2016 Winners
- Architecture
- Bath Design
- Builder Recognition
- Garden Design
- Interior Design
- Kitchen Design
- Product Design
- Small Spaces
Louis Fusco Landscape Architects
Louis Fusco Landscape Architects
This luscious vernacular meadow site, adjacent to a mature apple orchard, horse trails and a nature preserve, is actually quite new—completed just two years ago by landscape architect Louis Fusco. The challenge was to create a new house and landscape with clients who were to be weekend residents. “I serve my clients, the land and the architecture
Fusco kept the lines clean. “It’s all about transitions from the architecture to the wilder areas of the property,” he explains. A sinuous drive bordered with understory trees passes through the woodland edge of the nature preserve.
Three new apple trees in the meadow echo the orchard next door. White-barked Himalayan jacquemontii birch dot the entry court
Linear SteamHead, Mr. Steam
Linear SteamHead, Mr. Steam
Our judges loved the reverse waterfall effect produced by this year’s winner of the Product Design category. Smartly designed to sit along grout lines, flush with the wall, the Linear SteamHead from Mr. Steam is a revolutionary shower fixture that is visually minimalistic, while billowing steam quietly and efficiently. $350, through Bender Plumbing and Supply, Norwalk.
Murdock Solon Architects
Murdock Solon Architects
The owners of this circa 1895 converted gatehouse had two requests for the design of their new bathroom: first, to resemble a beloved Tuscan villa where they had vacationed; second, to keep the room open to the structure’s original exposed stone walls in the adjacent hallway. Fortunately, architects Shea Murdock and Kelly Solon Murdock are familiar their clients’ tastes: They’ve been working on the home for the past 15 years, and first worked on this space in 2000.
To achieve the airy vibe, Shea Murdock and Kelly Solon Murdock strayed from the traditional, installing a frosted-glass sliding door from Westport Glass at the entrance. A foot of clear glass remains near the top of the door, revealing the original brick-and-stone walls. The rest of the space was equipped with glass walls and little-to-no visible hardware.
“All the tracking was placed above the ceiling, in the Sheetrock”
Finding a match for the existing stone structure was a bit tougher “This made it a challenge to match.” Stone from three different quarries was used to achieve the look. And a mosaic of tile in the shower complements the stone that’s visible through the glass walls.
“We believe the gatehouse was built from the excavated stone of the mansion itself”
Peyton Cochran Designs
Peyton Cochran Designs
Peyton Cochran has no qualms about working small scale; in fact, she embraces it. “There’s something about small spaces that’s really unique and a different type of challenge,” explains Cochran. “I like the coziness that they provide.” So it came as no surprise that when her bachelor godfather was in need of a new entertainment space, she immediately turned to his run-down garage for inspiration.
Calla McNamara Interiors
Calla McNamara Interiors
Calla McNamara was faced with the somewhat daunting task of stitching together the remnants of a 19-century Colonial with a contemporary renovation and addition.
Starting in the existing living and dining rooms, McNamara introduced wall paneling more in keeping with the formal nature of the rooms.
In the kitchen, the face frame cabinetry has an antique look, while the custom metal stove hood, which runs the length of the room, is an unexpected surprise
“Because the ceiling is lower, there are no upper cabinets, so the stove hood dresses things up and serves as a centerpiece”
Claiming her biggest challenge was creating a sense of flow and making sure the spaces had adequate light, McNamara used light paint colors to achieve both. Soft grays dominate with a slightly darker, moodier tone in the dining room.
“The original beams, neutral colors and transitional details help create a seamless flow between old and new”
Caryn Bortniker Design
Caryn Bortniker Design
The challenge: Combine a homeowner’s desire for a moody, sexy vibe with a need for features that could withstand use by five children ranging from elementary school through high school. Designer Caryn Bortniker delivered with a kitchen that’s a study in contrasts: darks and lights, sophisticated touches and family-friendly finishes.
Bortniker, who had completed kitchen projects for some of the homeowners’ friends, found the decisiveness of her client to be a huge asset. “When I found the Jonathan Adler chandelier, I sent her a photo from the store, and 10 minutes later it was a done deal!” notes the designer. The chandelier sets the tone for the space by simultaneously adding drama and playfulness above the generous island.
Additional Resources:
Cabinetry, New Perspective Cabinetry & Design. Countertops, Caesarstone, through Kitchens by Design. Chandelier, Jonathan Adler. Appliance handles, First Impressions International, through Doorware.com. Backsplash, Ann Sacks. Cabinetry hardware, Emtek, through Klaffs. Faucet, Grohe, through Bender. Flooring, Tile America.
Browning Residential Design
Browning Residential Design
“I love these types of transformations,” architect Margaret Browning Kufferman says. She means major changes: huge weight loss, a total makeover or a deeply imaginative renovation of the kind she just completed for a Connecticut couple who both work in New York City media. The pair wanted a New England vernacular farmhouse; what they stumbled on—and bought, because it was on such a great piece of property—was a small (and pretty bedraggled) cape house. But before they signed on the dotted line, they asked their architect for some ideas.
