Creating Beauty As He Goes

March 25th, 2008

Builder E.M. Rose combines fresh ideas, lifelong passion and the finest materials to fashion a home of eminence
BY ERIKA ALEXIA TSOUKANELIS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPHER KOLK

Since beginning his career nearly thirty years ago, Eric M. Rose has completed building projects in nine states and three countries. Although he is best known for building custom multi-million dollar estate projects, he applies his same workmanship to meticulously detailed garden sheds and custom-built wine cellars. He has received numerous HOBI and Homebook Awards, has been interviewed by The New York Times, has been featured by the Public Television Small Business School, and has entered several corporate partnerships. His recent efforts include the construction of a three-level English Country masterpiece on Longneck Point Road in Darien, designed by Moisan Architects of Woodbury. While EM Rose Building Company was not the only talented entity involved in the building of the home, Rose takes special pride in his weighty contribution to the project. Standing on the expansive back terrace of the Darien property, he looks at the stone beneath our feet and begins to tell the story of his extraordinary endeavor. “Before we were done laying this flagstone,” he says, “the quarry in China closed.”

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Rose battled to locate a source that could find a substitute for the missing material. He employed the services of Sargeant Stoneworks of New Fairfield to find a domestic quarry for the job, and they came through. The rest of the high-quality flagstone was produced at a quarry in New York State opened specifically to fabricate the material. Its purple is one of the many colors picked up in the slate shingles above our heads. Motioning to the multi-hued roofing, Rose explains that the super-thick Vermont slate, rated to last 100 years, was chosen by the client and architect for its durability and aesthetic. The cool tones in the roof are echoed by the bluestone of the windowsills and the tops of the columns that frame the wide terrace, along with solid bronze railings. Richer tones in the roof match stained mahogany bay windows. Rose recommended the natural finish for its beauty. The clear finish demands more frequent attention to keep its luster, says Rose, thereby ensuring that small cracks and larger fissures don’t get overlooked before worsening, as the rear of the house faces the Long Island Sound, in all its watery, windy intensity.

The land sweeping down to the shoreline was overgrown when the house was built. From the ground level, the view was completely obscured. The owner received approval from the state to remove the unruly wetland, replacing it with indigenous vegetation that is both pleasantly arranged and allows for a full experience of living on the water. The back terrace became the perfect setting for the client’s father’s 80th birthday party last May. Two hundred guests, including Rose, appreciated the view, the pool and the various seating vignettes along the terrace. “There’s a lot of room to move around and talk,” Rose says as we step inside.

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The client has granted Rose free reign of the house for our tour, and we enter through a solid-panel kitchen door manufactured by Rosewood Custom Cabinetry of Killingworth. A number of these doors lead into other rooms, with leaded glass windows at their tops to lend an antique appearance.

As we walk across Italian porcelain tiles on the radiant-heated kitchen floor, Rose points out the Zeluck-made windows that overlook the terrace and Sound. Above the larger glass panel are Tru Divided Light window panes. When the saltwater winds and heavy storms assault from outside, Tru Divided Light construction makes it possible for each pane to be replaced individually and as needed, reducing maintenance costs while ensuring architectural integrity. All of the windows throughout the home were designed and built this way by Zeluck Incorporated of Brooklyn, New York.

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Off the kitchen, the family room is embellished with a unique floor of fumed antique pine. The character and patina of the floor boards were created by smoking salvaged wood in a kiln-like pressure chamber, then hand-waxing and staining each plank. This particular flooring was done by Baba Wood, whose service includes blessing the material before sending it to its fate. Above, EM Rose hand-joined reclaimed timber over a solid ceiling before plastering between the beams to create a clever, interesting and decorative configuration that mimics a true timber-frame building.

The floor in the dining room is hand-planed, hand assembled French oak parquet in the “Versailles” pattern.
It has been adjusted to fit exactly into the room, without overlap or discontinuity, and it flows into the limestone floor of the entrance hall, where an original Rodin bust is on display, along with 600-year-old twin tapestries. Another piece of art is displayed on the wall above the staircase. It is a replica of a work by modern English Impressionist Edward Seago, a favorite of the client’s. The oil painting was created by one of Rose’s crew who specializes in faux painting, which is one of EM Rose Building Company’s many services.

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The care the artist took in re-creating the Seago was also taken by Rose when hand-selecting outstanding cherry wood for the library. The book-matched veneers on each wall all came from one flitch of veneers from the same tree and same log. Panel after panel was
chosen for its superior quality and compelling color and grain. The lumber for the cabinetry came from a different supplier. Again, Rose went through volumes of wood with an expert eye to determine the finest material that would match the veneers. Before we exit the library, he points out the zigzagging brick of the fireplace, a herring-bone pattern that took meticulous care to create.

Such meticulousness was rewarded. EM Rose finished the original home in 2004, but were recently welcomed back by the client when he wanted his downstairs finished. “I had a serious Tudor-Gothic theme in mind when my client asked us to give him a private theater. He left the details to me, and I turned to Sean O’Kane, AIA of Ridgefield to bring all of the details together. I’m always thinking ahead about what more we can do on a project,” Rose explains as he opens the door that leads down to this impressive addition. At the bottom of the stairs, an antique stained-glass window that depicts the crest of the English Crown is built into millwork and back-lit so that it appears to be refracting sunlight.

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Rose found it while antiquing with his wife in Old Saybrook, and knew it would be just the thing for his newest project in the house. He called the client from his cell phone, and received the go-ahead to purchase the antique. Neither man was sure where the piece would fit, but fit it does. Rose relates the story of his find with the passion that sustains him in creating beauty as he goes, fitting together ideas and materials alike.

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The idea for the downstairs renovation was to imitate the feel of an English country home. Though completed last, it is a foundation of design for the rest of the Americanized structure atop it. The reclaimed French limestone that makes up the floors was originally quarried between 400 and 500 years ago and imported directly from France by EM Rose. Stepping up into a window seat, we take a closer look at the bay window that is faux-painted to match the hand-carved old English Oak throughout the lower level.

