What happens when two gardeners make too many forays to Britain and return home laden with visions? An estate emerges and rocks roll. But first, they had to find a way in. Instead of a swank house or even a driveway, the stone walls were the deal clincher. And it’s fortunate that the two found the on-site masonry so compelling, because the rocks played a starring role in the taming of Plum Creek Farm.
“Everybody thought I was crazy. But in my mind, that ensures it’s a really good project,” says builder and developer Andy Glazer of the Glazer Group about the landmark building that he transformed into private residences. Originally built in 1848 in the heart of Rowayton as a summer hotel, later used as a private residence and then again as a single room occupancy hotel, Winthrop House sat around for years before Glazer got his hands on it. No stranger to buildings with a history, a good bit of Glazer’s work involves those with a storied past.
The property's proximity to protected wetlands provided natural inspiration for the farmhouse concept. “There’s incredible wildlife on the property, including amazing birds,” says Thiel. “No matter where you walk inside, you feel connected to the outdoors.”
Longtime Darien residents John and Lulu McPhee were perfectly content with the 1937 center hall Colonial they bought in 2002. The only thing it needed was a new kitchen. But small house projects have a way of taking on a life of their own, and soon the McPhees were sitting down with an architect and drawing up plans for an ambitious renovation. “Once we got started, the question often wasn’t ‘why do something?’ but ‘why not?’”
From marble to travertine, granite to porcelain, these nine surfacing materials will leave you wanting more.
A collection of mosaic surfacing materials in black and white that will inspire any project, from floor to walls.
March's must-haves for the design obsessed shopper
Editorial Director D.J. Carey discussed the newest trends in kitchen design while industry experts were on hand discussing what’s new in LED lighting, custom wood countertops, ceramics and hardware.
It used to be that Hamburg's Reeperbahn, the city's red light district, got everyone's attention. But thanks to a zealous city plan, Hamburg’s neighborhoods are being revitalized and revamped. Not that it needed much sprucing up—this has always been a neat and tidy city across the border from Denmark.
Discover why these builders should be considered when building a new — or renovating an existing — home