Additional Resources:
Landscape design, Oliver Nurseries and Design Associates. Builder, Shostak Construction, LLC. Structural engineering, David Kufferman, PE Structural Engineers. Cabinetry (throughout), Wallace Company Woodworking, LLC. Windows and doors, Jeld-Wen, through Clearview, Inc. Sconces and light fixtures, Cape Cod Lanterns. Rocking chairs, Walpole Outdoors. Sconces (mudroom door, left), Pottery Barn. Rug, Redi-Cut Carpets. Chairs and coffee table, Lillian August. Table, Leonard’s Antiques. Chairs and side tables, RH. Glass hurricanes, lamps and pillows, KL Home. Sofa, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. Island chairs, S. Timberlake. Refrigerator, range and dishwasher, GE Appliances. Faucet and sink, Rohl. Artwork, Joan Albaugh.
Those sketches increased the size without increasing the footprint. “I worked hard to get the proportioning and massing and details just spot on,” she notes.
“The house is almost like the original sketches”
And she added those New England details in the form of a spectacular front porch (that the architect sees the couple using all the time when she drives by); solid cedar posts on that front porch; custom-milled interior paneling that was designed (in pencil) on-site; custom exterior molding; and drawing twice as much light into the house by changing the windows and dropping the sills down.
The clients wanted a simple farmhouse aesthetic on the inside, which comes through in the addition of a few Shaker furniture pieces and clean, bright lines.
Painho Chair Tidelli Outdoor Living
Painho Chair Tidelli Outdoor Living
The Painho chair, designed by Marcel Rosenbaum for Tidelli Outdoor Living, mimics the rustic nature of the typical chief’s chair of cocoa farms in Bahia, Brazil. Handmade out of high-grade welded aluminum, the chair is then powder coated and finished with one of 40 nautical rope patterns produced in Tidelli’s plant in Brazil. $3,860.
Morgan Harrison Home
Morgan Harrison Home
“It’s all about the curves,” says Michelle Morgan Harrison regarding the home she helped design for a young Fairfield County family. “From the foyer to the kitchen
Complementing the swoops and swirls is a delicate palette dominated by layers of greige that responds to the homeowner’s desire for elegance and sophistication tempered by hushed tones.
“To that we added a mix of metals—gold and silver—and introduced artwork and accessories for pops of color”
Conte & Conte LLC
Conte & Conte LLC
Husband and wife John and Kimberly Conte have been involved in this comfortable lakefront estate since 2006, developing the site from master plan to maintenance.
Early design concerns included siting the new house atop a rise, where one catches the best views, and creating a graceful approach into the property.
Garden rooms were carefully sited for privacy. Setting the pool atop a four-foot retaining wall removed the need for a safety barrier; the surrounding low stone wall allows the spectacular views to be enjoyed.
Laura Kaehler Architects, LLC
Laura Kaehler Architects, LLC
No home is complete without a man-cave; a mantra that holds especially true for this avid race-car collector and circuit driver. After completing renovations on the client’s main home, Laura Kaehler was tasked with designing a building to house both his cars and memorabilia, while accounting for entertainment space.
Austin Patterson Disston Architects
Austin Patterson Disston Architects
Taking inspiration from expansive views of Long Island Sound, architect Mac Patterson, partner at Austin Patterson Disston Architects, and project architect Marti Cowan designed a contemporary kitchen space within a traditional home’s envelope. The kitchen was next up in a series of projects for this homeowner
Sage Design
Sage Design
The recurring theme of this Kathy Hodge–designed bathroom is glass: on the walls, in the shower, over the mirrors, in the cabinetry. Early in the design process, Hodge and her client decided to use the bright light of nearby Long Island Sound to their advantage, reflecting the scenic brilliance throughout the space with four identical mirrors—two of which are recessed medicine cabinets—and custom-painted gray-back glass. “You feel like you’re partly in the ocean
Outdoor Living Signature Grates, Coyote
Outdoor Living Signature Grates Coyote
Outdoor Living Signature Grates, Coyote
Outdoor Living Signature Grates Coyote
Grill masters: Tired of seeing your hard work go up in flames? These Outdoor Living Signature Grates from Coyote make sure you won’t have to. Three unique laser-cut stainless steel grates filter char and heat, allowing you to slow-roast vegetables while simultaneously perfecting grill marks on a thick, juicy ribeye. Starting at $299, through Albano Appliance, Pound Ridge, NY.
The process of making the textiles of Fabric & Steel’s Collection 2 begins in Belgium, where the linen is harvested and manufactured.
Robern’s Balletto vanity boasts long, slender legs reminiscent of a stiletto’s heel and the pointe work of a ballerina.
