architecture PC + Carol Kurth Interiors Ltd., Bedford, NY, 914-234-2595, carolkurtharchitects.com.
INTERIOR DESIGN Douglas Graneto Design | We all crave the warm feeling found in Douglas Graneto’s living room design. Cream walls with pops of chocolate brown, pomegranate burgundy and rich charcoal add dimension to the interior. Graneto did not hesitate to mix prints and patterns like bold stripes with colorful ikat motifs. The living room window treatments add a delicate symmetry and balance the furniture’s interesting shapes. Douglas Graneto Design, Greenwich, 203-622-8383, douglasgraneto.com.X
KITCHEN Joeb Moore + Partners, Architects, LLC | Richard Neutra’s original plan is omnipresent in this new design by Joeb Moore. Moore opened up the living room to the kitchen, allowing the rooms to feel more accessible. The modern all-white kitchen features custom stainless steel countertops, Velux skylights and a Miele dishwasher. Joeb Moore + Partners Architects, LLC, Greenwich, 203-769-5828, joebmoore.com.
INTERIOR DESIGN Last Detail Interior Design | Interior designer Carey Karlan’s challenge was to focus on the home’s magnificent millwork without overshadowing its craftsmanship. Karlan and the homeowners agreed on a neutral color scheme—silver, gold, brown and black—with a surprising grape accent, to let the architectural details shine through the clean interior. Last Detail Interior Design, Darien, 203-921-5151, careykarlan.com.
BUILDER Oxford Builders, LLC | Oxford Builders restructured the interior of this ’70s-era home to complement its Connecticut River view and modern exterior. Builders worked with Nautilus Architects to craft a cathedral-within-cathedral ceiling to open up the kitchen and living area, and raise the height of the space. This transformation warms up the home and creates a bright, elegant ambiance. Oxford Builders, LLC, Hartford, 860-301-0753, oxfordbuilders.net.
LANDSCAPE Rock Spring Design Group, LLC | Care was taken to rejuvenate the gardens, outdoor terrace and rolling lawns of this Darien residence. The driveway apron, stone reading room and woodland path are inspired by the surrounding landscape. To balance greenery and color, Rock Spring added small floral arrangements to the side of the house and hydrangeas to the terrace. Masonry steps were repaired as a finishing touch. Rock Spring Design Group, LLC, Trumbull, 203-268-6979, rockspringdesign.com.X
ARCHITECTURE Vicente-Burin Architects | This farmhouse juxtaposes a traditional white country frame with sleek contemporary interiors. The colonial gallery in the center hall acts as a datum around which the rooms are strategically organized, and the metal roof with bevel siding adds a modern twist to the dormer windows. Vicente Burin’s design is current and classic without feeling staid. Vicente-Burin Architects, LLC, Fairfield, 203-319-9571, vbarchitect.com.
BATH Yvonne Ferris Interiors | Interior designer Yvonne Ferris’s elegant bathroom marries marble with paneled walls and nickel plumbing fixtures. An exquisite two-person white Carrara marble shower and a private arched alcove for the toilet make the space personal yet ideal for sharing. We love how the soft gray and white colors complement the natural light, and a dark gray tub adds dimension to the room’s grandeur. Yvonne Ferris Interiors, Westport, 203-292-8614, yvonneferrisinteriors.com.
KITCHEN Yvonne Ferris Interiors | Yvonne Ferris’s classic country kitchen boasts an antique Belgian Bluestone floor and Sub-Zero refrigerator and wine fridge. A purple leather-upholstered banquette and black wood slab Tom Dixon table add an edge to the soothing white cabinetry and marbled backsplashes. The island’s custom stainless steel countertop provides an edgy note to this otherwise traditional space. Yvonne Ferris Interiors, Westport, 203-292-8614, yvonneferrisinteriors.com.
This article appears in the July 2012 issue of CTC&G (Connecticut Cottages & Gardens).