It’s in the Details
Axis point steps aside and miles design takes over to complete this fabulous westport residence
BY MATTHEW J. KOLK
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.
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.
“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.”
