Connecticut

2015 Winners

Winner

Reese Owens

Reese Owens

Winner
Website

Reclaimed cedar timbers support a bucolic country-style front porch.

Inside the living room, armless sofas through Liz O’Brien are covered in a Holland & Sherry fabric. Rug is through Woven Accents.

From the outside, the house looks like an enchanted fairytale cottage.

Soapstone kitchen countertops from Tedeschi Tile & Marble complement a Rohl farmhouse sink with Lefroy Brooks fittings.

A reclaimed-wood bunk bed designed by Reese Owens unobtrusively slips into the house’s structure.

Bright white paint outlines the bathroom vanity (fabricated by Nichols Woodworking).

A bright and airy dining room mixes a sleek and modern table with comfortably relaxed dining room chairs and even more supple armchairs. The tall windows provide a view out into the surrounding nature while the solidity of the wooden beams offers respite and protection.

Winner

Artemis Landscape Architects, Inc. with Freddy's Landscape Co.

Artemis Landscape Architects, Inc. with Freddy's Landscape Co.

Winner
Website

Bluestone planks lend a contemporary feeling beside the pool, along with “floating” bluestone stepping stones, one serving as a diving platform. A gray pebble finish was chosen for the pool interior. The original statues still stand against an evergreen backdrop. Classic lawn steps connect to the residence, uphill.

The natural pool is divided into three zones: swimming, shallow regeneration and deepwater regeneration, with all areas sharing the same body of water. Wetland and native plants provide a buffer at the lawn’s edge. Native emergent and pond plants like Carex, Acorus, Iris, Juncus, Lobelia, Pontederia and Typha filter water in the shallow zone. An Ipe boardwalk runs the length of the pool, providing interaction with the adjacent shallow regeneration area, and connecting to the deepwater regeneration area, designed as a lily pond.

Oxygenating plants like Nymphaea (water lilies) and Ceratophyllum are used in the deep-water zone.

The shallow end of the swimming zone features a beach entry, a flip-turn wall and an entertaining terrace.

Winner

Clean Design

Clean Design

Winner
Website

In this beachside master bathroom, sconces and medicine cabinets from RH. Floating vanities by Henry Agudelo have Duravit sinks through Klaff’s. A Waterdecor tub filler complements a sleek BainUltra freestanding tub.

A Nuevo Lighting chandelier softens hard surfaces. Shower enclosure is through Premier Shower Door ; fittings are Phylrich.

Winner

MGS Milano

MGS Milano

Winner
Website

Stainless is evolving with the Vela D in Onyx by MGS Milano, finished in a revolutionary black hue on stainless steel. Created through an eco-friendly, high-purity process called PVD, the Vela D is made in Italy and precision-engineered in Switzerland to pack as much form as function. $2,595, through Bender, Norwalk, 203-847-3865, benderplumbing.com, mgstaps.com.

Winner

Thornton Design,LLC

Thornton Design,LLC

Winner
Website

In the master bedroom, the barrel-vaulted ceiling wears a whitewash finish for an antique look, and the tufted upholstered bed with fabrics from Raoul Textiles adds a subtle feminine touch. Indian print drapery fabrics from Peter Dunham textiles suggest casual luxury; the chair and ottoman sport Samode Indigo from Lisa Fine Fabrics. The Lotus Jar lamp is from Vaughan Lighting.

The Philip Jeffries Bermuda Cocoa wall covering establishes a beachfront ambiance in the family room, where the sofa seat and back cushions are covered in fabric from Quadrille, and the striped yellow throw pillow coverings are from Bennison Fabrics. The Hanging Shade light fixture that illuminates the dining table is from Hollywood at Home, and a http://www.paulferrante.com/ Nantucket lantern lights the way in the kitchen. Kitchen layout and cabinet design are by Deane, Inc.

A trio of lanterns from Vaughan Lighting illuminates the entry hall where a runner from Turabian and Sariyan tops hardwood floors stained a dark walnut. Vaughan Lighting.