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The English Oak carvings and iron Gothic motifs and brackets, finials and fleurs-de-lis were handmade to designs by architect Sean O’Kane. Interior designer Lynn Brown of Darien placed antique leather pillows in the window seat and on nearby couches, her touches always keeping in precise time with structural themes. On the wall, carved in the form of 15th century linenfold paneling, there hangs a polychromed carving in English Oak of the client’s own family crest. The images of knights on the crest were photographed and sent to Britain, where the brilliant artisans at Stuart Interiors hand-carved a four-foot-tall statue in English Bog Oak, carbon-dated to be 18,000 years old. This oak is from trees that fell before and during the last Ice Age and were trapped in an anaerobic, or oxygen-free, environment, where they began to petrify instead of rot. The dark, ancient wood modeled now in the shape of a knight stands as a column at the edge of the bar, a spacious wine cellar alongside, its doors covered in hand-made iron motifs of grapevines. Inside, the client’s extensive wine collection, cataloged by computer, is numbered and arranged. Sipping wine at the bar is a favorite activity for guests and family, as is relaxing in the custom private theater. Furnished with row upon row of deep, comfortable leather seating, the theater features a universal remote control for lighting and media equipment, a giant movie screen, a custom-built Runco projector, and a custom-built water-cooled computer server that allows the children to play video games online and wirelessly with up to 100 people worldwide.

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More technological wonder may be found in the main boiler room, also located on the lower level. There are three other satellite mechanical rooms throughout the house, but this is where the central boilers are located. Forty-thousand gallons of pool water circulate through pipes and are heated here. Spa water is also warmed. The radiant heat floors in every room of the house and the radiant heat tubing below the driveway that automatically melts snow and ice are all managed from this room. Valves are clearly marked, lighting is optimum, and care was taken to make sure there is plenty of room for more than one technician to work in the space at the same time. Rose is proud to show me his design work in this crucial room. “If you really want to see the quality of a project and its builder,” he says, “go look where no one else would think to look.” Truly, the boiler room’s layout leaves no detail of maintenance uncovered.

Such is the way of EM Rose Building Company. Rose and his team construct homes that incorporate old-fashioned quality and beauty with modern technology and comfort. When I congratulate him on his work before we part, he looks genuinely pleased, but he cannot dwell on my compliments for long. His phone is ringing. He takes the business call, and is quickly absorbed in discussion of work. He does not even sit down. Eric M. Rose is once again caught up in talk of new creation.

Posted in Feature Articles |

Hidden Treasure

March 11th, 2008

Fordham Marble
Creating Excellence Through Experience

421 Fairfield Avenue in Stamford is the home of the Fordham Marble showroom. I had heard a great deal about this 103-year-old stone fabricating company. The word amongst people in the know— like builders, architects and interior designers—is that Fordham Marble is the place to go with your important projects. I wanted to see for myself, so I made an appointment to meet with Joyce Sardo, Fordham’s vice president of sales.

Sardo told me that Fordham Marble was founded in 1905 in New York, and that the shop and yard were still located in the Fordham area of the Bronx. “Right near Arthur Avenue, the ‘Little Italy’ of the Bronx, that’s where most of our men came from,” she added.

The company is considered one of the few A-level marble contractors in New York. Fordham Marble is always on the short list of marble contractors when it comes to the most important residential projects. I asked why Fordham Marble opened in Stamford. Sardo told me that even though the major market for Fordham Marble’s level of work was in Manhattan, they always had a large clientele in the Greenwich area. In 1988 the company decided to make it easier for Connecticut clients to select their materials and enjoy the best in craftsmanship.

Extraordinary displays of materials and workmanship were everywhere in the 7,500- square-foot space, and I was amazed at the array of full-size slabs individually shown. “We would never put a client in the position of having to select a material from a small sample. Others may think that is acceptable, but we know better,” Sardo remarked.

A wide range of mosaics, artisan ceramic tiles, glass tiles and even metal inserts were also showcased. “We are not just about natural stone. Our clients are among the busiest and most successful people you can imagine” Sardo said. “When they have a space to finish, we have the materials and resources to facilitate successful completion. The Fordham Marble difference can’t be easily explained; it needs to be experienced. If you plan to use stone in your next project, stop by and check us out. I love to share our story and make new friends.” n Fordham Marble is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5 pm, and Saturday, 10am to 3pm.

Telephone: 203-348-5088.
Fax: 203-348-4458.
Website: www.fordhammarble.com

Posted in Hidden Treasure |

From the Publisher

March 11th, 2008

If you’ve noticed that this issue looks a little different, it is. Please
join me in welcoming our new Creative Director, Richard Zoehrer,
to the team. Richard brings a fresh eye, years of amazing experience and a sophisticated design sensitivity to the pages of the magazine as we take it to the next level and beyond. We are delighted to have him on board.

This month in Fairfield County Home we celebrate three different local homes each with their own distinctive approach to design.

Award-winning builder, E. M. Rose Building Company specializes in the art of fine home building for some of the best architects in the world. Known for creating custom multi-million dollar masterpieces, E.M. Rose Building Company and Moisan Architects of Woodbury CT show what can be achieved with a meticulous attention to detail, exceptional taste, uncompromising standards and superlative products. The result can be described as truly magnificent.

New York City-based designer Robin Baron brings elegance, sophistication and a sense of calm to a Greenwich couple’s home. With a restful color palette, luxurious fabrics plus clever design touches, the upper level of the house reflects the owners’ tasteful formality. But for a complete change of pace, see the English pub, complete with authentic bar, that Robin created for them in the basement—a reflection perhaps of their more lively social side.

Formal meets friendly, too, in the ASID 2007 Design Awards of Excellence winning dining room/family room by Hollie Sutherland, owner of Hollis Interiors. More and more, she sees a trend in home design away from austere formal spaces; her mantras these days are “livability” and comfort. The owners of this house liked traditional design but wanted it re-styled with a contemporary twist and kid friendly feel, so she brought in warm wood tones, combined different textures and fabrics and turned it into a beautiful but highly livable, “approachable” home.

And finally, on another celebratory note, we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate local interior designer, Lynne Scalo, recipient of the Best of Year Award from Interior Design Magazine, announced at their annual ceremony last November in New York City. This highly prestigious award is given for design excellence for projects around the world, and in winning it, Lynne joins a very impressive group of past recipients including Victoria Hagan, Gensler, Clive Wilkinson and Tsao and McKown Architects. On behalf of the entire team here at Fairfield County Home, Lynne, we are proud to have worked with you over the past few years—and proud that a Fairfield County based designer has shown the rest of the world what great design looks like!

