The Unveiling of the Designer Showhouse on the Green

The front exterior of the designer showhouse.

Outside the front door, Oliver’s Nurseries provided ferns in tall containers.

“What I loved about the space immediately was the architecture—high coffered ceilings, thick door casings and the wonderfully arched front door,” says Katherine Hodge.

An antique hall table, cast iron urns and high-backed chairs all infuse the foyer with a feeling of history. “Once I found the tall, wooden antique birdcage, the whole space came together in my mind,” says Hodge. “Its four-tiered shape and circle detail give the foyer a timeless and whimsical feeling.”

“I wanted to create a space that feels very contextual with the historical feeling of the space. The furnishings had to be simple yet tell the story of a house that had seen years of families come and go.”

With its casual livability and refined elegance, the living room was crafted for present day by Charles Pavarini III and J. Randall Tarasuk. An uplifting symphony of artistic expression, organic patterns and vibrant colors set the mood and the mind at ease.

According to Tarasuk, their favorite piece in the room is Pavarini’s Living Grandmother Nature Clock by artist Robert Cannon. “It is by far the most complex and pivoting design element,” says Tarasuk. “A living, time-keeping sculpture, the piece embodies all of the room’s elements—freshness of color, livable ergonomics, mesmerizing visuals and multidimensional fashion.”

With great respect for tradition, Pavarini Design expresses a love for classic Connecticut refinement paired with subtle modernism.

The design of the rectory kitchen was inspired from the beaded wainscot ceiling in the front entry. The cabinetry repeats this theme in a timeless three-color Victorian motif: Slate White, Moonstone Gray and figured quarter-sawn oak. The white tiled walls are reminiscent of a vintage larder room of the era, built for food storage.

“Our favorite element is the discipline of classic simplicity to make the kitchen feel like it is truly part of the original architecture,” says Joe Najmy, owner of NuKitchens.

Backsplash is through Artistic Tile. Wallpaper is Farrow & Ball’s Chromatic Stripe. Faucet and sink are by Blanco .

Pulling inspiration from the fireplace, Angela Camarda and Thom Bellucci selected an eclectic mix of furniture styles, all dressed in merlot and port-colored fabrics that are warmed by the use of mixed metals.

“Having started my career in the fashion industry, I always turn to fashion magazines for inspiration,” says Camarda. “A burgundy, suede-fringed boot caught my eye while perusing the pages of Bazaar, and that was my kickoff point for color.” Her favorite element in the room? “Lillian’s Gibson chair—a modern take on a traditional wing chair in Dewitt fabric with black velvet contrasting buttons.”

Throw pillows wear Ralph Lauren and Romo fabrics.

The refurbished powder room now shines with embossed ceramics and an Italian console. “I believe it’s a look that makes the powder room warm and inviting,” says Joseph Passero.

Art Deco and Hollywood glamour come together in this sophisticated dining room by Carol DeBear and Kristin Damle. “Baccarat really became the jewel of the room,” says DeBear. “And the signature Baccarat red inspired the color that we used throughout as an accent—in the baseboard for example,” says Damle.

“Our favorite piece is the bar. We wanted a Lucite bar and combed the Stamford antiques shops. Finally, we found one at tiny John Street Antiques.” The duo transformed the vintage piece by topping it with polished black absolute granite from Gault Stone, creating a bar suited for plenty of entertaining.

“I did the library virtually using all Safavieh products,” says Christina Murphy. “My goal was to create a room that was cozy, stylish and had a unique feel. To create the cozy feeling, I lacquered the walls in Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue, which adds drama to a small space. Even though all the products from Safavieh are new, I selected pieces that have character and feel unique so the room would feel collected over time rather than all bought at once.” And her favorite piece? “The Hamel arm chair: It looks like it’s a vintage chair from France, an amazing reproduction.”

“I find there is a new underground trend,” says Julianne Stirling. “People like to do laundry. A well-designed laundry room, even in smaller spaces, makes laundry fun, even relaxing.” With built-in, ironing-board stations and all the paraphernalia behind a panel in the wall, it takes little effort to do a quick press or even iron a whole load of laundry. “The secret is having lots of light, built-ins and everything within easy reach. It’s important to treat the room and materials with the same respect for quality that you would use in your kitchen,” says Stirling. “Just like cooking has brought the kitchen out of the back room in the past 20 years, laundry is being treated like the art that it is.”

Exhibiting a sophisticated mix of classic and contemporary, the second-floor hallway feels like a space to linger while appreciating a great piece of art. A classic palette of navy, white, gold and silver plus timeless materials of brass and tortoise are balanced with contemporary custom pieces, fabric and artwork. “My favorite piece is the Convex Eglomise Starburst mirror that was custom made in our own studio,” says Donna Benedetto. “This piece brings in elements of classic colors with a more contemporary design. A close second favorite is the custom smoke and mirror framed artwork that makes a statement on the art wall.”

For the guest bathroom, Joseph Passero located a cast-iron tub reflective of the time, then appointed it with European-style nickel faucets and polished natural stone.