Winner

J.E. Masone Architecture & Design, LLC

J.E. Masone Architecture & Design, LLC

Winner

Reclaimed beams from the razed addition frame the entry to the kitchen, where a sculptural stucco hood sits above the American Range gas range; the neighbouring refrigerator is by Electrolux; sink and faucet are by Kraus.

The homeowners’ own table and chairs add a pop of color next to the island, topped with honed Statuario marble from Paramount Stone to match the countertops and backsplash.

Rejuvenation sconces hang over Marvin windows that frame the historic beech tree outside.

Finalist

Curves Ahead

Curves Ahead

Finalist
Website

All of the editors loved that safety doesn’t have to be dowdy! The easy-to-install shape of Sabi’s circular grab bar offers a sphere of grip and leaning options (plus is helpful for hanging towels), crafted from aluminum and powder coated in three sharp shades. $150, sabi.com.

We adored the shimmer of the Longmont pendant’s glass shades, formed by laying strands of brass in molten glass while blowing it into shape, creating bubbles that glow with warmth. $2,625, Hudson Valley Lighting, through Klaff’s, Norwalk, 203-866-1603, Danbury, 203-792-3903, klaffs.com, hudsonvalleylighting.com.

California Faucets reworked the drain with ZeroDrain—the first “pop-down” drain. Two simple components sit flush with the sink, eliminating an unsightly pop-up. $129, through D&D Fine Homes, Darien, 203-655-4455, calfaucets.com, dndfinehomesllc.com.

The ultimate in beauty inside and out, Robern provides integrated bathroom organization with the AiO cabinet. In a mirrored finish, it features dimmable task lighting, electrical and USB outlets and magnetic storage for grooming tools. Price upon request, through Ferguson (T), D&D, 212-688-5990, ferguson.com, robern.com.

Wish you had a doctor for your soil? The Edyn Garden Sensor is a revolutionary device that, when inserted into soil, reads such factors as moisture, nutrition, humidity and sunlight, then provides tips to help plants thrive. Information is sent directly to a corresponding iOS app. Garden sensor, $100, through Home Depot, homedepot.com, edyn.com.

3rd place

Devore Associates, LLC

Devore Associates, LLC

3rd place
Website

Around the house, a courtyard, terraces, herb garden, parterre and scree garden were installed to form a seamless transition between the architecture and the landscape.

Classic French boxes planted with lemon trees line the pool by Shoreline Pools.

Architect McKee Patterson of Austin Patterson Disston Architects created a new approach to the house and the gate that echoes details in the architecture. Stone courtyard walls are planted with white climbing roses, wisteria and hydrangea.

3rd place

Urban Jungle

Urban Jungle

3rd place
Website

Who doesn’t love a touch of urban aesthetic indoors? Troy Lighting’s Street Art pendant features a round, corrugated silhouette crafted from hand-worked wrought iron and a weathered galvanized exterior, juxtaposed with a colorfully graffitied interior. Up to $2,240, through klaffs.com, Norwalk, 203-866-1603, Danbury, 203-792-3903, troy-lighting.com

Our editors loved this all-in-one hardworking sink by Kohler! The stainless steel Prolific sink features three work zones and five accessories that fit into tiered levels for a customized workspace. Price upon request, through Best Plumbing, Stamford

3rd place

Clean Design

Clean Design

3rd place
Website

West Elm pendant lights illuminate the island, topped with stainless steel from MetalCraft. Carrara mosaic subway tile backsplash and a Pental Quartz Thassos countertop are from Quality Tile.

A Lenova sink with Grohe fittings is the perfect place to work while admiring the view. Just beyond, an Arteriors chandelier hangs over a Nuevo Living table.

3rd place

Arbonies King Vlock, PC

Arbonies King Vlock, PC

3rd place
Website

Tulip chairs surround a mid-century classic oval pedestal table by Eero Saarinen under a David Weeks chandelier.

