If you’re lucky enough to have a talented designer as a close friend, you may want to consider hiring them. “The beauty of having this long relationship is that there is a lot of trust,” says designer Michelle Gerson, who has known her friend-turned-client since their college days. They’ve been close ever since, but their working relationship started some years later, when Gerson helped her and her husband with the interiors of their Hamptons home. That led to her designing a glamorous New York City apartment for the couple and their two sons. So, when the family of four made the move to Fairfield County, their longtime friend—and now longtime designer—was the obvious choice to create their new space.
The family had had an eye-opening experience when they decamped to the Hamptons during Covid. “We saw how happy our boys were riding their bikes, playing on the basketball court—we all realized we loved living in a house,” explains the wife. They decided to leave city living behind and relocate their primary residence from New York City to the Connecticut suburbs. However, after looking at quite a few homes, they realized they’d need to start from scratch to get exactly what they wanted.
The couple loves home design, but creating a sense of ease and comfort was paramount. “Aesthetics, and getting all those details right, was very important to us,” says the wife, “but the most important thing was the feeling when you first step inside.” A top priority for the brand-new home was a great layout for entertaining and spending time as a family. Large, open spaces flow into one another, and allow everyone to be together, even in separate rooms. Gerson gave the home charm and character with materials like bold marble and mixed metals, plus custom built-ins throughout. Wall treatments—like giant shiplap through the foyer and great room, and a combed plaster in the dining room—add thoughtful texture.
The Ted Bradley Swag pendant in the foyer is through the Bright Group, the table is from CB2, and the rug is a Kelly Wearstler design from the Rug Company.
In the great room, coffee tables from Homenature are paired with L-shaped sofas from NY Custom Furnishings in a Holly Hunt fabric. The travertine fireplace stone is through BAS Stone. The rug is from Art and Loom.
A Roll & Hill chandelier hangs above the kitchen island, which is topped with marble from Artistic Tile, while Thomas Hayes Studio counter stools are finished in a Pindler fabric and shearling from Garrett Leather.
In the breakfast area, Artistic Frame chairs are paired with an Aronson Woodworks table.
The dining room table is surrounded by Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin chairs. The large piece of art is by Guillaume Linard Osorio and the smaller piece next to the mirror is by Retna. The chandelier is through Gabriel Scott.
The wife’s office is furnished with a sofa in a Castel fabric and a Soleil marble desk.
In the husband’s space, Colony white oak lounge chairs balance a dark custom desk by Aronson Woodworks.
The family dog sits in the shady outdoor patio area alongside a table and chairs from Harbour Outdoor. Landscape design is by Fulton Landscape Design.
A Lindsay Cowles metallic grasscloth wraps the guest bedroom walls, while CB2 chairs and a custom upholstered headboard add to the room’s plush comfort.
The gym’s bold wallcovering is from Flavor Paper.
In the basement hangout space, another Flavor Paper pattern lines the walls behind a Crate & Barrel sectional.
The neon sign in the games area is by Name Glo.
The style of the interiors is cool and contemporary, organic infused with fun. “She wanted something more earthy, more casual, but still chic,” says Gerson, “and they wanted to be able to use everything. Durability was the directive.” Though the homeowners wanted material selections to ensure kids and dogs could have the run of the house, the open kitchen and great room is a favored spot for everyone. “It’s one big, connected space where they do the majority of their living,” says Gerson. In the kitchen, hardy Caesarstone was used on the countertops around the perimeter, and Gerson went for a “wow” moment with dramatic marble on the backsplash and island. An adjacent breakfast area connects the space to the great room, where Gerson leaned into large-scale comfort, using two L-shaped sectionals covered in a plush Holly Hunt fabric. “It’s almost like a teddy bear fabric. It’s super soft and delicious,” notes Gerson. With a fireplace, big-screen TV and full-length views of the lawn all around, it’s the perfect spot for kicking back.
His and hers offices are the only more closed-off rooms in the main part of the house and provide the husband and wife their own areas for work and a little bit of play. She has a pink marble desk, vintage sofa and games table. He has his own bar and seating area with access to the screened-in porch. In their bedroom suite upstairs, the couple have another luxury: separate bathrooms. “My most favorite, treasured spot is my closet and bathroom,” says the wife—a welcome upgrade from life in the city.
Downstairs, the kids have their own hangout with a games and lounge area. “In the basement, we had more fun,” says Gerson, who used funky wallpapers, cheeky artwork and a custom neon sign to dial up the playfulness. Now, the family has everything they wanted—including that all-important feeling of being completely comfortable in their home. “We feel very happy in our house, it really feels like our safe haven,” says the wife.