With an eye on the horizon, DXV recently introduced an entire collection of 3D-printed faucets. Shadowbrook (shown here) features 19 separate waterways and was crafted using DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering).
Time to keep the real gems of your house outside of the cupboard. The Freya pulls by Matthew Studios—available in amethyst, clear quartz or smokey quartz (shown here)—combine luxury-soft glimmer with angular metal and stone. Finishes in polished brass (shown here), nickel or chrome modernize the timeless piece. Price upon request, through Katonah Hardware, Katonah, NY.
A refrigeration system in the bedroom may seem out of place, but it’s the ideal location for many cosmetics that do better in a chilled environment. True’s new Spa and Makeup station combines the brand’s signature refrigeration system—keeping contents as cool as 33 degrees Fahrenheit in its 15-inch under-counter refrigerator—with an understated vanity. $3,200, through Aitoro, Norwalk.
P H Architects, LLC
P H Architects, LLC
When a couple living in Fairfield County approached Peter Paulos Jr and Philip Hubbard, it was clear they were looking to build an investment property across the street from their existing house. Land had become available once their neighbor’ house burned down, and so they saw this strangely shaped lot as a perfect opportunity to whip up a house and sell it quickly. Spoiler: It’s now their current home.
Austin Patterson Disston Architects
Austin Patterson Disston Architects
Over the course of several years, architect Mac Patterson and his team at Austin Patterson Disston Architects have worked on varying aspects of this beachside home. “The clients call us and say, ‘Okay, now let’s do this room,’” explains Patterson. What was once a dark room, with utility sink and closet, is now a light-filled space, equipped with a showstopping floating vanity.
The vanity itself shines with polished annealed glass on the face of the cabinets and stainless chrome pulls for the hardware. The structure floats over large gray porcelain tiles from Greenwich Tile. The oversized wall tiles provide a simple, flat tone and reveal almost no grout lines.
““It was neat stuff,” Patterson says. “The walls look like they’re limestone.””
Calla McNamara Interiors
Calla McNamara Interiors
Working hand in hand with Able Construction, designer Calla McNamara brought a new perspective to this spec home
Last Detail Interior Design
Last Detail Interior Design
Carey Karlan prides herself on designing spaces that reflect the personalities of the inhabitants. “So when my clients said they wanted something casual, rugged and overscaled, they meant it, and I responded,” says Karlan, who imbued the traditional Fairfield County home for a family of five with a decidedly un-Connecticut look. “They love Colorado and the West, and they wanted a more handcrafted feel.”
After tricking out the entry with a console table supported by faux animal horns and a stenciled cowhide rug guaranteed to dispel any notion of New England
D2 Interieurs
D2 Interieurs
When it comes to D2 Interieurs’ signature design, Denise Davies cites “happy home, happy life” as her motto, melding but never overpowering a client’s personality with her creativity. But when Davies’ decided to repurpose her detached garage as a design studio for her company, the result was a space that entirely reflects her, as she says, “what you see is what you get” demeanor.
Jules Chandelier, John Pomp Studio
Jules Chandelier, John Pomp Studio
Seventy-seven-inches long and composed of 90 glass crystal pieces, the Jules chandelier from John Pomp Studio drew its inspiration from the dismantling of old glass-blowing ovens; hundreds of pounds of glass are left over, which, after it’s broken up, resemble natural gemstones, fractured and imperfect. Price upon request, through A. Rudin, D&D.
Pinna Paletta, designed by Laura Kirar for Kallista, marries textural geometry with sleek finishes. Handle and spout engraving details are reminiscent of ancient Egyptian-like patterning, while a variety of polished and antique-matte finishes amp up this basin set’s playful nature. Starting at $1,195, through Klaffs, Norwalk.
Artemis Landscape Architects, Inc.
Artemis Landscape Architects, Inc.
This vulnerable point on the Long Island Sound shoreline suffered mightily under Superstorm Sandy. The good news: The owners already had been planning to remodel. Tara M. Vincenta, of Artemis Landscape Architects, was engaged to design a new pool, spa and landscape.
After Sandy, the house had to be raised above newly established FEMA flood elevations. Vincenta’s challenge was to connect the house and new garden back to the natural shore landscape
Sellars Lathrop Architects, LLC
Sellars Lathrop Architects, LLC
They were hoping to downsize, but they built a house bigger than the one they were in Howard Lathrop says. The architect, who runs Sellars Lathrop Architects with Ann Sellars Lathrop, is describing the contemporary Fairfield County home he designed for a healthy and active couple.
The architects were dealt a challenging site—long and narrow, without a central distribution point or axis around which rooms would naturally organize themselves
“It becomes the dream house; they want the porch, the kitchen, they want this and that, and it adds up”
Instead of the typical neighboring farmhouse with lots of tiny rooms, the clients wanted something open and light and bright” and that’s what they got.
Massive planes intersect with equally massive windows, and the entire house is a study in airy geometry and careful articulations of frame, color and material.
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