Connecticut Sound
Family House

Renovation of a newly built house in a highly sought-after waterfront neighborhood on the Connecticut Sound.

BRIEF

The clients, a couple with an active family life and four young children, wanted a bespoke home delivered with minimal disruption. The husband commutes regularly to New York City and occasionally works from home, while the wife entertains frequently as part of both family and social commitments.
The 5,000-square-foot house, previously owned by an artist couple, required a thoughtful reimagining to accommodate the needs of a family of six, along with several pets. While the overall layout was to remain intact, the interiors needed to accommodate the children’s sporting interests and comfortably host regular family visitors.

At the request of the clients, the existing floor plan was retained, and no structural alterations were to be made. A sense of calm was paramount, with the clients requesting a continuous palette of serene hues throughout the house.
Additional storage was a priority, surprisingly absent in a property of this scale. Due to the home’s proximity to the water, there was no usable basement, or any meaningful attic space.

The clients’ existing art collection from their former New York apartment was to be integrated into the new schemes. 

Interior staircase with white risers, wooden treads, white spindles, dark wooden handrail, blue wall, and geometric patterned floor.
White kitchen with open shelves displaying dishes, a small table with a white chair, a fruit bowl with pomegranates, and a dining table with a white decorative vase.
Bright living room with white walls, patterned furniture, a black coffee table with books and decor, and a staircase with a blue wall in the background.

DESIGN

With the clients’ requirements clearly defined, the team began by rationalizing elements of the existing plan that demanded immediate attention.

The back entrance, an intense point of daily activity, became the starting point. Functioning as the family’s primary entry, the space was burdened with six separate doors, including access to a mudroom, back staircase, powder room, and even a direct route to the dining room. Poorly resolved by the original builder, it lacked both logic and storage.

White hallway with built-in cabinets and closet doors on both sides, leading to a small bathroom with fish and aquatic plant wallpaper, a window, and a round rug with a black octopus design.

Reflecting the family’s lifestyle, every element needed to be both beautiful and easy to live with.

The studio reclaimed the underutilized central area by relocating utilities into the crawl space beneath the house, unlocking valuable square footage. Two bespoke runs of vented lockers were introduced, providing dedicated storage for the children’s sports equipment and shoes. The result is a calm, orderly, and visually composed space in one of the most visible parts of the home.

Throughout the house, fabrics and finishes were selected for durability as well as sophistication. Reflecting the family’s lifestyle, every element needed to be both beautiful and easy to live with. High-quality, hardwearing textiles were specified in a soothing palette of soft warm grays, cool blues, and uplifting greens delivering a sense of tranquility.

In key areas, existing materials and finishes were subtly adjusted to reinforce the desired serenity. While the clients were keen to avoid an overtly “beachy” aesthetic, the decorative language still needed to respond to the home’s coastal setting. Wide-plank oak floors were lightened, and the wood ceiling was washed with a breathable paint to soften large expanses of dark gray timber.

In the main entrance hall, dark gray concrete tiles with underfloor heating ground the space both visually and physically. Walls were painted a deep blue to emphasize the unusual turret-like architecture. Where an all-white scheme had previously flattened the space, color was now used to celebrate its tapered walls and distinctive proportions, enhancing the underlying architectural character.

Bathroom with mosaic wall featuring fish, sharks, and an octopus, white framed mirror, sink with silver faucet, purple flowers in a copper pot, brown soap dispenser, towel rack with beige and blue towels.
A bright, cozy living room with built-in white shelving filled with books and decorative items, a flat-screen TV, and a large window with patterned curtains. There is a white sofa with colorful pillows, a round wooden coffee table with a flowerpot and magazines, and a blue rug on a wooden floor.

A quiet study was carved out of the existing living room to create a retreat for the parents. This was achieved through new built-in cabinetry, designed to provide concealed coat storage while clearly defining the workspace without compromising flow.

In the living room, a revised layout introduced a more formal dining area for entertaining and socializing. Two complementary wool rugs visually delineate separate zones within the generous footprint. Once stark, the room now feels calm, contemporary, and inviting, with a sense of permanence introduced through traditional architectural references paired with modern furnishings.

In the breakfast room, bespoke cabinetry was designed to store everyday china and glassware. Positioned at a child-friendly height, the cabinetry allows the children to help set the table while charmingly displaying the family’s tabletop collection. A new upholstered window seat comfortably accommodates two adults or three children, positioned alongside the family’s much-loved antique hardwood table.

A dedicated family gathering space was also created for these sports-loving clients, with two distinct seating areas: one oriented toward the television, the other centered on a cozy fireplace. This thoughtful arrangement allows the family to be together in a single room while accommodating different activities.

Kitchen corner with white cabinetry and open shelving holding white dishes and glassware, a wooden table with a decorative white vase, and a window with woven blinds and patterned cushions.
Bright, modern white kitchen with large windows, marble countertops, and wooden flooring. Contains a kitchen island with a bowl of assorted fruits, and a dining table with chairs. Features built-in appliances and open shelving with dishes and decor. Pendant lights hang from the ceiling.

The clients are delighted with the transformation of what were a series of challenging spaces into a highly functional, calm, and cohesive home. The house now supports their current lifestyle with ease, offering ample storage and a sophisticated, enduring palette. Importantly, the considered framework allows the interiors to evolve over time, with furniture and finishes adapting as the children grow. The project stands as an example of practical problem-solving within an unusual architectural envelope, resulting in a bespoke family home that works beautifully now and is ready for the future.

Living room with two striped armchairs, a gray area rug, a round black coffee table with plants and books, a white sofa, and a large framed butterfly print on the wall.

The house now supports their current lifestyle with ease, offering ample storage and a sophisticated, enduring palette.