Susannah Pask

Publisher

Posted in From The Publisher |

Let’s Play!

March 11th, 2008

Game Rooms Provide Sophisticated Yet Comfortable Entertainment
BY MEG McAULEY KAICHER

Subscribe to Fairfield County Home Magazine!Game Rooms Provide Sophisticated Yet Comfortable Entertainment BY MEG McAULEY KAICHER

Formerly the domain of young children and teens, the recreation room concept has been updated for modern entertainment. Adults as often as youth enjoy the game rooms of today, as the spaces offer an ideal setting for comfortable relaxed entertaining without the muss and fuss of a formal dinner party.

Many have masculine overtones, as oftentimes the man of the house influences the room’s design. Often these spaces function as a “gentlemen’s lounge” and provide a perfect place in which to indulge in leisurely pursuits.

Designer Sharon McCormick specializes in customized game room treatments for several of her clients. “These spaces often are the last in a house to be decorated, so frequently they are treated as an exciting new project to which the homeowners are ready to devote resources.”

These intimate spaces may support specific hobbies as well as friendly downtime, engaging people in entertaining activities that have broad appeal. Men tend to influence the design direction in these areas with their favorite activities in mind; including a wine bar, a theatre space and gaming centers are popular aspects.

Headquartered in Durham, Connecticut with satellite offices in Massachusetts and Vermont, McCormick has seen game rooms get more luxurious while increasingly customized. Whatever the style to be achieved, whether it be English pub, country club grille, modern movie theatre, or sports gymnasium, functionality is key.

Whether outfitted with ornate English mahogany cabinetry or with a sleeker mid-century modern flair, clients can reflect their personal style. McCormick arranged multiple screens for sports viewing, providing comfortable access from two audience vantage points. Surround sound is all around.

McCormick’s recent project with Van Horst Construction applies a European palette of Tuscan umbers and burnt sienna to create an encompassing aura of rustic peace. Warm tones imbue a sense of reflective light, reiterated by the sheen bounced from the antique stained glass.

A marvelous mural painted by Patrick Ganino artfully depicts an Irish landscape paired with sepia toned European bridges. Encompassing the space is a copper embossed ceiling grid which cleverly houses all the room’s mechanics.

The level of customization available today practically is endless. Billiards tables, for example, offer hundreds of different felt options, as well as myriad choices on wood finish and table leg style.

While entry points for a good example may begin at about $2,000, special collector tables may climb upwards of $100,000. A Brunswick “Marquette” billiards table chosen by McCormick for a client juxtaposes brilliant ebony with a mother-of-pearl inlay on a highly figured Italian olive wood veneer.

Complementing Ralph Lauren woolen plaids with leather and suede textiles, McCormick often uses fabric to absorb sound while enhancing comfort. Valences adorned with nail-head trim provide textural contrast. Mica pendant lights provide an amber glow.

Careful space planning is essential: Scrimping on the billiards perimeter by just a few inches may ruin the whole experience, creating an atmosphere of aggravation rather than fun. (See sidebar.)

VAS Construction, based in Wilton, has been recognized with the 2007 HOBI Award for Best Gentlemen’s Room. This recent masculine game room completed exemplifies how careful craftsmanship can create remarkably impressive results. The exquisite stone foundation and distressed cherry wainscoting on the walls and ceiling gives the room an all-around restful old world flavor.

It is this timeless feel that typifies VAS projects for their excellent design and building applications. Says company owner Vincent Sciarretta,”Such a room provides the ideal place in which to relax comfortably at the end of a long day.”

Activities for socializing such as poker playing or wine tasting may take center stage, allowing those functions to direct the interior design.

A more family-centric theme may feature the big screen theatre area as focal point, which may double as the WII or gaming arena as well. With physical participation gaining in gaming, such as with virtual tennis, baseball or bowling, space requirements become increasingly important.

Physical activity was the guiding principal behind a recent Wernert construction project. Wernert Associates Inc. is a premiere construction firm based in Cos Cob that just completed an awesome home gym for a delighted client family.

“Our client wanted their home to invite fun and focus on family activities,” says Anne Wernert. “Building their vision of an indoor gym for basketball with a view of the water does that and more.”

The exceptional views complement the detailed workmanship resulting in a phenomenal space ready for years of entertainment. Evan Burchell, business development and marketing director for Wernert, acknowledges the emphasis on family interactions and small group activities in these spaces.

As the trend toward “The Digital Home” becomes more pronounced and accessible, integrating multiple facets of the home within these spaces is critical.

Jim Sweeney of Hometronics Lifestyles explains how by integrating lighting, security, audio, temperature control, media control, wireless data and entertainment, homeowners obtain a superior level of control over their home while achieving greater efficiency and maximum availability within it.

According to the Consumer Electronics Association, there was an 8.2 percent growth totaling $161 billion for 2007. As technology advances become more prevalent, luxurious game rooms are becoming more focused while more practical. Content can be accessed from several locations throughout the house.

“We’re on the cusp of a frenzy,” states Sweeney, when asked about options like Microsoft Media Center. Systems such as this increasingly are being requested by clients, in order to provide storage for music and video libraries as well as to stream internet television and radio in multiple rooms of your home.

Accessing photographs from computer files and instantly creating a slideshow accompanied by a favorite soundtrack takes seconds with a handheld remote. This integration truly personalizes the content and usage of digital content.

Another very popular component of the Microsoft system is the Sports feature, bringing real-time statistics to a home screen. Tracking favorite athletes and teams becomes simple; the game schedules cater to individual preferences. Keep track of realtime game scores while watching a movie!

With Tivo and DVR systems, watching a program or movie is fits to preferred schedules: real-time or chosen time, entertainment viewing is dictated by client choice.

In Greenwich since 1968, Audiocom has a stellar reputation for seamlessly integrating technology systems, including audio, video, data, telephony, lighting, and hvac. Owned by father and son team Bill and David Donofrio, their in-house design team alongside best of breed technicians allow for custom solutions and exceptional functionality.