“I utilized the quaint nature of the space to my advantage in creating an intimate lady’s sitting room,” says Alice Black. “The setting is nouveau bohemian chic, inspired by fabrics from my new textile collection. The walls are upholstered in Yasmine color Fig from the Alice Black Collection, with Farrow & Ball’s Ammonite painted below the chair rail. The room combines an eclectic mix of pieces—a custom lacquered étagère, a towering artisan-made gazing glass mirror, and a verdigris rain drum table—that blend seamlessly with unexpected color combinations of metallic hues and accents of deep aubergine to add a touch of luxe enchantment. The rich layering of patterns and textures stimulate the senses while providing a serene escape.”

When it came to designing the master bathroom, Joe Passero was tempted to pass on the space because it was so small. “My first thought was to move the wall back 30 inches and close the second entrance to the master bedroom,” says Passero. “Once there was room, I knew I could create a space worthy of the home. We continued the Carrara stone in the bath to complement the beautiful fireplace in that room.”

“I wanted to create an unexpected oasis using elements that draw you in for a conversation with friends or for a little alone time,” says Ken Gemes. “The room acts as a study, but a sofa bed allows for easy transition for overflow guests. The color story of bottle green and ink blue came from the graphic details in the sofa fabric. The colors are found in art as well as the menswear diamond pattern in the custom rug. Oversized items, such as the black and white photography, the flame fixture and the image over the sofa, help make the space appear larger than it is. My favorite item is the brass lighting fixture, which reminds me of something from the sea. It has such personality and a touch of whimsy, giving the low ceiling a much-needed boost.”

Circle prints from Natural Curiosities deliver color to a corner of this room. Side table is through Creative Metal & Wood.s Lumbar pillow is covered in a Zoffany fabric.

“I wanted to create a comfortable adult guest bedroom that was neither strongly masculine or feminine; dignified but not dull; and that referenced the historical significance of the area,” says Carey Karlan. “I enjoyed incorporating traditional and contemporary elements. I embraced the coziness of the low ceilings by painting the walls with Farrow & Ball’s Mole’s Breath with crisp white accents for contrast.

The most exciting part of the project was having artist Joan Cone create six pen-and-ink drawings of the historical buildings on the green, such as the Old Academy, the Sun Tavern, the Burr Mansion, etc. Framed in a modern, minimalist fashion, I like the nod to history, sense of place, and the mix of the old and the new.”

“A master bedroom, to me, should always provide a calm, peaceful ‘adult’ refuge where one can relax and forget the pressures of the workaday world,” says George Snead. “I love the warmth that results from blending warm beige tones into ever popular shades of gray. The same holds true of mixed metals: The shiny chrome of a few years ago yielding to warmer platinum and brushed bronze. Artwork lends a lot of personality to this room.

All of the work is original, ranging from vintage figurative work circa 1949 to current mixed media pieces. It’s almost impossible to identify my one favorite piece, but if pressed, I would choose the organic window treatments fashioned from sheets of handmade paper, designed with a repeating circular cutout geometric pattern.”

“From the moment we first toured this beautiful historic home, I knew I wanted to work on the covered porch,” says Krista Fox. “We are loving the lifestyle trend around entertaining and creating unique outdoor spaces for our clients. Our firm has a reputation for designing inspiring homes that people can connect with.

We wanted to imagine the porch as a place to connect with nature as well as relax with friends and family. As design expert Susanna Salk says, the porch should be seen as “an extension of the soul of the house.” Fox’s favorite element? “We wanted to find and collaborate with several talented artists and furniture-makers to create a total aesthetic.”

Alongside the hedge on the front lawn, the team from Freddy’s Landscape Company created a perennial border of rosy pink “Autumn Joy” sedum, feathery “White Cloud” calamint and “Purple Haze” agastache. Additionally, the team provided a variety of shrubs and trees at points throughout the property. According to Freddy Miraballes, his favorite part of the project was being able to create an outdoor space that complements both its surroundings and the interior of the home.

With showhouse time constraints creating extra challenges, Chandler Vinton and the Oliver Design Associates team had to revise the plans moment to moment. “I like the fact that we had to change the plan from a straight hedgerow border,” says Vinton. “We decided to curve the planting bed to pick up the scroll details of the porch.”

In addition to tall pots filled with more boxwood and annual displays, they were able to add perennials in the form of anemones, which will bloom pink on tall spikes, “dancing in front of the screened-in porch.”

“The opportunity to work on the outdoor terrace provided me the freedom to explore the openness of a square design,” says Sam Allen. “I set out to expand on the confines of indoor dining without losing intimacy.

Inspired by a late lunch enjoyed by friends in Médoc, France, my hope is that guests will feel they can seamlessly turn a late lunch into dinner under the stars. While seated on Serena & Lily Riviera side chairs, they should have no problem being transported back to France!” Allen’s favorite item: Serena & Lily Riviera side chairs—a classic 1930s European bistro chair.