The Connecticut House was a design project for a dear friend and his British husband. They had chosen to relocate from NYC to the wilds of Connecticut but still wanted to have an urbane edge to their lifestyle.

We defined the lifestyle as being cozy and intimate for two but also expansive for a house full of guests over weekends and holidays. We set forth the program of the home to incorporate their extensive art collection and capitalize on some of the existing features of the home such as the fieldstone fireplace chimney which travels nearly 30 feet from the Great Room through the roof. There were green views and an expansive rear deck connected to the interior through the Family Room and the Conservatory (as a nod to his British husband).

What started first as a “must replace,” the chandelier in the Foyer quickly gained interest with its dated quirkiness. Shopping trips included Consignment where we discovered the oversized Tai Ping Rug in the Living Room in vibrant shades.

Designating locations for the art allowed us to pull together color palettes quickly along with storyboarding the four seasons of Connecticut - from wintry sledding and skiing to golfing at the local country club. We married the highbrow art with big box finds and enveloped several of the public rooms in wallcoverings to up the style quotient.

Overall, the project was a successful study of what can happen when you embrace the rustic with the modern.