“What sets us apart is the ability to work with people from the onset,” explains David Donofrio. “We get deeply involved in the design process and provide a seamless integration of product lines, managing the whole process.”

As the second largest Crestron dealer in New England, Audiocom instrumentally provides the proper level of planning essential to getting all elements assimilated. Crestron is the control hardware and software that facilitates functionality, delivering sound to the speakers, video signals to the televisions, etc.

Backing up each project with ongoing professional, personalized service at the highest level solidifies Audiocom’s client relationships and is intrinsic to their success while generating streams of referral and repeat business.

“Future-proofing” is a key design aspect at Audiocom. Audio, video, data, and fiber optic cables inside one jacket laid in at construction provides adaptability going forward, should additional equipment be added or new capabilities be adopted.

Technology is becoming recognized as an integral house system, just like plumbing. Working closely with interior designers, cabinet makers and electricians from the design phase ensures proper planning to make systems run seamlessly. Professional custom installation and automation creates a complete service solution.

Truly superior performance is attainable with multiple options for system amalgamation, which companies like Audiocom and Hometronics Lifestyles provide. Home efficiency is increased exponentially with sensible coordination.

Planning the size and placement of components is critical as it affects signal reception; reviewing hardware options with clients to select the most appropriate components is primary. For example, plasma and LCD television screens each have advantages; Audiocom will assess factors like the room’s level of ambient light and size parameters, then guide clients correctly.

Project Manager Conor Coleman has been with the company for three years and recently supported the game room renovation at the Greenwich home of interior designer Cindy Rinfret, owner of Rinfret Ltd. For that system, Cindy’s husband Peter had a very specific vision in mind.

Audiocom was able to integrate his own existing Sonos system. Audiocom supplied all the in-ceiling and theatre speakers from Bowers & Wilkins. This British company produces an exceptional audio line ranging from small in-wall speakers up to $20,000 reference floor-standing models. The Rinfrets now have world-class audio as part of their overall media system designed by Audiocom. Components include a Sony projector with a 140″ fixed screen tied into the Sony 7.1 surround sound system with Bowers &Wilkins 801 speakers up front, two sets of on-wall dipole rears, and a B&W subwoofer with a strong center channel.

Rotel equipment in the rack acts as the surround processer in the amplification and powers the whole system. A Sony Blu-Ray player, a Toshida HD-DVD and a Microsoft Xbox 360 round out the Rinfret home entertainment system.

Masterfully designed as a luxurious welcoming interior, Cindy Rinfret elegantly demonstrates perfectly how a high-functioning technology suite needn’t sacrifice aesthetics for top-notch performance.

Meg McAuley Kaicher, Capital Consulting Group, 201 Shore Road, Greenwich, CT 06830, 203-625-3375/cell 203-554-5300, megmk@optonline.net

Posted in Distinctive Spaces |

Hidden Treasure

November 26th, 2007

Westport, CT - This November, HB Home of Westport is branching out. Expanding on its commitment to grant entrée to the world of high-end interior design, HB Home will open a 2,000-square-foot store in Greenwich.

HB Home was built on the wildly successful and innovative retail concept that everyone should be able to achieve luxe, individualized looks for the home. The design studio and boutique offer insider access to the world of home décor, bringing clients to-the-trade products and professional design services. Viewed through a setting of distinct vignettes, its products range from exclusive fabrics, furniture, upholstery, rugs, lighting and draperies to hand-picked home accessories and one-of-a-kind objects d’art. HB Home acts as a personal shopper and style analyst, with sales staff doubling as interior decorators qualified to guide any project to the extent each client desires. Whether starting over or refining an existing interior, customers discover their own personal style through the store’s designer products and a la carte services
HB Home is the brainchild of Pat Healing and Dan Barsanti, leading interior designers who have built a stellar reputation in their 20-year history together. Much of their interior design work features fine art, unique found pieces and custom-designed furniture, as well as their signature rugs and fabrics. All of these elements can be found and purchased through HB Home, drawing back the curtain that used to exist between decorator and customer.
According to Pat Healing, “Our store is all about design without compromise. It inspires the creative spirit in every customer, making it possible for them to live with the luxury they love, in any style, from classic to modern.”
Dan Barsanti adds, “Business in our Westport store has more than doubled in the past year. We found that many of our clients were traveling from Greenwich, and we wanted to bring our ‘prêt-a-habitat’ concept to this discerning clientele.”
The new HB Home will be located at 28 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich.

Store hours: Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm, and Saturday, 10am to 5pm.
Phone number: 203-629-4999.

