“On Top Of The World”

Darien, Connecticut has always had a special place in my heart. Both my boys were born there and raised until we moved to Westport for elementary school. The lush greenery, beautiful parks and buzzing downtown with the close convenience to New York City has always attracted the best of the best to this classic Fairfield County town. When I first met the homeowners, I knew right away that it would be a match. The location of this home nestled atop stunning ledge rock was second to none. Their home vibe was simply magical, and the clients themselves were the kindest. It was such an honor to design and complete this renovation. Welcome to our On Top of the World project!

Our charter was to brighten the home by renovating the entry, kitchen, powder, primary bath and mudroom spaces. The goal was to renovate with an imperfectly perfect intention. This wasn’t a family that wanted white unapproachable spaces to “show off” to guests. These spaces were meant to be lived in and loved. If you’ve been following along our projects for some time now then you know entries are my very favorite areas to design. We went big with this gorgeous chandelier by Palecek supplied by our lighting supplier, Chloe Winston, paired with a nod to modern with a uniquely shaped console and vintage rug. Rather than replace the railing, we refreshed the handrail by painting it Sandy Kisses, a subtle taupe, and adding a gorgeous runner by Redi Cut. One of the most impactful transformations was replacing the front door to let the natural light flow through the space setting the tone for the home.

BEFORE

AFTER

We were able to eliminate a non-functional, teeny front closet and create an incredible arched pass through to the new mudroom. We also replaced a window with an exterior door to the mudroom so the family could easily enter or exit through the space with ease. Gorgeous lockers, painted Seascape, and white oak bench crafted by the one and only John June fills the space with functional beauty. It’s all about those winters and making it extra useful for this busy family!

To complete the mudroom, we added reeded glass pocket doors, painted Ocean Bluffs, to create a beautiful differentiator from the main home.

This project’s kitchen was a little bit of a space challenge. It was rather narrow and our biggest obstacle was how to design in a grande 9 ft island to accommodate this growing family’s needs. The kitchen was truly the heart of the home for them and their one request was go big or go home when it came to the island. By eliminating unnecessary cabinetry and relocating the powder room away from the kitchen, we were able to create a spacious walk-in pantry and custom bar – and, in the process, check every item off our clients’ wish list.

Details I’m particularly obsessed with in this kitchen… the curved plaster hood, the tonal and subtly textured backsplash and of course the unlaquered bridge faucet.

Flowing from the kitchen into the eat-in-kitchen area is a custom coffee station combined with the prettiest nook we ever did see. The natural woven elements of these furnishings truly encapsulate the warm effortless feel of the space.

And while the kitchen may be the heart of the home, I believe the primary suite is every bit as important. We completely re-imagined the primary bathroom, creating a serene, elevated retreat that gives the homeowners a true place to unwind and recharge.

Like with every project, it is always hard to say goodbye, but this one was especially difficult. The build team was exceptional, the cabinetry exquisite, a trusting client from A to Z and the design result felt like a true representation of everything we love.

xo, gaelle

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