The entry hall was reconfigured into a gallery where the owner displays her work.

The living room sofa sports Knoll Luxe ultrasuede, a Marrione Scouro armchair has cushions wrapped in Koto Leather on a wood frame, both from B&B Italia. Coffee table is from West Elm.

3rd place

Bonnie Gabrys Interiors

Bonnie Gabrys Interiors

3rd place

The bathroom walls are clad in Porcelanosa’s Ruggine tile. Shower floor river stone is through Casatelli Marble.

Stone Forest black-marble sink and Kohler faucet are through Plimpton and Hills.

3rd place

Douglas Vanderhorn

Douglas Vanderhorn

3rd place
Website

A traditional exterior belies the home’s high-tech interior; landscape design is by Rutherford Associates, PC.

Douglas Vanderhorn Architects

Douglas Vanderhorn Architects

2nd place

Mark P. Finlay Architects AIA

Mark P. Finlay Architects AIA

2nd place
Website

The expansive island features a Rohl sink and Kallista faucet, situated across from the La Canche range. A built-in Sub-Zero refrigerator and Miele dishwasher are concealed by Fin Custom cabintery . Steel Brombal USA windows let nature in.

Weathered posts and beams add to the rustic aesthetic.

2nd place

Calla McNamara

Calla McNamara

2nd place
Website

A full wet bar in the family room is easily hidden from view with a sliding barn door.

A Kohler sink and hardware from California Faucets complement a custom Athens Grey marble countertop.

Another modern touch incudes a glass-lined staircase. Entry artwork is from Antique& Artisan Center. Barcelona Bench is from Design Within Reach.

2nd place

THG Paris Monte Carlo Faucet

THG Paris Monte Carlo Faucet

2nd place
Website

Our readers loved the beautifully crafted baroque design of the Monte Carlo Faucet. Reminiscent of Etruscan or antique filigree jewelry, each porcelain handle is hand-formed in France using a traditional overlay process, then set in 24k matte yellow or white gold and detailed with delicately inserted Swarovski crystals. $8,870–$12,000, THG Paris, through Klaff’s, Norwalk. 203-866-1603, Danbury, 203-792-3903, klaffs.com , thgusa.com.

Finally, junk drawer begone! Aluminum interior accessories from SieMatic offer endless configurations with supplemental inserts that can be easily rearranged to create utensil compartments as needed. Elements are precision-engineered to fit any drawer. Starting at $1,200, SieMatic (T), A&D, 212-752-7900, siematic.com.

2nd place

Penguin Environmental Design LLC

Penguin Environmental Design LLC

2nd place
Website

Shoji screens from Miya Shoji conceal a window over the Wetstyle tub from Klaff’s . Tub filler is Grohe. A Hubbardton Forge sconce illuminates a Wetstyle sink from Klaff’s and vanity cabinets from European Custom Cabinetry.

The shower is lined with Porcelanosa’s Tokyo Wenge and Bambu Blanco Expo tiles.

2nd place

Gregory Lombardi Design

Gregory Lombardi Design

2nd place
Website

The arrival court is made of granite and cobblestone; soft silvery Nepeta lines the walk. Gregory Lombardi designed details throughout the garden, including all stonework and these two lanterns.

The designer took the geometry on the front of the house and connected it to the bigger landscape.

Trees form a grid to one side of the house.

Lombardi designed a series of gates, all as a suite, but with each one unique.The gates are large-scale using classic forms, but the joinery is expressive of modern industrial detail.

2nd place

Robert Dean

Robert Dean

2nd place
Website

Like a glowing jewel box, this entirely rebuilt modernist masterpiece perches brightly on top of a hill.

On the front entry, a bright white exterior wall works functionally to reflect sunlight and conceptually to offer a moment of visual calm.

Open-plan modernism is continued through the steel and light-wood staircase.

All of the living spaces, such as this living room, by New York-based Carrier and Company are a personal reflection of the homeowners and are grounded in layers of color and texture.