Posted in Hidden Treasure |

Creating Masterpieces in the Mountains

November 26th, 2007

When you consider purchasing a beautiful vacation home in the mountains, your first thoughts might be of locations out west, in scenic places like Colorado or Montana. Yet it is not necessary to travel so far. There are many grand vacation spots closer to home.
One great place to look is in Stratton, Vermont. This is a vibrant, year-round resort area that has long been one of the premier ski destinations in the east. In the last five years, there has been a tremendous amount of high-end condominium development taking place right at the mountain. Of course, not everyone enjoys the noise and congestion of living in the thick of things, in condos that are on top of each other. In fact, some people are not willing to put up with this at all. And that is what one prominent homebuilder in the Stratton area is counting on.
Vermont Premier Home Builders, Inc. specializes in creating magnificent estates in beautiful, natural settings. Partners Mike Douglas and Ken Sheppard pride themselves on offering new homes with unsurpassed quality craftsmanship and state-of-the-art energy efficiency and technology. They do this in private settings that provide serenity and spectacular views.
Two such projects that Vermont Premier Home Builders, Inc. are currently involved in are located on the back side of Stratton Mountain, towards the Mt. Snow Ski area. Just a short 15-minute drive from the Stratton Sun Bowl, you find yourself on Stratton Arlington Road. About a mile west of the Stratton Town Hall is a private paved road on the left. Here you realize that there are very few homes around you, and that you are surrounded by some beautiful forest lands. In fact, the Appalachian/Long Trail crosses the Stratton Arlington Road only a few miles further up the road. Also located just up the way are Grout Pond and the VAST network of snowmobile trails.
As you journey up the private road and a fairly steep ridge line, you have no idea what to expect. Soon though, an impressive three-level home appears above you. It sits on 14 wooded acres that are bordered on one side by Vermont Conservation land and on the other by thousands of acres of National Forest lands. As you reach the top of the road, you circle around to the front of the home, which is built with multi-colored Vermont stone. To the right of the three-car attached garage is a rich mahogany-floored entranceway. Coming inside through the mud room and front foyer, you are immediately captivated by the large open great room, beautiful stone fireplace, stunning oak hardwood floors, soaring cathedral ceilings and walls of windows that allow you to take in the remarkable vistas. As you look to the left, you see the undeveloped side of Stratton Mountain; and as you gaze to the right, you see the long-distance views of faraway mountains and valleys. You are, indeed, part of nature here.
Now that you know the setting is ideal, let’s take a closer look at the rest of the home. On the main level, besides the front foyer, half bath and great room, you will find an inviting kitchen with cherry custom cabinets and elegant granite counter tops, a separate breakfast nook, a comfortable dining room, and a guest bedroom suite with its own private bathroom. A large wraparound deck spans the entire back of the home.
Heading upstairs off the front foyer is a finely crafted oak stairwell. On the second level, there is a large master bedroom suite with cathedral ceiling, a remote-controlled gas fireplace and a private porch. Inside the master bathroom, there is a two-person whirlpool tub and a separate multi-body spray shower. Two additional bedrooms, another full bath and a den overlooking the great room round out the second level.
Off the foyer on the main level, there is another stairwell that goes to the lower level. Here you will find a large walkout playroom, with a wet bar and a 40″ Sony LCD TV above the stone fireplace. Off to one side is another bedroom and full bath, and off to the other side is an inviting pine-walled, mahogany-floored spa room with a six-person hot tub. Finishing off the downstairs is a well-designed utility room and a large laundry room.
What really stands out is how finely finished this home is. There are solid oak wood doors and intricate oak trim throughout. Solid brass handles adorn all the doors. There is luxurious Karastan carpeting in all the bedrooms, Italian ceramic tile and marble in the bathrooms, and exquisite lighting fixtures throughout.
In addition, this is a “smart” home. There is an automated central control system that offers either on-site or remote access to monitor and control lighting, temperature settings, security and audio /video. There is structured wiring in the walls that allows every room to have video, stereo, telephone and computer hook-up. There is an installed 12-zone, six-source distributed audio and video system, which includes speakers and controls in 12 rooms, and a full array of electronic equipment. There is even a three-receiver, high-definition satellite dish system.
Douglas and Sheppard tried to provide the future homeowner with almost every feature and amenity one can think of. There is radiant floor heat in all rooms, central A/C, a hepa filter air purifier system with UV light, a whole-house central vacuum system, a home security system with indoor and outdoor video cameras, an eight-station telephone system that can be used as an intercom, and a whole-house back-up generator.
Most importantly, this home was built with quality in mind every step of the way. From the R46 and R52 ceiling insulation to the R19 soundproof insulation between the floors, no shortcuts were taken. In fact, this energy-efficient home was awarded the highest five-star energy rating by an independently certified agency. This assures that the home exceeds all national building code specifications and standards established by the EPA Energy Star program and the Vermont residential energy code for quality and construction.
Actually, the only thing missing from this remarkable home is a new owner to enjoy it.
Halfway up the private paved road, there is a left turn that brings you to Vermont Premier Home Builders, Inc.’s other building project. At the top of the ridge is an 8,800-square-foot home that is currently under construction. Sitting on 18 acres with a small pond, this stunning home offers amazing long-distance views, including those of Somerset Reservoir and the trails of Mt. Snow’s North Face.
With five bedroom suites, six-and-a-half baths, 25’ high cathedral ceilings, four stone fireplaces, a sun room, billiards room, hot tub room, sauna room, home theater room and wine cellar, this home will be one of the most exceptional in all of southern Vermont when it is completed next year. Brought on board to coordinate the entire design process of this masterpiece is Barbara Becker of Nesting Interiors in Fairfield, Connecticut. She states, “This is an exciting opportunity to be involved with Working on a home with such presence and in such an amazing setting allows my creative imagination to thrive.”
In a future issue, we will revisit this home and update you on the progress as it nears completion.
So, as you can see, you really don’t need to go out west to find the vacation home of your dreams. It can be found right here in Stratton, Vermont!
For more information, contact Mike Douglas at 802-896-9706 or Ken Sheppard at 203-265-6274 of Vermont Premier Home Builders, Inc., or visit www.vermontpremierhome.com.

Posted in Real Estate |

From The Publisher

November 26th, 2007

Come away with us for the holidays! We’ll take you to two stunning apartments overlooking the famed opera house in Sydney, Australia, whisk you back to the shores of South Carolina and then on to Taos, New Mexico. The fabulous homes you see in this issue showcase the wide-reaching talents of three well-known Fairfield County architects.

Our New Year is definitely starting out in a big way. As you might imagine, building a magazine is much like raising a baby. It must be nurtured, its potential developed. Our two co-founders Matt Kolk and Shelly McCormick have put countless hours into making this magazine the beautiful, well-respected publication it is today. And thanks to these dedicated parents, this baby is growing in leaps and bounds. We’re happy to announce that starting with our January/February issue the size of the magazine will expand to give all of our advertisers and contributors an even more dramatic showcase. (The new trim size will be 8.375″ x 10.875″. Please contact your advertising sales representative—or me personally—if you would like our new media kit.)

For those of you who made it to our Shop Greenwich event on October 18th, we hope you enjoyed your afternoon of special in-store promotions and shopping. Stay tuned for more events next year. We want you to “shop ’til you drop” in 2008!

On the staffing front, we are delighted to welcome Jill Mulligan Porter to the Fairfield County Home sales team. She is no stranger to this marketplace, having worked both at Moffly Publications and at Wilton Magazine as Associate Publisher. A local resident, Jill previously held New York-based sales positions at Hearst (Country Living and Popular Mechanics), New York Times/Golf Digest/Tennis, Time Warner/Fortune Small Business and Disney Publishing. She began her career as Media Supervisor at Grey Advertising.

Happy holidays and a healthy and prosperous New Year to you all!
Susannah Pask

Publisher, Fairfield County Home
203-249-2715

Posted in From The Publisher |

A Gracious & Welcoming Gathering Place

November 26th, 2007

Dining Rooms Foster Celebration and Conversation
BY MEG McAULEY KAICHER

As the whirl of the holiday season begins, one is reminded of a dining room’s importance. A center of celebration in most households, the dining space fosters heart and soul.
The best events, whether to honor a holiday or to commemorate a singular life milestone, often revolve around a special meal held in one’s dining room. Ensuring that the levels of graciousness and comfort equate to the significance of the occassion is essential.
Diana Sawicki understands the value of this. Based in Westport for the past 16 years, this native Argentinean has shared her interior design flair with Fairfield County clients by solving design problems while achieving balanced, timeless settings. She clearly embraces her clients’ sensibilities as she brings into being their projects.
With the dining room so much a part of family living as well as sophisticated entertaining, Sawicki manages to produce a sumptuous setting while refraining from grandiosity. Functional elegance incorporates superb antiques alongside exquisite fabrics. By adding a stunning chandelier complemented by glorious floral arrangements, Sawicki stylishly emboldens the room without pretension.
The warmth of a classic fireplace presents an old-world feel often found in European dining chambers. Adding a chic twist with tailored tufted chairs invites lengthy conversation among guests.
Interesting European touches segue into the classic designs, incorporating that timeless sense of elegance and refinement so apparent in the best European houses.
The natural world plays a strong part in Sawicki’s dining room design as well, whether through the incorporation of natural lighting elements or through the use of botanical materials as deliberate complements.
No matter how formal, tailored or transitional one’s style, a welcoming dining room must engage all its guests and provide comfortable ease and gracious function. The best dining rooms engage all parties. Even the littlest group member may be included with elegance, as Greenwich interior designer Linda Ruderman realized some time ago when proffering one of her most clever inceptions. Ruderman designed a custom high chair to accompany the traditional dining room seating arrangement. It is a brilliant addition to any well-considered dining space.
Ruderman’s passion emerges through her work. All her design projects reflect the refined respect and extraordinary eye she uses to realize a client’s vision. Fortunate to have spent 12 years working closely with an exceptional top architect, her ability to subtly yet correctly apply concepts of scale and proportion are notable. This solid foundation of integrating architectural elements adds a sophistication and stature to the design she engenders. With a staff of eight now full time, Linda Ruderman Interiors (LRI) can tackle any project, regardless of size or complication. Two designers work under Linda, with two additional junior designers; a full-time CAD (computer-aided design) operator designs in house, rounded out by the financial department and support staff.
Whether for new construction or modest renovation, engaging LRI at a project’s inception enables a better result, as guidance can be integrated with other project professionals. The LRI team interfaces with modern technology in a forward-thinking way, enabling seamless project management, incorporating architectural and construction professionals in a communication flow that heightens their stellar reputations. It is this strong communication network that fosters exceptional projects throughout the United States. Projects in Palm Beach, Boston, Vail and Pacific Heights are realized as professionally and on target as local projects.
Symmetry provides an underlying grid upon which LRI builds beautiful layers of foundations, fabrics and furnishings. All the custom fabrics and trims she uses enhance the extraordinary pieces she sources from private furniture makers in England, Italy and France, alongside exceptional antiques.
Recognizing that varied multi-generational groups of friends or extended families often use dining environments for special gatherings, LRI understands the crucial characteristics enmeshed in these distinctive spaces.
Reproductions combined with antique pieces enhance an elegant dining space. Linda Ruderman designs many of her own furniture pieces.
Westport interior designer Suzanne Novik believes that dining rooms should “hug you” as they enhance the dining experience.
She has a penchant for round dining tables, as they encourage conversation and equanimity. Comfortably bringing guests together without a “head of table” often suits a dinner party best, providing a level of togetherness and amiability amongst dinner companions.
On a wonderful project called Lyons Plains, Novik was able to accommodate the client’s request for “no rug due to pets.”Novik’s solution was to design a diamond pattern with a faux classic inlay border that was translated by a fine artisan she contracted to produce the marvelous textural stain covering on hardwood flooring.
In this particular room, the client chose not to have a hanging chandelier. Rather, Suzanne found them a glorious antique flush mount, suiting their taste beautifully while adding subtle drama to the room.
Novik visually lowered the ceiling height of the grand room by drawing the eye down to a spectacular exotic hydrangea floral arrangement placed on the buffet, balancing the composition with elegant antique lamps on either side.
Antique fruit prints were chosen to complete the space, as they are said to stimulate appetite.
“After all, food nourishes the soul as well as the body,” says Novik. “Soothing elements like a warm fire or a softly lit atmosphere relax and pamper you while you eat.”
Complementing the dining room with artwork can intensify ambience while reflecting a comforting theme.
Zorya Fine Arts in Greenwich is dedicated to exhibiting and placing fine art. Often with the assistance of such gallery services, designers are able to bring forth a unique statement within a dining space, truly expressing a client’s philosophy while exhibiting part of a collection.
Whether contemporary global pieces such as those discovered at Zorya, or more traditional fine art pieces such as those in which Cavalier Galleries specialize, fine art showcased in a dining room makes sense, as it is often the key place where groups ruminate and converse.
The Curtain Exchange (TCE) concentrates on ready-made, but not mass-produced, window treatments. This fabulous shop provides myriad choices to the discerning client who wishes to streamline decision-making while customizing specifications. This Westport boutique provides luxurious, ready-to-hang custom curtains that are made to exacting standards. As the company mission states, TCE “boutique owners, designer and seamstresses all place an overwhelming emphasis on tradition and history, consistency and style” while providing a client immediate gratification. Amazing custom curtains are available to take home and try for 48 hours.
With the aggregate purchasing power of 32 stores nationwide, TCE can manage good pricing from its vendors along with frequent exclusivity. Often fabrics are sourced directly from the mill; they may be silks from India, Thailand or Italy; crewel fabric from Kashmir; fine linens from Holland and Turkey; soft cotton prints from the United Kingdom; or sheer material from Germany.
A fabric such as an extraordinary Indian silk that could be purchased by Scalamandre or Fortuny will be bought by TCE and taken to a specialty weaver where it is embroidered with a unique pattern overlay, thereby engendering exclusivity and customization. Along with the supple majestic textile foundation, clever options for headings and trims enhance the window treatment development. The three basic types of headings (pleated, rod pocket and grommet) are further broken down into subcategories. Rather than relying only on arbitrary labels like “ball gown” and “jester,” the available choice sequence is simply numbered for clients’ easy decision-making.
Recently, award-winning Greens Farms designer Lisa Krieger completed the dining room at The Chimneys, a grand space in the Georgian Revival Mansion on the hill above St. Mary’s-by-the-Sea in Black Rock, Connecticut.
Working closely with her associate Suzanne Branch Martin—owner of Willingham Antiques and Interiors in Cos Cob, Connecticut,—and decorative artist Topher Carnes—owner of Finishing Impressions based in Black Rock, Connecticut—Krieger applied her historic design expertise to re-interpret a classic English country house “eating chamber.”
With broad experience in both interior and landscape design, Krieger realized a fantastic restoration of a traditional early dining room. Invited to re-invigorate this key space as part of “Autumn at The Chimneys” Show House (produced by Franco Grimaldi’s The Room of Choice, which was open to the public September 30 – October 28, 2007, benefitting four charities: Dress for Success, Green Demolitions, Music & Arts Center for Humanity and UNESCO ) was a natural fit for Krieger, who has received much recognition for her work, including a Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation award.
To accentuate the many outstanding architectural features of the room, the background for the Chimneys’ dining room is a multi-hued palette based on antique pigments from the English company Farrow & Ball. The furnishings are fine 18th and 19th century English and American antiques provided by Thomas Schwenke, Inc. of Woodbury, Connecticut.
Sparkling china, silver and glassware combine for a breathtaking table arrangement; the mix of heirloom-quality antiques and modern pieces of classical design came from Greenwich antique dealer S. Wyler and Son, and Lux, Bond & Green of Westport.
“I’m very pleased with the result,” said Krieger of the room. “It was a joy to work on a house of such rare quality. Producing an authentic vision in tune with the house’s neo-classical elements was important to me and my team.”
Wisely, Krieger points out that “…many of the room’s elements are easily translated to a less elaborate home.”
The best dining room designs inspire comfort and conversation. Celebrate well within them.

Meg McAuley Kaicher, Capital Consulting Group, 201 Shore Road, Greenwich, CT 06830, 203-625-3375/cell 203-554-5300, megmk@optonline.net

Posted in Distinctive Spaces |

Distinctive Spaces

October 13th, 2007

While traditional New England living rooms tend to be very formal and staid, harking back to the entertaining parlor spaces of yore used only for visitors or on special occasions, today’s living room trends reflect a far more welcoming daily-use approach.

Patricia Garrett, owner of the interior design firm The Classic Room, carefully balances classic pieces with just the right amount of drama. By working closely with her clients, Garrett achieves an enviable mix of luxury and tradition, all brought together beautifully to enhance the client’s individual character.

A tailored piece such as a classic down-stuffed Baker sofa accented with a soft cashmere throw might be placed with an elegant, antique blown-glass crystal chandelier and a gracefully arched golden mirror frame. Adorned with luxurious hand-stitched, silk-trimmed pillows and a few marvelous collectibles, the cozy haven achieves exquisite flair.

The rooms are inviting always, proving that sophisticated design is not foreign to comfort. Gracious entertaining through good times with family and friends seems at the core of Garrett’s designs. One is enveloped by the luxury built into her rooms.

Garrett’s ebullient style and appealing nature are channeled into her work. Very active with Connecticut’s chapter of ASID, Garrett’s clients adore her, as she draws out their personalities within their rooms. Her sunny nature translates warmth, often reflected in a room’s color palette, instilling a sense of well-being within each of her design spaces.

Sourcing excellent foundation pieces for just such a classic room can be done at Christman Furniture, where local families have shopped for decades. Located in Darien, this classic furniture store has truly fine pieces to furnish your home.

Exceptional quality has been a hallmark of this retailer for generations, as it showcases Kindel, Hancock & Moore, TRS and Henckel-Harris lines. Pieces purchased at Christman Furniture generally become treasured family heirlooms.

When clients ask interior designer Dianne Lowenthal, “Where should I start?”
Sensibly she replies, “Start with what you use most often!”

Invariably, unless a client entertains professionally at home often as a CEO or Ambassador (which has required Lowenthal Partners Interior Design to conform to more formal treatment), living rooms generally serve multiple functions.

By incorporating cleverly nested triplet side tables and surfaces such as antique Chinese garden stools (a suitable spot for placing a cocktail which might double as seating when the room is more populated), a carefully executed room design proffers elegant function.

Frequently a fine carpet anchors a room, building a schematic into the room. Seating arrangements are key considerations: groupings of inviting chairs, sofas and loveseats conveniently make a large living room conducive to supporting multiple small group interactions.

Lowenthal expertly manages contem-porary settings as deftly as more traditional designs.

Leonard’s New England, founded in 1933, sources antique furniture daily, primarily from area estate properties and often from its own customers. Complemented by the European pieces they import, Leonard’s offers a terrific spectrum of fine and unusual antique furniture.

Company owner and president, Jeff Jenkins joined the business while still in high school working alongside his father (the company’s manager since 1957), as well as company founder Lester Leonard; in 1988, Jeff purchased the business.

Inspired by the extraordinary craftsmanship of the fine antique furniture Leonard’s sold, Jeff developed a workshop to reproduce some of the most sought-after pieces. This workroom operates today to provide the same old-world handiwork found in the best heirlooms.

“Good looking, well-made and functional,” is how he describes their furnishings.

Dedicated Leonard’s employees, always welcoming to the public and to the trade, are proud of their product. Service and style are essential attributes of the company’s success.

That same sense of extraordinary craftsmanship can be found at Country Swedish Interiors. Ease and simplicity matched with distinguished traditional comfort in a classic Gustavian style is at the core of all Country Swedish furnishings.

The Country Swedish Collection, available to the trade at their South Norwalk or New York showrooms, includes furniture, wallpaper, fabrics and rugs.

Inspired by the royal European courts that heavily influenced the style prevalent during the reign of King Gustav III (from 1775-1792), these fine reproductions are crafted carefully with attention paid to scale, proportion and ornamental detail, marrying well with today’s American lifestyle.

Each piece in the Country Swedish Collection is handcrafted with master techniques practiced by skilled woodworkers using the highest quality materials. Expertly burnishing the signature color or stain on each piece is a time-honored skill practiced by only a few. The resulting furnishings reflect this extraordinary craftsmanship.
Orrick & Company of Greenwich takes a holistic approach when creating spaces with clients.

“We specialize in personal attention to a discerning client who values the expertise of our design team,” states Alicia Orrick. The company’s frequent use of natural fibers ideally translates to family-friendly living rooms because the materials are durable and easy to clean.

Orrick’s rooms are lived in easily. The juxtaposition of clean-lined functional pieces is in harmony with an active family lifestyle.

Equally successful treatment enhances a quieter, serene lifestyle with Orrick’s special way of incorporating contemporary design to create a soothing presence.
Careful integration of lighting is key to these comfortable spaces: a room’s natural lighting qualities are incorporated with layers of task lighting and reflection elements, imbuing the space with an encompassing translucence.

This sense of well-being is enhanced by cherished objects or collections, or highlighting artwork. Overall, a very comfortable room clearly results.
Confident style is created by Harborside Design using a client’s own pieces at the core of design. The Southport firm was formed by Alexa Wheeler and Christopher “Treef” Rosow to create interior and exterior design solutions that benefited from their combined expertise.

Alexa Wheeler, partner at Harborside, says, “We are finding that our clients want the best of both worlds in their living rooms. Long gone is the stiff formality of our grandparents”(and even our parents’) living rooms.”

A recent living room installation in a formal house features the clients’ collection of fantastic Art Deco furniture. Incorporating wonderful textures with durable textiles allows the family’s children to be as welcome as their guests. The room is eminently functional and usable.

“Our clients want to combine the elegance of the traditional living room with the comfort offered in a family room—creating a stylish yet functional space. In other words: a room that is a step above a family room, but still a room where children are not banned from the upholstery.”

EB Home, whose popular Mount Kisco store demanded expansion, recently opened a second gallery store in Norwalk to much acclaim. “What the modern and classic home can be…” is the company moniker. Inside the eclectic space, one can’t help but feel inspired.

Its gallery-like exhibition of ordinary objects makes one pause to re-imagine one’s own possessions: merely by showcasing objects in a new way, their importance can be magnified and their presence elevated.

“Collecting is important, as it tells the story of its owners,” explains Owner and Designer Rick Brown. Whatever his clients collect, whether books, pictures, or ceramics—these collections can be incorporated into a charismatic living room.

EB Home creates high impact with exceptional style.
In fact, Brown cleverly has termed today’s living room as “the Talking Room.” To bridge that sense of “Hands off!” frequently associated with living rooms of the past, Brown manages to highlight the sacred nature of the living room while enhancing its welcoming nature.
Brown focuses on the belief that these rooms are meant for conversation and engagement. For example, his own sons have been schooled to refrain from cluttering up the space with their toys and belongings; they come to the room knowing that it is a space in which to interact with others and enjoy the pleasures of another’s company.
The best living rooms remain spaces to enjoy the company of others, which is the essence of comfortable Fairfield County living.

Meg McAuley Kaicher, Capital Consulting Group, 201 Shore Road, Greenwich, CT 06830, 203-625-3375/cell 203-554-5300, megmk@optonline.net

Posted in Distinctive Spaces |

It’s in the Details

October 13th, 2007

Axis point steps aside and miles design takes over to complete this fabulous westport residence
BY MATTHEW J. KOLK

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Staging has become a growing sector of the real estate industry. It has been proven that if a home is properly furnished, with attractive pieces that are scaled to the correct proportions of the home, it will sell quicker than a home that is either empty or poorly decorated. This philosophy has created an industry that has grown out of being a “cottage” industry, excuse the pun, and into the mainstream.

As we shared with you in our September issue, Terry Miles takes the “Complete Home” method of building to heart in each home he constructs. Working with top area architects, such as Gill and Gill Architects of Norwalk on this project, Terry worked closely with Harrison and Patricia Gill to give the home the distinctive livability of “form meets function” in the design and than created a residence that is stunningly beautiful and amazingly sophisticated based on that goal.

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Once the home is completed from a construction standpoint, Miles Design, Terry’s design firm, steps in and furnishes the home to complete the picture before putting the home on the market. This allows the perspective buyer the opportunity to visualize the home and get a feel of each space, as they will live in the home, instead of walking through a cavernous, empty structure.

“People can get lost in the space. They sometimes don’t know where to start in the furnishing. It’s a very daunting task to buyers. We take pride in being able to give the perspective homeowner a head start in the furnishing process by creating a tone to each space.” says Terry “We couldn’t do this without the help of top industry professionals such as Ralph Lauren, Baker, Century, The Royal Closet, AKDO and Council. The relationships we have established in the area of design help us tie together the overall esthetic of the home.”

It creates a sense of warmth and adds a personality to the home. By going this extra step, our clients can then visually hang their art on the walls and place their personal items throughout the home.

The interior of the home is appointed with thoughtful finishes through the use of furniture, instead of overbuilding each room with built-ins. This in itself creates the attractive drama of the home. Unlike many custom homes, which are painted in basic neutral tones, Terry utilized a color pallet that lends a rich feel to each room. In the kitchen, as one example of the thought put into each space, copper countertops create a feeling of a true chef’s kitchen, surrounded by cabinetry built at the Castlewood Millworks. Each cabinet is custom-made for the specific space with the cook’s workflow patterns in mind.

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“The drama of this home can be found in the positioning of the home on the lot. We look at the exterior features as an important part of the equation as well.” states Terry “This is where most families are spending a lot of time in the summer months. In light of this, we purposefully situated the home in such a way that it creates a sanctuary for the homeowner through the extensive use of landscaping and stonewalls. We try to obtain a look to the residence that is completely finished not only from wall to wall, but from property line to property line.”

Posted in Real Estate |